More of a 4.5 star rating.

I loved this! It did start off a bit slow to me, but by the 20% mark, I was hooked.

I’m a sucker for locked room thrillers and this was SO good.

With tons of twists and and tension, this was one of the best slow burn thrillers I’ve read this year.

Thanks to NetGalley & publisher for this ARC.

📸 Former TV Reality Star
📸 Married into Powerful Wealthy Family
📸 Family Drama
📸 A Murder

Packed with family secrets and a slow-burn unraveling, this one had an interesting premise. While I felt a bit disinterested in the middle of the story, the ultimate twist made up for the read. (The last 10% is where the big kicks come in.) If you liked The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha you may like this one.

Maya grew up rough but gets a break on a reality tv show. She ends up marrying a Sterling, a super powerful and wealthy family. When a family member turns up dead, all the relatives are made to report to the family estate for safety. While there Maya learns she’s been named the new heiress of the empire - and that doesn’t set well with any of the family members! With her life in the balance and a murderer at large, things get crazy quick. A fun fast paced read!

This was super interesting, with so many secrets to uncover and twists I didn't see coming. It's definitely worth a read if you like secret family drama and mysteries.

It's an interesting thriller with psychological twists. The storyline is exciting, and the characters are unreliable and mostly selfish. I couldn't understand the plot at first, but after halfway through, it picked up speed, and one after another, secrets and lies came out from all sides. It felt a little confusing sometimes with the alternative point of view, but the ending is quite good with shocking revelations. Recommended for twisted mystery fans. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

4.5 rounded up.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for an advance copy of A Girl Like Us.

Set in 2004, Maya Miller has done it all - she is a former reality star who has pulled herself up and become something from nothing, and has just performed her grandest trick yet - bagging one of the wealthiest men from one of the most affluent families in the world - Colin Sterling.  While Colin simply adores her, there are those of the Sterling clan who see Maya as nothing more than a gold digger looking for security for her and their baby.  So when they leave their honeymoon and are told that the sole heiress to the fortune, Arianna, has been murdered…in the very city that their wedding/honeymoon was…suspicion quickly turns to Maya.

The entire family goes into lockdown at the family’s British estate and accusations start flying. Under the guise of ‘safety of the family,’ no one is permitted to leave which raises concern for Maya. Why is the entire family forced to stay together? Is it to keep threats out or to keep secrets from getting out? Even worse - Maya gains further scrutiny when the will is read and Arianna has named Maya the new heiress to the Sterling wealth. The big problem - Maya has never met Arianna and this paints the newest member of the family in a very. Guilty. Light. 

That synopsis felt all over the place, but that’s okay. I want it that way. This book is slow burn chaos. You can’t figure out who to trust, you can’t find a single character you like, and you can’t stop reading until the wild conclusion.

There were a lot of twists in this one, some I saw coming and some that shocked the hell out of me.

This has been described as Succession x Saltburn and I can’t say I fully agree, but it’s not completely off-base. It’s absolutely rich people behaving badly with an entire cast of unhinged af characters, but without the business-heavy plot that Sucession has.

My one downside is that I think it was a tad too long. This is a slow slow slow burn plot, don’t expect to be biting your nails on the edge of your seat. This is a sit and stew in it and ponder about what happens until we jump out and scare you ride.  Had it been maybe 30-50 pages shorter, I think it would attract and stun a wider audience…however, I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to Anna’s sophomore book!

WOW!! After previously writing young adult novels, A GIRL LIKE US is Anna’s debut into adult fiction with the mystery/thriller genre and she enters with a deliciously twisty show-stopping BANG! There are twists and turns that escalate into even bigger reveals and stunning deceptions that leave the mind racing and spinning to analyze them. McLoughlin also dazzles and layers with a modern fresh spin of pop culture and reality television infused into the story, complete with tabloid frenzy, rich storied generational families, and love triangles. For readers who are now hooked after finishing the book, good news awaits — the author is thinking about a sequel, as well as also being in the process of working on another novel. I for one can’t wait to see what comes next from the pen of this new-to-me author that hooked me with A GIRL LIKE US!

I feel like marketing as "Succession meets Saltburn" might have set my hopes too high for this. I just didn't find myself all that engaged, I really didn't like the protagonist, so couldn't really root for her but also she wasn't the type that you loved to hate either, just kinda ... uninteresting. There were a lot of twists but I kinda just struggled to care?

A girl like us

Maya is a former reality star who rose to fame through her drama on the show and “party girl” antics.

