This was a good solid thriller for about 90% of the book. I think the ending was rushed & really didn’t make a lot of sense. Marlee is a great writer and I’m excited to see more from her.

This book. Wow. Every twist and turn got me honestly. Well written and good but honestly, it’s probably just a one time read for me.

When she was me is about identical twins named Cassie and Lenora, Cassie feels they are soul sisters and attached to the hip, while Lenora feels a disconnect between them two.. Their friend whom they just met went missing one night and one of them maybe had something to do with it in their sleep?
When she was me flashes back between the present and past life of Lenora and Cassie. The book felt like it was taking forever to get to the next set of events. I had a hard time staying interested. I feel like if the story was more condensed it would have been great. "Parent Trap" was a favorite movie of mine and this book had essence of seeing double like the movie.
I truly wished I enjoyed this book more.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

This book is guaranteed to make your head spin and you’ll be questioning everything! Unreliable narrators galore so you never quite know what you should believe or take with a grain of salt! I really enjoyed the character development and the setting of camping cabins in the mountains. It created the perfect backdrop for the identical twins to hide out and be reclusive. I would definitely recommend if you like psychological thrillers and mysteries!

This is the first book in over a year that genuinely gave me the creeps reading in the dark. I felt like I was going crazy the entire time alongside Lenora and Cassie. I will now read every book this author has written.

OMG this book is great. This is a murder mystery the perfectly skates the line with a horror novel and has psychological tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. I am absolutely blown away by this debut novel. The story centers on identical twin sisters Cassie and Lenore. Most of their life is shrouded in secrets, but you know that there was a terrible night that resulted in the sisters living in one of three secluded cabins in the woods. Cassie likes to roam the woods barefoot and feels the need to always be there for her sister. Lenore has agoraphobia and rabbit holes in the lives of her neighbors believing that they are keeping secrets. The campsite they live on is sold to Sarah, who is looking for a change of pace from her previous life. She moves into Cabin one the same day renters come to cabin 3. In under a week weird things begin happening on the property that was previously only occupied by the twins, and everything seems to keep leading them back to that one terrible night in their past... When Tilly, the teenager staying in cabin three with her family, goes missing the lives of the twins becomes one long waking nightmare. The story is told from both sister’s point of view and jumps between the present and a mysterious “then”. There were times when the narrative was a little repetitive but overall, it worked. I get that sometimes you have to keep saying “what happened that night” in a secretive manner instead of telling the reader what happened that night. But oh boy do you really want to know what happened. I love how the story ended up coming together and how I was sucked into the psychological aspects of the story and forced to doubt my own thoughts on what was happening. The characters were both worth rooting for and despising in equal measure. This book is a welcome addition to the thriller genre.

I would like to preface this review by thanking sourcebooks landmark for sending me an ARC of When She Was Me in exchange for an honest review.

Cassie and Lenora are identical twins living in a cabin in the woods. When the owner of the camp ground passes away, a new owner takes over and things start to get strange. What are Cassie and Lenora hiding from?

I want to start this off by saying there is a lot of trigger warnings on this one especially discussion of complex PTSD, so please check your trigger warnings before reading.

This thriller was definitely a slow burn thriller which usually I don't love but I really enjoyed this one. This book goes between Cassie and Lenora's point of view along with flashbacks from their past. This book will keep you guessing until the end. I found myself speed reading to keep up with everything that was happening towards the end because I just HAD to know. If you don't mind a slower paced thriller I think this is perfect for you. I think this is great for people who are a little scared of thrillers. I didn't find this to be graphic or even scary so if you're looking for a thriller that will keep you guessing, this one's for you.

Cassie being a detective seemed to be the more outspoken take charge one while Lenora seemed to be the timid, soft spoken twin. I kept going back and forth between the two trying to figure them out. The author did a great job at keeping their secrets. Keeping secrets while living secluded in cabin #2. Lenora is more affected by what happened years ago and her sister Cassie wonders what may be happening in the present. What unfolded was so unexpected I did not see what was coming!!


This book had me feeling all kinds of crazy, confused, and shocked, in a good way! Twin sisters Cassie and Lenora had me wondering who I could trust before I came to the conclusion that they are both unreliable. This one is very twisty and the plot twists towards the end will have you feeling like what did she just say (listening to the audiobook). This was a great debut psychological thriller and I will be itching to pick up Marlee’s next one!

I will say there was a patch in the middle that did slow the pace down, but the rest is fast-paced! Check out my aesthetic to convince you to grab this one. I LOVED the audiobook!

I had no idea what was coming in this book. Cassie and Lenora sisters with secrets. The love they have for each other has no end! What will happen when someone else enters their story. There is death all around these women and someone must end it’s! I really likes this book. There was so much happening and it never let up. Great characters that were never quite who you thought they were or were they!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded interesting to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

Marlee Bush has made an exceptional debut. I’m completely lost on how to even begin. This book has the perfect combination of expertly intertwined perspectives, unsettling twin themes, and a thrilling plot that will keep you on the edge of your seat. The story had an extraordinary ability to captivate the reader, with its fast pace and immersive atmosphere. Marlee Bush deserves praise for this incredible novel! It’s out now, so I highly recommend picking this one up!

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for the gifted digital ARC!

