That's Not My Name is not your typical book. I had certain expectations while listening to the book of who is who and who does what. Needless to say, I was thinking incorrectly until the very end of the book. I think Megan Lally has a great art of writing and engaging the reader. I was blown away by the story and the development chapter after chapter. I highly recommend this book!

Wow! This one was so good! This one was frustrating, suspenseful, mysterious, heartbreaking, and happy ( a little).
A girl without any memory is found on the side of the road and brought to a police station. Her dad shows up scared that he cannot find her anywhere. She is brought back to a fishing cabin in the woods to recover from a car accident that left her hurt on the side of the road. Meanwhile, in another city, Drew is looking for his missing girlfriend, Lola. All suspicion is on him because she was last seen with him.
We get Drew's POV and the girl on the side of the road, Mary's POV. Drew is not stopping to find her and Mary is slowly getting her memory back. Her dad has so many pieces that point to her being Mary but she just doesn't think that is right after a few things start happening to her.
The end is so shocking and I can't say anything more or I will ruin it. A really great YA thriller.
4.5 stars!

My rating: 4.5

For YA readers: 5

This book feels like:

-A gripping mystery until the very end
-Beautifully brutal perfection
-A tiny grievance with one character

This book gripped me from start to finish, earning a solid 4.5 stars (frankly, a full 5 stars for YA readers!). Drew, albeit a tad whiny and annoying, was my only minor grievance. Yet, the suspense had me guessing until the last page. I brewed up five theories, but the ending? Absolutely beautiful, brutal, and perfect in its own right. It was impossible to set this book down.

"That's not my name" masterfully weaves a gripping mystery, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the very end.

I was super excited to snag an early copy of this audiobook! But, it just sort of fell a bit flat to me. It wasn’t bad, it was just a little bit predictable.

That's Not My Name by Megan Lally. Whew.. I read this book in 3 days between NYE and Jan 2. What a way to end/start the new year. This book was GOOD GOOD. Unputdownable! I twists were shocking and nothing is at it seems. The narrators were fantastic! The perfect thriller. Thanks NetGalley and RB Media for the ARC!!

Listened to narration at 2x speed with no issues. Both narrators were strong.

Dual MC--Mary and Drew--are on opposite sides of a mystery. Mary can't remember her past and Drew can't find his girlfriend in the present. As the two unveil fleeting memories from the past, they race toward answers before time runs out.

As a YA novel, I thought this was great in terms of pacing, suspense, and character building. There are definitely moments that pique the reader's senses as being off, and a few items are pretty obvious, but overall there's enough interest to keep the reader invested and moving towards the conclusion.

Overall: 4 stars

I'll tell my students about: physical abuse, killing/gore, language

**Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media, Recorded Books for the free ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.**

This was one of my first thriller audio books and it did not disappoint. Megan's characters were captivating and the plot had me hooked right away. I thoroughly enjoyed the narrators and the way they matched the story. A great first book of the year.

**4.5-stars rounded up**

That's Not My Name was a great start to a new reading year. If this is what 2024 has in store, I'm a happy girl!

I've been on a holiday for the past 10-days. My house needed cleaning, I needed to unpack, organize, it was a whole day affair. Thanks to Megan Lally, that day was a breeze. I started this one as soon as I started cleaning this morning and could not stop. It's super compelling, with fabulous narration for the audio. Before I knew it, it was done.

This story follows two perspectives, Mary and Drew. There are dual narrators for the audio and they were each perfect for the character they were portraying. They were convincing as teens, which isn't always the case. When we meet Mary, she is injured and in distress. She is taken to a police station and expresses that she has no memory of who she is, or how she got injured.

As she and the kind Officer who picked her up try to decide what their next steps will be, a frantic man arrives at the station looking for his daughter. She doesn't remember him, but really, she doesn't remember anything. He is able to provide the Officer with everything needed to prove she's his daughter, Mary Boone. He has School IDs, family photos, even her birth certificate. The Officer leaves Mary in his care, but does promise to check up on her soon, after she's had a chance to rest.

Drew's whole life changed weeks ago after his girlfriend, Lola, disappeared. He hasn't been 100% truthful about the last night he saw her, not with anyone, not even the police, and now the guilt is eating away at him.
Making matters worse, the whole town, even people he considered friends, seem to think he is responsible for her disappearance. It's always the boyfriend, right?

Drew tries to stay positive and focused. He knows he didn't do anything to Lola and he's determined to find her before it's too late. He needs to prove his innocence, but he also feels he owes it to her after what he did.
The longer Lola is missing though, the more his chances of finding her diminish. He knows that, he's realistic, so clearly time is of the essence. Along with a couple of friends Drew begins some sleuthing of his own, following leads to a place he never would have suspected.

When I tell you I was drawn in from the very start of this story, that is not an exaggeration. Getting Mary's perspective as she struggles to recover memories and figure out what happened to her, that whole narrative was so freaking compelling.

