I think this book has a lot of potential, with some great twists and turns that I didn't see coming. However, this was a lot slower than I wanted with little to no build-up before all the secrets were revealed. I did enjoy the ending for the most part, but after the big reveal, it kind of petered out into nothing.

While this didn't really work for me I did enjoy it enough for me to want to pick up more from this author, and I think if you like a slower-paced book, with the claustrophobic feel of being in a grand mansion where pretty much everyone is out to get you with some great twists I definitely think you should give this a try.

Maya Miller was raised by her father after her mother left them. He did illegal things to get money to feed them and she helped him at times. But when he was arrested and sent to prison, she had to rely on her on wits to get by. A beautiful young woman, she became a TV star on a reality show called “The Springs.” She was very popular.

Then she met Colin Sterling, part of the global media Sterling family that is very wealthy. She became pregnant and shortly after their daughter, Becca, was born, they got married and honeymooned in Mexico. Business is always key in the Sterling family so their honeymoon was mixed with lots of business associates.

It was when they flew back to Manhattan that they learned that the heiress of the Sterling fortune, Arianna, had been murdered. Thus, all of the family have to convene at the Sterling family home in England. There, Maya meets this mixed group all of whom have their odd quirks. As Arianna’s will is read, it is discovered that she left her fortune to Maya. Everyone is shocked and wants to know why and tells Maya she needs to immediately sign it over to the family. She refuses and sets out to find out more about this young woman who had a troubled upbringing and why she would leave her fortune to her. But Maya is hiding her own secret that could blow everything out of the water.

This was a mesmerizing and solid read. The author obviously put a lot of planning and time into writing the story. The characters are believable and typical of people with so much money and ruthless power. It did require a lot of concentration to keep up with the plot and the different characters. Enjoy.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A Girl Like Us is a thriller following a mega rich family and their newest addition by marriage. When the heiress is found murdered and new to the family, Maya, is left the fortune, fingers are quickly pointed.

The reveals in this book, while ridiculous, are thrilling and unpredictable. I loved reading about the grandeur of the problematic Sterling family and the fickle relationships held between family members due to secrets and suspicions. This was a very fun thriller read, filled with morally gray characters!

Former reality star Maya Miller knew what she was getting into when she married into the media magnate Sterling family. What she wasn't prepared for was to become the heiress to the family empire right away. Now Maya must figure out the family secrets in order to keep herself off the chopping block.

***

I think this book had so much really good potential, and for the most part, I had a lot of fun. However, it suffers from a few issues.

1) Pacing. This book was slowwww. I wanted more intrigue and excitement.

2 ) Intrigue. The plot issue was mainly due to the fact that we were focusing on the wrong things. This family was supposed to be so spicy and interesting, and instead we were cooped up in this big old house with barely any details into their past or present outside of that one fire on another island.

3) The ending. ??? What happened? It was so abrupt and I just cannot believe that certain characters would fade into the dark.

All in all, it was a decently fun ride. I would read this author again. I just want a bit more glitz and glamour and a faster pace!

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

✌🏼for Tuesday
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Happy pub day to both of these beauties- A Girl Like Us (thanks @netgalley and @sourcebookslandmark) and You are Fatally Invited ( thanks @netgalley and @bantam) here are my thoughts.
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A Girl Like Us- ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️- Maya married into a toxic family, and ends up inheriting the money. I did enjoy Mayas story and perspective. It was a super fun romp with a toxic family, definitely a quick fun popcorn thriller!
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QOTD- what are you currently reading nothing ever happens here and first time caller (I can’t stop thinking about it !)?!

WOW WOW WOW WOW WOW. Saltburn meets Succession is accurate! Maya just married into the elite Sterling family & inherits everything after her new cousin mysteriously dies. The twists and turns were unexpected and I sailed through reading. This will be a must have on my bookshelf! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5 stars



Thank you so much to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC!!

I don’t always go for a mystery, but I was very intrigued by the blurb/synopsis of this book. And it lived up to my expectations. I was truly shocked by some of the twist and turns in this book. There was so much going on that Really came together with this mystery. the succession themes were pretty obvious, but really what it was about was power and family and the dynamics with all that. Maya was a heroine who I hated to love and loved to hate, but was rooting for the whole time!

