Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ArC of this book.

This book was gripping and I enjoyed it a lot because I like 2 POVs chapter after chapter changing. Especially when they are twins and different ones at that. Cassie is the one that shines, while Lenora stays inside mostly and remains in the shadow of her.

They both live together in a cabin deep in the woods. , Cassie is into true crime and Lenora, well, is just so very different. When a 16 year old goes missing from a cabin near there cabin, that night Lenora was sleepwalking and the list of suspects is short. I really liked this one and the big differences in the twins made it the story better. I recommend it.

#whenshewasme A fantastic thriller that makes you want to stay up late to finish. That what’s going to happen next keeps you going and wondering. A great ride from page one!

While this was a very promising debut it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I wasn’t a fan of the pacing of the story or the overall storyline however it was also well written if that makes sense. There was a lot of time spent on the characters and their development which is something that is usually lacking or overlooked. All in all it was enjoyable but I not super memorable

This is a dark, creepy tale with an abundance of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the shocking, yet satisfying, end, I highly recommend.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When She Was Me follows two twins sisters who are living in a secluded camp site. They enjoy the privacy and prefer a peaceful lifestyle. All is well until a teenage girl ends up missing in a neighboring cabin at their campsite. Not only are they trapped in seclusion with a potential kidnapper (or maybe even murderer), the twins’s twisted and traumatic childhood memories resurface.

I thought the atmosphere for this book was well done. The reader feels like they are trapped with the main characters and the feeling of panic and worry escalates throughout this book. The twists and turns were great but I do wish there were more to keep my invested! I thought it was a bit of a slow burn and repetitive, and the ending was predictable. Overall, I gave When She Was Me 3 stars.

Cassie and Lenora are twin sisters and permanent residents in a campground cabin in rural Tennessee. They have a troubled past, but while they live here they can just simply... exist. Trying to forget their troubled past isn't easy, but they're giving in their, almost, best shot. A new campground owner, Sarah, takes over and initially both sisters are worried that she's here to change everything. Not long after she shows up, a young girl who was staying in a cabin with her parents is murdered. The finger is pointed at everyone, and we are left wondering... who did it?

It seems like there are twists and turns at every corner, but yet I still found it quite slow and hard to get into. It wasn't until about 70% of the way through the book did I really start to get invested. I enjoyed the locations and found the author skilled in descriptive writing, and allowing us to really visualise where we are. Some of the characters were interesting, and none of my theories panned out in the end which I quite like.

I love thrillers and mysteries and this book was REALLY good and I highly recommend it! I did find some issues with it (hence the 4 stars) but I will definitely be getting the book and it will be on on my forever reread list. Go read it! You will not regret it! If the author has more books I will definitely be reading them!

This was an ARC read for NetGalley. Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this. This is my honest review and I was not paid for it.

A little slow in pacing but if you are a fan of a slow burn mystery/thriller with a true crime + murder pod feel you will enjoy this.
Personally I just like my thrillers/mysteries to have a little more of a jog and less of a early morning mall walker vibe.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




✨ Two Povs
✨ Different timeline
✨ Psychological thriller
✨ cabin in the wood vibes





✨ the story kind of reminds me of where the crawdads sing. Cabin in the wood vibes . Survival on a remote place. But the difference was the story is twin . Comes into two pov, Cassie and Lenora .
It’s a super slow burn, telling what happen in the past what is going on with there lives now to survive.
Somewhat one is hiding something and as a reader it’s good that you keep guessing what will happen next.


✨ overall, it’s a good read.
It just too slow and almost dnf it .
The hype wasn’t worth it but considering this is a debut book of the author I couldn’t wait what can she do.


✨ Thankyou @poisonedpenpress for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.

I enjoyed it I have been in a thriller kick lately and have been discovering new authors and after reading this book I will be reading more of Marlee bush’s work

So much love for this psychological thriller! The isolated world of twin sisters Cassie and Lenora was so hypnotic that I was immediately engrossed in trying to learn what happened in their past. The writing style is exactly my pace--a slow burn that still holds the reader's attention throughout. I cannot believe that this is a debut novel; Marlee Bush writes in a show-don't-tell manner of authors who have been writing for decades. When She Was Me is a perfect book for the upcoming spooky season, and I cannot wait to see what future novels come from this author!

When She Was Me is a dark multi-POV tale of sisters, secrets, and a creepy secluded campground. Smart twists and turns kept me guessing the whole time. The ending was satisfying and not what I expected. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers featuring complex characters.

For all my thriller girlies, go get this book!! This book kept me guessing and on the edge of my seat the entire time, I did not want to put it down. I love the unreliable narrator aspects of the story that keep you unsure of what to believe and the setting was perfect for a good thriller. The story revolves around two sisters who live on a campground and are both coping with things from their past that they have to confront when a visitor to the campground goes missing. The writing was fantastic, I was shocked to realize this is a debut novel, Marlee Bush is a name I am sure we will all be seeing more of!
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!!

