That’s not my name by Megan Lally was published on January 2, 2024 by Sourcebooks fire.

I was instantly hooked from the very first page all the way until the very last page, I did not see that ending coming at all. This is my very first book written By Megan Lally and it definitely will not be my last.
Lola and Drew are two peas in a pod. One night Drew and Lola were driving around when Lola brought up the thought of spending the rest of her life with Drew. Lola wants to marry Drew, she wants to have kids with Drew, but when Lola brought this up,
Drew freaked out, keep in mind these two are just seniors in high school. When Drew freaked out, Lola got out of the car, slammed the door and walked away. Drew thought she just needed some time to cool off, but when Lola doesn't return home the next day or doesn't answer her phone, Drew knew he made a big mistake and now the whole town and the sheriff think Drew murdered his girlfriend. Drew wants to prove his innocence, but no one will believe him, so he sets out and looks for Lola himself. Lola's best friend, Autumn also thinks Drew is hiding something about the night Lola disappeared, Drew never told anyone nor he never called the police. When Drew spills the secret of what happened to Lola, Max, Drew's cousin and Autumn all set out to look for Lola themselves since the sheriff who is also Autumn's dad is beyond sketchy won't get off his butt and look into the disappearance of Lola Scott.

What happened to Lola Scott? Did the sheriff hurt her? Or drew the guy she wanted to marry and have kids with? Why are there so many secrets?

Then there is a teen that wakes up on the side of a dirt road with no memory of how she got there, who she is, shivering and bruised, a passing police officer finds her and takes her to the police station for questioning. After the teen girl and police officer arrive at the police station, a frantic man arrives. This man says he has been searching for this teen for hours, he has her school ID, her birth certificate, and even family photos. This man is her father and this girl's name is Mary, or so the man says. The girl in the pictures looks exactly like the girl standing in the police station, so the officer has no other reason not to release this teenager to her so called father.
Is this man really who he says he is?
Will she be able to find out who she really is and remember what happened?

I high recommend this book!!
Definitely a five star for me

Thank you Netgalley, Megan Lally, and Sourcebooks for allowing me the chance to leave a free review for this free ARC.

Who is the girl found on the side of the road? In That’s Not My Name, she is taken in to the police station with no memory of who she is or where she’s been. She’s relieved when someone comes in with information as to who she is, he’s her dad and she’s Mary. Elsewhere, Drew is searching for his missing girlfriend, Lola, and everyone thinks he killed her. Switching point of views, we see how the aftermath of being missing can impact different people, whether you’re a missing girl or someone who loves a missing girl.
I loved Mary’s voice and how effortlessly her story unfolded. The fact that only people related to Drew believed him is ridiculous and frustrating. I really enjoyed the scene at the clothing store.
The plot was a little predictable to me but that’s not necessarily the worst thing. This felt like a familiar book that doesn’t take a lot to get into. It was a solid 3 ⭐️ read for me.
Thank you to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

Told in dual narratives, this fast-paced thriller is sure to be super popular with teens - perfect fit for April Henry readers who are ready for something slightly more mature.

I loved this book! From the very first chapter I was hooked.
That’s Not My Name takes place in Oregon. Drew is a high student blamed with the disappearance of his girlfriend Lola. Drew will stop at nothing to find Lola and prove his innocence. Great twists and turns I never saw coming.

So with the love of this book comes 1 ick.
I don’t understand why authors over use the word fuck. Using that word does not make the book any better. In certain situations in a story it may be an appropriate term to fit the circumstances. I don’t know. Is it just such a part of everyday vocabulary now?

This was a quick, fun, twisty read. What Lally has done here is nothing overly unique in terms of story, but I think she executed it well; she managed to ramp up the tension nicely and the dual POV was an interesting touch. Having read a great many thrillers I'm not sure that I was overly shocked at any of the reveals, but seeing as this book is intended for a younger audience (and by younger I just mean a teen audience, so younger than me) it's very possible that a reader like that would find such reveals more shocking. I have to admit that it hasn't been that long since I finished this book and it's already starting to fade specific-wise, but I raced through it quickly and remember enjoying it as I was reading it, so that's nothing to be mad about at all. I'll certainly be curious to see what Lally comes up with for her next book, and I would definitely not hesitate to recommend this to a reader looking for a quick thriller for a teen, or even an adult.

