Have you seen the hoopla on this one? I did and dove right in and loved it. It was complex enough to keep me guessing yet easy enough to follow.

With dual POVs and dual narration, my favorite way to listen to dual POVs, I was immersed in the story from the beginning. While it’s labeled as YA since both POVs are high school students, I think this one appeals to adults as well. The focus is on the missing girl and not any high school angst.

I had to know what would happen and it kept me guessing. While all the clues were right there in front of me, of course I fell for a red herring.

I don’t think I’ve ever listened to Sophie Amoss or Robb Moreira as a narrator, they did a terrific job and I’d gladly listen to either one again.

If you need a pick me up suspenseful read, pick this one up.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me listen to this early release, I am very thankful. Starting with a missing girl, following the trail of clues to find her that ended up nothing like I thought it would. Great job at keeping me intrigued and in the dark about the ending.

Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for my review.

This book sucks you in quickly. And it's not what you think. The ending is heart breaking, but uplifting.

The narrators do a great job.

Looking forward to reading more from this author.

This was a gripping and suspenseful young adult thriller that reads like an adult thriller. This book kept me engaged from start to finish. I listened to this on audio and the narrators were on point. 4.5 stars rounded up!

This story is told by two different POV - Mary and Drew. Mary wakes up on the side of the road bruised and beaten and does not have a clue who she is. While the police try to help figure out who this girl is a frantic man named Wayne shows up at the police station saying he is her father and he has the proof to back this up. Drew is a teenager whos girlfriend Lola goes missing and everyone in town think that he is responsible for her disappearance. The police believe that Drew is responsible so he takes the investigation into his own hands. Are these two events connected? Is Wayne truly Mary's father. Will Drew find Lola in time?

This book was captivating, dark and twisted and I cannot believe this is considered young adult. The characters are well developed and the twists kept me guessing till the very end. I definitely recommend this book. This is my second book of the new year and so far 2024 has been off to a good start!

Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Wow! A terrific debut from Mrs. Megan Lally.

This read quick! I had a great time, specially with our male protagonist’s POV.

Great writing for a YA book, and no, I don’t mean it condescendingly, I mean it in the way that it actually feels like it’s written from the lenses of young adults/teenagers instead of the usual ‘omg gen z i hate my parents 1!1!1!’ writing that many authors tend to do, missing the entire point of how actual teens think and talk. I adored the dynamic of the friends that are just so desperate to find their beloved Lola, it was very touching and stratosphered this author’s name on my radar.

While experienced thriller readers may agree that the plot is predictable, I really think it’s a good introduction to the thriller/mystery genre regardless of age.

Thank you NetGalley and RB media for the opportunity to listen to the audiobook in exchange for an honest review

I was pleasantly surprised by this book! As a fan of YA thriller novels, I couldn't be happier when they are as impeccably written as this one. The author skillfully held my interest throughout the entire novel, and the ending was nothing short of amazing.

What stood out to me the most were the well-developed characters. I appreciated the author's attention to both suspense and the emotional depth of the characters. It added a unique dimension to the story that made it truly engaging. Overall, a fantastic read that seamlessly blends suspense and character development.

The dual point of view in this book, featuring both a female and male narrator, was a brilliant choice. It added complexity, deepened the narrative, and heightened suspense. This thoughtful approach enhanced the overall reading experience.

When a teen wakes up on the side of the road, bruised and battered with no memory, the police work to figure out who she is. Soon, a frantic man arrives claiming to be her father and that her name is Mary - he even has documentation to prove it. On the other side of town, Drew is dealing with a town who thinks he murdered his girlfriend Lola after she vanishes Into thin air. As Drew works to prove his innocence, he must get to the bottom of what really happened to Lola before its’ too late to help her.

