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When She Was Me
There's only one way out of these woods…
Ever since that night, twin sisters Cassie and Lenora have been inseparable. As the sole permanent residents of Cabin Two, their refuge on an isolated Tennessee campground, they manage to stay away from prying eyes, probing questions, and true crime junkies. Just the two of them, Cassie and Lenora against the world. The peace and quiet is almost enough to make them forget what happened all those years ago. Almost.
Until a teenage girl camping at the neighboring cabin goes missing, and the memories come rushing back. As the crime becomes ever more recognizable—they know better than anyone that so-called 'happy families' can be anything but—each sister suspects the other knows more than she's letting on….
Trapped in the isolating, claustrophobic wilderness, Cassie and Lenora must piece together the truth of what happened—and the sinister truth lurking in their own pasts—before it's too late.
Ever since that night, twin sisters Cassie and Lenora have been inseparable. As the sole permanent residents of Cabin Two, their refuge on an isolated Tennessee campground, they manage to stay away from prying eyes, probing questions, and true crime junkies. Just the two of them, Cassie and Lenora against the world. The peace and quiet is almost enough to make them forget what happened all those years ago. Almost.
Until a teenage girl camping at the neighboring cabin goes missing, and the memories come rushing back. As the crime becomes ever more recognizable—they know better than anyone that so-called 'happy families' can be anything but—each sister suspects the other knows more than she's letting on….
Trapped in the isolating, claustrophobic wilderness, Cassie and Lenora must piece together the truth of what happened—and the sinister truth lurking in their own pasts—before it's too late.
400 pages, Paperback
First published May 7, 2024
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 637 reviews
February 23, 2024
I just found out this is a debut, which is crazy cos it is SO good and reads perfectly!!
When she was me follows the lives of two identical twins, Cassie and Lenora. Cassie is convinced that they were once the same person in the womb, split apart by ruthless fate, whereas Lenora always thinks they were separated by Cassie’s ability to shine whilst she stays hidden in the shadows.
They are currently living in a mini home in the middle of no where, surrounded by woods and far away from any other people. They have been bonded for life by childhood traumas. Cassie channels her traumas into working on a video channel where she talks about the victims of killers, bringing the focus onto the life of the victim, Whereas Lenora is barely coping and spends her life locked behind closed doors, too anxious to spend time outside or around other people.
When a new family show up in the cabin next door for a weekend getaway, their 15y/o daughter Tilly goes missing in the dead of night. The only other person outside that night was Lenora, but the problem is she can’t remember what happened as she was sleepwalking.
I fully immersed myself into this story right from the beginning. I found the contrasting personalities of the twins combined with their undying loyalty to each other to be so interesting. I really enjoyed each chapter switching between their POVs as well as occasional glimpses from the past.
The lack of people present when Tilly went missing made for a short list of suspects, which made the mystery even more interesting. With so little to go on except for gut feeling and suspicion, I wasn’t at all sure where this one was headed.
I thought Cassie’s job was an intriguing addition to the plot, blurring the lines when work crosses with real life events playing out in person and the similarities are too much to swallow.
I definitely recommend this book! Thank you to Marlee Bush, Poisened Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
When she was me follows the lives of two identical twins, Cassie and Lenora. Cassie is convinced that they were once the same person in the womb, split apart by ruthless fate, whereas Lenora always thinks they were separated by Cassie’s ability to shine whilst she stays hidden in the shadows.
They are currently living in a mini home in the middle of no where, surrounded by woods and far away from any other people. They have been bonded for life by childhood traumas. Cassie channels her traumas into working on a video channel where she talks about the victims of killers, bringing the focus onto the life of the victim, Whereas Lenora is barely coping and spends her life locked behind closed doors, too anxious to spend time outside or around other people.
When a new family show up in the cabin next door for a weekend getaway, their 15y/o daughter Tilly goes missing in the dead of night. The only other person outside that night was Lenora, but the problem is she can’t remember what happened as she was sleepwalking.