Books like this one are the reason I get excited to see new releases from Sourcebooks Fire. They never let me down. If you like April Henry or Karen McManus, you'll love this one.

What an amazing creepy kidnapping mystery told from dual perspectives! "That's Not My Name" starts out very strong with an eerie vibe that I expected to go away but only increased. I love that I thought I had it all figured out and had to keep adjusting my theories based on new details. Megan Lally treats the reader like they are smart, which a lot of YA fails to do. It's something that will make her work stand out. The last half of the book has you turning pages so quickly that you are at the edge of your seat. I may have yelled a few times as I finished reading.

This was the first book I read in 2024, and I'm so glad. Phenomenal debut from an author who will quickly dominate YA shelves.

I read this pretty quickly, and was pretty entertained by the story but I did have a few issues. I feel like we didn't get anything out of the characters. I know Mary was supposed to be a bit of a blank slate given the noggin bonk, but Drew was pretty flat until that last scene with Madison, and Max and Autumn just felt like they were in the story to be side characters and nothing else. The sheriff was just a villain, Drew's dads are hardly characters. Even Wayne wasn't as fleshed out as he could have been. Autumn's switch up from "Drew did a whole murder of her BEST friend" to "omg mystery friends" was...too fast. OH, also, the Lizzo thing was weird and drew me out of the story every time it was said. "Lizzo heartbeat" is the worst way to describe something, but the description was also made redundant because it was followed by fluttered, or spasmed. Like, just describe her heart as fluttering, don't make it a Lizzo heart or a Lizzo heartbeat. I also think that having her notably remember only Lizzo, randomly, was weird as heck, lol. I think it was supposed to be a light/comedic moment, but it just sort of made me go "...okay".
Overall, a fast and entertaining story that does accomplish what it sets out to do, but without the level of depth that I was hoping for.

Holy crap, what did I just read? My heart was in my throat for 90% of this book.
Another fear unlocked! You wake up in a ditch with no memory of how you got there, and no idea who you are.
POV 1 - Picked up by a sheriff and taken to the station, “Mary” is met by a man claiming to be her father. He provides proof of identity and the sheriff lets her go with this man (although he does make sure it seems safe). She has a feeling something isn’t right, but has no proof that she isn’t who he says she is.
POV 2 - When Lola slammed the car door and stormed off into the night, Drew thought they just needed some time to cool off. Except Lola disappeared, and the sheriff, his friends, and the whole town are convinced Drew murdered his girlfriend. Forget proving his innocence, he needs to find her before it's too late.
Did Drew hurt Lola and he’s lying? Could Mary be Lola? Are these 2 incidents related or are they 2 separate stories?

This book was a great way to start off my 2024 reading! I was on the edge of my seat, trying to figure out what was going to happen. I haven't read a book that fast in a while. This is one of the best YA thrillers I've ever read. I loved the dual POV. I thought I knew what was going to happen in the end, but the twist got me! Highly recommend to any YA fans and/or thriller fans.

My favorite book of 2024 by far! Do I have your attention now? I was a bit worried I had missed the Megan Lally train and have been missing out on amazing books, but it appears this is her first and I am here for it. Consider me a founding member of the Megan Lally fan club!

That’s Not My Name follows two stories flowing simultaneously as we are looking for a missing girl, and reading the story of a girl who seems to have forgotten who she is. Queue your guess as to how it ends, right? No. I promise you, this is not what you expect. I absolutely loved the characters. I really enjoyed the viewpoint from Drew and how everyone was against him and thought he was guilty, but he and his misfit group of friends were the ones still looking for his missing girlfriend. His best friend Max had the best one-liners and if I could be friends with him I would.