Thank you #Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a swing and a miss for me. I was looking forward to it from the synopsis and up until chapter 4. I thought it had some Next Mrs. Parrish vibes and thought it could really be something. The locked-room mystery was fun and I was looking forward to finding out all about what was happening. At about 40% in I didn't know where the story was going anymore and it only got goofier and goofier. The twists didn't really land. I still don't fully understand them. I never ever understood the family and who was with who or how different people were related. I won't even get into the undercurrent of misogyny throughout the book that made me want to puke. Fine. The MC went to therapy and in the end turned down being in an extramarital affair but the way the girls talked about and to eachother and the way the women fawned over the men was something I can't get behind. It's 2025 - we need to stop with that. This totally didn't work for me. Totally didn't work for me.

1⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced copy of A Girl Like Us.

Maya a reality television star has just married Colin and his family is very wealthy and they also have a lot of secrets but so does she. Someone in the wealthy family has been murdered and the family goes into survival mode. Who would have wanted the family member dead?

This book was way too slow for me. It was also very repetitive about events unfolding in the plot. I did not like any of the characters so it was really hard to be invested. I was not a fan.

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark, Anna Sophia McLoughlin and NetGalley for the gifted ARC of A Girl Like Us. It was a wild ride!

4.5 rounded down to 4.

What a fantastic, fast-paced thriller! I can't believe this is a debut. A Girl Like Us is so complex and twisty, I couldn't keep up! I had no guesses until the 75% mark. And didn't begin thinking a few of my hunches might be right, until about the 85% point. There were so many suspect possibilities I was hopping around from one person to another for most of the book. I loved the locked door, billionaire elite setting. And the MC rising up from a nothing kind of family life made me question her reliability the entire way!

A Girl Like Us is an addictive, high-stakes thriller that seamlessly blends glitz, power, and deadly secrets. With a sharp and compelling protagonist, Maya Miller (now Sterling), at its core, the novel unravels a murder mystery set against the opulent yet ominous backdrop of the Sterling family’s ancestral estate. As Maya navigates a world of privilege, deception, and ruthless ambition, the tension never lets up. McLaughlin masterfully crafts a gripping page-turner filled with jaw-dropping twists, making this a must-read for fans of glamorous thrillers with a dark edge. Secrets and family drama galore!

Thank you Anna Sophia McLoughlin, Sourcebooks Landmark, and Netgalley for the advanced copy!

Packed to the gills with rich people behaving badly, long-buried secrets, and epic twists and turns, A Girl Like Us had my attention from the very first word. And let me tell you, this family was the secret sauce in what was a killer story. Dysfunctional in the extreme, they were cold, calculating, and cunning in the best possible way. All except for Colin—who had my heart right from the start—and Maya, of course. Well, maybe she had just a few of those traits. Morally gray and with a love for winning at all costs, she was the perfect addition to this ruthless pack of wolves, which made the plot come alive right before my oh so riveted eyes.

As for the plot, I adoringly ate most of it up one heaping spoonful at a time. So much so, in fact, that I finished this 400+ page stunner in just under twenty-four hours. With twist after twist shifting the storyline in first one direction and then another, the conclusion was 100% unguessable for this thriller lover. That’s not to say, though, that I didn’t see through many of those stunning reveals. It didn’t, however, ruin the book for me even the slightest. After all, with ever-present foreboding, complex group dynamics, and a pace that soared higher and higher, I wouldn’t have wanted to actually be there with the Sterlings, but I absolutely loved being a fly on the wall.

The only tiny hiccup that stood out to me other than my ability to see through the twists was the need to suspend all disbelief. You see, while I’m sure there are families out there that could rival this obscenely wealthy, vile clan, the events took coincidence a step too far more than once. That being said, I still found it utterly addictive and I sped through this psychological thriller in no time at all.

Ultimately, by the end of Ms. McLoughlin’s stellar debut, I was undeniably floored. With well-plotted dual POVs, realistic characters, and a deliciously unhinged storyline that kept me in the palm of its hand, it gave me a Stone Cold Fox meets Succession feel with a bit of Kaira Rouda thrown in. The best piece of all, though? That was the locked room thriller premise. Claustrophobic, creepy, and undeniably chilling, Silver House gets my applause for a dynamite setting laced with an atmospheric vibe. So run—don’t walk—to grab your copy today. A sure fire win for this newbie author, you don’t want to miss out on a minute with the Sterlings. Rating of 4.5 stars.

Thank you to Anna Sophia McLoughlin, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.

'Maya's been around long enough to know that gentility is mostly a smokescreen for power grabs and treasure hoarding'.

