I was really excited to dive into A Girl Like Us, but unfortunately, I struggled to get through it. I listened to the audiobook version, and I think that significantly impacted my experience in a negative way. The book is narrated by a single voice actor who switches between American and English accents, and the English accent, in particular, is quite terrible. This made it difficult to stay immersed in the story, and I found myself distracted rather than engaged. I feel like I would have enjoyed it more if there had been multiple narrators to bring the characters to life more authentically.

As for the story itself, A Girl Like Us follows the lives of two women from different backgrounds whose paths intertwine in unexpected ways. At its core, the book explores themes of identity, privilege, and the struggles of navigating a world that often feels stacked against you. While I appreciated the premise and the issues the book aimed to tackle, I found the execution a bit lacking. The pacing felt uneven, and I struggled to connect with the characters as much as I had hoped.

Overall, I think A Girl Like Us has potential, and I might have had a better experience if I had read a physical or digital copy instead of listening to the audiobook. If you’re considering this book, I would recommend skipping the audio version and opting for the text instead.

I received a free copy of the audiobook, A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin, from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It is a dark, twisty psychological thriller that pulls you deep into the murky waters of wealth, power, and family secrets. The story follows Maya Miller, a former reality TV star who marries into the ultra-privileged Sterling family, hoping for a fresh start. But when her husband’s cousin, Arianna, is found murdered, Maya quickly realizes she’s stepped into a world far more sinister than she could have ever imagined — a world where secrets are currency, and no one can be trusted.

Set in 2004, the story unravels primarily at Silver House, the family’s grand and eerie estate in the English countryside. The novel cleverly alternates between two perspectives, blending the haunting, slow-burn tension of classic Gothic fiction with the toxic allure of reality TV stardom and social media obsession.

While the web of storylines can feel a bit overwhelming — with so many characters and their messy lives vying for attention — there’s still something undeniably captivating about watching the glittering façade of the Sterling dynasty crack wide open. Their wealth may be enviable, but their dysfunction is where the real drama lies.

And then there’s Caro — the character who leaves readers craving answers. Without giving too much away, one of the novel’s most jaw-dropping reveals is that Caro is actually Arianna herself, living under a new identity. This twist is like a gut-punch, forcing you to rethink everything you thought you knew about the story.

In the end, A Girl Like Us is a gripping, atmospheric thriller that keeps you guessing until the very last page. It’s a chilling reminder that behind the walls of grand estates and picture-perfect families, darkness often lurks — and sometimes, the dead don’t stay buried.

The premise of “Succession meets Saltburn” initially attracted me to this book, but I would say it’s more Succession x The Inheritance Games.

Maya is a former reality tv star and newlywed to the very wealthy Colin Sterling. As they arrive home from their destination wedding and honeymoon, a Sterling family emergency draws everyone to the looming Sterling estate in England. There are secrets, lies, and it’s almost assumed everyone is hiding something, as all the family members try to power grab.

This is a fun listen. There’s so much soapy drama and a murder mystery. All the characters seem morally grey, so it’s challenging as the reader to know who to root for. There were ebbs and flows in the pacing for me, and the end felt fairly abrupt. I did suss out the big twist about halfway through, but overall I enjoyed listening to this.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ALC.

I listen to the audiobook and really liked the narrator, she did great work.
This was a solid thriller, I did guess most of the plot twists, but it still kept me on edge at times.

Maya, a former reality star marries into a wealthy and prominent family, the Sterlings. When a murder happens in the family, they are called into lockdown on the family estate in England. The family has a lot of secrets that they are desperate to keep hidden and the more Maya uncovers, the more danger she is in. They look down on her, given her background, but she never gives up on trying to find the truth and learning more about the heiress that got killed, especially when she learns some unexpected news.

Even though I love reading thrillers with dysfunctional families, dark secrets and murder mysteries, this book missed the mark for me on two counts. Firstly, the plot did drag at times and I feel like we didn't get enough background information about all the characters. And secondly, Maya did something I wholeheartedly hate in books. I simply can't get past it, it is my personal pet peeve and it is what ultimately made this book a three star read instead of four.
Also, the ending was extremely abrupt, I didn't like that at all.