It is only the start of the new year, and I already have a book on my Young Adult favorites of 2024. This YA thriller completely blew me away from start to finish. Do not let the categorization fool you - That’s Not My Name reads like an adult thriller, with twists and turns along the way and a dark and chilling atmosphere you won’t soon forget. By the time I finished, my jaw was on the floor, and what had seemed slightly predicable, was in fact the opposite. I picked this one up solely because of the rave reviews, and yet this incredible debut from Megan Lally surpassed all expectations. And it is fantastic on audio, narrated by Sophie Amoss and Robb Moreira, who did an outstanding job bringing these characters to life.

* 2024 Favorites *

Read if you like:
•chilling stories
•atmospheric settings
•mature YA thrillers
•detective stories
•dual pov

Thank you {partners} Sourcebooks Fire and Recorded Books for my gifted copy.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
That's Not My Name by Megan Lally audiobook narrated by Sophie Amoss and Robb Moreira is a heartbreaking suspenseful young adult mystery thriller. What was interesting - it didn't feel like it was a young adult thriller. If you did not think about the character ages you would not feel the difference!
The storyline kept me engaged to the very end and around the middle my anxiety started to hit the roof! If I love something while I am reading or listening to the book is emotions! Real feelings and emotions!

This book is presented from two points of view.
A young girl is found in the ditch with no memory so when Wayne is providing all the evidence and paperwork of being her father she is happy to follow him to his mountain cabin. Her memory returns slowly but it contradicts what Wayne is saying.

Lola is a young girl who goes missing and her boyfriend Drew is accused of hurting her. Drew is doing everything to find Lola but the local sheriff is concentrating on finding evidence against Drew instead of finding Lola. Soon Drew understands that the only way to progress is to take the investigation into his own hands.

With a great twist, these two separate stories come together and take the reader with an unexpected gasp.

I absolutely enjoyed the dual narration as was easy to follow both stories. The narrators have done a fantastic job and made this story alive.

Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media for this book as I enjoyed it so much!

Wow, just wow.

I would like to thank NetGalley and RB Media, Recorded Books for the opportunity to listen to this audiobook.

First, Megan Lally ]is fantastic. This was edge of my seat and couldn’t put it down kind of read. Another review said, “just one more chapter kind of book” and I couldn’t agree more.

Before I discuss the book, I have said this time and time again, but when authors and publishers invest in having two narrators, it is beyond worth it. These narrators were great and made me feel like I was there as they told their story, It just simply captured the voices of the characters so well. It’s a struggle listening to audiobooks sometimes and these narrators made it delectable. Kudos to the decision to have two, and also to the narrators who were stellar.

This book is told from a dual perspective where we hear from both Drew and Mary. Mary wakes up with a version of amnesia, where she’s found on the side of the road, and can’t remember anything. Only to be recovered by her father, but gets the sense that things just aren’t right. Drew, on the other hand, is trying to locate his missing girlfriend. The last time he saw her, he left her alone and broken hearted.

Mary keeps having uncovered memories, but something feels amiss. Drew is being accused of doing something to his girlfriend, and it’s a race against the clock for both to figure out what’s going on.

The story is paced so well that you end a chapter and want more. The clues to uncovering what’s happening is perfectly placed and I found myself audibly talking to the book and some gasps!

I read this in less than 24 because it’s just that good. Megan Lally, fantastic job! I’m in awe! I cannot wait to see more from you!

2024 is kicking butt for some amazing books thus far!
#ThatsNotMyName #NetGalley

4.5⭐
Genre ~ YA thriller
Setting ~ Oregon
Publication date ~ December 26, 2023
Est page Count ~ 300 (29 chapters +e)
Audio length ~ 9 hours 1 minutes
Narrators ~ Sophie Amoss, Robb Moreira
POV ~ dual 1st
Featuring ~ debut, amnesia, kidnapping, amatuer sleuthing, some violence

Wowza! I can see why this is currently a #1 new release on Amazon. And it's a debut!

