Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC copy of this book. This has not affected my review at all, which are my own thoughts.

When they were babies, Gen was kidnapped, leaving behind her twin Eve to deal with the consequences: living the next 18 years in a lie, pretending to be two daughters, both Eve and Gen. A performance spurred by her father to keep her mother safe at the expense of her mental health, her dreams and her social abilities. Because Eve has spend her whole life keeping people far away to protect her secret. But all this lies made up a pile that's started to crumble: new neighbors, new possibilities and strangers to work with for the school's newspaper will take Eve down a path of extremes.
Eve wants nothing more than to graduate, get to college and get away from all these theatrics and a life that isn't hers, but Gen, the Gen she made up for her mother, won't allow Eve to go on without her.

So, this isn't my usual type of book to read, let alone enjoy, but the premise picked my interest and I tried my luck at NetGalley. And here we are now. A book enjoyed later, with strong points on mental health, exploring all types of relationships, awakenings... Truly, a coming of age story of a teenage girl that has had to deal with family secrets external and of her own her whole life, isolating herself from everybody due to this.

Eve is the perfect narrator for this story, suffering it in her bones, having to pretend to be two daughters for a mother that clearly prefers the made up one, since Gen is everything that Eve could never: social, bubbly, nice. Eve prefers her papers, not be seen (relatable) and a future far away from this charade. By the end of the book we know enough of Eve, and Gen, to differentiate both of them but also to affirm that they're rounded well developed characters capable of carrying the weight of the plot. In fact, Eve has made Gen so different from her to be able to track all the lies, that even through the narration of the story we can tell everything that Eve's does and says, but we can also pinpoint the little times that it is Gen manifesting herself. Some of then are remarked by Eve, so we have it sure, but others don't need to because it is there for us to see clearly.

At one point, one character is introduce, her new neighbor, Wes, who she already knows because they go together to school. They end up going together for runs along the beach and Wes tries to befriend her, be close, to talk to her. And, even though it is hard for her, they develop some kind of relationship based on mutual respect. And I love that there was never a romance forced between them, I was fearing for it the whole novel, because it tends to happen a lot, even if the first intentions are of a friendship. But, here, it stayed like that and I liked that, friendships need to be celebrated more in books like this, to be honest.

Another point in favor, for me, is how fast paced is, always something happening, action advancing the plot to the highs and the lows and the middles that gives us some moments of calmness before the storm and everything tumbling down the mountain of lies until Eve is found out. No, really, I think I fled through this book in, like, two days, incapable of looking away. I needed to know what would happen, what next lie Eve would weave to keep her secrets safe, how the journaling gig would work out for her... For as bad a person as Eve can be sometimes (acknowledge by both her and her friends) we can't help but root for her through the awful situation she is living at home, feeling with her the good and the bad, emphasizing.

One last point in favor of the book is its treatment of mental health, equalizing it to physical health and how both are important. Eve's school has a mental health department, her friends are concerned about her and even Eve remarks it with her newspaper's report about suicide and depression stats on adolescence. And, also, not only the books treats it as the important topic that it is, but the book is a focus on Eve's mental health, how it deteriorates

One of my complaints would be the supporting cast, the secondary characters that make the friends and social circle surrounding Eve. They were different characters, identifiable between each other, but they were barely developed beyond their basic characteristics. Like, sure, they have dreams and college goals and an idea of what they want to do in their future, but they don't feel like whole people beyond their relationship with Eve and what they're going to do right after graduation, because any possibility of future lives comes from Eve's theories and hopes for her friends. But, as stated, on their own, the characters didn't fell that strong, they were there to aid the plot and to Eve's emotional character arc. And while we could argue that secondary characters are there precisely for that, I like it better when they're well developed and feel like whole (or, almost whole) people with their own lives, which they share with the main characters.
Moreover when, towards the end, most of them got closure and Eve's narrates us what has happened to them and if they got to college after a couple jumps forward in time through summer and until august-september (near the start of college). Though some of them got forgotten in the way and that frustrated me to no end😂

Another issue, for me, is that the climax felt too long, extended and wrong out. Maybe it was my expectations of the story and thinking that one action marked the start of the climax, and, actually, the climax start when a future action to the one I thought happens. Either that, or maybe it was the resolution to the climax that was really stretched. By the end of the book, this length is justified, because Eve's character arc is given closure, we learn what has been of the rest of the cast and all plot points get resolver one way or another. But it all disturb me enough to mention it here. And, as I mentioned in the previous paragraph, there are some characters that get lost after serving their part to the plot and we don't know what has happened to them or a lot about them, not having been that well developed.
It could be because Eve is too busy with her problems and does not think about them, but since she mention some characters, it makes me think of laziness or forgetfulness from the author's part to not include some others that were important to Eve throughout the book.

