I LOVED THIS BOOK! It's been a long time since I've been so enthralled by anything I was reading ("reading," since I listened to the audiobook). I typically only listen to audiobooks while I'm driving, so I found myself constantly looking for excuses to be on the road so I could catch up with what the characters were doing.

Maya was likeable and smart (a rarity, I'm finding, for fmcs). The setting was mysterious and cozy and tense all at the same time - Saltburn-esque with a little more intrigue and edge. I started solving the mystery about 2/3 of the way through, but it didn't feel obvious enough to take away from my enjoyment of the story. And clearly I didn't get it 100% correct because I was still surprised by the final twists at the end!

AND THEN I find out that the author also wrote The Luxe series, one of my *favorite* book sets as a teenager?? UGH, my YA-loving heart! I'll definitely be buying a physical copy of A Girl Like Us to keep on my shelves for future reading - and I can guarantee that a re-read of The Luxe is in my future.

Thanks to netgalley and rbmedia for the arc!

I received this book via NetGalley to provide a review. These are my honest opinions.

Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it, but it was okay. I definitely do have a soft spot for celebrity scandals… the frivolity of it is a guilty pleasure of mine, but the mystery/thriller aspect of the book just kind of missed the mark for me. I didn’t find myself becoming particularly attached to or invested in any of the characters and discovering the twists and what became of them just sort of felt like an exercise in tying up loose ends.

I appreciate having had the opportunity to read the book.

Having read the book first, I wasn’t sure if the audiobook would still grip me—but it absolutely did. *A Girl Like Us* is a suspenseful, twist-filled story that kept me engaged from start to finish. The audiobook added an extra layer of intrigue, making the mystery even more immersive, more speculating, and more thrilling.

If you enjoyed *The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo* but want a *Knives Out* twist, this is the book for you. Glamour, secrets, and a tangled web of deception, the price of fame and certainly the secrets of the rich. The narration was strong, drawing me deeper into the story, and the production was clean as we read the book through Maya’s fresh perspective -and her being an unreliable narrator was a chef’s kiss. Even if you’ve already read it, the audiobook is worth experiencing!

The twists & turns this had, I was like 🫨 This is fr some wealthy scandal though, like to be able to pull all that off? Kinda has me like, how did y’all not know, but they must’ve had an amazing surgeon or something lol. I loved the story, although how she gonna do my boy Collin like that 😭😭😭 That’s probably the only thing I didn’t like about her. Esp the way it concluded & he had her back, like c’mon… Marcus never wanted you fr. I feel like the ending was also a bit bittersweet, like we revealed so much, but it was just left so stale. I wanted justice for the poor girls, like is she gonna just have her in hiding for the rest of her life or something? I just needed something more than what it gave, but overall I enjoyed this whole thing. Allyson Morgan did an amazing job 🤍

Easy listening book. Good story, good characters, nicely written and good narrator.
Storyline was ok, easily predictable.

Overall not too bad and was a nice listen.

Thank you NetGalley for the copy

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

🎧Song Pairing: Money Trees - Kendrick Lamar

💭What I thought would happen:

I think I got wind of it being about rich people behaving badly and that is what I live for. Awful characters doing awful things almost always ending with some sort of literal or metaphorical fire 🔥 😈

📖What actually happens:

💍Celebrity weds millionaire
😱Questionable inheritance
💷Richie rich family
🤬In laws
🙃Family drama

🗯Thoughts/sassy musings:

I wanted drama and scandal and I got it. Calling all fans of Succession. 🚨

The ending had me like woah wait what?! It definitely lost me somewhere in the middle so the ending was retribution for that.

Overall, a goodie. Not a favourite by any means but a solid listen!

★★★★☆

A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin is a gripping, high-stakes thriller that blends the cutthroat glamour of Succession with the dark intrigue of Saltburn. Set against the backdrop of unimaginable wealth and deep-seated family secrets, the novel follows Maya Miller—a former reality TV star turned society wife—who suddenly finds herself not only an heiress to the powerful Sterling empire but also the prime suspect in a shocking murder.

McLoughlin expertly builds suspense, crafting a locked-room mystery within the opulent yet claustrophobic walls of Silver House. The Sterling family is delightfully ruthless, and Maya’s sharp, calculating nature makes her a compelling protagonist. The tension never lets up as she navigates deception, power struggles, and her own hidden past in a desperate bid to survive.

The novel’s pacing is electric, and the twists keep coming, though at times, the sheer number of secrets and betrayals can feel slightly overwhelming. Still, A Girl Like Us is an addictive, stylish thriller that delivers both a tantalizing mystery and a sharp commentary on privilege, power, and reinvention. Perfect for fans of psychological thrillers with a touch of high society scandal.

