Jolene, a high school senior, decides to play a prank on her classmate Elizabeth. They both have a rivalry going on, and the prank causes Elizabeth to get in a car accident that changes her life. Jolene never told anyone it was her who cause the accident. Fast forward to Jolene being 30 and dealing with guilt and other mental health problems from what she caused in that accident. Jolene runs into Elizabeth when she moves to Berkley. And it all goes downhill from there. All the characters are unhinged. Like bat sh**crazy. I was questioning everything. I didn't know who was actually telling the truth.
This book will definitely get you thinking. The ending had me gasping like what! I loved this wild ride that left me paranoid like Jolene. LOL

Like it Never Was by Faith Gardner is a fast paced, character driven book that is so over the top it is delicious. It grabbed me right from the start and I finished it in one sitting because I could not put this book down. Her character development of Jolene and how her guilt took hold of her and destroyed her life was so palpable. This was my first read by Faith Gardner, and I so enjoyed her writing style that I will be checking out more books by this author.
Years earlier Jolene played a practical joke that left her friend Elizabeth disfigured in a horrible accident. Elizabeth had no memories from the event so Jolene never came forward with her involvement. Although she escaped any punishment, she could not escape her guilt which was her unraveling. Then 10 years later, Jolene runs into Elizabeth who tries to rekindle their friendship. But Elizabeth's behavior leads Jolene to wonder if she does remember and is plotting out her revenge or if her guilt is finally getting the best of her.
This book is a fun, yet disturbing wild ride that will entertain you to the very end.
Thank you netgalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I got drawn to the cover of this book on NetGalley and when I read the blurb I was intrigued. Like It Never Was tells the story of Jolene. 10 years ago Jolene caused an accident, in a prank gone wrong, in which her friend Elizabeth got seriously hurt. In the present Jolene lives in guilt and paranoia, and we are along for the ride inside her head.

I loved the opening chapters, which set the tone right away and grabbed me into the story. After this follows a story in which you keep questioning what's real and what's not, together with our main character. If you are into an unreliable narrator, then you're going to love Jolene.

The story is told from her POV where we switch between the now and then. I really liked the chapters in the past, exploring the relationship of Jolene and Elizabeth. It broke up the story in a good way, and I wished there would have been more of that insight.

This book was an easy read and it goes out with a bang! I rounded my rating down to 3 stars, because even though I enjoyed the story, the middle of the book got a little repetitive, and kept going in circles, relying on the same trope

"Like It Never Was" by Faith Gardner is a psychological thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat, even if it doesn't quite hit all the marks. The story follows Jolene, who has been haunted by guilt for a decade after a prank went disastrously wrong, leaving her friend Elizabeth scarred for life. Jolene has been running from her past, but a chance encounter with Elizabeth brings everything crashing back.

The novel excels in creating a tense atmosphere and presenting a fast-paced plot with twists and turns that keep you guessing. Gardner's writing is engaging, and the dual timelines of "Now" and "Then" effectively build suspense. Jolene's inner turmoil and paranoia are well depicted, making her a relatable, if not entirely likable, protagonist.

However, the book has its drawbacks. The character dynamics sometimes feel juvenile, which can be off-putting, especially when the characters are supposed to be in their late twenties. The overuse of the unreliable narrator trope, coupled with Jolene's pill-popping and heavy drinking, feels a bit cliché and detracts from the overall impact. Additionally, some plot points require a suspension of disbelief that might not sit well with all readers.

Despite these issues, "Like It Never Was" is a solid thriller that offers plenty of entertainment and a few good twists. It's a good read for those who enjoy delving into the complexities of guilt, paranoia, and the dark shadows of past mistakes. Just be prepared to overlook some of the more implausible elements and enjoy the ride.

This book is ‘unreliable narrator’ on steroids! There is not a moment in this book that you are confident that what you are hearing from the protagonist’s mouth is accurate and yet you find yourself rooting for her.

The fact that a prank that went so horrifically wrong alone is enough to mess someone up. Then her father who is moody to say the least, while he will always come to her rescue but then he gaslights her and makes her question her thoughts and reality.

A lot of the plot points are a bit unbelievable but that was what I enjoyed about this book. It’s feels far removed from reality but also fully entrenched in everyday occurrences (if you know what I mean).

The ending was truly unexpected, I won’t say much because I don’t want to give spoilers.

Overall I recommend this book for a weekend in.

Thankyou NetGalley and Mirror house Press for this advance readers copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a really easy and enjoyable read that had me quickly turning the page. I found a few parts to be a bit too predictable for my liking, but it still managed to surprise me a few times along the way without feeling like it was overdone or too blatantly obvious. One thing I was hoping to see was a bit more character development, but for someone who loves a plot-driven thriller, this one definitely checked the boxes for me. Be sure to grab this one when it’s released next week for a fun summer thriller to binge.