With that being said, I still think this was a great debut novel and I will definitely read more from this author.

I love a book with an unpredictable twist. Maya, former reality star, marries into a traditional, wealthy English family. Her husband Colin is lovely, supportive and everything she could hope for.

When the end of their honeymoon is interrupted by a death in the family, they return to England to settle family business. The will is read and there is an unexpected change that causes an uproar.

You will spend the entire time reading this book trying to determine which of these horrible family members is the murderer. Maya needs to solve the mystery before she is taken down by one of them

Very engaging narration. You will love to hate these characters.

A Girl Like Us is a thriller that has it all—wealth, secrets, betrayal, and murder. I really enjoyed how the tension builds throughout the story, and while some of the twists felt more predictable, the way the plot progressed kept me hooked and made this book really hard to put down! One thing I do wish we got more of was background on some of the other characters. While the story is mainly from Maya’s perspective I would have loved a little more depth on certain characters’ histories. That said, I really enjoyed the accounts from Arianna’s side. I thought her perspective was fascinating, and really fun to read, I would have loved even more from her POV.

The Sterling family delivers exactly what you’d expect from a manipulative, exclusive, ultra-wealthy family that believes they’re untouchable. Overall, it was an entertaining and immersive read. If you enjoy thrillers with dark family secrets, fast shifting alliances, and suspense, this one is definitely worth picking up!

2.5 stars.

When a book is marketed as a cross between „Succession“ and „The Inheritance Games“, you know expectations will be high (mine certainly were).
Unfortunately, „A Girl Like Us“ didn‘t quite live up to its hype for me.

Maya, young former reality TV star turned billionaire‘s wife, was intriguing as a protagonist because she doesn‘t fit the „rags to riches“ narrative so often prevalent in books where an outsider marries into a filthy rich family. Though she did grow up poor and was never a billionaire in her own right, she is described as a TV star and celebrity with her own, successful makeup line and plenty of disposable income. She is also savvy and smart. Sadly, her connection to one of the Sterling family members that surfaced about halfway through the book was just pure character assassination and really made it hard to root for her from that point onward (and it certainly did affect my overall rating of the book, if I‘m being honest).

The mystery of the murdered family member developed at a weird pace and dragged on for quite a while - there was lots of (repeated) foreshadowing in the first third of the book, such as alluding to Maya‘s extracurricular activities, but things did not actually pick up until somewhere around the halfway mark. Additionally, most of the twists, though certainly on the crazier/wilder side, will be of little surprise to avid thriller/mystery readers.

I listened to the audiobook version, and what I struggled with more than the story itself was the narration. The narrator did a wonderful job for Maya, the American, but all the (British-born) Sterling family members sounded off, with a really strange accent, which really took me out of the story.

This was a debut novel, so I was hesitant to give it a low rating, but overall „A Girl Like Us“ just wasn‘t for me. I would, however, pick up another book by the author; despite the book‘s flaws, the writing was enjoyable.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia | Recorded Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

„A Girl Like Us“ is out now, and the audiobook is slated to be released on March 11, 2025.

Loved this twisty tale of murder and riches. Everyone in this family is hiding secrets, but which ones are deadly? when ex celeb Maya marries Collin she’s thrust into a world of high stakes and deadly games. Fun read, with tons of little twists and turns.

☆ALC REVIEW☆
Publication date: March 11, 2025


When I saw that reviews said this was much like Succession and The Inheritance Games, I was super intrigued.

Unfortunately this whole book just fell flat. The narrator did a decent job, but the story was just not enough to keep me entertained and moved a bit slowly.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and RB Media for an advanced listeners copy in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 Stars – A Fast-Paced Thriller with Unlikable Characters

I really enjoyed the pacing of this book, and the dual POV structure kept things engaging. The mystery unfolded in a way that kept me hooked, and the final twist completely caught me off guard—it all came together in a satisfying way.

