Thank you to NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and Claire Douglas for the advanced copy of Just Like The Other Girls in exchange for my honest review.

Una Richardson has just lost her mother, and feeling aimless, she responds to a help wanted ad for a "carer" for the elderly Elspeth McKenzie. Elspeth lives in what could only be considered a mansion, but Una quickly learns nothing in the home is quite as it seems.

Kathryn, Elspeth's daughter, is immediately distrustful of Una and ultimately resentful of the relationship Una begins to build with Elspeth. Just as Una is starting to feel settled, she discovers something sinister may have happened to not one, but two of her predecessors.

This started and finished strong, but it really felt like it dragged quite a bit in the middle. I enjoyed the alternating POV chapters and the look into Kathryn's life when she was younger. The final twist(s) were pretty great as well. Ultimately, I found I never found myself NEEDING to come back to this story, so it's going to fall in the good, not great category.

Just Like The Other Girls will be on US bookshelves January 11, 2022!

Una, a twenty something young blonde girl, takes a stay-in-home carer position for Elspeth, an 80-year old wealthy philanthropist that lives in a beautiful mansion. Una thought this was going to be a dream job, which pays amazingly, but after working for Elspeth for a few weeks, she realizes that the previous two carers have a striking resemblance to her, both around the same ages with blond hair, and are now died! Kathryn, the adopted daughter of Elspeth, despise all of the carers and wishes her mother would just stop hiring them so that she could take care of her. The more Una uncovers the more she feels unsafe in the situation and her suspicion grows. Can Una figure out the mystery before she is plagued with the same ending as the other girls? Are there ties to the family that are causing these girls untimely death?

While this was a suspense it was a rather slow build and in my opinion fell a little flat. But it did have some great twists and turns towards the end that you won’t see coming. There is a lot of unlikeable characters and questionable behavior that you just cannot relate with. However, I thoroughly enjoyed the ending which is not what you would suspect! If you enjoy family drama and suspense, you would likely enjoy this book.

***** I received an ARC from NetGalley, publisher and the author, in turn for my honest review.

After losing her mother, Una accepts a new job position hoping to save money for travel. She will be a companion for wealthy Mrs. Elspeth McKenzie. As she begins the job she realizes she isn’t as welcome as she thought. And what happened to the girls before her?

This one was a little hard for me to get into but I think it may have been my mood and not the book. I feel like I’ve read a little too many “strange caretaking position” books lately. While the plot wasn’t my favorite currently, I still appreciate what the author did. I liked the twist and the difference in the parts. There was a lot of suspense that was intriguing but the characters were a bit bland which made me lose interest at times.

“This is it. My new job. My new life. I’ve waited a long time for this.”

Just Like The Other Girls comes out 1/12.

Una's life has not been easy. She broke up with her boyfriend after her mother's death and needs a better-paying job. She applies for a position as a live-in companion to a wealthy older woman. When Una is hired, she believes things are finally looking up, and she will be able to save enough money to travel.
Her employer, Elspeth, has an unpleasant daughter, Kathryn who resents Una. This is the first time Una has had a position like this, and even when she is supposed to be off, it feels like she should be working. Then, she discovers the last two companions looked very much like her, and things did not end well for either of them. Did Una get a dream job, or has she walked right into a nightmare?
A unique aspect of this story was how Part One ended. I did not see it coming and honestly, that kind of major twist is more likely to come closer to the end, so kudos to the author for taking a bold chance! Once Part Two started, I just flew through the pages trying to guess what would happen next. There were more than a few unlikeable characters, but as the story progressed, I learned some of the reasons and felt empathy for some of them. I did not love, love how it ended, but I enjoyed the journey.
I received a DRC from Harper Perennial and Paperbacks through NetGalley.

After the death of her mother, Una Richardson's life has been adrift. So when she sees an ad for a wealthy woman looking for a ladies' companion, Una jumps at the chance for a fresh start. But Una soon discovers the world of Mrs. Elspeth McKenzie isn't what it seems. Once Una arrives, something about the house and family feels off. Kathryn, Elspeth's daughter, is cold and resentful towards Una, and there's evidence that other companions lived in the house before Una who all left under mysterious circumstances. Can Una uncover the truth about what happened before she ends up just like them?

I was hoping for this to be a fast-paced thriller, and while it did have its moments, I was hoping for just a bit more. I thought the characters were well developed, and the writing style was easy to fall into. I liked Una in the beginning but did think her behavior started to become a bit erratic as the story progressed. There were moments when she would do something that didn't feel realistic and almost as if she was sabotaging her investigations. Despite some aspects being far-fetched, I enjoyed how many twists and turns Douglas threw in here since it did keep me guessing throughout. Overall, it wasn't my favorite thriller, but I'd still recommend it if you're looking for something quick to pick up.