I fully immersed myself into this story right from the beginning. I found the contrasting personalities of the twins combined with their undying loyalty to each other to be so interesting. I really enjoyed each chapter switching between their POVs as well as occasional glimpses from the past.
The lack of people present when Tilly went missing made for a short list of suspects, which made the mystery even more interesting. With so little to go on except for gut feeling and suspicion, I wasn’t at all sure where this one was headed.
I thought Cassie’s job was an intriguing addition to the plot, blurring the lines when work crosses with real life events playing out in person and the similarities are too much to swallow.
I definitely recommend this book! Thank you to Marlee Bush, Poisened Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC!
June 20, 2024
**3.5-stars rounded up**
When She Was Me is an enticing, and compulsively-readable Psychological Thriller centered around twin sisters.
Cassie and Lenora are permanent residents at a campground in rural Tennessee, Cabin Two to be exact. For the most part, their day-to-day life is peaceful, and they can almost...almost...forget the events of their troubled past.
After the death of the long-time campground owner, a new woman, Sarah, takes ownership and charge. Cassie and Lenora are initially concerned that Sarah will want to change things, thus disrupting their quiet life.
Much to their surprise, she actually seems pretty cool, implementing only minor changes, and Cassie, in particular, ends up interacting with Sarah more. Their life does end up disrupted though, after a teen girl, who'd checked into the cabin next door with her family, goes missing.
The girl, and the unsettling circumstances under which she disappeared, brings back a lot of memories for the mysterious sisters. Both Cassie and Lenora suspects that the other may know more about the events surrounding the disappearance then they're letting on.
The narrative cycles between the two sisters, filtering in a past perspective as well and with a past that eerily mirrors the present, and everyone's motivations a little unclear, this story is rife with unreliable narrators.
Both sisters try to figure out what happened to the missing girl, but it feels like a helpless race against the clock, as well as their own personal demons.
When She Was Me is a very promising debut from Marlee Bush. Even though the writing style wasn't great for me, I still found the story to be incredibly compelling; I couldn't stop. The characters were well done and I appreciated the way Bush delivered the twists!
When I mention writing style, it's no shade against the author, it's just preference. It was more obscure, more stream of consciousness narrative than I tend to prefer.
Nevertheless, the content and the character work kept me flying through. The atmospheric setting was fantastic as well. I loved the isolating feel, not just of the campground itself, but also of the sisters' way of life.
They had essentially cut themselves off from the outside world and as the intensity increased, you could really truly feel their solitude.
The characters were all so interesting. I had a ton of theories over the course of the story about what was really going on; some panned out, others didn't. I always appreciate it when an author can keep me on my toes.
Ultimately, I didn't see the final resolution coming by a mile. It was clever and unexpected, leaving me with a big, sinister grin on my face. I had fun and definitely recommend the audiobook as the format for taking in this story. The narration fit it so well.
Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm really looking forward to reading more from Marlee Bush!
When She Was Me is an enticing, and compulsively-readable Psychological Thriller centered around twin sisters.
Cassie and Lenora are permanent residents at a campground in rural Tennessee, Cabin Two to be exact. For the most part, their day-to-day life is peaceful, and they can almost...almost...forget the events of their troubled past.
After the death of the long-time campground owner, a new woman, Sarah, takes ownership and charge. Cassie and Lenora are initially concerned that Sarah will want to change things, thus disrupting their quiet life.
Much to their surprise, she actually seems pretty cool, implementing only minor changes, and Cassie, in particular, ends up interacting with Sarah more. Their life does end up disrupted though, after a teen girl, who'd checked into the cabin next door with her family, goes missing.
The girl, and the unsettling circumstances under which she disappeared, brings back a lot of memories for the mysterious sisters. Both Cassie and Lenora suspects that the other may know more about the events surrounding the disappearance then they're letting on.
The narrative cycles between the two sisters, filtering in a past perspective as well and with a past that eerily mirrors the present, and everyone's motivations a little unclear, this story is rife with unreliable narrators.