I could talk all day about the book, I guess, but then I'll have to get into spoiler territory, and I do not want that, really, so I'll leave it here, let people decide if they want to read it base on my laid put opinions and thank y'all for reading so far.

Overall, I do recommend the book, is a great fiction story of real family situations, baby kidnapping cases, self discoveries quite by accident and coming of age in a toxic environment, isolated from the people that are actively trying to help you. Great commentary on mental health and serious issues that affect our society and should be more discussed. All laced with an amazing protagonist, an emotional ride that can hit close to home sometimes and sharp prose that never ridicules the heavy topics that is treating (unlikely other books that I've read, really). I'll definitely be checking other books from the author after this one.

Wasn’t able to read this one digitally but I did order a copy of the book so will be reviewing it after I’ve read it. I’m really excited for it as I’ve only heard great things about it. I’m so excited to jump into this one.

This was very… interesting??? Im genuinely so confused on that ending like WHAT DOES THAT MEANNNNN WDYM IM CONFUSED??? Yeah this book was okay i loved the plot i think it was interesting to read but i had my issues with the pacing, it just felt very slow and dragged on like the story just wouldnt finish. Also i wish we went more in depth with the side characters like Wes and Ember because they just felt so one dimensional to me I couldn’t connect to them or the friendship they had with Eve. Lastly i think if this book had a great idea i just wish it was dealt with differently because while the plot of the book is beautiful the execution of it felt lacking to me personally. Not to say this is a bad book but it could’ve been done better.

Melanie Hooyenga delivers a compelling psychological suspense novel with The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway, blending mystery, identity struggles, and family trauma in a gripping narrative.

This book had such an easy flow, making it super engaging from start to finish. I never felt like I had to push through any part—it just pulled me in effortlessly. The characters were well-developed, especially Eve, and I loved how her emotions and struggles felt so real.

The plot was definitely unique, and I really appreciated how the psychological elements were detailed without slowing things down.

If you’re into YA psychological thrillers with strong character development and a fresh premise, this one’s worth checking out!

Twins, kidnapping, a mom who’s lost touch with reality – this book is packed with edge-of-your-seat drama. Melanie Hooyenga’s latest novel has high school senior Eve forced to play the role of her long disappeared twin sister Gen in order to keep their mom from completely falling apart. You’ll struggle to catch your breath as you race through this story, desperate to find out if Gen is still alive or if Eve will spend the rest of her mom’s life pretending that she is. Hang on for a wild and shocking ride! Thanks to NetGalley and the author for an advanced copy of this novel.

*fun lil theory at the end of this review!*

4.25 star

This book…. Wow. I’m not usually one to go for YA thrillers, but this one had me hooked! The characters and their development were great.

*spoilers!*

I love that Hooyenga took stereotypical high school roles and twisted them. Wes, for example, who was “popular” was actually very down to earth and had great compassion.

I also loved that we know exactly what Eve was thinking and how her mind works. Yes, it’s written in first person, but a lot of the adult thrillers I read sometimes miss big details in their inner monologue. We know when Eve was upset, angry, depressed, confused, and so forth. I never questioned her motive for anything, even when it was “Gen” talking.

The pace of this book was pretty good. I felt engaged the whole time and I wanted to read it all in one shot but my eyes get tired before my brain does most nights :(

Only reason why this is a 4 star is because I wish we got a little more time with Sky! Like why she got kidnapped and by who!

My theory is Eve was kidnapped and “Eve” is ACTUALLY Gen. Her dad felt so guilty and awful for practically letting Eve get taken that he said Gen got kidnapped. That could also be why she naturally played “Gen” for her and her mom’s special time? Just a fun theory I thought of!
^or maybe the dad wanted the kidnapping to happen all along and to cover up his tracks he made mom believe the girls were both present because he started feeling guilty.

I hope this book gains traction because this is excellent premise for a movie one day!!!

Shoutout to NetGalley for allowing me to red an ARC of TQUOEE in exchange for my honest review!

A beautifully written and emotionally charged novel that delves into the complexities of identity and self-discovery. The story is poignant and thought-provoking, with well-developed characters that resonate deeply with readers. The narrative unfolds gracefully, revealing layers of Eve's journey in a compelling manner. While some parts of the plot may feel slow, the overall experience is highly rewarding. The evocative prose and introspective themes make "The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway" a memorable and impactful read.