The Girl wakes up in a ditch bruised and battered not knowing who or where she is. Wayne says she's his daughter, Mary, and he has all the proof the cops need to release her into his care, even though she has no clue who he is. I was so scared for her.
Drew's girlfriend, Lola, is missing and the whole town blames him. No one will listen to him, so he and his two friends, Max & Autumn, take matters in their own hands and search for Lola.

The characters were well developed. The teens didn't act like immature tools. I mean the amatuer sleuthing was a bit implausible, but what were they supposed to do when no one would take these kids seriously. Wayne's creepiness was convincing.

This gripped me right from the start and didn't let go until the crazy ending. It was super fast paced, suspenseful and intense throughout. If this is Megan's debut I don't know how she'll top it in her next books.

The cover and font give off the perfect creepy vibes.

Narration notes:
Both of them sounded age appropriate and did a great job. Sophie was properly frantic and convincing as a captive. Robb's anguish was evident throughout.

This was a fantastic story! I loved how the story was told from two perspectives. You could sense a relationship between the two narrators, but it wasn’t quite clear what it was until you continued to unravel the story. Very well done!

YA thriller, A young girl wakes up on the side of the road with no memory of who she is. A man claiming to be her father finds her and take her home. In a town elsewhere, a boy is looking for his missing girlfriend Lola while trying to convince the police he’s not involved with her disappearance.
- The perfect YA thriller, very fast paced.
- Sometimes predictable but still very entertaining!
- I can’t believe this is Lally’s debut! It’s so good! Can’t wait to see what she does next.

You think you have it and then… nope! Loved the twist but wish we could have more background. Hard to reveal additional details without spoilers but I imagined this as a movie the whole time. Really enjoyed this one, especially the audio version, with spot in narration! Easy listen and would absolutely recommend. Would actually rate at 4.5 stars.

I am not okay!! This book was amazing! I loved every minute of it, it was hard to stop listening to. The story was easy to follow and easy to connect with. I found myself hoping and praying Lola would come home unharmed. This is a great YA mystery/thriller. I can’t wait to share this story with my students!

Also… THE ENDING!! Such a great read and an easy 5 stars!

ARC audiobook provided in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed the male/female dual narration on this book! It definitely helped bring the characters and story to life for me and I couldn’t imagine it being done any other way! The story itself was compelling and held my attention throughout. It’s about a girl that goes missing and similarly, a girl that gets found after a car accident with no memory to speak of and a man claiming he’s the girls father. I did not see the ending coming at all! It seemed fairly predictable until the last few chapters that just blew my mind! I would totally recommend to anyone who likes psychological thrillers and mysteries!

Decent YA mystery with some surprises.

I listened to this as an audiobook and once I got started I had difficulty stopping. It's very intriguing and I really wanted to know what was really going on. Both narrators are engaging and kept me invested.

A girl wakes up in a ditch. She is picked up by a police officer and has no memory of who she is or even of her name. A man comes into the police station frantically looking for his missing daughter Mary. He produces all of the proper photos and identification showing that this girl is indeed his daughter, and he is able to take her home. In another city, Drew is a suspect in his girlfriend Lola's disappearance. He was the last person to see her, and enough time has passed that everyone believes he killed her. Drew won't give up looking. Are these two situations connected?

I thought I knew what was going on, but it turned out to be much more twisty than I imagined. If you've read any of my reviews, you know I dislike the "wrongly accused" trope but in this case it's handled well and I didn't mind it as much as usual.

This is a very fast paced story with relatable characters and a real sense of foreboding. The mystery unfolds deliberately in both cases, and I really liked the ending epilogue, it put a very satisfying cap on the tale. There are a couple of things I had some slight quibbles about, but I'm picky about details (Like there's no way Wayne, being the guy he was, would have let Mary watch Schitt's Creek). Overall though, if you like YA mysteries this is an excellent example of a uniquely written one and I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.

This was exactly what I was in the mood for: a totally bingeable thriller that didn’t require my brain to work overtime. I rarely pick up YA on my own, but That’s Not My Name has been getting great reviews by friends I trust and I’m really glad I gave it a go!