I love Claire Douglas. This book keeps you interested from the very beginning. I love the mystery character's point of view that leaves you guessing throughout the story. This book reads very smooth and easy easy to follow along. There is a good mix of likable and unlikable characters as well.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This did not work for me, but I suspect that's more of a "wrong reader" problem than anything. I'm increasingly finding that YA mystery/thrillers and I just don't vibe.

This was reasonably well written, though I think sticking to one POV might've increased the tension. Frankly, I was just bored and didn't find the twists and turns difficult to predict.

Oh boy, I though the whole time I knew how everything was going to play out. Spoiler: I did not!
This was my second time reading Claire Douglas, and it had me more invested than the last.
Elspeth McKenzie continues to hire young women who look similar as her caregiver/companion - but after a bit of time, the women seem to disappear. Elspeth’s daughter Kathryn seems to be threatened by these girls, and has some secrets of her own!

Overall, this was a slow start, but picked up at around 30 percent. Full of suspense and a twist I really didn’t see coming!

*thank you to Harper Perennial, Claire Douglas and NetGalley for my advanced digital copy in exchange for review!

It was a treat to read this British mystery by an author I'd heard so much about.
This is a dark, haunting mystery about a dysfunctional family living in the aptly named "Cuckoo Nest". The house is in an upper class neighborhood in Clifton. The setting is certainly atmospheric.
The chapters alternate between characters.
The story begins with Elspeth McKenzie, an elderly widow and wealthy philanthropist. She's advertising for a live-in care giver/companion. She's mostly lonely and may be embellishing her helplessness. Her character is flawed and not always very likable, but is believable.
Una Richardson, young, blonde, first time on her own, is applying for the position. It will soon become clear to her that the previous girls who held this position all looked much like her. They disappeared or died under differing, but questionable circumstances.
Elspeth's adult daughter, Kathryn, was adopted and is constantly trying to gain favor with her bitter, berating mother. Her desire to be loved like a natural born child tugged at my heart.
Una begins to suspect there is more to the hasty departure of her predecessor. She makes discoveries and even confides in her best friend about her suspicions. It is tense and some secrets really should stay that way. There are numerous well described characters, all with motive and all hiding something.
The suspense was sustained throughout the story. The plot kept me guessing, entertained and engaged. I would recommend the book and would read this author again.
Many thanks to Netgalley for the advance digital copy of "Just Like the Other Girls" and to Claire Douglas and Harper Collins Publishing. These are my personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily.

Unfortunately this was a miss for me. There was a lot of potential drama that lead up to a mediocre reveal. I was intrigued by the creepy setting of Elspeth and Kathryn's home, and all the secrets that seemed to lie within the walls. But things just didn't add up for me. There were a lot of plot holes--like Elspeth dancing alone and then pretending to have fallen....? I also felt like the first section of part 2 was simply a retelling of part 1, with different characters. I can see some really liking this creepy domestic drama, but it wasn't for me.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for an ARC of this title in exchange for my honest feedback.

Una takes a job as a companion for an elderly (and very wealthy) woman needing help. The pay is incredibly, the house is stunning and Una figures she can save up to do the traveling she and her mother always dreamed of. What once seemed like the picture-perfect job becomes worrisome when Una discovers the two girls hired before her looked startlingly similar to Una and left under shadowy circumstances….

Unfortunately, this is another “mixed-feelings” review.
I enjoyed the book and felt it moved at a steady pace, without being too slow but also not what I’d call a page-turner. There’s a lot of unlikeable characters and behavior that is extremely questionable and never rationalized to my satisfaction. On the other hand, I did really enjoy some of the characters and really liked their chapters (the book switches POVs often), and there were quite a few palpable “oh snap” moments in there for me.

While I’m pleased that the ending I thought I saw coming from a mile away did not end up being the conclusion, I still wasn’t satisfied. The “culprit” wasn’t who I expected but I thought the author could have left this book on a rather haunting note instead of an ending that felt a bit flat to me.
Overall impression: a lot of missed opportunities.

Many thanks to Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest review!

as always with an arc review, no spoilers!! this book was a quick read! i loved the way the plot flowed and the narration switches were so seamless. every character was fantastic because they all clearly had their motives, even if it was unclear what exactly the motives were. i thought the big reveal was a little lackluster, but all in all a good twist just without pizzazz. if you’re in the mood for a mystery when this book comes out give it a read!!

Just Like The Other Girls is an evocative and twisty thriller sure to keep you on your toes. Una, a young woman down on her luck, applies to be a lady's companion to the elderly, welcoming, and wealthy Elspeth McKenzie. Kathryn, Elspeth's daughter, resents Una and the idea that her mother needs a companion when she has Kathryn herself. Una soon discovers that two young women who bear a striking resemblance to her worked as Elspeth's companions before she did, and both are now dead. Una decides that she needs to get to the bottom of the demise of her predecessors, before she ends up just like the other girls.

