Member Reviews

Overall, I loved the twists & turns of this book. It was something new & crazy every page.

I feel like we got to know about Adrianna but I would have liked more information on the relationship with Maya & Colin. I wanted to see more interaction with them throughout the twists and turns.

It was definitely a page turner!

Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS for providing this ARC for my honest review.

#NetGalley #AGirlLikeUs #AnnaSophiaMcLoughlin

Was this review helpful?

Well this was a locked room mystery which had me guessing until the last couple of chapters. The twists which happened were not what I had guessed and this is the test of a good writer. I find that if the author can lead me away from the actual twist is the best type of writer as it means that when the reveal happens it truly surprises you. I can not say that i really like any of the characters as they all hard horrible qualities however that does not mean that I was not invested in finding out what happened to Arianna. The reveal had me shaken and it goes to show how far some people will go to hide secrets from coming out. I can not wait to see what the author comes out with next.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me engaged and it only took a few days to read. I think this is going to be a good book club option for several clubs. I plan recommending to my book friends and I look forward to reading more by this author.

Was this review helpful?

This book featured so many of my favorite tropes, but at times it felt like it was focused a bit too much on ticking all of those boxes instead of driving the plot forward. It was enjoyable but not my favorite.

Was this review helpful?

Wow!! I went in completely blind as the title/cover drew me in and this book certainly did not disappoint! From the moment I picked it up, I was drawn into the plot and could not put it down. There were multiple twists that I didn't see coming but later realized there were already subtle hits to it earlier, and I was really pleased by that since plot twists can sometimes be a little too predictable. Our main character, Maya, was a great female lead - complex and resilient, and I felt like I truly did understand her and her motivations. The pacing of the novel was great as well. I would definitely recommend this book to my thriller-inclined friends!

Was this review helpful?

This book reminded me of one of my favorite movies, Knives Out, and I couldn't put it down.

Maya came from nothing. As a teenager, she rose to stardome as a reality show star and later married into British royalty. It's not long after their honeymoon when they are swept to the family's estate with the news that the heiress has been murdered. What's even more shocking is that she made Maya the new heiress. Who killed Arianna and why did she pick Maya?

I really enjoyed this story of a normal person marrying into royalty and seeing the personality differences. The author provided us with plenty of clues on the book that let us figure out the twists before they were revealed. I personally wish it was done a little more subtly or a little later so I felt more shock, but I also appreciated being able to do my own detective work. I also really liked the mystery - who was hiding secrets, who can you trust, who killed the heiress.

Was this review helpful?

What an enjoyable read! Interesting characters, a great setting, and many, many twists. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Oh wow, where do I even start? A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin is such a deliciously dramatic read. I absolutely loved being drawn into the glitzy yet sinister world of the Sterling family—a mix of wealth, power, and secrets that make your jaw drop. Maya Miller, the scrappy ex-reality star turned society wife, is a character I couldn’t help but root for, even when I questioned her motives. The murder mystery at the heart of the story is layered with twists, and the locked-mansion setting gives it a perfectly claustrophobic vibe.

This book has everything I love—scheming, betrayal, and characters who are just delightfully messy. It feels like Succession and The Inheritance Games had a love child, with all the high-stakes glamour and backstabbing drama you’d expect. My only gripe? Some parts felt a little too over the top, but honestly, isn’t that part of the fun? If you love thrillers with rich people behaving badly and a heaping side of scandal, this one’s a must-read. I couldn’t put it down!

Was this review helpful?

I wanted to read this book based on the cover. I’m so glad I did. This book pulled me right in the rollercoaster ride began. Every time I thought I had something figured out I was proved wrong in the best way. This book takes us back to the early 2000’s and we meet reality star Maya Miller. Maya has a rocky childhood. She was enamored with wealth and privilege. When she met Colin part heir to a family fortune she knew he was it. Maya was a good protagonist and I loved that the novel flipped between past and present giving us bread crumbs. I loved the pace and couldn’t put this book down. I needed to know what happened next and connect the dots. This is a must read!

Will update when my review is updated on social media.

Was this review helpful?

The book's cover immediately grabbed me, setting the perfect tone for the story. The themes of power, wealth, and secrets were engaging . Maya was a compelling protagonist, and I found myself fully invested in her journey, cheering her on through every twist. I couldn’t put the book down and enjoyed the ride from start to finish!