I enjoyed the mystery but I really liked the characters. The friend group was great and this felt pretty authentic for high schoolers without feeling like an adult trying to write a teenager. The author did a fabulous job bringing her characters to life and I’m shocked this was a debut.

The audiobook was perfect! Great narration and I struggled to put it down! Highly recommend.

3.75 stars rounded up - seriously, Goodreads, get on the fractional rating bandwagon!!
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this YA mystery/thriller. Usually YA reads are a hit or miss for me. This landed more firmly in the hit column.
This is the story of missing girls, a relentless search, and the power of friendship and perseverance. We have a dual POV between "Mary" - a teenaged girl who has temporary amnesia after waking up in a ditch on the side of the road covered in bruises. She has no idea who she is or how she got there. Luckily her father comes to report his daughter missing and they are able to reconnect pretty quickly. We follow her through the first 5-6 days of her "new normal" as she tries to remember pieces of her past. When her memory does come back, as the title suggests, she realizes that not everything is what it appears to be.
The second POV is from Drew - a teenaged boy searching desperately for his missing girlfriend. She went missing months ago and Drew is the prime suspect. If he is to be believed, he has nothing to do with her disappearance.
Here are my thoughts:
PROS: I liked the pacing. Every time I was getting a bit bored with the storyline (more on that later) or I thought it was dragging a bit, Lally would switch it up and pop us into the other POV. This kept the book moving and provided some added tension and suspense. Although I guessed the main part of the ending fairly early on (this is YA after all), there was one aspect that defied most in this genre and I appreciated that. I listened to this all in one day and found it a fast-paced, easy listen. I enjoyed the narrators (two narrators - a female for Mary's POV and a male for Drew's). They were delightful to listen to. The quality of the recording was good too.
CONS: Drew was extremely whiney and the "poor me" introspection got a little bit much for me. I know he's a teen, but there was a LOT of, in my opinion, unnecessary introspection and asking himself rhetorical or what if questions. Still, like I said earlier, this was counteracted with the switch in POVs every time I found myself ready to roll my eyes at him. I enjoyed Mary's POV much more. She had a lot of introspection too, but it made more sense given she was trying to piece together her memories. This book follows the typical YA mystery trope of bumbling, blinders-on, small town cop who doesn't listen to "just kids" and ignores compelling evidence because it doesn't fit his suspect. Therefore a bunch of teenagers are able to "solve" the case before the police - I am just not buying some of the antics they get up to, but it's fiction, so... entertainment value?
The ending seemed a bit drawn out. There was the actual ending, which went on for much longer than I thought it should. Then there was a follow-up newspaper article. Then there was an epilogue. It was a lot. The reveal/twist, although not unexpected for me, was good. I found it plausible and not heavy-handed in terms of the reasons behind the villain's actions.
OVERALL - this was an enjoyable YA read for me. A few cuss words but no sexy times, so I wouldn't hesitate handing it to my own teen daughter. Definitely pick this one up if you enjoy the YA mystery genre.
Thank you to NetGalley, Megan Lally, and the publisher for allowing me to honestly review this ARC copy of the audiobook.

This was one of the best crime thrillers I've read in a long time. It gave me "Lovely Bones" vibes with the complete gut wrenching suspense and character development of a seemingly normal murderer. I pride myself on guessing the end of such books but this one definitely did not disappoint with the complete plot twist at the end. I would love to read more from this author in the future. I will review on Goodreads, IG & TT and make sure to tag accordingly.

I am speechless and have been on the edge of my seat… for this entire book. I don’t think I’ve ever rooted for any character in a thriller as much as I’ve rooted for Drew and ‘Mary’. My anxiety was a level 10 the last 30% of the book (in the best way possible). I think this is my first thriller I’ve ever read to make me ball my eyes out of these characters at the end. This entire story was brilliantly written and I only have two words. No notes. Go in blind and enjoy every minute! I promise it will be hard to stop once you start this book.

Thank you Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!