Then with Drew, I was equally transfixed by his story. He doesn't reveal everything right away and you can tell he is second-guessing some things. I needed to stay with him until the end.

I love how Lally paced this out. The perspective shifts were so well done. It's definitely a 'one more chapter' kind of read. Each chapter left me wanting more in such a fun way. The intensity builds at a nice steady pace as you are given more and more information about what the truth actually is for these two. By the end, I was racing along and felt so many emotions by the end.

I loved the conclusion and am just so very pleased by the overall experience. I am absolutely blown away that this is a debut. Lally knocked this out of the park, IMO and I am super stoked to see what she delivers us next.
I would absolutely recommend this to anyone who enjoys a tense, fast-paced, emotional YA Thriller. I think this would work well for fans of Kit Frick, Laurie Faria Stolarz, Mindy McGinnis, or even Natalie D. Richards.

Thank you so much to the publisher, Recorded Books, for providing me with a copy to read and review. Megan Lally is going on my auto-buy list for sure. I can't wait for more!

First book for 2024 on the list! Also, this is my first book by Megan Lally that I've read and it hooked me and would totally rate this a strong 4.5/5!!! I got the audiobook and it was easy to follow the narrators, Sophie Amoss and Robb Moreira, who were perfect for their roles in the book (I LOVE dual narrators because it makes it easy to follow as well). I finished it while traveling and cleaning up the house from the holiday decorations (kids were not around so I was able to focus easier). Is it bad to say that I had to binge this in 1.5 days when I was approved?? haha

The pace of this book was very well done and the twists of the book got you in the end. Just when you thought you got it, WRONG it was a different result. The ending was pretty intense and I couldn't have wished for a different ending. It does put you on some emotional roller coaster but not too crazy. The plot was a great buildup and the epilogue was very well done (and the fact that it did not drag at all!) - I don't want to describe it too much because I'm afraid of spoiling it for future readers.

Also, I believe this is the author's debut novel because I didn't find any other books written by her - which makes me have to be on the lookout for her future novels!

Thank you NetGalley and RB Media for That's Not My Name by Megan Lally for a review.

I absolutely adored this book! The dual narration by a male and female voice in the audiobook enhanced the distinct perspectives, making the experience truly enjoyable. The captivating story held my attention effortlessly, and I couldn't resist listening non-stop. The convergence of two storylines in the end, coupled with an unexpected twist, elevated this read to excellence.

I had been looking forward to this book so I was excited to listen to the audiobook. I knew going into it that I would love it and it lived up to the hype for me as it kept me hooked. Definitely recommend it.

My first book of 2024 and I was not disappointed! I was nervous going in as it is technically a YA book... but this one gripped from from the beginning and I binged it all the way to the very last heartstopping page. It moved at a great pace and the twists and epilogue made for a great story overall. I am looking forward to more books from this author!

This book is the perfect one to close 2023 with, this thrilling story is such a page turner!!

I got the audio version of this book and I really like both narrators, they deliver this story really well and I can listen to it easily and get lost in their storytelling.

The plot started out with a strong opening and I got hooked into story really fast. I didn’t want to stop for even a second because I needed to know what happened next.
This story will keep you on your toes and left you hoping and wondering about the ending!

The last few chapters are very tense and that twist at the end still manage to surprised me since my theory turned out to be true.
For the first time ever in reading a mystery thriller book, I don’t feel thrilled for being able to guess the ending.....
I can’t talk much about the plot in details or it’ll become a spoiler for you guys

For a debut novel, this was very well written and a must read for mystery thriller lovers out there!
I’m gonna keep an eye out for more books from this author in the future!

I received an advanced audiobook copy for free through Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Huge thank you to the author and publisher!

⚠️ 𝐓𝐖: Violence, kidnapping, gaslighting, child abuse, child death, mention of blood, car accident

Thank you, NetGalley, for allowing me the opportunity to listen to this audiobook version. I really enjoyed reading this suspenseful, fast-paced thriller. Have you ever had amnesia and forgotten something? I’m sure you haven’t forgotten your name, who you are, or your entire life. Well, “Mary” has.
A teen girl is found with bloodstained clothes in the middle of the road by a police officer. He brings her back to the station and starts asking her simple questions. She’s forgotten everything and has no memory. A man shows up at the station, claiming his daughter is missing, and gives a detailed description of his daughter. This description matches the teen girl that was found. The man shows proof that this is his daughter, Mary. He has her school ID and years worth of pictures on his phone. It has to be his daughter, right?
A teen boy (Drew) is suspected of murdering his girlfriend, Lola. The entire town is sure he did it. Drew sets out on his own investigation to find out what happened to Lola. The closer he gets, the more dangerous it becomes. Will he find Lola? Will he finally be able to clear his name?
I’ve read a lot of thriller books, and this one is very good. This book does a good job of hooking you from the very beginning and leaving you wanting more after every chapter. I enjoyed the dual POV’s and think it added an extra element to the book. 4.5/5, rounding down to 4. I loved listening to it, although I wish I could have followed along and read the book as well for a deeper and more impactful experience. I would absolutely recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley, RB Media, Recorded Books, Sourcebooks Fire, Megan Lally, Sophie Amoss (audio narrator), and Robb Moreira (audio narrator) for the opportunity to read and listen to the audiobook of That's Not My Name in exchange for an honest review.