Maya has gotten a part on a reality TV show and finds herself in the spotlight. Meeting and marrying Colin, a bachelor from a multi Milton dollar dynasty was one of the perks of sudden popularity.

Maya isn't accepted into Colin's family. When his cousin who is the heiress to the dynasty dies Maya finds that she has inherited everything.
Will this change Colin's family's acceptance of Maya, or will more trouble follow?

This is written in dual POV and the lies and twists made it an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley for the audiobook of Girls Like Us.

If you like reading about super rich peoples’ lives with all their greed, secrets and lies, then this book is for you. I loved Maya’s character. I felt bad about her baby that seemed to not exist once they arrived at the Sterling family estate, Silver House. I was often wondering, who’s taking care of the baby, although they do have a string of nannies at hand.

The story kept moving enough to keep me entertained. I laughed out loud a few times along the way. Overall enjoyable story with some twists and turns and the ending answered the rest of my remaining questions.

The narrator, Allyson Morgan did an outstanding job bringing these characters to life

Thank you NetGalley, the author, Anna Sophia McLoughlin and RB Media for my advance copy of this audiobook.

I absolutely loved this! Its like a dark Bravo show! The characters are amazing and the writing was on point. With all the twists , I did not see any of them coming! If I could pick anything I've read this year to make into a movie or mini series this would be the one. This is the book I would recommend to some one to dip their toes into a thriller/mystery. 1000000000% Recommend!

Synopsis
In 2004, Maya Miller, a former reality TV star and socialite, just tied the knot with the world's most sought-after bachelor, Colin Sterling. Colin hails from the illustrious Sterling family, known for their aristocratic lineage and vast land holdings that rival those of British royalty, along with a media empire that stands alongside the Murdochs. To many, Maya embodies the American dream, while others view her as a gold digger. However, when Colin's cousin Arianna, the heiress to the family's vast wealth, is discovered murdered, Maya finds herself in the limelight: first as the new heiress to the fortune, and then as the main suspect. In no time, the entire Sterling family retreats to their ancestral home, Silver House, nestled in the English countryside. They claim it's for their protection, but Maya suspects it's more about keeping secrets contained than safeguarding against threats. With no other option, she sets out to uncover the hidden truths within the Sterling family and to understand why Arianna, a girl she never met, chose her as her successor. Yet, Maya harbors her own secrets, and she realizes that to navigate the treacherous waters of the Sterling family, she must outsmart them at their own game.

My Thoughts
I listened to the audio version, and I have to say, Allyson Morgan nailed the narration! This book hit the marks for a modern Mystery & Thriller. The dual viewpoints of the two main female characters really added layers, giving us both their backstories and showing how their lives intertwined. McLoughlin did a good job with Maya’s character, letting us witness her transformation beyond her chaotic life. This family thriller was a wild ride! With all the lies, secrets, and family drama, I was constantly questioning who could be trusted and who was the most suspicious.

Thank You @Netgalley and @RBMedia for allowing me to listen to this ALC.

Overall, not a terrible listen.
Flashback to 2004 where former reality tv star Maya Miller has just married rich, eligible bachelor Colin Sterling. Running from her own secrets and past life she has no idea what is in store for her.

The story itself is a fantastical, twisty dramatic tale of an elite family and all of their deepest secrets threatening to take hold. I feel like it was an excellent, gripping read.
The characters, however, i felt could of been more flushed out. All these people introduced and other than the direct characters involved I feel like our secondary characters could of been used more and our main characters could of been i don't know? More.
My main issue with Maya: girl a lot of the answers were spelled out in front of you and things were directly told to you and you still needed your hand held. There were countless times where I audibly said, "girl are you dumb??".
There were other details laid into the story that I felt something could of been done with. For example, a detail given to us over and over again was how Helen would wait and watch everyone eat first before she ate. Why? We were only told in case of poisoning. Okayyy well has that happened before? If so, go into that. If not, then use it in the story itself. Poison someone via food. Maya ended up being everyone's number #1 enemy so raise the stakes and make it risky.

Overall, it wasn't terrible. A good twisty, gripping whodunit staged around a dramatic, elite family.
If you're a fan of say Knives Out and Agatha Christie this would be a good example of a mixture between the two.
The narrator, Allyson Morgan, was fantastic! Her narration was efficient in bringing Maya to life and multiple other characters introduced in the story and was flawless and making them actually feel different.

Thank you to RGmedia and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this as an audiobook and to Allyson Morgan for the awesome narration! I would recommend this book to my fellow readers and reviewers!
Originally Published: March 11th, 2025

This was an enjoyable listen. The plot and the writing was good, narration was nice. I especially liked the ending.

DNF at 43%. Succession meets Saltburn is a helluva pitch, but I was truly so bored. Many a thriller makes this mistake for me - it thinks it has more compelling characters than it actually has and gives me way too much backstory and way too much down time with the MC. Based on what other readers are saying, this story doesn’t really take off til the last third, and it’s not worth it to me to get there. I think I’d be a big fan of more thriller novellas that know what they are (see Victorian Psycho and Guillotine).