Maya Miller grew up with trouble, lucky to have made it through high school, she managed to find prominence, popularity, and parties after landing a party on a reality tv series. Her real coup, however, was landing, and marrying, star bachelor Colin Sterling, from a multi-million dollar media dynasty. Maya may have married Colin but she had a long way to go to be a part of his grand family, who are so quick to label her 'them' instead of one of 'us'. That is, until Colin's cousin Arianna is found dead. Arianna, wasn't just a cousin, she was the heiress to the Sterling fortune. The funny thing is, is that although Maya had never met Colin's cousin, she's discovered that she's just inherited everything. Whereas once Maya was disregarded as a nobody, she's now become the prime target, but Maya has secrets of her own and she can be just as clever and underhanded to be a worthy opponent in this game of deceit.

This story is told in alternating POVs, between Maya and Arianna. Slowly a web of deception and lies is revealed, with plenty of twists along the way. I enjoyed this story, which does give off the Succession vibes it claims to, however, I did find it spinning its wheels at times. A good read for people who enjoy twisty mysteries.

'Maya is a different species...A nobody from nowhere...A little thief who learned early that if you want something, you just have to take it...'.

3.5 ⭐️

If there’s one thing I love, it’s a story rich in murder, wealth, and secrets and damn, this book had it all!!! There was a slower burn to the thrill of this story but I was invested in Maya and the crazy cast of Sterling family members. Def give this one a read!

Thanks NetGalley for an ARC!

This riveting and suspenseful page-turner delves deep into the intricacies of family relationships, exploring the complexities of power dynamics, and the devastating consequences of long-held secrets. The captivating narrative will resonate with readers who are drawn to stories that explore the multifaceted nature of human character, the intricacies of family drama, and the allure of thrilling mysteries. With its rich tapestry of interwoven plotlines, unexpected twists, and emotionally charged revelations, this novel promises an unforgettable reading experience that will stay with readers long after the final page is turned.

This one sounded so interesting especially when being compared to Succession. That was what sold me, as that is one of my favorite shows ever! I would say that this delivered on that comparison. My main complaint would be that it felt like the book was a tad long and could have been edited to help keep my interest and help the story move better. But other than that, I enjoyed it! The characters are the uber rich and they are utterly despicable. No matter how many rich behaving badly books I read, I still enjoy them! This had some interesting twists and I liked how it ended and tied up all the loose ends! This is a fun debut that has me excited for what’s next by this author!

The book was enjoyable but there were things that seemed drawn out that did not add to the book. It ilea’s hard to appreciate the cast of characters and that could be what the author wanted. I did root for one but then it just ended with out any solid answers. Maybe a second book?

I do appreciate that I was given the opportunity to read this early from the author and NetGalley.

Damn!

This was soo good. Kept me hooked from the start.
The caracters was so great, and loved them.

A good thrillers with lots of Rich family drama.

A Rich Thriller to DIE FOR.

Former reality TV star Maya Miller is now living a life of luxury, recently married to Colin Sterling, a member of British royalty. The story kicks off with the shocking murder of Colin’s cousin, Arianna, with Maya quickly becoming the prime suspect. As Maya delves deeper into the Sterling family's secrets, the suspense builds.

I’m always on the lookout for a good thriller, but while this book started strong, it ultimately fell flat for me in the middle. It Girl Like Us alternates between the past, told in Arianna's perspective i in a mental hospital, and the present, following Maya Miller. Normally, I enjoy this type of narrative, but in this case, it felt like it weakened the overall pace.

The characters were somewhat one-dimensional, and I didn’t feel particularly invested in any of them, not to mention there was so many to keep track of.

What really bothered me, however, was the abrupt ending. The big reveal happens around 85%-90%, and the resolution is wrapped up in just one chapter followed by the epilogue. This rushed conclusion left me feeling unsatisfied.

Despite this, I did enjoy the chapters from Arianna’s perspective, particularly her diary entries. However, the book ultimately lacked the suspense and plot twists that make a thriller truly gripping for me.

3.5 rounded up.

"Protocol 202, Maya - it means there's been a murder."

Former reality star Maya Miller has just married into the extremely wealthy Sterling family. Her and her new husband Colin are on their way back from their honeymoon when they learn the Sterling heiress was just murdered. They immediately divert their course to London to meet up at the family estate where they'll be under constant watch until the murderer is apprehended.

A GIRL LIKE US is a debut mystery from Anna Sophia McLoughlin and oozes wealth and chaos.

This book is very much a slow (sometimes trudging) burn. As a reader, we get to learn the pasts and secrets of Maya and the Sterling family as they're all brought together under tense circumstances.

The ending goes crazy and redeemed the overall story for me a bit.

However, I think for the most part, this story was missing a lot of answers and raised even more questions that came from a rushed conclusion.

A fine debut, but one that I think will only really work for certain readers!

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review - out February 11!