First I want to thank NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for my ARC of When She Was Me. This debut was definitely a good one! It kept me on my toes! I It kept me guessing till the end. I do love a good cabin in the woods plot! The multiple POVs help the reader come to their own conclusions and assumptions. However the twist definitely proved me wrong. If you’re looking for a good suspense, thriller, I definitely recommend this one! I can’t wait to read more of Marlee’s writing!

This book had me on my toes! It was so good. I loved the setting of the cabin in the woods. Even though it was a campground with others living there too, the isolation of the place really gripped me and made me question what everyone was doing. The sisters both were unique and it was written in a way that made it hard to tell who was the one hiding things. I thought I had it somewhat figured out as I was reading along but that twist at the end just punched me in the face. I did not see that coming and it made me think back and reflect on the entire book in a new light. I need another book by this author ASAP because this one was just so good.

(3.5, rounded up to 4)

Set against the backdrop of a secluded wilderness cabin, Marlee Bush’s debut novel, “When She Was Me,” crackles with tension and intrigue, ready to surprise readers at every turn.

Twin sisters Cassie and Lenora share a bond forged in trauma. Their past shadows their present, leading them to retreat to Cabin Two, an isolated refuge from the world deep in the woods of Tennessee. Bush deftly explores the twins' intimacy, alternating between their perspectives. Cassie, the outgoing sister, befriends Tilly, a teenage outsider occupying Cabin Three. Lenora, the more reclusive one, observes from a distance. But when Tilly disappears, suspicion falls on the sisters. That is when their long-held secrets threaten to unravel.

Bush’s prose is wonderfully suspenseful. She weaves cryptic narratives, hinting at buried truths. Lenora’s therapy sessions add layers of complexity and further prompt readers to wonder what happened between Cassie and Lenora. The novel’s pacing keeps readers guessing, and the twins’ unreliable perspectives heighten the intrigue. Bush’s narrative subverts genre tropes, leaving readers questioning reality.

The cabin’s isolated setting, with its rustling leaves and oppressive silence, becomes palpable. As Cassie and Lenora grapple with their past, readers feel the weight of secrets. Bush’s portrayal of the twins as both protectors and suspects adds depth to the story.

“When She Was Me” is a lightning bolt of a thriller, electrifying and unputdownable, with plenty of twists and revelations.

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! Twin sisters are bound by trauma and live their lives sequestered from the world in a cabin. One day a 15 year old and her family rent a cabin nearby, which throws the twins for a loop and their routine is completely upended.
Alternating POVs kept the story moving forward and kept me turning the pages. I wasn’t sure where it was going to end, which always makes for a fun read, trying to guess the whodunit.
This would make a great summer read as you can blow through it pretty quickly. Pretty captivating debut!

This book had me by the throat from the beginning. I love nothing more than a book that makes me question reality. Can't wait to read more from this author!

When She Was Me by Marlee Bush is a riveting psychological thriller that truly captivated me from start to finish. The story revolves around twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora, who share identical looks but couldn't be more different in personality. Cassie is fascinated with true crime and spends her time documenting the stories of killers, while Lenora struggles with severe anxiety, often retreating into her own world.

The plot thickens when their peaceful, isolated life in a Tennessee campground is disrupted by new neighbors. The disappearance of Tilly, the fifteen-year-old daughter of the new family, plunges the twins into a web of mystery and suspicion. Lenora, who may have witnessed something during one of her sleepwalking episodes, is the central figure in uncovering the truth.

I found the character development in this book to be exceptional. Bush does a fantastic job of portraying the twins' complex relationship, their shared history, and the individual traumas that shape their actions. The alternating perspectives between Cassie and Lenora add depth to the narrative, making it a rich, immersive experience.

The slow-burn nature of the story kept me on edge, and the gradual unfolding of secrets made for a compelling read. While the pacing might be a bit slow for those who prefer fast-paced thrillers, I appreciated the detailed exploration of the characters' psyches and the atmospheric tension that built up throughout the book.

Overall, When She Was Me is a masterful blend of psychological drama and mystery. It’s a story that delves deep into the intricacies of twin dynamics, the impact of past traumas, and the blurry line between reality and delusion. If you enjoy psychological thrillers with well-developed characters and a haunting, slow-burn plot, this book is definitely one to add to your reading list.

Definitely a slow burn atmospheric read. It kept me on my toes not knowing who to trust and if all of it was real or in part imagined. I had so many theories and none of them panned out.

While identical twins were front and center, they couldn't have been more different. One didn't leave home while the other was a true crime blogger that went everywhere without shoes in the cold. I had a hard time connecting with the twins and I'm not sure if it was the characters or the repetitiveness of the story, but that detracted from the book when the story is so heavily character driven.

Imani Jade Powers does a good job narrating this one. She nails the atmosphere and tension and while the main characters are identical twins, this one could have benefitted from a second narrator. At times I went back to make sure I knew who was narrating that chapter.

If you are a fan of slow burn mysteries with dual timelines, you should check this one out.