Was this review helpful?

This story was enjoyable overall. I enjoyed exploring the inner workings of a wealthy family and watching Maya adjust to her new role after marrying into it. I liked the flashback chapters from Arianna that provided insight into her downward spiral. The mystery was engaging and took an unexpected turn that kept me intrigued. Although the conclusion wrapped everything up nicely, the ending felt drawn out and the story could have had better pacing.

Was this review helpful?

A Girl Like US is a twisty story about Maya Miller, a girl raised by her gambler father who taught her to the tricks of his trade. A former reality star on The Springs know as Maya Mayhem is now returning from her honeymoon in Mexico, Maya and Colin Sterling's plan is being deverted from New York to London due to an tragic event. Maya is now is sheltering in place with the Sterling at thieir compound The Silver House, trying to put the piecies to how and why Arianna the hieress of the Sterling fortune was killed. Wanting to know about Arianna, Maya begins to ask questions and is getting the run around from the family including her new husband Colin. Maya has her own secrets that she doesn't want the family to know about however with a team of experts her one of her secrets are being revealed. Who can Maya trust in a room full of wolves. This book was well written with all the best plot twists that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for letting me have an advanced copy of this book.

Was this review helpful?

For some reason I thought this book would be a campy, beach read. It's not. It's a tangled web of lies, secrets, darkness and desperation with a layer of misogyny and mystique. It gives the reader a glimpse into what the dynamics of an ultra-wealthy family who don't trust outsiders and pretend to trust each other. For me this wasn't an 'easy' read and that was a good thing. These characters really made me think on what it would truly be like to 'have it all' but really not have the basic human needs of love and trust met.

These characters were imperfect, trying to survive and also trying to project an image to the world and what happens when the secrets start tumbling out. What will they do to protect the family name? I really enjoyed reading the twists, the turns and guessing where the author would take us next.

Was this review helpful?

I love a story about rich people behaving badly so I was excited to start this one. The book began strong but fell flat for me about halfway through. I was not invested in any of the characters. That being said, there were a couple of twists that kept me reading until the end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed the character development and the coalition of young women on the outskirts of the family fighting and clawing to become recognized and valued. Well-written, fun, and poignant.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the copy of A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin. I’m not sure why I couldn’t get engaged with this book. I loved the premise but the story unfolded so slowly it didn’t catch my interest. While we got a lot of description about the house and the grounds, the character development was missing so it was hard to care about the characters. If you love surprising reveals and wealthy people behaving badly, you might love this book. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

Was this review helpful?

I always enjoy a story about rich people behaving badly as well as young stars, so I was looking forward to this one. Sadly, it missed the mark for me. The plot was overly convoluted and hard for me to follow. The twists were either obvious or completely out of left field- nothing inbetween. It was definitely a slower burn, which I don’t mind. It kept my interest throughout. I just never really connected with any of the characters and that may have caused my lack of investment at the end of the day.

Was this review helpful?

Think "Succession" meets "Saltburn" in a mansion full of secrets. That's A Girl Like Us, Anna Sophia McLoughlin's electric new thriller that'll keep you up way past bedtime.

When a wealthy family gets together in their luxury estate, things get messy fast. Everyone's got something to hide, and nobody's quite who they seem. McLoughlin builds her characters like master chess pieces - each one complex enough to keep you guessing about whose side they're really on.

The writing? It's gorgeous without being fancy. McLoughlin knows exactly when to pull you in close and when to hit you with a twist. And that ending? Let's just say you won't see it coming.

Sure, these rich folks' problems might seem far from our everyday lives, but the story hits home where it counts - family, loyalty, and the crazy things we do to protect what's ours. If you loved watching the Roy family tear each other apart in "Succession" or got caught up in the dark glamour of "Saltburn," you'll devour this book in one sitting.

⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

Perfect for: Anyone who likes their thrillers smart, stylish, and seriously twisted.

Was this review helpful?

What a fun one! Is it really worth marrying into money when this is the family you get with it?! The lies, the manipulation, the drama. I had a hard time putting it down. Some of the twists are easy enough to see coming, but it was still an enjoyable ride to get there. Would definitely recommend!

Was this review helpful?

A great story if you love dysfunctional family dramas, particularly wealthy families too. A brilliant story with lots of dark secrets unearthed.

Was this review helpful?