Aside from the song by The Ting Tings of the same name every time I see or thing of the title of this novel, it is otherwise utter brilliance. The writing style is eloquent and flavorful, and Lally has the reader on the edge of their seat until the very end.

Shoutout to both of the audiobook narrators for making the novel an enjoyable read. Both play their parts well and make for exceptional voice actors, making the audiobook an immersive experience.

That's Not My Name is told from the first person perspectives of Mary and Drew. Mary makes for an unreliable narrator, as she is found on the side of the road by the police with no memories. A man comes to take her home claiming to be her father and who appears to have all the right documentations for his daughter. Mary doesn't have her memory, so she can't really argue, but when the man forces her into things she feels like she wouldn't be interested in, she begins questioning everything.

Drew and Lola were dating, but after a daunting conversation, Lola leaves Drew's car to walk home. It's a small town, so there's nothing wrong with that, right? When Lola goes missing, everyone in the town looks to Drew as the killer (because they all just assume murder, I guess). Drew is determined to not only clear his name, but to bring Lola back safe. When the local police don't care to put much effort in, Drew takes measures into his own hands and follows the leads he is able to get. He will do anything to bring Lola home safe.

This novel is a brilliant example of everything a young adult thriller/mystery should be. The drive of Drew to find Lola is a drive many readers can relate to when it comes to their loves ones and responsibility to those they love. And the intriguing aspect of Mary and her "father," as she begins to regain memories and find out the truth just adds to the thrill of the chase. The end was...wow, just wow.

An incredible, well-written novel for a young adult audience.

5 ⭐️ read

Synopsis:
A teen wakes up on the side of the road cold and bleeding, with no clue who she is or how she got there. A cop passes by and takes her to the local police station to find out what happened and who she is. Her father shows up frantic looking for her, and provides several documents of her identity, including her school ID, birth certificate, and family photos. Her name is Mary, and they are on vacation while their house is being renovated, or so he says.

Drew and Lola get into an argument, and she leaves to walk home. He leaves to give her time to cool off before they talk. However, the following day, she did not make it home. Everyone believes that Drew killed her and isn't cooperating. Drew believes she is still alive and must find her before it's too late to prove his innocence.

What I liked
- Dual POV
- Feeling of impending doom
-Short read
- Fast-paced
- Action packed

Honestly, I loved everything about this book. I could not put it down. I cried at the end of this book, and I did not expect the ending. The author did a fantastic job creating the frightening atmosphere and the feeling of impending doom, never knowing what will happen next.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for a copy of That’s Not my Name! This is my final read of 2023 and it did not disappoint! This is such an easy 5 star to give, I was on the edge of seat the whole time and the plot twist at end saying “NO, it can’t be true” highly recommend checking this book out

A teenage girl wakes up on the side of the road with no idea how she got there or who she is. A passing police officer discovers her and takes her to the station with him. There, a man shows up frantic with proof that she is his daughter, Mary. Meanwhile, Drew’s girlfriend Lola is missing. She got out of the car late one night to walk home after they had had a fight. The whole town is convinced Drew murdered Lola, but Drew will stop at nothing to find Lola.

Wow! What a wild ride! Both stories are compelling and have fully developed characters you come to care for. I was completely captivated from start to finish. The twists and turns and pure suspense had me up listening way past my bedtime. The narration was perfect with Sophie Amoss narrating for Mary and Robb Moreira narrating for Drew. It was very easy to determine who was talking and when. This one will keep you guessing until the very end! I highly recommend it to anyone that enjoys twisty thrillers! I give it 5/5 stars.

I thought the suspense and pacing was superb. I was hooked from the beginning and didn't want to stop listening. I could have very easily binged this one. I also liked the MC as well as other characters in the story. The book also didn't suffer "bad writing" (e.g. there wasn't some long-winded confessional, a Jason Bourne stand off; the author trying to flip the tables with a twist at the 13th hour or in the epilogue; no character said cliches or other lines that made my skin crawl...) AND I found the characters and stories mostly realistic...

What I can say is the premise was fantastic and I would recommend this to people who enjoy YA.

This was a fantastic fast-paced YA thriller following a girl who can't remember who she is and a boy who searching for his missing girlfriend. I was so captivated from the start that I listened to this from start to finish in one sitting. I thought the narration was great and fit the characters perfectly.