I enjoyed the unique story, however was slow in parts. A strong phycological thriller which deals with abuse in a way very rarely spoke about especially within books. The story line is somewhat predictable but this doesn’t take away from the story itself and is overall a good read if not a different read.

I have to be honest, I did not finish this book. I just could not get into the story. I tried to finish but only made it about half way through the book. The character was all over the place. I don't think it needed the scene at the baseball game. It didn't add anything to the story at that point. I can see having an attraction and maybe kissing but to have full on sexual encounter with a stranger in the public was strange. I wanted to like the book. I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened with Eve, but just could not finish.

This is a psychological thriller about twins Eve and Gen Ellaway. When the girls were babies Gen was kidnapped from a park, and due to the poor mental health of their mother a plan is put into place by the father where Eve pretends to be both herself and her twin to her mother so that she isn’t aware Gen is missing.

This book is a wild ride and a bit dark at times. I really enjoyed the twists and turns and highly recommend it to anyone who loves psychological thrillers and family drama.

I devoured this in one gulp. The writing is propulsive.

This isn't a book solely about child abduction or the bond between long-lost twins. 'The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway' also offers us a tender illustration of a teen discovering their queer identity.

Out titular high-school-senior protagonist is the kind of engrossing character that I love to read about in YA General Fiction, and it was a pleasure to find a young, empathetic protagonist navigating that moment of surprise when conformist identity begins to unravel as same-sex attraction materialises.

The other unravelling, of course, is that of Eve's fragile psyche, under the pressure of lifelong psychological and emotional abuse that reaches crisis, after our mc has spent the trajectory of the narrative demonstrating heart-wrenching, tear-jerking fortitude of mind.

Melanie Hooyenga has written a bittersweet, genuinely moving demonstration of a young woman's struggle to recognise and acknowledge her real self, right up until that cataclysmic moment when she. just. can't.

This is perfectly pitched for readers of Holly Jackson thrillers, woven with the heart of Rachael Lippincott. 'The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway' is a heartrending love letter to the self worthy of the likes of Becky Albertalli.

Many thanks to Left-Handed Mitten Publications for the eARC.

The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway follows Eve, one half of a set of twins who has been acting a farce her entire life. At school, everything appears to be normal, with her interest in journalism and her sort-of boyfriend. However, due to her twin sister Gen’s sudden kidnapping when they were babies, she plays the role of two people at home to placate her mother - herself, and her missing twin. However, things start to unravel as Eve takes on a big journalism project and prepares to graduate and leave for college.

This book has an interesting premise, which is what got me to request it, and I understand that this is meant for a younger audience but personally it just did not leave any lasting impression on me. I thought it was okay and could have been slightly longer with more character development especially.

As an introduction to teens for the issues present in the book – kidnapping and trafficking, abuse, explorations of sexuality, accountability, and mental health – it partially works. It was interesting to see Eve explore her sexuality (though there was not really a conclusion to this arc), and balance this with her current “not-relationship” and learn to let people in. It was also nice to see that she became more open about her mental health. My biggest issue was with the depiction of the dissociative disorder, it was definitely just a repeat of the frustrating depictions that people with DID or dissociative disorders have been calling out (for a long while now). There was unfortunately not much explanation about the disorder provided, so it is not a good source of information or a first-time introduction with DID. It reinforces the stereotypes that people with DID and alters are violent/murderous, which seems like the opposite of what the book was trying to do with mental illness and mental health, so it would have been nice to see the book go a different route.

Furthermore, I couldn’t connect with most of the side characters as it felt like they were there just for the development of Eve. Also, it is disappointing that the only (that I can remember) Asian character is the ‘rebellious’ archetype who has a streak of colour in her hair (Bonus points for her homophobic parents) Feels weird. It felt like there were a bunch of ideas/plots that were started but never given a conclusion, such as Eve’s exploration of her sexuality, her and Gen/Sky’s relationship, and also her familial relationships. The plot and idea were very interesting, but it would have been nice to see some more development of the storylines and of the characters, especially her close friends and her dad, which I thought was an especially intriguing relationship.

It was suspenseful and mysterious, and the tension was consistent throughout most of the book, so if you’re a fan of YA novels with similar plots, you’ll likely enjoy it more than I did.

Thank you to NetGalley and Left-Handed Mitten Publications for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There is so much I want to say about this book, but I can’t because it will spoil it & this is one book that needs to be read when you know nothing. This kept me on the edge of my seat. I read it all in one day because I couldn’t put it down. I even brought it to the kitchen with me & read while I was making lunch.

