This book tells the story of two single women who came to NYC to escape their troubles. Ruby flew in from Australia after finally realizing that her boyfriend was going to marry another woman but wanted to keep her on the side. She brought along her inheritance from her grandmother so she could just enjoy life in the Big Apple for a while. Alice Lee is an 18 year old poorly educated girl, orphaned after her mother’s suicide. She moved in with a older male dog walker who rented out a room to her but became a close platonic friend. The drama begins when Ruby, running through a park at early dawn, finds Alice’s dead body. Alice continues to observe what happen next even using her ghostly powers to influence events.

I’ll admit that this book didn’t grab me in any way at first. And then, bit by bit it became more haunting and gritty, while balancing moments of tenderness. In the last 25% of the book, that’s when the story truly resonates. It highlights what many women think and endure when out alone, when meeting a strange man, when worried about how to escape a tenuous moment. That’s where the book shines. When it points out the simple truths of life.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This book was a lot different than I expected, but in a good way! The writing was beautiful, and while I expected a thriller this was way more than that. Bublitz writes a beautiful story about two women who run away from their old lives to New York City. One woman ends up dead, a Jane Doe, while the other discovers her body and searches for her missing identity.

I thought this book would be a catch-the-killer mystery so I think that's why it's not a five star read for me at this time. I felt suspicious of every supporting character I came across which maybe speaks to the idea that so many women don't feel safe around strangers. I found myself walking the streets of NYC with the narrator, thinking about death and Jane Doe's.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC.

Thank you @atriabooks for the eARC of Before You Knew My Name by Jacqueline Bublitz in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a unique read! I'm not sure I've ever read anything like it! This was a heartbreaking and poignant read.

Alice Lee and Ruby Jones arrive in New York City on the same day looking for a fresh start. Although they will never meet one another their lives will intersect and that they will form an unexpected bond. Ruby discovers the body of a dead girl; Alice, while running. Ruby can't get thinking about her. Nobody knows her she is and Ruby is determined to find out. Alice is sure that Ruby is the key to the police solving her murder and discovering her identity.

The story is told from both Ruby and Alice's POV which made the story very interesting.

Will Alice's murder be solved? And how will this change both Ruby and Alice's perspective on life?

This novel really makes you think about all the unsolved murders and all of the so called Jane Doe's. I liked that the author focused on the victim's story rather than the perpetrator although there is some suspense involved in the story.

I highly recommend keeping your eye out for this one Before You Knew My Name releases 11/15/22

I truly could not get into this book , the description sounded great however the tone wasn't there. It felt overly predictable and the writing felt repative at times/

This story about two women running away to New York City sounded intriguing. One woman, the narrator, is murdered on a stormy day in Riverside Park, and the other finds her body while jogging. Unfortunately, this is annoyingly written, predictable, and boring. The story is set in present day, yet 18 year old Alice says things like "I should like to do that one day" like a 40s teen. I think the author was going for dreamy and melancholy, but the tone took away from any realness.

The story begins with the perspective of Alice Lee, an 18 year old girl new to New York City after she has died. Alice’s story is parallel to Ruby Jones’, a 36 year old woman from Australia. Both women arrive in NYC on the same day. Both are invisible in their own lives and they each tell their story in past tense on what brought each to NYC. The timeline jumps around a bit, but the reader slowly begins to put the puzzle pieces together. Both MC's are likable and I wanted to give each a big hug while reading the story. Even though the women didn't meet their lives are beautifully entwined.

This was a poignant story about women who feel invisible and who “allow” men to do/say inappropriate things because they think it is easier than making a scene. There were a lot of hidden meanings about how women feel when their security is threatened and the things they think about when they are on their own. I genuinely liked both Alice and Ruby. They were both broken women who desperately were looking for someone to care for them. It made me terribly sad because I believe there are a lot of women who feel this way. I loved the “Death Club” members and how they each filled a hole for the others. This was such a beautifully written book with hard topics. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Alice, 18 and Ruby, 36, both come to New York to escape the lives (and men) they are leading. Why not New York? An island of millions where you can start fresh and leave behind whatever's been strangling you.

With a little luck, Alice has a safe place to stay with a new friend that introduces her to the NY world. She ventures out into the big city to capture it behind a lense only to find herself as the latest murdered victim and a Jane Doe. Meanwhile, Ruby finds herself more lonely here than she was back home. When she becomes the person that finds Alice's body, she tries her best to forget about what she saw but Alice sticks with her.

As the two move forward together, one dead and one alive, they work together in a way to help them both get the ending they so rightfully deserve.