The bit in the synopsis about the will - doesn’t happen until a full third into the book. Before that the MC is just … there - confused and scorned. There isn’t enough to warrant a full novel here.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC of A Girl Like Us.

I really struggled to get through this one. I’m not sure if it just wasn’t the right book for me or if it simply didn’t land as intended. The characters weren’t particularly likable, and the twists never quite delivered. For most of the story, it felt like not much was happening to drive the plot forward.

The premise was intriguing, and the setting had a lot of potential, but there wasn’t enough payoff to make it truly engaging. The writing itself was solid—I just wish it had given me a bit more!

Definite 4 star read. I agree with some other reviewers that it gives Inheritance Game vibes, but it’s older and darker. I loved to hate the characters! It was a really good quick listen and I highly recommend it to all.

Thanks to RBmedia and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the story and with some unpredictable twists that made the book interesting.
The narrator did an excellent job in making the characters feel alive.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher RBmedia.

I recently finished A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin, narrated by Allyson Morgan (who did a fantastic job bringing the story to life). Huge thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy!

The story follows Maya Miller—a former party girl and breakout star from a reality TV show reminiscent of The Real World, Jersey Shore, or Big Brother. Now, she’s a wife and new mom, married to Colin, one of the world’s most eligible bachelors. But life in the spotlight isn’t as glamorous as it seems. When Colin’s cousin Arianna—the heiress to the family’s powerful media empire—is murdered, Maya is thrust into a high-society mystery where secrets run deep and trust is a luxury she can’t afford.

Set in mid-2000s Britain, this novel delivers a gripping blend of a whodunit and an is-anyone-safe thriller. Maya is the ultimate outsider, constantly questioning: Do they see me as a gold digger? Can I trust anyone in this family? And most importantly—who really killed the heiress?

This book was everything I look for in a modern Mystery & Thriller. The dual perspectives between our two main female characters added depth, offering both backstory and insight into how their lives became entangled. McLoughlin did an outstanding job developing Maya’s character, allowing us to see her growth beyond her wild reality TV past. The mid-2000s setting jumped off the page, making it especially relatable for this millennial, while the family drama and cattiness kept me flipping pages late into the night.

I could absolutely see this being adapted into a movie or TV show—it has all the ingredients for a binge-worthy drama. While some plot twists were more predictable than others (which might just be my Mystery & Thriller veteran instincts kicking in), the story was still engaging and well-paced. I’m definitely guilty of trying to solve the mystery before the reveal rather than just enjoying the ride!

Overall, I’d give this book a solid 4.25 out of 5. It’s a fun, fast-paced thriller with a well-crafted setting and compelling characters, and I’ve already recommended it to a few friends who love this genre as much as I do.

Audiobook/Book Review 💎🔪

thank you so much partner @bookmarked @recordedbooks for the gifted copy + audiobook!

A Girl Like Us
by Anna Sophia McLoughlin
Narrated by Allyson Morgan

About the book 👇🏽

It's 2004 and former reality TV star and party girl Maya Miller has just married the most eligible bachelor on the planet: Colin Sterling, of the globally famous Sterling family, whose history of aristocratic titles and land holdings rival a British royal and whose media empire is comparable to the Murdochs.

To some, Maya represents the American dream. To others, a gold digger. But when Colin's cousin Arianna, the heiress to the family's immense fortune, is found murdered, Maya is thrust into the spotlight: first as she is revealed to be the next heiress to the fortune, and then as the prime suspect.

💎 My thoughts:

Dysfunctional family, secrets, and a locked room mystery?! Yes, yes, and yes! This was such a fun read/listen.And the audiobook narrator did a wonderful job!! I don’t know about you, but I personally love reading about rich people behaving badly and this story sure does deliver! Towards the end I started to guess some twists but it did not hinder my experience in a negative way because it was still enjoyable. In this story you’ll find family secrets, mystery, and will have you nose deep until the end. Not to mention the cover is absolutely GORGEOUS! You can grab yourself a copy because A Girl Like Us is out NOW!!

Happy reading 📖 🔪💎

"We Sterlings don't like to be kept waiting."

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this Advanced Listener's Copy. This is a very interesting take on the rich family murders. There is a lot of mystery, intrigue and secrets abound in the Sterling clan. The original comparison is Succession and Saltburn - but I'd say that I see more of Knives Out comparison than anything. Everybody is crazy and no one can be trusted here, to be honest. I will say, though, that Gigi is very Venetia a la Saltburn.
I didn't absolutely love it, but that isn't to say somebody else wouldn't. It became a little too repetitious for me with the rich people problems. Cover is gorg though!