Both sisters try to figure out what happened to the missing girl, but it feels like a helpless race against the clock, as well as their own personal demons.
When She Was Me is a very promising debut from Marlee Bush. Even though the writing style wasn't great for me, I still found the story to be incredibly compelling; I couldn't stop. The characters were well done and I appreciated the way Bush delivered the twists!
When I mention writing style, it's no shade against the author, it's just preference. It was more obscure, more stream of consciousness narrative than I tend to prefer.
Nevertheless, the content and the character work kept me flying through. The atmospheric setting was fantastic as well. I loved the isolating feel, not just of the campground itself, but also of the sisters' way of life.
They had essentially cut themselves off from the outside world and as the intensity increased, you could really truly feel their solitude.
The characters were all so interesting. I had a ton of theories over the course of the story about what was really going on; some panned out, others didn't. I always appreciate it when an author can keep me on my toes.
Ultimately, I didn't see the final resolution coming by a mile. It was clever and unexpected, leaving me with a big, sinister grin on my face. I had fun and definitely recommend the audiobook as the format for taking in this story. The narration fit it so well.
Thank you to the publisher, Dreamscape Media, for providing me with a copy to read and review. I'm really looking forward to reading more from Marlee Bush!
April 23, 2024
"She was me. I was her. We were the same."
Identical twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora, live permanently in a cabin at a almost deserted campground. Lenora never leaves the cabin due to a past trauma leaving her agoraphobic. Cassie will do anything for her sister. Love, protect, cherish....always.
After the death of their landlord a new owner takes over and she rents out the third cabin to a family. Mother and father along with their teenage daughter. It's not often Cassie and Lenora see many people so they do what they do best. Observe.
Then the teenage daughter goes missing leaving Cassie and Lenora terrified and paranoid. The safety net they so carefully built around their lives slowly begins to shatter revealing hard truths they have spent their lives running from.
"They don't warn you about this in school. They warn you about men in vans offering you treats to get inside. They warn you of drug use and STD's. But no one ever warned me about the dangers of my own thoughts. No one ever told me that there could come a time when trusting myself would be difficult and hating myself would be easy.
What to do when the monster is you."
An odd story, even odder characters, and oddly compelling. These sisters were absolutely fascinating and I just had to know what happened to them to make them how they were. How their relationship became so strange and co-dependent.
This book does something I normally don't like and that's rehashing the same thoughts time and time again but for some reason it did not bother me here. I was so wrapped up in the lives of these sisters that I simply didn't care. If anything, it made me more curious, wondering and waiting, for that AHA moment.
And when that AHA moment came I assure it's a doozy. I had in no way predicted this and it turned this story inside out and upside down. I freaking love when an author does that.
This book probably won't be for everyone due to the slow burn and circling thoughts but it entertained me thoroughly and I was 100% invested in the outcome. This is a very promising debut from an author that I'll be eager to check out again in the future. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press from my complimentary copy.
Identical twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora, live permanently in a cabin at a almost deserted campground. Lenora never leaves the cabin due to a past trauma leaving her agoraphobic. Cassie will do anything for her sister. Love, protect, cherish....always.
After the death of their landlord a new owner takes over and she rents out the third cabin to a family. Mother and father along with their teenage daughter. It's not often Cassie and Lenora see many people so they do what they do best. Observe.
Then the teenage daughter goes missing leaving Cassie and Lenora terrified and paranoid. The safety net they so carefully built around their lives slowly begins to shatter revealing hard truths they have spent their lives running from.
"They don't warn you about this in school. They warn you about men in vans offering you treats to get inside. They warn you of drug use and STD's. But no one ever warned me about the dangers of my own thoughts. No one ever told me that there could come a time when trusting myself would be difficult and hating myself would be easy.
What to do when the monster is you."
An odd story, even odder characters, and oddly compelling. These sisters were absolutely fascinating and I just had to know what happened to them to make them how they were. How their relationship became so strange and co-dependent.