Jump to Mary, who I found to be more aware of her gut feelings and red flags she felt. It was interesting to watch her growth and her mind work through what she was experiencing and trying to differentiate real from fake. Lally wrote this character extremely well and the scenario she was in. I was on pins and needles the entire time wondering what was going to happen or just what was happening in general.

It’s been a while since a book hooked me as quickly as Lally’s That’s Not My Name. I was invested in chapter one and had to know what was happening. I finished the book in less than 24 hours and stayed up entirely too late reading. Megan Lally should be on your radar if you love really well-written, intricate, mystery/thrillers that leave you guessing the entire time. If she had more books I would be reading nothing but those. Cannot wait for more. Run, don’t walk, to the bookstore and get a copy!

That's Not My Name written by Megan Lally was CREEPY!!!!!! When I first saw the cover it spooked the heebie jeebies out of me, but when I actually started reading this book I was completely shook. I was instantly hooked from the very first page all the way until the very last page, I did NOT see that ending coming at all. That's Not My Name is a YA compelling thriller, but the way Megan Lally wrote this story, it was compelling, heart wrenching, bone chilling, and atmospheric. This was my first book by Megan Lally and it definitely won't be my last one either, I will read ANYTHING this author writes. I literally had goosebumps all over my arms when I was reading this book, I know it's winter, but damn this book actually spooked me. When I heard this book was YA, I was a little hesitant, but after reading the book and giving it some thought, it didn't feel like it was YA at all, it was just that FREAKING GOOD!!!!! I can't recommend this book enough, please do yourself a favor and grab a copy immediately, you won't regret moving this book up your TBR anytime soon. I was completely surprised and loved every single minute of it.

THANK YOU TO NETGALLEY AND SOURCEBOOKS FIRE FOR AN ARC OF THIS BOOK IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW!!!!!!

🎵PLAYLIST🎵
Save Me- Jelly Roll
Son Of A Sinner- Jelly Roll
Wishful Drinking- Ingrid Andress & Sam Hunt
Chasin You- Morgan Wallen
Heart Like A Truck- Lainey Wilson

She thought she had her life back. She was wrong. It was a mistake to trust him.

Lola and Drew are two peas in a pod. One night Drew and Lola were driving around when Lola brought up the thought of spending the rest of her life with Drew. Lola wants to marry Drew, she wants to have kids with Drew, but when Lola brought this up, Drew freaked out, keep in mind these two are just seniors in high school. When Drew freaked out, Lola got out of the car, slammed the door and walked away. Drew thought she just needed some time to cool off, but when Lola doesn't return home the next day or doesn't answer her phone, Drew knew he made a big mistake and now the whole town and the sheriff think Drew murdered his girlfriend. Drew wants to prove his innocence, but no one will believe him, so he sets out and looks for Lola himself. Lola's best friend, Autumn also thinks Drew is hiding something about the night Lola disappeared, Drew never told anyone nor he never called the police. When Drew spills the secret of what happened to Lola, Max, Drew's cousin and Autumn all set out to look for Lola themselves since the sheriff who is also Autumn's dad is beyond sketchy won't get off his butt and look into the disappearance of Lola Scott.

When a teen wakes up on the side of a dirt road with no memory of how she got there, who she is, shivering and bruised, a passing police officer finds her and takes her to the police station for questioning. After the teen girl and police officer arrive at the police station, a frantic man arrives. This man says he has been searching for this teen for hours, he has her school ID, her birth certificate, and even family photos. This man is her father and this girl's name is Mary, or so the man says. The girl in the pictures looks exactly like the girl standing in the police station, so the officer has no other reason not to release this teenager to her so called father. The twists and turns that just kept coming made me sick, the man who claimed to be this girl's dad is sick and twisted in the head. When the story line kept coming, I felt myself shiver because what this man did to this girl was just heart breaking. I felt myself shiver at the words and what he was doing to her. And it's crazy to think about because this stuff actually does happen in today's day and age. Men take advantage of young girls because they are so sick in the head. That's Not My Name will definitely be a book that I won't be able to forget for a long time coming. Despite how twisted this book was, everyone needs to add this book to their TBR list immediately.

Thank you to Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the advanced readers copy of this novel.