Ooooooh y'all I will not lie this one threw me for a LOOP! As I was reading/listening I was thinking this is good but it seems obvious where it's going... I could not have been more wrong. The big twist was sooo good I think my jaw actually dropped. Very surprised and impressed that this is a debut!

Even though this one is longer than your "average" thriller, I think the build-up is important and I can confidently recommend it to fellow thriller lovers.

And what's better than the fact that it's on bookshelves now and you can get your copy ASAP!

"When She Was Me is a captivating, suspense filled thriller that is filled with unexpected twists, suspicion and a strong sisterly bond." ~nerdywordyreviews

Ever since the night it happened, twin sisters Cassie and Lenora have been inseparable. Although both are dealing with the trauma of the events in their own ways, each is not coping well. Cassie takes Lenora away from most civilization to ensure a safe environment for them to thrive. When their landlord suddenly dies, the unpopulated campground they live at gets sold. The woman who purchases it will allow the girls to stay in their cabin and continue their rental agreement, however, the new landlord is keen to get cliental into the remaining units. When a small family shows for a weekend getaway in another cabin, death strikes and all history unfolds itself. Is this a repeat of the past? Will the killer strike again? Who is causing all the chaos?

Author Marlee Bush did a great job with the main characters and the breakdown of their past and psychological issues. This helped understand what was happening in the girl's minds. By skillfully writing the story and gradually unveiling information about the characters' past, the author Marlee Bush made the story more engaging and kept readers second-guessing their suspicions throughout the chapters.
The twists and turns filled the storyline and revealed more about secondary characters than expected.
Despite suspicions and history, Cassie and Lenoras' love and bond shine through as extremely strong throughout the story.
A surprise and twist filled ending finishes the story off really well.

After reading some reviews on here, I noticed this is the author’s DEBUT novel!? Fantastic! I needed a palate cleanser from the romance books and this thriller really delivered. I immediately fell in love with the creepy atmosphere. Isolated in the woods with a feeling of someone constantly watching you. I was slightly scared to walk around in my house in the dark after finishing this one.

I really enjoyed the bond between both twins throughout the story. I will protect you no matter what vibe. From the multiple POVs, to timeline jumping from past to present, you're trying to put the puzzle pieces together to understand how the sisters got to where they are today.

While reading I continuously doubted every character and didn’t see the end coming. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Marlee Bush and highly recommend this book if you're looking for a twisty thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.

I recently had the chance to read an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley. Although not typically my genre, I decided to delve in. I found myself captivated by the intriguing dynamics between the twins right from the start. While the plot occasionally left me puzzled, it added to the suspense in a positive manner. The author skillfully kept me guessing about the next turn of events and the ultimate direction of the narrative. The unexpected twist took me by surprise, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd certainly recommend it if you're seeking a compelling story with well-developed characters and a dose of suspense.

When She Was Me
Marlee Bush

This one was hard for me to get into. For some reason I couldn’t keep the sisters straight. I would be in one girls perspective and had to constantly keep going back to figure out whose point of view I was currently in.

This story definitely gave off creepy vibes. I loved the twin aspect but it was a miss for me because I just felt lost most of the time.

This was a great debut novel from this author! 👏 It had that out-of-nowhere twist that makes you go “Wait…what?!?? Ohhhhhh….”! 😱 Did not see that coming! ❤️ The ending though was a little predictable and I do feel like it dragged a little at one point. But that one twist! 👌

Overall, a great twisty read that I would definitely recommmend checking out! 🙌

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Marlee Bush for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! Look forward to reading more from you, Marlee! ❤️

DNF at 4%. I felt weird immediately upon starting: the pace is so slow and it gives off a weird vibe that I don’t really like. I could feel it was just setting up for being a psychological thriller between twins and it’s too off putting for my tastes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Marlee Bush, and Poisoned Pen Press for a review copy.

This book grabbed my attention instantly during the prologue.
I found that the whole book left me guessing from start to finish.
The story has a Dual timeline and pov.

The buildup to the plot twist was a tad slow, but it still kept me interested.
If you like a stand alone thriller that keeps you on your toes, I highly recommend. Not to mention, it’s Marlee Bush’s debut book. I can’t wait to see what more she has in store for us!

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When She Was Me, by @marleebushwriter is a fast-paced psychological thriller.

This book was so captivating! The plot got me hooked right from the start and got me creeped out from time to time! I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what was gonna happen!

You follow the journey of identical twins in a secluded campsite, with both POVs, as well as an alternate timeline going back in the past. The character development is very well executed, especially for a thriller! The woodsy and secluded setting makes the whole book eerie and you're completely immersed in the story.

Now. Let's talk about that twist! WHAT A TWIST! I didn't see it coming. I had my guesses and was not too far off, but maaaaan, I was not expecting that!

This is her debut novel, and I - as you can tell - loved it! I'm definitely gonna check her out in the future!

📆 When She Was Me is being released today! So don't hesitate and go get your copy!

Thank you @netgalley @poisonedpenpress and @marleebushwriter for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

~ "They don't warn you about this in school. They warn you about the men in vans offering treats to get you inside. They warn you of drug use and STDS. But no one ever warned me about the dangers of my own thoughts. No one ever told me that there could come a time when trusting myself would be difficult and hating myself would be easy. What to do when the monster is you." ~