I was excited for this but I found the characters hard to like, and it wasn't in a good way. The writing felt detached to me, so I was detached as a result.

This is a fun well written thriller! I was intrigued and had a good time. This is fast paced and unique. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Anna Sophia McLoughlin, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

An innovative story with good twists and turns. A strong narrative. The protagonist hold her own and the ending was good too.

The best way that I can describe this book is like a more adult version of The Inheritance Games. I’m a sucker for family mysteries so the slow build up to the truth worked well for me. While the characters themselves were not very likeable their personalities were still distinct enough to make them interesting to the story. This was definitely a great comfort read that I took with me on the train and in between classes. Easy to follow and a good recommendation for readers interested in a little bit of rich people problems.
1 like

I loved the reality show world juxtaposed with the wealthy powerful family saga. Maya was a fun protagonist to root for and although I guessed part of the twist, it still didn't take away from my enjoyment of this book. Very dark and wickedly fun, the Sterlings were an entertaining lot. Highly recommend to thriller fans!

Murder, creepy rich families, and the one person who doesn't quite belong - YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO READ THIS!

Former teen reality star Maya Miller has just married into one of the richest families in the country, The Sterlings. However, within 24 hours of getting married, Maya is not only named heir to the Sterling fortune but also accused of murdering the former heiress. WHAT?! Yeah. You really need to get on this wild ride.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the beginning and end of this novel, though I found the middle a bit too full of circuitous plotting and red herrings. Overall it was a good read with clever twists. I look forward to seeing what the author dreams up next.

Recently married to Colin Sterling, Maya Miller is leaving her past as a reality star behind and stepping into the role of wife. However, her honeymoon is over quickly when it is discovered that Colin's cousin and heir to the Sterling fortune, Arianna, has been murdered. The entire family is summoned to the Sterling estate, where Maya must hold her own and evaluate her past and part in the death of the heiress. Overall, this was a quick read with tones of The Inheritance Games mixed with little snippets of Saltburn and reality shows like The Hills. Just like the teen and 20s reality shows, the plot was manufactured and unrealistic at times, but overall the story moved quickly and kept me interested. I look forward to more from the author!

A Girl Like Us is a delicious, twisty novel that has been described as "Succession meets Saltburn." When reality tv star Maya Miller (one of the first shows as this story takes place in 2004) meets handsome Colin Sterling they embark on a whirlwind romance, complete with an engagement, baby and marriage, she feels she has finally escaped her past and looks forward to returning home from her honeymoon. Colin, whose family made their fortunes in media (think the Murdochs) has influence around the world and the wealth to eclipse it. While some have called her a gold digger others respect her climb. Things take a dramatic turn when Colin's cousin Arianna is missing and then found murdered. As heir to the entire family empire, Arianna's death triggers a lockdown at the family home in in England. Colin, Maya and their baby girl Bex are re-routed on their return flight to NYC and summoned to Silver House along with the rest of the family. At first, it is out of safety and an abundance of caution. Then, as Arianna's will and estate leave the family in shock as Maya is named the new heir, Maya realizes they're trying to keep everyone-and every secret-in while the world is shut out. Secrets and rumors start flying around and Maya finds herself in danger. The family would never accept her as the heir-and suspect her involvement in Arianna's death. Maya determined to find the truth (while holding onto secrets of her own) has to fight back while staying alive. With twists (some more obvious and others very well hidden), good character development and the stark and ornate setting, A Girl Like Us is a great debut!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and author Anna Sophia McLoughlin for the gifted copy!

Why are stories about rich people behaving badly so delicious? And when you add in a locked door setting, secrets, lies, family drama, dysfunction & yes a murder … you’ve got yourselves a thrill ride! That’s what we have in this book & I ate it up! I thought for sure I knew where this was going, but a few good twists derailed my guesses! The chapters are well paced & each reveal gets juicier & more scandalous! Loved it! A great debut by an author I am excited to see more from in the future!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Overall I thought it was decent overall read. Rich people behaving badly, family secrets, and a few twists along the way.
Maya the main character had some backbone to hold up against her new rich relatives. There were some slow parts and some predictable answers to some of the mysteries, but also a couple interesting surprises. I would definitely give her next novel a read.

A GIRL LIKE US was a mystery about a bunch of people who you can't help but love to hate. It explored the dark side of wealth and celebrity through different timelines that weaved together seamlessly. This is also a bit longer than the mysteries that I typically gravitate towards, but I found myself gripped the entire time. While not a new favorite, this is one that I enjoyed and would recommend! Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!