This was a fast paced YA thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. I can see where young adult readers would also get caught up in the story and not be able to put it down. I did not see the ending coming at all through the novel which is was shocking!

This would make a good introductory thriller for a younger reader. Not terribly scary, but definitely realistic.

This was a fast-paced read. It kept me engaged the entire time. There was enough character development that you were really pulling for the kids. I really liked how it was wrapped up in the end.

A Girl wakes up on the side of the road. She has no recollection of how she got there, no memory of who she is. When an officer stops and takes her to the police station she can't even answer his most basic question. A man arrives and claims he's her father, and she's his daughter, Mary. He's got her birth certificate, her school ID, photos of her on his phone.

Meanwhile, in a town a couple of hours away, a girl named Lola, is missing. Everyone thinks her boyfriend, Drew, has hurt her and is covering it up. But Drew can't sit by and wait for the police to do something. He decides to find out what happened to her himself.

There is so much tension in this story, culminating in a great twist. A real page turner! Highly recommend.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this one! I thought it was really creepy and stressful and fast paced. It was also so much sadder than I thought it would be. I felt so bad for "Mary" and Drew the entire time, it was truly a bummer. I also think the actual conclusion was kind of sad, because even though the killer is a bad bad person, the psychological aspect was so heartbreaking. I think this was such a solidly written debut, and I will definitely be interested in reading Lally's next book.
My two complaints are
1. I wish it was longer. I really really liked the dynamic between Max, Drew, and Autumn, and I wish we got to see more of them. But I also think that Mary's POV was super creepy and added so much to the story, so I don't think it should've all been just Drew's POV. I just really loved Max and Autumn and I wanted more of them.
2. I guessed literally the entire plot about 30% in. This one is on me. I read so many thrillers and mysteries that I am rarely surprised by the twists anymore. I thought the entire ending was pretty obvious through out, but I still had a really good time reading it. I knew what was going to happen and I was still so stressed for the last like 40% of the book, and I think that's a testament to Lally's writing abilities.

3.75 stars
Not me thinking I figured it all out, to be left open mouth at the twist.
Megan Lally really said, 'You think you everything that's happening HA WRONG!'

We follow two narratives; one is a young girl who has woken without any memories with cute and bruises & a young man accused of killing his missing girlfriend and desperate to find her. The story follows them as they seemingly connect, or do they?

I had two theories going into this on what was happening, and one was proved right... sort of. I feel like this offered a twist that I didn't see coming and saved it from the usual YA thrillers that I have read, which end up being predictable and repetitive. Unlike others, this offered a good burst of new urgency and heartbreak, and I think it's a good read!

That’s Not My Name is the first book I’ve read by Megan Lally. I was lucky enough to receive an eBook ARC from NetGalley.

It’s a young adult thriller book with an interesting premise. A teenage girl goes missing and her boyfriend, his cousin, and the girl’s best friend are intent to find her. The sheriff in town is a moron and thinks the girl’s boyfriend killed her. This was slightly frustrating, as this premise has been done many times.

This book was a fun read. It was darker than I expected at some points. The ending had a twist that I wasn’t a fan of, which is the reason I rated it 4 stars instead of 5.

This was my New Year’s Eve reading… very good, unexpected, and kept my interest from start to finish.

A girl is missing. Was it the boyfriend? Megan Lally gives us two perspectives as the hunt continues for the missing Lola Scott: Drew (the boyfriend) and a girl we know as Mary. Could Mary be Lola? Has she been kidnapped? It becomes a race against time as Drew and friends pick up clues about a missing girl who looks just like Lola. A heartbreaking reminder of the dangers that lurk in the shadows.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and NetGalley for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.

Fantastic! Read it one sitting. Will recommend to others.

Positives:
Different points of view of the characters
Well-written and fast paced, one of the best YA thrillers I have read.
Clean-where I could recommend it to students to read


Negatives:
The only negative was the adult detective of the case portrayed as completely oblivious to solving the case-but maybe that enhanced the young adult aspect of the novel

5 Stars. Can't wait to read more by this author.