This book does something I normally don't like and that's rehashing the same thoughts time and time again but for some reason it did not bother me here. I was so wrapped up in the lives of these sisters that I simply didn't care. If anything, it made me more curious, wondering and waiting, for that AHA moment.
And when that AHA moment came I assure it's a doozy. I had in no way predicted this and it turned this story inside out and upside down. I freaking love when an author does that.
This book probably won't be for everyone due to the slow burn and circling thoughts but it entertained me thoroughly and I was 100% invested in the outcome. This is a very promising debut from an author that I'll be eager to check out again in the future. 4 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press from my complimentary copy.
February 24, 2024
Cassie and Lenora have been inseparable ever since “that” night. As permanent residents of Cabin Two, they law low and stay below the radar. The solace that they experience almost allows them to forget what happened all those years ago, almost.
When a teenager goes missing at a neighboring cabin, the memories of that night come rushing back. As the crime becomes more recognizable, the twins know better than anyone that “happy” families can be anything but.
Cassie and Lenora must piece together the truth of what happened, and the truth lurking in their own pasts before it’s too late.
This was an interesting debut thriller with the twin trope front and center. Twins always fascinate me, and this book was no different, though notably Cassie and Lenora had very contrasting personalities. I found the pacing to be on the slow side, which was a struggle for me because I prefer my thrillers to have a faster pace. I did enjoy the past and present timeline, and how they came together in the end. I always enjoy it when books do this well, and that was the case here. In the end, I did find this book to be predictable, the twist wasn’t very twisty. I do think that this book was creepy, but not spooky and I did enjoy the setting. Books set in wooded areas are always favorites of mine. For a debut, I think that this was great, and I’m excited to see what the author comes out with next.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
When a teenager goes missing at a neighboring cabin, the memories of that night come rushing back. As the crime becomes more recognizable, the twins know better than anyone that “happy” families can be anything but.
Cassie and Lenora must piece together the truth of what happened, and the truth lurking in their own pasts before it’s too late.
This was an interesting debut thriller with the twin trope front and center. Twins always fascinate me, and this book was no different, though notably Cassie and Lenora had very contrasting personalities. I found the pacing to be on the slow side, which was a struggle for me because I prefer my thrillers to have a faster pace. I did enjoy the past and present timeline, and how they came together in the end. I always enjoy it when books do this well, and that was the case here. In the end, I did find this book to be predictable, the twist wasn’t very twisty. I do think that this book was creepy, but not spooky and I did enjoy the setting. Books set in wooded areas are always favorites of mine. For a debut, I think that this was great, and I’m excited to see what the author comes out with next.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
April 1, 2024
Listen. I have yet to DNF a NetGalley book, because if I commit to something I like to do the damn thing, but this one had me actively like "time to continue reading this book I don't like" every time I picked it back up. I pretty much never check out an excerpt before requesting a book, and this is the novel that's going to change that.
I cannot overstate how much I did not vibe with the awkward staccato sentence structure that infested this book like termites in the walls. I get my hackles up as it is when a thriller fails to gracefully breadcrumb terrible past events (oooooh, something awful happened that you don't want to think about even though you keep thinking about it? guess you better repeatedly brood about it without specifically naming the event, that is for sure how real human thought patterns work), but when it's done poorly AND the style is like "I think of it again. That night. When it happened. No. I can't think about it. I won't think about it," I have to mentally start replacing all the punctuation with relevant emojis just so I can begin to stand it.
