Holy Bonkers. This one gave me whiplash from all the suspense and trying to figure out what was really going on. I never saw that twist coming and absolutely loved it! Great Debut!!

The twist! I did not see that coming! This book kept me interested and wanting to read more. I couldn't put it down!

This is a book that kept me on the edge of my seat. I was skeptical because of the lower page count (270), but the there were times where I was almost literally stressed out and biting my nails. My favorite aspect of the book was the mystery of it, the whole time I’m trying to fit these pieces together and they never fit quite right. I HATE predictable mystery/thrillers. It takes the fun out of reading. I can genuinely say the plot twist at the end is something I NEVER would have guessed and it had me REELING. 
Essentially, the book is about two traumatized sisters that went through a tragedy together. One sister is a bit more put together (the caretaker) and the other suffers with anxiety and agoraphobia. These sisters live out in a cabin in the woods of Tennessee. Life is fairly normal (for them) until a teenage camper in the neighboring cabin goes missing. Suddenly, the trust between the sisters begins to strain as one of them begins lying to other about their whereabouts the night the girl went missing. How can she trust her sister, when her sister can’t even trust herself and is losing grip on her own reality? 
Pick this book up. Add this to your TBR. You will not be disappointed. Marlee Bush is a rising thriller queen. 👑

When She Was Me by Marlee Bush is a sinister tale of twin sisters Cassie and Lenora, isolated in a Tennessee campground after a shared trauma that has left Lenora with persistent nightmares and anxiety. They are hiding away from the questions of that night, until a family come to stay in the cabin next door... and their teenage daughter goes missing.

The disappearance shakes both women, the details of the crime being far, far too familiar for comfort. Both in their own minds, the sisters are desperate to uncover the truth before their past crashes into their present, hell-bent on destroying them both


Marlee Bush creates a terrifying wildernss scenario, too far away from civilizantion for comfort, but the dichotomy is, that the twins cannot seek solace help from the local town for fear of the press and prying eyes. A very well thought out situation which set up a strong foundation for an excellent thriller. Brilliant

Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen press and the author Marlee Bush for this intriguing ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own

*4.5
Wow. I don’t know how Marlee Bush did it, but this is somehow a psychological slow-burn and a chaotic page turner all in one!

This novel presents itself in a dual POV, taking you through the thoughts and lives of inseparable twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora. They reside together in a cabin in the woods, permanently, after fleeing a dangerous incident with their family that happened one late night many years ago.

Cassie and Lenora are used to being alone together and free of the chaos of the outside world. That is, until a small family rents the other cabin on the lot…and the young daughter turns up dead. Quickly, the memories of their past start flooding in, causing them to question what all truly happened that night, so many years ago…and how well do they really know each other?
I absolutely loved this twisty psychological thriller, and I can’t wait to read future novels by Marlee Bush! What a killer Debut. (No pun intended.)

3.5 stars.

I thought this one had an interesting premise about twin sisters. It was an atmospheric read told in the past and present and in multiple points of view. However, I found the voices not to be distinct enough so I had trouble keeping the twins straight at times.

The author did a good job of making the story creepy, in creating doubt as to which one was the dysfunctional twin, and the ending was cleverly unexpected. I definitely found this one to be a show-burn thriller and I prefer fast-paced ones so I felt that parts of the plot moved very slowly. I think lovers of slow-burn thrillers, family dysfunction, and sister relationships will enjoy this one.

Thanks to the publisher for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

I read my share of thrillers and this one definitely is at the top for jaw dropping twists that I never saw coming. Cassie and Lenora are twins who are inseparable, especially after that fateful night. Now they live in a cabin in a remote cabin campground. When a young girl nearby goes missing, they are forced to remember events they've tried so hard to forget.

This is a fantastic book! It's the perfect creepy thriller that keeps you anxious, nervous to read at night, and checking that your doors are locked It's full of twists and secrets that you don't see coming up until the last page. The connection between Cassie and Lenora was so well woven together. The side characters were well thought out, and every interaction served to propel the story forward. The story is told in dual timeline and this format served the story so well. The setting is immersive and you feel like you're there with the characters trying to solve the mystery of what happened to the girl.

Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for an early digital review copy.

I found the build up to the tension very well done, kept me wondering what was happening and how everything was falling into place. I truly didn’t see the twist coming but I loved when it was revealed! Very fast reading experience the book pulls you right in

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the ARC for my review.
For being a debut novel this is really good. It was a slower paced thriller book, but it kept me hooked. Some points I had to reread the section because I couldn’t believe what was happening. This book had twists all the way up until the end. I really liked how the book was about the twins Cassie and Lenora, it was awesome to see how much they were alike, but also so different. They were always there to protect each other. I can’t wait to read more books by Marlee Bush.

Great 4.5 ⭐️ read!

The twin dynamic between Cassie and Lenora was sweet and a bit creepy at times, but they're twins! I loved the dual POVs and dual timelines, switching back and forth between characters and between past and present. The pace was on the slower side for me personally for a thriller, but the twisty ending was worth the slow burn. I was pleasantly shocked to find out this was a debut! I'll be eager to see what this author has in store for us in the future.

I could not put this book down. It makes you question everything you think you know. What would you do for your sister?

When She Was Me by Marlee Bush delivers a gripping narrative that keeps you guessing until the very end. I cannot believe this is a debut! From the moment you step into the secluded world of Cabin Two with twin sisters Cassie and Lenora, you're drawn into their mysterious past and the secrets they harbor. The slow burn of the story sets the stage for a shocking twist that completely changes the game, and from there, it's impossible to put down.