Trigger warnings for this book include: talks of human trafficking, emotional abuse, kidnapping, & mental illness.

We begin our story with Eve Ellaway wishing for a fresh start. She considers it a dangerous daydream. The more we learn of Eve’s life the more we empathize and share that daydream.

For almost her entire life she has put her mother’s well-being before her own, no matter the cost. 18 years ago Eve’s twin sister Gen was kidnapped, and ever since Eve has been putting on a performance.

With her mother, half the time she's dressed as Gen, she’s created a whole life narrative with friends and activities, and plans for a future after graduation. The other half of the time she is herself, whoever that may be. As Eve unravels, is Gen the only act she’s putting on?

This is full of teenage angst dialed all the way up to accommodate Eve's fragile psyche. It is a good thing we enter the narrative when we do and not anytime sooner. Had we witnessed the 18 years of events first-hand instead of in brief glimpses or references, we too would go mad.

What began as a confused gesture of love in the aftermath of a tragic event is now out of control and things are going to get messy.

Hooyenga captures the late-teen experience well. She also captures the heavy weight of secrets, the insidious power of trauma, and the suffocating sense that accompanies our responses to the crazy-making situations we may find ourselves in.

We may not have had to perform for our sick mother and pretend to be the missing twin we aren't allowed to admit is missing. But the tightening feeling of stuck-ness is familiar. And we have all had to, at one time or another, in one way or another, perform.

This is a downward spiral through the mind of a narrator we will love even though we sense the danger in trusting them. But, whatever kind of narrator Eve is will be limited by what’s been done to her.

I think the opening lines of This Be The Verse by Philip Larkin fit: “they fuck you up, your mum and dad. they may not mean to, but they do.”

When our psyches fracture they often do in response to something. Sometimes it is something seemingly small, just imagine what Eve's 18 years of performance have done.

The good news is you don't have to imagine. Open it up and find out for yourself.

Eve Ellaway has dreams of her own. But when her sister goes missing everything crashes down around her.

A YA thriller, what could go wrong? Unfortunately, I couldn't connect with any of the characters. Maybe because of the absurd way Eve's father has her pretend that she is her missing sister to their mother or maybe the demographic was targeted towards a young adult.

This book is currently $3.99 for kindle ebook. (At the time of me writing this)

Thank you to Left-Handed Mitten Publications and NetGalley for providing me this ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This book had me hooked from the very start, I got me engrossed as the story went on, very intense read.

This was stunning. I throughly enjoyed every feeling this made me experience and gave me a better understanding of mental health and how trauma effects individuals

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC for the novel in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts are my own.

The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway is a chilling and disturbing psychological thriller. The premise is totally wild: For the sake of her mother, Eve Ellaway has been playing the role of her kidnapped twin sister Gen since she was a baby. But the lies are unraveling and so is Eve's life. I really like the main characters and the twisted family dynamics. The ending is so fastpaced and intense. This is a book I will not be able to stop thinking about anytime soon.

***Pretending many years to be two persons, and what it does do the psyche of an adolescent***

This is the essence of this book, brought forward as a story of family tragedy, manipulation, and subtle abuse. Despite sounding like a thought experiment, this is a good story. But the almost unbearable suspense and the atmosphere of impending doom made me stop reading at some point. When I took up weeks later, it quickly unraveled and I read the second half in one go.

Lies upon lies: _The lies I've woven until the line between truth and fiction is nothing more that a shadow ..._ A story well told in an immersive language. A growing feeling of impending doom. I knew this would not end well but when the end came with a bang I was still surprised. Very captivating and never boring.

Coming out today!

(based on an ARC from NetGalley)

The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway is an unsettling psychological thriller that drew me in right away.

When twin sisters Gen and Eve Ellaway were infants, Gen was abducted from the park that their father took them to. Because of their mother's fragile mental health, the girl's father hatched a plan to have Eve pretend to be Gen as well as herself, even incorporating different clothes and separate interests. But the longer that Eve takes on Gen's identity, the more of herself she loses.

This book was absolutely wild in the best way possible! It was a bit of a slow buildup to a jaw dropping twist which I personally don't mind. I really liked the perspective of Eve and Gen. One criticism I have is that there are a lot of side characters to keep track of. Some are integral to the story but some others felt like they were just added in. But that didn't stop me from enjoying this twisted and gripping novel. Highly recommend!

Thank you to NetGalley, Melanie Hooyenga, and Left Handed Mitten Publications for this ARC. Expected publication date is February 25th 2025.