Thank you to Sourcebook Landmark for the free ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is out now!

Mystery Thriller. Maya Miller is a famous ex-reality star who had to work for everything she’s ever had after growing up with a criminal father and without her mother. That is, until she marries Colin Sterling, a member of the globally powerful media tycoon Sterlings from England. After touching down in NYC after their honeymoon in Mexico they learn Colin’s cousin and heir to the Sterling fortune, Arianna, was found murdered not far from where they honeymooned. Immediately they head to Silver House in England and are out in lockdown with the rest of the Sterlings until the murderer is caught and that’s where they all learn that Arianna left the sterling fortune to Maya - who she had never met. The family is immediately suspicious, and Maya is desperate for answers. But her pursuit of the truth also means Maya has to contend with secrets of her own.

The blurb says things Succession meets Saltburn and I think it mostly lives up to that assessment (no bathwater was drank, however). Maya is easy to root for despite her flaws. Sometimes locked room mysteries grow old for me, but the fact it was set in this massive mansion made it work. I blew through this one and it was a fun thriller.

This was a little slow and drawn out for me.

The characters weren't particularly likable, which made it difficult for me to connect completely with the story. I did enjoy the twists, however, even if they weren't completely surprising.

I know this type of story will definitely find its audience, even if it wasn't really for me.

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3⭐️

I was completely hooked on this book! The twists and surprises kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. This story is a fast-paced and gritty thriller that explores the depths of survival, redemption, and truth. It is SO masterfully woven, following a strong yet troubled protagonist as she confronts her past while chasing the truth. This novel dives into powerful themes of trust, family, healing, and the harsh reality of corruption, making it a must-read for crime fiction fans. Some of this book OR most of this book had me spooked but I am so in love with it and how incredible and powerful this story was to read. Anna definitely knocked it out of the park!

Thriller/mystery novels aren’t ones I traditionally gravitate towards but I’m so glad I was able to read A Girl Like Us. I was captivated by the story of Maya and the Sterlings from the get go and found myself rooting for Maya and Arianna throughout. There was one storyline (a spoiler I won’t mention) that I didn’t care for, but overall I found this novel and the plot to be propulsive and engrossing. I’ve already recommended it to multiple friends!

Succession meets Saltburn? Say less.

Maya Miller is a former reality star who is marrying into the Sterling family, a media dynasty with aristocratic roots, unimaginable wealth, and no shortage of skeletons in their closets. But when Maya's husband-to-be's cousin Arianna is found murdered, Maya becomes the prime suspect. Locked inside Silver House, the family's sprawling estate, she quickly realizes the real danger isn’t outside—it’s within these walls, and no one is safe.

This one delivers all the dark glamour, backstabbing, and intrigue you’d want in a high-society thriller. Let’s just say I was flipping pages fast..

Thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC!

This was the kind of "just okay" thriller that is ruined by having read any number of books by Ruth Ware. Maya Miller, a former reality TV star, has just married into a Succession style British news dynasty and is adjusting to life as a wife and new mother when the family is rocked by a murder. What follows is a lukewarm commentary on class and privilege that failed to deliver on its bombastic premise. None of the characters had a lick of personality and the first 1/2 is filled with scenes of Maya getting weakly bullied by wannabe Rosamund-Pike-In-Saltburn caricatures. I found the unevenly alternating POVs between Maya and the murdered heiresss, Ariana, to be disorienting and unnecessary. The depiction of the mental health ecosystem is completely atrocious and had me keeping a soft tally of the number of HIPPA violations per chapter. Institutionalization as a thriller trope is not only super tired but fairly disrespectful to folks genuinely trapped in the system. The story picked up a little bit towards the end and did manage to surprise me with a third-act twist, but failed to leave a lasting impact on my memory.

This one is great for everybody who loves thrillers about rich people problems! It was enjoyable and fast paced, perfect for people who loved the Inheritance Games and wants a similar book for a more adult target audience.

A Girl Like Us is a wild ride. Wealth, power, secrets, and a lockdown in a sprawling English mansion. What more could you ask for?

Maya Miller, now a Sterling, never expected to be in this position. She’s in danger, and before it’s too late, she needs to uncover the secrets that could destroy her while keeping her own hidden. Trust isn’t an option when the stakes are this high.

I was completely hooked, especially after the halfway point. I usually see twists coming, but this one still got me, and I was satisfied with how it played out. It's a solid thriller and definitely worth the read.

Thank you, Sourcebooks Landmark, for the copy.