Very rarely do you find the story of a murdered girl told from the POV of herself and the person who found her body. This is a unique narration of two seemingly weak female characters that develop into strong independent ones through a tradegy.

I loved the ending and how everything came together in the end even though it was through tragic circumstances.

This novel will break your heart, there is no doubt about it. An eloquently written thriller/mystery coming of age featuring the voice of a narrator who has died.

Jacqueline Bublitz tells the tale of two different women fleeing to New York. In many ways, neither woman knows what they are looking for our how to actually live. As you learn very early on, young Alice Lee is murdered in New York. In a Lovely Bones style, she provides context and background to the events and while you are holding in your tears, you are rooting for the other women, Ruby, to solve the case.
If you like a beautiful sad novel, composites of thrillers and coming of age, or just dreamed of fleeing your current life, Before You Knew My Name is for you! #JacquelineBublitz #BeforeYouKnewMyName #Atria #EmilyBestler Simon&Schuster

I feel like this was very well written but it was one of the saddest books I've ever read.
Alice and Ruby have been had incredible pasts and as their stories collide together in New York one evening after living worlds apart, we see how after her death, Alice is able to help Ruby dig deep to determine what she wants and if she's willing to move on from the life she's run away from.

Loved this book.
Such details from two women's points of view. The dead girl and the live one.
Such emotions coming from both women I could feel the emotions around me as they both spoke.
Amazing book tells both sides of a story with heartfelt emotions.
You definitely don't want to miss reading this.

The dual story of Ruby and Alice Lee, who both arrive in NYC, each looking for themselves, but each finding something they never dreamed... Their fates intertwine one cool, rainy morning in the city, and Ruby soon realizes she is the key to helping unlock the mystery of the Jane Doe she finds in the park during her daily run -- not only the girl's identity but also that of her killer -- but only if Ruby doesn't get herself too entangled with the killer first. A truly great debut novel, well worth the read!

Before You Knew My Name is a powerful debut by Jacqueline Bublitz.

Alice is 18. She’s arrived in New York with $600 and a camera. At the blink of an eye, she is found dead.
BYKMN is a mystery, focusing on highlighting the victim rather than finding the murderer. Our victim, Alice, narrates the details of her life and death, knowing she falls into line with what is means to be the “perfect victim,” worthy of public outrage.
BYKMN does not shine a spotlight on the killer, but shares the life of the victim with grace and captivation.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy to read and review.

This is my first book from Jacqueline Bublitz. It will not be my last. I thank her for the ARC to this book. It was a truly heart wrenching soul shaking story told from the point of view of both Ruby and Alice. Both girls fled from men that were no good for them to start a new and fresh life in lively New York. This story alternates between two perspectives (Alice the dead girl and Ruby the girl who found the dead girls body). NEVER have I ever read a book told in such a fashion. After finding Alice's body dead and floating in the water, she feels this insatiable need to find out who this unknown dead girl was and who killed her. This book shows that everyone is going through something and has their own struggles. Once Ruby discovers the dead girls name and finds out who he was and who killed her, Ruby is able to start over and see life through a whole different lens. This was a very metamorphic book and made me look at life in a whole new perspective. Definitely worth the read!

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy of Before You Knew My Name. I’m not really sure what to make of this book. When the book started to get interesting, I really liked it, but the first 50% was slow and mainly concentrated on the backgrounds of Ruby and Alice. The backgrounds ended up being important, but they were not very compelling until later. I understood what other reviewers were saying about how great the writing was, it just took too long for me to get there. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Thank you Netgalley for the chance to read and review this title.

This is a unique twist on a murder mystery. Kind of like The Lovely Bones, the deceased is one of the narrators. Except it’s very different. I think one of my biggest takeaways from this story is don’t assume you know someone else’s story. Great characters and great read!

This is an unbelievably beautiful novel and I have not read anything like it. The characters were truly beautiful and I can't wait to read more work from Bublitz.

What an interesting read. I very much enjoyed how the characters were tied together. It was heartbreakingly poignant and suspenseful at the same time. I have quite a few patrons who will love it!

This beautifully written book is a slow burn. Alice and Ruby. Two young women’s lives parallel and eventually intersect as they each arrive in NYC from faraway places. This captivating book tells a dark story, but it is never morbid or solicitous. Original and clever, Bublitz made this unlikely story work, as it is seamlessly narrated between first and third person. Bublitz is a keen observer and a brilliant writer. This book is in a genre all its own along with The Lovely Bones. This is the best book I’ve read this year. Highly recommended!

Solid story that filled a weekend for me. It was a decent book that you don’t have to make a chart to follow who is who. It was kinda a beach/ poolside read.