She is now married to eligible bachelor, Colin Sterling. They had been off again on again, and the most recent “on” was quickly passionate, leading to pregnancy and a marriage that is questioned in the tabloids.

She is labeled as a gold digger and the plot thickens as the heiress to Colin’s family fortune is found murdered. Even more curious, Maya is named as the new heir by Arianna (murdered cousin).

Maya quickly finds herself mega rich and mega suspicious, the family (including Maya) goes into lockdown at their estate for “safety”. Maya is in a missing to keep her secrets hidden but reveal and uncover the secrets of the family.

Reminded me of Inheritance Games and Succession (Lite).

Loved this fun inheritance/ rich privilege thriller / mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ARC/ALC in exchange for an honest review. Out now- late review !

Anna Sophia McLoughlin’s A Girl Like Us is a captivating and emotionally resonant novel that delves into themes of identity, love, and self-acceptance. With its relatable protagonist, engaging plot, and thought-provoking moments, this book offers a heartfelt exploration of what it means to be true to oneself while navigating the complexities of relationships and personal growth.

The story follows a young woman who, after facing significant personal challenges, embarks on a journey to rediscover herself. McLoughlin does a remarkable job of portraying the protagonist’s internal struggles and emotional transformation, making her relatable and easy to connect with. The narrative is grounded in themes of self-worth and resilience, and the author masterfully blends these themes with a touch of romance and emotional depth.

The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, with McLoughlin taking her time to develop the characters and their relationships. There are moments of tension and conflict, but the novel never feels rushed. Instead, it builds steadily toward a satisfying resolution, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the protagonist’s journey. The writing is sharp and accessible, with moments of introspection that feel authentic without being overly heavy-handed.

The characters in A Girl Like Us are well-developed and multi-dimensional. The protagonist’s growth is the heart of the story, and McLoughlin skillfully portrays her journey with emotional depth and honesty. The supporting characters, particularly the love interest, add to the richness of the narrative, though some of the secondary arcs could have been explored in more depth. Still, they contribute meaningfully to the overall story and help illuminate the protagonist’s growth.

While the book touches on familiar themes of self-discovery and romance, McLoughlin’s execution makes it feel fresh and engaging. The central conflict feels authentic, and the character’s emotional journey resonates long after the final page. However, some readers may find certain aspects of the plot predictable, especially if they are familiar with coming-of-age or romance genres.

In conclusion, A Girl Like Us is a beautifully written and emotionally satisfying novel that explores the complexities of self-identity and relationships. Anna Sophia McLoughlin’s ability to create a relatable protagonist and weave a thoughtful narrative makes this a compelling read. While the plot may feel familiar at times, the heartfelt character development and emotional depth ensure that it remains a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Fans of character-driven stories will find much to appreciate in this heartfelt and inspiring novel.

If you enjoy locked room thrillers with a “reality show” feel, check this one out! It unfortunately wasn’t for me though. Thank you to Gallery for the author for the ARC!

The layers that this book has would put an onion to shame!

It's some really clever storytelling.... So Maya has married eligible bachelor Colin Sterling, not bad for a reality TV star. When they find out his cousin has died, they bring the whole family to their main home... Maya didn't even know about the cousin but yet Arianna left her vaste fortune to her.....

It was great. I had no idea what was going on and there were secrets on secrets on secrets.. Lies and more lies and half truths.. OMG I was so entertained. The writing was phenomenal. It takes some real skills to keep all those balls in the air and keep everything straight. It was a really well done thriller.

I literally had no idea what was going on until the end and I was like yeah... didn't see that tidal wave coming.

If you love thrillers... add this one to your list.

4.5 stars

This is rich people's problems at it's finest. Although, I do not think this was very 'Saltburn', because the Sterlings did not give any sort of chill vibe in the slightest... but definitely nailed the Succession vibes because, my goodness, these people are brutal and awful.
I felt like the pacing of this book was very inconsistent. The first 60-80% of the book was kind of slugging along, and then everything happened all at once towards the end.
The 'locked room' setting feels to be more prominent in the rich people's problems sub-genre, and while it's definitely fitting, it does feel a bit overdone.
I wish I had connected with the characters, even Maya, but I just didn't feel that with them. Which is definitely a me problem. But I know so many people who love these types of books will devour this one!

LOVED this one! Succession vibes all the way, but I ate it up. If you like rich people behaving badly, definitely try this one. I was very entertained, a solid popcorn mystery/suspense novel.

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.