Thank you Net Galley and Xpresso Book Tours for the early release of Like It Never Was by Faith Gardener in exchange for my honest opinion. A psychological thriller with an unreliable narrator is usually my jam. Unfortunately this one was not for me but it doesn't mean that it won't be for you. I mainly read thrillers so as time goes on it is difficult to really stump me. By the last quarter of the book I figured out the ending.

I found none of the characters to be relatable or likable and I found the plot to be a little ridiculous and far fetched. I understand what was trying to be portrayed but as a seasoned thriller reader I found the story and outcome very underwhelming. This is just my honest opinion but I do feel like others really will enjoy this one it just wasn't for me.

This book follows Jolene a young woman in her thirties who is stuck in her past mistakes. Jolene seeks revenge on a highschool friend and lives the rest of her life feeling the guilt and weight of what she has done. It will have you questioning reality which in my opinion was the main thing I did enjoy about the book.

If you like psychological thrillers with an unreliable narrator and you are new to thrillers I believe this one could be for you. If you are a thriller lover and read a lot of them like me then you could probably skip this one.

This book comes out July 2nd 2024 and will be available then.

This started out strong with a compelling storyline. Teenager girls who were friends, a car accident, fast-forward to adult life and they intersect again. I just got tired of the main character as I found her really whiny and that she needed to get her life together. I will say, though, that the final chapter revealed a big twist I did not see coming!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Over the top, campy, and so much fun! Started slow, but once Jolene blatantly outed herself as an unreliable narrator, the story gradually became more twisted until it was just full on craziness. I couldn’t put it down!

Like It Never Was deserves an award for having an unreliable narrator I did not loathe! Unreliable narrators have burned me in the past, but Gardner did a fantastic job with Jolene's character. Jolene is a thirty-year-old with nomadic tendencies. Not only does she jump from job to job, but she jumps from place to place even quicker. While we all probably know someone who doesn't like to stay in one place for too long, Jolene's reason for never settling down is (hopefully) different. Jolene did something bad, REALLY bad.
When she makes the move to Berkley, CA she really thinks this may be it. She has outrun her past. Little does she know her past is in her backyard, and her improv class. When she begins spiraling she signs up for therapy to stop that voice in her head once and for all.
Who can Jolene trust? Her therapist? An old friend from the past? Her landlord? Her childhood best friend? Herself?
Like It Never Was is a psychological thriller that keeps you spinning until the last page.

My Thoughts
Coming in at just over 300 pages, Like It Never Was is a quick read. It took me ~1/4 of the book to get into it, but I was locked in after that. The middle of the book keeps you guessing who is the villain. When the plot comes to a head the twists don't stop. With short chapters that keep you wanting more this book could easily be read in a few sittings.
While the ending was not my favorite I understand why Gardner did it. The very last twist was the one I'm still thinking about a couple of days after finishing the book.
At first, the plot seemed real dumb to me, but as I read on the more realistic it got. This whole thing (mostly) could happen. Those are always the thrillers that get me. So many out there are so outlandish that they roll off your back. Not this one. Nopeeeeeee. This one had me counting my shoes and looking down my sink drain. (iykyk)
Like It Never Was is the best ARC I have read yet! If you need a short and fast-paced thriller I highly recommend it. I can't wait to jump into more of Gardner's books.

Tropes - dual timeline and unreliable narrator.
TWs - car crash, amputation, permanent scarring, drug abuse, and psychedelic drug use.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC!

Maybe this book got me at just the right time of day. Maybe it was just a matter of the way that it was written and the fact that I was looking to get absolutely sucked into a story. Regardless of what it was, this one was definitely a winner for me.

Jolene has problems...a lot of them. She's moved to Berkley to start fresh and reinvent herself for the millionth time. She's an incredibly unreliable narrator, but she's a fun narrator in that she always keeps the reader guessing, which is done brilliantly in this book. There are so many twists in this, and it is definitely a heck of a ride. While you can guess a lot of the twists, at the same time, there's still a lot of shock in them, which is fun.

I do think that this book required a bit of suspension of disbelief, but not completely off the charts levels of it, which made it a lot of fun. There was a lot going on in here, and I really enjoyed it. Definitely one to tear through on a cold winter day!

Rating: 3.75 stars

Thank you NetGalley for my arc copy of Like it Never Was.

A suspenseful story that follows Jolene after a prank gone wrong. The story skips back and forth between when the prank gone wrong happened and 10 years after.

First off- Jolene is completely off her rocker. She was raised by her defense lawyer father after her mother died of cancer when she was 3. It’s pretty obvious throughout the story she has been enabled & never held accountable nor received any type of support or help for mental health issues.

The story throughout takes interesting twists and turns. Some predictable- some absolutely not. I was pleasantly surprised by the ending and the whole truth & story coming together.

I definitely enjoyed this story and will absolutely recommend it to other thriller/mystery and suspense lovers when the book is released on 7/2/24!

