Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

"When She Was Me" by Marlee Bush, narrated by Imani Jade Powers, is a psychological thriller that delves into the complex relationship between twin sisters Cassie and Lenora. Set against the backdrop of an isolated Tennessee campground, the story unfolds with the disappearance of a teenage girl from the neighboring cabin, stirring up haunting memories of the sisters' past.

Marlee Bush masterfully crafts a narrative that is as much about the bond between siblings as it is about the mysteries they harbor. The novel is told through alternating points of view, with flashbacks that gradually reveal the layers of secrets each sister keeps. The prose is sharp and evocative, creating a claustrophobic atmosphere that mirrors the mental state of the protagonists.

Imani Jade Powers' narration brings an additional layer of depth to the characters, her voice capturing the nuances of their fraught relationship. The tension in her delivery escalates as the story progresses, mirroring the increasing stakes and the unraveling of the sisters' carefully constructed reality.

The strength of "When She Was Me" lies in its ability to keep readers guessing. Just when you think you've figured out the direction of the plot, Bush introduces a twist that challenges your assumptions. The imagery is vivid, at times almost cinematic, making it easy to envision the scenes as they unfold.

"When She Was Me" is a compelling read that combines the elements of a thriller with a poignant exploration of identity and trauma.

Bush's writing is both cunning and beautiful, and Powers' narration is the perfect complement to this chilling tale.

To start, for this being the authors debut novel, they did a wonderful job! I have always loved mystery/thrillers, because my dream job was to become a detective. With that being said, some of the story was a bit lacking for me and I was able to guess a lot of things but that’s okay!! Again, for the debut, this was great. Thank you NetGalley and Bush’s team for allowing me this ARC!

My mind wandered a lot with this one. Seemed to kind of drag on and was a bit confusing. I think I got the jist of it for the most part, but I didn't even listen to the very end.

I love thrillers that are set in isolated wooded areas. So the setting for this thriller was perfect. Sadly, everything else felt a bit off for me. The pacing was very slow. I found my mind wandering while I was listening. I just never found myself wanting to pick this one up. Twins are interesting, but this book just got confusing and there is a bit of suspense of disbelief that needs to happen.

After finishing the story, I just didn’t really feel anything. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good. It just was. I will say the narration was good and I’d recommend the audiobook if you do decide to pick this one up.

This was a promising debut from Marlee Bush. A slow burning mystery with a shocking ending. I do enjoy a story about sisters, and twin sisters are even more interesting.

These sisters couldn’t be much different, but the one thing they had in common was their love for each other and the lengths that they would go to for each other. Both were battling demons, with dark and messed up secrets from the past. We are drip fed information about that night very slowly. They live in a cabin in a secluded campground and very rarely see other people.

While ai enjoyed this story, I did feel that it dragged in some places. I am more of a reader of fast paced thrillers, but it was nice for a change for things to be dragged out and build the suspense. The narrator was great, giving voices to both the sisters and making them individual.

Thanks so much to Dreamscape Media for the early copy to listen to. Publishes on May 7th.

The twists and turns of this novel had me engaged and unable to put down the audiobook. I did not see the ending until the big reveal. Great character descriptions and a wonderful narrator.

WHEN SHE WAS ME by @marleebushwriter ✨
ARC REVIEW • PUB DATE 05.07.24

an incredible debut thriller that will keep you guessing until the end 👏🏻

A story of twins : one who is afraid to leave the house & the other who is a true crime podcaster who live in a secluded cabin. A new crime in the area brings back their vivid, disturbing past.

I enjoyed this book and will highly recommend to my thriller friends 🖤

Read if you love:
-missing persons
-unbreakable sibling bond
-twin trope
-dual timeline (flashbacks to the past)
-spooky/creepy elements

4⭐️

Thank you so much to @netgalley @poisonedpenpress & @dreamscape_media for my advanced ebook + audiobook! 📖 🎧

3.5 stars

This is a solid debut.

Cassie and Lenora are twins, and to a non-twin like me, that automatically signals that they are going to be good and evil, ride or die, and telepathic to some degree. That's how that works, right? Their living circumstances - in relative isolation - are a bit sus from the start, but as they start to reveal information about their pasts and suspicions about their present, they only appear sketchier.

I did enjoy the audiobook narration, and the joint perspective gives the novel a sense of balance and the reader a sense of uncertainty, which for this genre is a plus. Since I got onto the plot fairly early on, I didn't experience as much mystery as I'd have liked, but I did still find this an engaging and worthwhile listen, especially for a debut.

There are a lot twists and creepy things in this book. I like that. I love the setting. The characters are good too. I just can't do books when they start doing second person "you opened the door." To me it sounds too much like when men are trying to seduce you and they send you bad erotica to your DMs. I jsut do not like books in second person. That doesn't mean this isn't a fantastic audiobook or story!
This is a me problem.

I LOVED the narration.