However, every single character was unlikable from start to finish. Each of them was entirely self-serving, making it hard to root for anyone. While I don’t mind morally gray characters, there wasn’t enough depth or redemption to make me feel invested in them beyond the plot itself.

That said, if you’re looking for a locked-room thriller packed with secrets, power struggles, and unexpected turns, this one delivers. I just wish I had connected with the characters more.

Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐️

In a few days the Audiobook comes out from RB Media lagging’s a bit behind this titles February 2025 release so it’s always interesting to read an advanced copy of a book that is published. Because of that I stayed away from others reviews of it until I wrote this. I have a feeling this is going to be met with very mixed ratings.

Now the narrator Allyson Morgan did a great job with her recitation. She spoke at a decent natural pace and had a snark to her voice that served the FMC well.

The book is compared to Saltburn, Succession and Inheritance games. I guess I would agree with all but Saltburn- it wasn’t that dysfunctional or quirky. I will say that it was clear that the author was attached to a thesaurus at times which added to the snobbery of some characters but I don’t think some of the word choices had the impact that was intended. Just my opinion.

Overall, I enjoyed it enough to round up to 4⭐️ but that was in big part to the narration since that’s what I’m reviewing. But I did feel like the prose was trying too hard to be “the next sensation” and didn’t quite get there.


I am thankful to have gotten the audio ALC for free from RN Media through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

The story was definitely a slow burn but worth the build up and I enjoyed the story overall. Once the story picks up it takes off & has so many unexpected turns with the drama of the wealthy family. I got the audio version of the story narrated by Allyson Morgan my first time listening to a book she narrated and I enjoyed it!

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 ALC!

The novel delves into the corrupting influence of wealth and the lengths individuals will go to protect their status.

A Girl Like Us explores ambition, betrayal, and the dark side of privilege. It's a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and family dramas.

Marrying into a wealthy family comes with a lot of baggage to carry!
Intriguing right from the start except it is a slow burn. A lot of moving parts just all moving slowly. Writing was great and well written just hard to grasp onto a connection with the characters.

A Girl like Us is a story about a wealthy family with lots of twists. An ex reality show girl labeled a gold digger has a secret . Her fear if her secret being exposed leads her into some trouble. She needs to solve her cousin in law murder before she is accused. As she investigates she finds truths she wasn't prepared for and finds herself in danger.
This book has a little of everything and keeps you guessing. I enjoyed it.

Girls Like Us is a gripping psychological thriller that masterfully blends mystery, suspense, and deep character development. The story pulls readers into a dark and compelling investigation that keeps them guessing until the very end.

The novel’s pacing is excellent, with twists and turns that keep the reader engaged. Just when you think you’ve figured things out, the plot takes an unexpected turn, culminating in a shocking and satisfying conclusion. The ending is both surprising and thought-provoking.

Overall, Girls Like Us is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and suspenseful mysteries. With its strong character development, gripping plot, and unpredictable twists, it delivers a thrilling and emotional reading experience.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC read.

#netgalley #arc

This book has a little bit of nostalgia with twists and turns of mystery! If you like early 2000s, reality tv stars, rich British families and murder mysteries, this will absolutely check all the boxes. There are some plot points that the reader can put together and discover themselves and others that unfold excitingly as the story progresses. The characters are easy to understand, but have a surprising side to each of them. Great, easy, entertaining read!

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!
The narrator for this one did excellent. She definitely nailed that haughty tone!

A Girl Like Us is a twisty tale of a wealthy British family in lockdown at their estate Silver House. This book has a bit everything - emense wealth, secrets, lies, and family members who will stop at nothing to get what they feel is owed to them. Add in an ex-reality show party girl from America who married into the family and is accused of being a gold digger. The reveals totally surprised and delighted me. I was hooked from the very beginning until the last sentence.

The story is told be duel POV. I was surprised to learn this was Anna Sophia McLoughlin’s debut novel. Well done! I can’t wait to see what she writes next. Allyson Morgan did an excellent job with the narration.

Thank you to NetGalley & Macmillan Audio for letting me read this ARC.