Ten years ago, Jolene nearly killed her friend, Elizabeth, in a terrible accident. Jolene never told anyone. No one knows, and especially not Elizabeth. Jolene has been racked with guilt ever since. When Jolene decides to move to a new town, for yet ANOTHER fresh start, she runs into Elizabeth. It pains Jolene to see Elizabeth, as she is still covered in scars from the accident. And Elizabeth still has no idea who caused the accident. Or maybe she does...

I have to say, I was a bit disappointed in this one after reading all the 5-star reviews. As a few other reviewers noted, this book had a very YA feel. I would have LOVED this one in my teens, but in my early 30s, not so much. The characters and their dialogue felt very juvenile. Some parts were very cringey. I did enjoy the fast pace and it is a very easy read. I felt the first half of the book dragged on a bit. A lot of Jolene going on and on and on. It did pick up in the latter third or so.

This is definitely a crazy novel and you have to be prepared to suspend all your beliefs. Fatih Gardner is a very creative and imaginative writer!

Let me be clear, this isn't a bad book. Had I known that it was written more like a YA novel, I wouldn't have requested to read it. For being an over the top YA novel, it checks all the boxes. It just isn't what I wanted or what the description/genre depicted it to be.

Thank you Mirror House Press and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was just too wild of a storyline and none of the characters were relatable. The main character was horrible (maybe that was the point) but I just couldn’t get past her unlikeability.

Like It Never Was had me hooked from the beginning! Faith Gardner had me pointing fingers at almost every character at some stage along the way, and I was wrong every time! But, the twist...I can certainly say I did not see that coming. Adding Faith to my favourite author list stat! Highly recommend this one, 5 stars!

I didn’t get a chance to download this before it was archived but the description and cover art pulls you in right away! I will be getting this one as a physical copy once it is released. #netgalley

Many thanks to NetGalley and Mirror House Press for the free e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my first Faith Gardner book, and it will not be my last! This is one of those twisted psychological, suspenseful thrillers that you stay up all night readling because you have to know and cannot stop!

Jolene is responsible for a horrible car crash that almost killed her friend, Elizabeth. Only thing is that just Jolene, her dad and bff, Alice know this. Jolene ran from the accident rather than helping Elizabeth. Jolene has been on the run ever since.

Fast forward 12ish years and Jolene has flitted around the globe at different schools, different countries and different jobs trying to escape her past and find a future, not being successful at all. Today, she has moved to Berkeley and is joining an improv camp when she discovers that Elizabeth, the same Elizabeth she nearly killed, is one of the teachers and lives just down the street from Jolene. Coincidence? What could go wrong? Will Jolene come clean?

I really enjoyed this story and felt the twists were odd and different. Also, the level of suspense, mystery and plain old weirdness was off the chain! I think it shows how unresolved trauma can mess up a person.

Highly recommend!!

Jolene is keeping a secret that only she knows. Ten years ago she caused an accident that almost killed her friend Elizabeth. Unable to handle the guilt, Jolene has spent the decade avoiding her past and Elizabeth until she runs into her one day. Elizabeth seems to still not know the truth and wants to rekindle their friendship. Joelle is not so sure that is such a good idea especially with Elizabeth's increasingly erratic behavior. This book will keep you reading well past your bedtime.

Thank you to Faith Gardner and Mirror House Press for the ARC!

Ten years ago, Jolene nearly killed her friend Elizabeth in a horrible prank gone wrong. And no one ever found out the truth. Since then, Faith has been running from her guilt, meandering through cities and careers. She’s lost all contact with Elizabeth so she’s shocked when she runs into her after her latest move. She’s even more shocked that Elizabeth is still clueless about what really caused her accident. Or is she? The more time Jolene spends with Elizabeth, the more disturbing the events around her get. Does Elizabeth know the truth or is Jolene just really inside her own head?

I loved the other book I read by this author, so when I saw she had a new one coming out I had to grab it! I love a good psychological thriller and Faith Gardner really delivered with “Like It Never Was”! Though it did have a bit of a YA feel to it, I could relate a lot to Jolene in trying to find her way. It can be difficult trying to figure out what you want to do with your life under the best of circumstances, Jolene’s were a lot more complicated. It’s been a long time since I read a book with a really good unreliable narrator, so I really enjoyed that aspect of this story. As Jolene’s life unraveled, her concept of reality became significantly skewed - as did mine, as I was trying to figure out what was real and what wasn’t! I never guessed how this story was going to end and I felt like Faith Gardner really knocked it out of the park. So much so that when I couldn’t access the bonus epilogue , I emailed her in a panic to find out how else I could get it - LOL!

”Like It Never Was” releases July 2, 2024. This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

The story starts in the past- the night of the accident and then jumps back into the present with Jolene, an almost thirty something who doesn’t have her life together (that’s being generous 🤭) oh AND she also hears voices (no big deal 😅).

All I can say is OHHHHH SHIIIIIT!

What a fun, twisted book! I devoured this in one day and loved every second of it.