This book had an interesting storyline. I had no idea how it would all play out. It had me hooked, needing answers as to what was going on. Overall, I enjoyed the book and would recommend to other readers!

Replaced
by Nolon King & Lauren Street
Book 1 of Replaced

When a book starts with “”so and so “ had a perfect life, we know that 💩will hit the fan. And boy does it hit.

Jessica leaves New York by car to travel to their new home in Texas. She and David just adopted baby Gwen. Due to Jessica’s aversion to flying, she drives across the country. Finally at her new home, her keys won’t fit the lock. A strange woman who oddly looks like her opens the door
With her baby on her arms. David denies having ever seen Jessica.
But clearly someone is lying here!

I mean if that does not sound intriguing, then I simply don’t know. Was this book unrealistic? Highly so. Did I care? Not a single bit! This was such a wild ride! Imagine driving for three days and then your spouse tells you they don’t know you. The thought alone is insane!

The chapters were switching between the Jessica we meet first and Jess, her “replacement”. I liked the switching up, it kept me guessing what was going on, which one was real and which one the fraud?

Let’s be real here, the story was as implausible as it could get. But I still did enjoy the book to an extend. It was action packed and wild. I did like the first half better than the second as it made sense. I think the twist is so far fetched that it could be from out of space. The concept was great, but the execution felt like literally two different people were writing down their ideas and they kind of blended.

What confused me a bit, as far as I remember the baby was supposed to be really young but the way she was described throughout the book was like an older toddler. I even googled it. A week old baby is not yet laughing or in general acting like she does in that book. That confused me, but maybe I was just remembering wrong. Apologies if so.

There are several plot holes and inconsistencies in the book, which I would have loved to be resolved before publication. Maybe some editing wouldn’t hurt to figure out the plot holes.

Publishes 23 Jan 2024 by Sterling & Stone

ARC received courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to review. All opinions are my own.

Interesting premise for a book. It was ok. I ended up skimming it more than anything. Two Jessica’s both think they are married to David and have a baby. One shows up with the moving truck to find out she’s been replaced. Could have been better. Wasn’t terrible. Just ok.

Jessica, her husband, David, and their newly adopted baby, Gwen, are relocating across country to move into their dream home. David and Gwen made the trip ahead of Jessica, who is driving a U-Haul to the new house. Exhausted after her drive, Jessica is looking forward to holding her baby and sleeping next to her husband, except there’s one problem. There’s another woman standing beside David at the front door. She tells Jessica that she is David’s wife, while David claims to have no idea who Jessica is.

While the plot of “Replaced” is ridiculously implausible, it’s still a wildly fun page-turner that will keep you reading late into the night!

Thank you to Netgallery and the publisher for this ARC. The publication date is the 23rd Jan.: This book was twisty, fast paced and with lots of twists and turns that were extremely unpredictable!

The book was so good I read it in one sitting! My favourite character was Jessica as I felt sorry for her throughout the book.

The ending wow I wasn’t expecting that it was had me gripped all the way through. I’d highly recommend this book as it will keep you gripped up until the very last page and make you read well into night! 😊

I received a copy of this e-ARC. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The narrative flows easily enough in the beginning then becomes a complex, convoluted plot with multiple inconsistencies making it unbelievable. I was hoping the ending would tie it all together but it didn’t. By end it was just ridiculous in my opinion with Jessica’s knife reappearing after being thrown in a random dumpster earlier, the police stating Peter was trying to find a hitman (wouldn’t that be David?), the ladies telling the new neighbor they were twins but they have the same name. What a disappointing book.

Also, it was never explained why Whiskerface was Peter on Jessica’s phone and supposed to be David. Not to mention the fact that a newborn child doesn’t do any of the things mentioned throughout the book.

Thank you NetGalley and Sterling & Stone for an early copy of Replaced. I was very ANXIOUS reading the first chapter, it was an amazing chapter. The gaslighting was good in one scene, really good but overall it didn't keep up with the heart pounding that I hoped for. A little confusing, there were times I was like WAIT, how can this be and there was too much cursing in the book too. A very Fast Read. I will try another one of these authors books if they collaborate again.

Jessica Clarke and her husband, David are moving to Texas. He is flying, with their newly adopted baby and she is driving the U-haul. Delayed by a nasty accident, she arrives at the address she has been given late at night and is faced with a woman that looks exactly like her, with her name, and a baby that looks like her child. David claims that he does not know her.

She has to get to the bottom of this mystery, her life has been stolen.

Very fast paced, mysteriously suspenseful and gripping.
Many things went through my mind while reading this. Time warp - another dimension - all the science fiction explanations I could think of. But no, it was none of those. It was a plot by a diabolical user of women, a gaslighter, a psychopath... I really did not like David. I felt sorry for the two Jessica's.

I do recommend this book, it was a fast read and a page turner.

Thanks to Netgalley and Sterling and Stone for the opportunity to read this book.