(I think of it again 🤔💬 That night 🌙 When it happened 🥺 No 😩‼️ I can't think about it 😔🙅♀️ I won't think about it 😖👎🏻🚫🥺)
A stone cold banger of a plot line could have maybe distracted me, but unlike my own emoji-strewn stream of consciousness life update paragraph texts to my dad, this book didn't have that either. I will not harp further because I'm just grateful this obligation is out of my life, except to also highlight that it is a WILD narrative choice to have one of the two MCs be a true crime YouTuber, with a massively popular channel focusing on victims, and then when there's a murder victim practically on her doorstep, she...doesn't really seem to think about the victim at all, does no investigating, and makes no content about it (I'm sorry, you got to a million subscribers while being completely indifferent to the opportunity of your goddamned CAREER?!). This is her full-time job, which obviously came about due to her deep interest and dedication to the subject, but with the complete lack of effect this seems to have on her thought processes this character might as well have been making like, soap cutting ASMR videos. Weird choices in this book. Weird choices!!! ❌😒
My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
I cannot overstate how much I did not vibe with the awkward staccato sentence structure that infested this book like termites in the walls. I get my hackles up as it is when a thriller fails to gracefully breadcrumb terrible past events (oooooh, something awful happened that you don't want to think about even though you keep thinking about it? guess you better repeatedly brood about it without specifically naming the event, that is for sure how real human thought patterns work), but when it's done poorly AND the style is like "I think of it again. That night. When it happened. No. I can't think about it. I won't think about it," I have to mentally start replacing all the punctuation with relevant emojis just so I can begin to stand it.
(I think of it again 🤔💬 That night 🌙 When it happened 🥺 No 😩‼️ I can't think about it 😔🙅♀️ I won't think about it 😖👎🏻🚫🥺)
A stone cold banger of a plot line could have maybe distracted me, but unlike my own emoji-strewn stream of consciousness life update paragraph texts to my dad, this book didn't have that either. I will not harp further because I'm just grateful this obligation is out of my life, except to also highlight that it is a WILD narrative choice to have one of the two MCs be a true crime YouTuber, with a massively popular channel focusing on victims, and then when there's a murder victim practically on her doorstep, she...doesn't really seem to think about the victim at all, does no investigating, and makes no content about it (I'm sorry, you got to a million subscribers while being completely indifferent to the opportunity of your goddamned CAREER?!). This is her full-time job, which obviously came about due to her deep interest and dedication to the subject, but with the complete lack of effect this seems to have on her thought processes this character might as well have been making like, soap cutting ASMR videos. Weird choices in this book. Weird choices!!! ❌😒
My thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC.
February 12, 2024
The story of Cassie and Lenora immediately intrigued me and I was excited to read about how they got where they did and what transpired beforehand to make them want to live in the woods. The story jumps back and forth between POV's and timelines and slowly builds up to the end which I did not see coming. I did enjoy this book but did find myself distracted a bit while reading it but I'm glad I stuck with it. Great book for a debut author and I look forward to reading more from them in the future.
Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2024
This was a promising debut from Marlee Bush. A slow burning mystery with a shocking ending. I do enjoy a story about sisters, and twin sisters are even more interesting.
These sisters couldn’t be much different, but the one thing they had in common was their love for each other and the lengths that they would go to for each other. Both were battling demons, with dark and messed up secrets from the past. We are drip fed information about that night very slowly. They live in a cabin in a secluded campground and very rarely see other people.
While ai enjoyed this story, I did feel that it dragged in some places. I am more of a reader of fast paced thrillers, but it was nice for a change for things to be dragged out and build the suspense.
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press for the early copy to read and Dreamscape Media for the listening copy. Publishes on May 7th.
These sisters couldn’t be much different, but the one thing they had in common was their love for each other and the lengths that they would go to for each other. Both were battling demons, with dark and messed up secrets from the past. We are drip fed information about that night very slowly. They live in a cabin in a secluded campground and very rarely see other people.
While ai enjoyed this story, I did feel that it dragged in some places. I am more of a reader of fast paced thrillers, but it was nice for a change for things to be dragged out and build the suspense.
Thanks so much to Poisoned Pen Press for the early copy to read and Dreamscape Media for the listening copy. Publishes on May 7th.
