Oh man I wanted to like this one, cabin in the woods is one of my favorite trope in thrillers but the writing style just didnt work for me.
We follow twin sisters living a solitary life , where one of them is the caretaker and the other is just an unhinged loony. a family moves into the cabin next to theirs and their 15 year old daughter goes missing in the night , and thats where I go "I dont even care"

I couldn’t get into this one. I don’t know if it was the storyline, characters or the plot. It just wasn’t for me.

When She Was Me by Marlee Bush is an emotional and gripping story that explores identity, trauma, and resilience. The writing is compelling and evocative, pulling readers into the protagonist's journey as she navigates her past and tries to reclaim her sense of self. The characters feel raw and authentic, making the story hit close to home in many ways.

While some parts of the plot felt a little predictable, the emotional depth and strong narrative voice kept me engaged throughout. It’s a moving read that stays with you long after you turn the last page. Definitely worth picking up!

As a debut novel this was actually really well written. You can tell that there was a lot of thought put Into this and trying to create depth to their characters. I was immediately invested in twin sisters Cassie and Lenora wanting to know what happened to them and why they ended up in their predicament. The tension between the sisters was angsty and made the story fun. This definitely was a slow burn but with an ending that kept me satisfied that I did not predict. Overall, this was a really good debut novel. This author definitely has some potential!

This was my first time reading Marlee Bush, and I received When She Was Me as an ARC from NetGalley. The book had an intriguing premise with its focus on twin sisters living in isolation and the suspenseful disappearance of a teenage girl. The atmosphere was well-crafted, creating a sense of claustrophobia and tension that kept me engaged. However, I found the pacing to be uneven at times, with some sections dragging while others felt rushed. The characters, while interesting, could have been more deeply developed to enhance the emotional impact of the story. The twists were surprising, but some felt a bit forced and didn't always align seamlessly with the plot. Overall, When She Was Me is a solid debut with a compelling storyline and a chilling atmosphere. While it had its flaws, it shows promise for Marlee Bush as a new voice in the thriller genre. I look forward to seeing how her writing evolves in future works. #netgalley #whenshewasme

I tried to finish this book a few times but ended up DNFing. I found some of the story and characters interesting but not enough to continue.

This was a fantastic psychological thriller. We follow twin sisters Cassie & Lenora who have moved to an old camp group to escape their mysterious past. Thibgs are fine until girl goes missing and is found murdered in the woods.

We go between past and present as we discover what really happened all those years ago to make them flee. But omg the twist? I never in a million years saw that coming!

This is a gripping psychological thriller that had me hooked from the very first page. The story follows twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora, who are forced to confront their troubled past when a young girl goes missing near their family cabin.

Bush expertly weaves a tale of suspense, family secrets, and the blurred lines of identity. The atmospheric setting of the isolated cabin adds to the tension and creates a sense of foreboding. As the plot unfolds, I found myself questioning the reliability of the narrators and eagerly turning the pages to uncover the truth.

The exploration of the complex relationship between the twin sisters is particularly compelling. Their shared history and deep-seated rivalry drive the narrative forward, leading to a shocking and satisfying conclusion. When She Was Me is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and anyone who enjoys a twisty and suspenseful plot.

The story was insanely compelling. Not knowing what direction the story was headed kept me intrigued. Also Cassie blurring lines with work and normal life when it came to her twin sister reminds us that sometimes protecting the ones we love is insanely important.

This was a decent thriller with some good twists, but it didn’t completely hook me. The tension between the sisters was intriguing, and the setting added a nice sense of isolation, but the story felt a little slow in places. It had potential, but I wasn’t blown away by the ending. Not bad, just not as gripping as I hoped.

I really struggled to finish this book. It took me the better part of the year and I normally finish books within a day or two. I think the plot was too slow for me with too many characters in focus. I would read another book by Marlee in the future though.

Identical twin sisters Cassie and Lenora, live in a cabin at a campground that is mostly deserted. Lenora has agoraphobia from a trauma and never leaves the cabin. A new owner takes over after the death of their landlord, and rents out one of the cabins to a family. When the teenage daughter ends up disappearing, Cassie and Lenora are terrified. Their safety they have built around themselves begins to disappear.

The sisters are very odd, but I was wrapped up in the story. I wish the pacing had been a bit faster. For me it seemed to slow. I did enjoy the timeline going between past and present. But I just felt there wasn't a lot happening times. I did enjoy it though, and ending was great.

"Trapped in the isolating, claustrophobic wilderness, Cassie and Lenora must piece together the truth of what happened—and the sinister truth lurking in their own pasts—before it's too late."

This book tells of twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora, living at a nearly deserted campground, and all the craziness of their past when a teenage girl ends up going missing nearby. This book was creepy, thrilling in a slow burn kinda way, and tense all the way from start to finish. There were twists and turns, and I believe this was a FABULOUS debut novel for Ms. Bush. Will definitely be looking forward to more in the future.

An intriguing tale that explores the complexities of identity and personal history. The writing is engaging with a good storyline, a few twists, and not many suspects. I liked the twins and thought they brought depth to the story.
Many thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Twisty thriller that weaves past with present. Identical twin sisters Cassie and Lenora a secluded campground in Tennessee. This was one I throughly enjoyed.

This book was so good, I had trouble putting it down! The relationship between Lenora and Cassie is complicated, but at the core they are EVERYTHING to each other.... No one else matters. As I was reading, I thought I knew what was going to happen, but I was so wrong. The emotion, fear, strength, and determination that was represented in this book was just the right amount. Then we you add in jealousy, rage, confusion, and torment it just completes the story. Loved it!

I almost DNF’d several times and the only reason I didn’t is because this is an ARC.
Each time I thought something was about to happen, I said “Oh… that’s all?”. The only thing I enjoyed about this book is the ending and it wasn’t worth sticking around for.

Thank you so much Poisoned Pen Press, Marlee Bush, and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and honestly review this book.

impressive thriller that is surprisingly eventful and effective. a super fun vibe by a rising star in the field.

This was a fun twisty thriller but a little forgettable. This book goes between the two sisters POVs as they live at an old camp ground and keep to themselves because of something that happened in the past. When a teenager from the camp goes missing the two girls try to find out what happened. This was a fun thriller but it did get a little slow in the middle. The ending was unique and twisty and the characters were well done this was a debut from this author and I would definitely pick up another book from this author in the future! I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

When She Was Me is the debut novel from Marlee Bush, but you would never know it.

It follows identical twins staying at a cabin in the woods - and of course something sinister occurs.

If you're typically a fan of thrillers you are sure to love this one.