Bush expertly crafts an atmosphere of tension and suspense, using the isolated Tennessee campground setting to heighten the sense of claustrophobia and unease. Just when you think you have it all figured out, the story takes an unexpected turn that will leave you reeling. Around the 60% mark, the pace picks up, and the intensity escalates, making it unputdownable as you race to uncover the truth alongside Cassie and Lenora.

What truly sets this book apart is its exploration of the complex bond between the sisters and the haunting memories they share. As they grapple with the disappearance of a teenage girl and confront the demons of their own pasts, the line between truth and deception blurs, keeping you on the edge of your seat until the final page. Bush masterfully weaves together suspense, emotion, and psychological insight to create a truly unforgettable read. Whether you're a fan of mystery, thriller, or family drama, this book has something for everyone. Don't miss out on this thrilling ride! The audio was so well done and I would fully recommend it!

Thank you to Netgalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for an arc of When She Was Me in exchange for an honest review.

This was a really cool thriller and very creepy, made even better by the fact that I read it during a power outage;) The twins were wild and the plot twist I didn’t see coming- I only guessed one part but that ending was excellent!

When She was Me is an intriguing thriller following identical twins who live an isolated life as the result of a mysterious childhood trauma. The twins are living in one of three cabins on a secluded campsite. When the owner of the campsite dies, a new owner takes over, and tragedy strikes when a guest renting the third cabin disappears shortly thereafter. The book bounces back and forth between the twin's POVs and includes chapters from the past told from an anonymous POV. Marlee Bush does an excellent job creating a spooky ambiance and the while the characters are odd, they add to the overall atmosphere of the book. The flashbacks kept me guessing the whole time and I did not see the outcome coming. I felt some of the chapters were a little long and drawn out but overall, a great debut with a surprising ending.

Thank you @poisonedpenpress @netgalley #partner for the free book!

I am a sucker for stories about sisters and what better than to be also be about twins!Cassie and Lenora have an unbreakable bond stemming not only from being sisters but from a fateful night where they are forever intertwined from an event that left them running for the woods. Literally. Hiding and starting over they find themselves at a quiet campground in Tennessee tucked away from their past. Everything seems to be going well until a girl in the cabin next door goes missing. Her disappearance leaves Cassie and Lenora feeling very unsettled bringing back memories they would have rather left buried. As they try to figure out what happened to the missing girl they start to question each other and the past they tried so hard to outrun.

Thoughts: Let me first point out I can’t pass up a book with a creepy house on the cover and this one definitely grabbed me. It gives the perfect secluded in the woods, eerie, missing girl vibes I always am looking for! SOLD on the cover alone! 😅 Thankfully the story was nightmarish as well! I love the relationship between both sisters. Their undying loyalty definitely turned into codependency and enabling each other. It worked well and added to the storyline for me to constantly doubt both of them! This book for me was a bit of a slow burn but as it neared the end the twists and pacing picked up quite a bit! I didn’t guess the motives and drivers for these ghastly deeds! I loved the ending and most certainly will be checking out Marlee’s next book!

This book was not for me. It wasn't that the writing was bad, I just didn't connect with the plot. I found myself zoning out while reading and having to go back so I didn't miss anything, I also wasn't impressed by the twist and the whole thing was very lackluster in my opinion. Again, the writing was good, the story itself just didn't hold my attention.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me! I didn't find myself enjoying the writing style right now, but I may try to come back in the future and continue, because I just love the premise of this story.

Wow! This one had my head spinning. This is the story of two twin sisters, many murders, fires, and undying love. Sounds unpredictable? You would be correct. Told from the pov of both sisters, and also past and present, this one kept me guessing. I couldn’t figure out which sister I could trust, or if I couldn’t trust either one. And I never saw the ending coming. Great debut novel by Marlee Bush. 4⭐️ Thank you @marleebushwriter, @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for this eARC

When she was me by Marlee Bush

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!

First of all, I have to mention that the cover of this book drew my eye initially and let me tell you the cover is stunning. Definitely an instant pick up if I would walk by it.

Cassie and Lenora are twins, Inseparable and they have been since an awful night that causes so much trauma that Lenora is plagued with the inability to live outside of locked doors in the cabin they rent. Cassie puts her trauma into a more constructive lifestyle retelling the stories in a video podcast type format that focuses on the victims of trauma, in an attempt to overcome her own.

The story takes place in a cabin in the woods when another family inhabits the cabin close by. The family comes for vacation getaway when their 15 year old daughter ends up missing in the middle of the night. . The story gets increasingly interesting when the only other person that saw Tilly was Lenora who was sleepwalking. Such an interesting turn of events.

The story was interesting and kept my attention but seemed to drag to get to the point, I loved the premise of the story and the creepy feelings I would get hoping to have the next aha moment.
I bounced around with rating this book but I believe most people will enjoy this and the crazy that it sheds a light on.

This was one of the most horror-y thrillers I’ve read in a long time. I thought i had things figured out but the plot twists were so good. I was anxious reading this whole book and overall felt like it kept a decent pace. I took off a star because there were some areas that felt a little slow to me and there were also so many horror movie cliches that frustrated me (people were getting murdered so why did 100% of the plot happen out in the woods after midnight?? Also, how did the killer break in when the cabins were locked down??) Overall this was an absolutely exceptional debut and I’ll look forward to future books!