November 22, 2023
Wow! I can't believe this is a debut! This was fantastic! I loved the (twin) sister bond, the need to protect your sister no matter what. I loved the creepy atmosphere of being in the middle of nowhere, the dark forest, the slow unraveling of the past. Piecing together how these sisters got to where they are literally and figuratively. One of the best books I've read this year!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
May 15, 2024
This was an interesting debut. I liked the characters and that helped keep me intrigued enough to keep reading. While I wasn’t sure what was happening I wasn’t totally caught off guard with the twists. The book is told from two perspectives of two sisters Cassie and Lenora and then present tense and a past tense perspective. Leona and Cassie live in a remote cabin with two neighbor cabins one for the owner and one that gets rented. They both have trauma but Leona struggles to leave the cabin. When a family with a teenager stays in the third cabin everything is fine until she goes missing and turns up dead. This isn’t a on the edge of your seat thriller but it was definitely intriguing. I thought it was a little repetitive at times and I think it could have been cut down a little. I also felt like the author tried to up the twisty factor by being intentionally confusing at times.
January 9, 2024
Leave me guessing until the very end, why don’t you?! This book is a great read for fans of isolated thrillers!
Cassie & Lenora are twins, living in a cabin in a small campground. When their only neighbor (and landlord) suddenly dies, they are wary of the new owner. She quickly welcomes new guests to the campground, but then one of them ends up dead. Who is responsible? What happened in the twins past to send them into isolation?
I would recommend this if you want a twisted tale/dual timeline & POV/sister dynamics.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Cassie & Lenora are twins, living in a cabin in a small campground. When their only neighbor (and landlord) suddenly dies, they are wary of the new owner. She quickly welcomes new guests to the campground, but then one of them ends up dead. Who is responsible? What happened in the twins past to send them into isolation?
I would recommend this if you want a twisted tale/dual timeline & POV/sister dynamics.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
December 1, 2023
I was shocked to find out this was a debut. The writing was that of a well seasoned author, and the story was delivered so meticulously, leaving me beyond impressed. This book had it all. Dual P.O.V's between twin sisters, both with an unbreakable bond and love so strong for one another while also suspecting something may not be right with the other. An atmospheric setting in the woods with suspicious characters in the neighboring cabins. A mysterious past timeline containing dangerous behavior. I personally love a slow burn like this when the author takes their time telling you the story and building the suspense, but for those of you who don't, the twisty ending will make it all worth your while. I loved this one and cannot wait to see what this author has in store next. Four stars.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.
May 1, 2024
WHEN SHE WAS ME started out a little slow but just left me intrigued enough to continue. I did like the different POV's and alternating time-lines. But it was a little confusing at times and a bit repetitive. This was not an edge of your seat thriller. So don't expect that going into it. Overall, I found this to be a decent debut and would try another book by this new author.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my gifted ALC.
Many Thanks to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for my gifted ALC.
March 19, 2024
When She was Me is such a confusing, psychologically draining and frustrating tale in so many amazing ways! This story is about two sisters that have suffered a very intense tragedy when they were younger and now their future mirrors their past forcing them to take a good hard look at themselves and each other.
This story is about devotion, the strength of blood, connection, truth vs perception. It touches on so many prolific themes while sending the reader on the biggest mind f@#$ journey that was honestly enjoyable and fascinating to be put through. The writing was brilliant. The world building and character creation was phenomenal. I can not say enough good things to do it justice.
When She was Me is a MUST READ! DO IT! I dare you... 😉😉😉😉 5 solid stars ✨🌟⭐💫☀️
This story is about devotion, the strength of blood, connection, truth vs perception. It touches on so many prolific themes while sending the reader on the biggest mind f@#$ journey that was honestly enjoyable and fascinating to be put through. The writing was brilliant. The world building and character creation was phenomenal. I can not say enough good things to do it justice.