Overall, this is a solid thriller with a unique mystery. The author did a really good job of creating and maintaining a sense of atmosphere throughout the unfolding of the story. This was divided into two parts, and I have to say that I did NOT expect the twist at the end of part one. I felt that the twist raised the stakes and made the story even better. While I did predict some aspects of the overall mystery, I was surprised for the most part, and my uncertainty heightened the suspense of the novel.

I had a couple of issues with this. One; Una was...not the smartest (to put it delicately) when it came to the decisions she makes at various points in the book. While she is only 22, she isn't a child, and there were moments where I felt like she was unrealistically naïve for an adult woman. Secondly, part two of the story became implausible as it progressed, which I didn't love. However, I am, to a certain extent, willing to suspend my disbelief while reading, and ultimately the implausibility didn't hurt my enjoyment of this all that much.

In short, I recommend giving this a read, especially if you like thrillers that are climactic and deal with the complications of family relationships. This is the first book by Claire Douglas that I've read, and I'm now inclined to check out more of her work!

Big thank you to NetGalley and Harper Perennial for letting me access this ARC in exchange for an honest review. Get you hands on Just Like The Other Girls on 01/11/22 !

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Just Like The Other Girls by Claire Douglas is a chilling thriller with a twist that you'll never see coming. The story revolves around Una, a blonde who applies to be a lady's companion for Mrs. Elspeth McKenzie, a rich old woman who needs companionship. When Una arrives, Elspeth is lovely and welcoming, but her daughter Kathryn is cold and bitter. Kathryn resents the lady's companions that her mother has hired. Then, Una finds out that there have been two other companions before her. Where did they go? Did someone murder them? And will Una be next?

Here is a chilling excerpt from the Prologue:

"The rising fog mingles with the dark night, turning everything opaque. I can barely see, yet I know someone else is on the suspension bridge with me.
I can hear them breathing.
How foolish I’ve been.
Nobody will come to my rescue. It’s too late at night – even vehicles have stopped driving across due to the weather. The rising fog mingles with the dark night, turning everything opaque. I can barely see, yet I know someone else is on the suspension bridge with me.
I can hear them breathing.
How foolish I’ve been."

Overall, Just Like the Other Girls is a gripping thriller that will appeal to fans of Netflix's You. Instead of searching for the perfect partner, someone has been searching for the perfect lady's companion. One highlight of this book is the ending to Part One and the beginning of Part Two, which occurs at about the halfway mark. The first half of this book was pretty typical and followed the book synopsis pretty well, but I was absolutely blown away and shocked by the end of Part One. I was absolutely not expecting the author to go there with the plot, and it made the second half of the book even better and more gripping. If you're intrigued by the excerpt above, or if you're a fan of thrillers in general, you won't regret checking out this book when it comes out in January!

I really loved this book and honestly would love to add it my collection I couldn’t wait to get through it and to find out what happened . Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for sending me this to read.

Just Like the Other Girls is an excellent psychological thriller! The action and mystery pulled me in immediately. With so many twists and turns, you will keep changing your mind on who the guilty party is! Such an addicting and engrossing plot, you won't want to stop reading!

Una takes a job as a live-in companion for Elspeth McKenzie. Elspeth is a very wealthy widow living in a gorgeous estate called The Cuckoo’s Nest. With the amount of money Una earns from this job, she can travel like she promised to her mom who recently passed away from cancer. Elspeth's daughter Katheryn does not care for Una and she wants to be the one taking care of her mother instead. While living there, Una discovers the last two companions Elspeth had have died. One girl was hit by a car the other girl went missing and her body was recently found. Una starts to suspect she may be next. What happened to these other girls, could Una be next?

I really loved this book! The story was very intriguing to me, and I wanted to solve this mystery! I found I had a hard time putting this one down. I have enjoyed all of Claire Douglas' books and I have no doubt you will enjoy JUST LIKE THE OTHER GIRLS. I would highly recommend it.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Perennial and Paperbacks for my ARC in exchange for my honest review

This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

Claire Douglas has such a unique and enjoyable writing style. Claire did an excellent job of building a mystery with suspense. The chapters do alternate between different characters, and the book includes a plot twist (which I always love when a plot twist catches me by surprise). I will say that I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the second. The second half seemed to just be an overwhelming amount of information that ended up making the story harder to follow.

I enjoyed this. It was my first Claire Douglas book. It had a good pace to it and I found myself turning the pages once Una turned up dead herself. I was not expecting that! The twist at the end was also a plus. Well done, Claire!

My thoughts (spoilers included): I’m giving this 4 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ I love the way Claire Douglas writes. This is my third book by her, and I feel confident in saying that she knows how to introduce mystery and build suspense well. This book was no exception. The chapters alternate between different characters, and there’s a big twist near the middle that I did not see coming. Anyone else shocked that a main character was killed off halfway through? After that, I was racing to finish this book and could not put it down. There were several more twists and secrets revealed along the way. I think thriller fans will love this book 💕