When She was Me is a MUST READ! DO IT! I dare you... 😉😉😉😉 5 solid stars ✨🌟⭐💫☀️
May 28, 2024
THIS BOOK WAS JUST OKAY. ITS VERY SLOW. I REALLY DID LOVE THE WRITING AND LANGUAGE THE AUTHOR USED. THE ENDING WAS REALLY GOOD AND I THINK SAVED THE ENTIRE BOOK, AND WE FINALLY FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO MOM & DAD
April 18, 2024
Lenora and Cassie are twins. They have been living in a small cabin at a campground for the last few years. Running from a terrible night fifteen years ago, unable to move on in the present, their lives are upended once again when a family arrives at the campsite and a teenage girl goes missing. What really happened all those years ago and what is happening now?
When She Was Me has a unique isolated setting. A campsite where Lenora and Cassie are allowed to permanently stay with only two other cabins, just one of which is rented out to new campers. It makes for a claustrophobic yet somehow peaceful setting. And creepy. Definitely creepy.
The story is told by both Lenora and Cassie. We also get chapters from fifteen years ago but we don't know who is narrating. All of them are unreliable narrators, and the pool of suspects is small. You go back and forth trying to figure out what is going on. What is the twins' secret? What happened to the girl? The need to know was intense, a lingering question as I learned more about the characters.
Nothing made sense until it did.
Marlee Bush's writing placed me in the characters' shoes. I felt the dirt beneath my feet like Cassie did as she wandered in the dark. I felt the blistering cold as they visited the bathhouse in the middle of the night. I heard the trees shaking as shadows moved among them. I felt every bit of anguish as Cassie and Lenora struggled with their thoughts and emotions.
Marlee Bush, you managed to scare me with that shower scene. That's not easy to do. What an excellent debut.
Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read!
When She Was Me has a unique isolated setting. A campsite where Lenora and Cassie are allowed to permanently stay with only two other cabins, just one of which is rented out to new campers. It makes for a claustrophobic yet somehow peaceful setting. And creepy. Definitely creepy.
The story is told by both Lenora and Cassie. We also get chapters from fifteen years ago but we don't know who is narrating. All of them are unreliable narrators, and the pool of suspects is small. You go back and forth trying to figure out what is going on. What is the twins' secret? What happened to the girl? The need to know was intense, a lingering question as I learned more about the characters.
Nothing made sense until it did.
Marlee Bush's writing placed me in the characters' shoes. I felt the dirt beneath my feet like Cassie did as she wandered in the dark. I felt the blistering cold as they visited the bathhouse in the middle of the night. I heard the trees shaking as shadows moved among them. I felt every bit of anguish as Cassie and Lenora struggled with their thoughts and emotions.
Marlee Bush, you managed to scare me with that shower scene. That's not easy to do. What an excellent debut.
Thank you to the publisher for the chance to read!
December 23, 2023
Cassie and Lenora are sisters, twins who developed in one sac (hence the title.) They live in an isolated cabin is n the woods of Tennessee with two other cabins immediately adjacent. One cabin was inhabited my a man named Wayne until his recent death, the other is available for rent. Now a woman named Sarah Hill has moved into Wayne’s cabin. Lenora never leaves the cabin except to visit the small bathhouse and hasn’t done so for about fifteen years. The book has alternating chapters between Cassie and Lenora and then chapters from the point of view of one twin from many years ago, but the reader cannot tell from whose perspective it is written.
One weekend, not long after Sarah moves in a family with a teenage daughter, Tilly, comes to stay. Tilly disappears in the night and is later found dead. Who killed Tilly, and why?
This wasn’t a bad book and it will likely have lots of fans but it just wasn’t for me. I don’t know why, but whenever I was reading it I found myself wanting to do something else. But don’t take that as an objection about quality. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood.
One weekend, not long after Sarah moves in a family with a teenage daughter, Tilly, comes to stay. Tilly disappears in the night and is later found dead. Who killed Tilly, and why?
This wasn’t a bad book and it will likely have lots of fans but it just wasn’t for me. I don’t know why, but whenever I was reading it I found myself wanting to do something else. But don’t take that as an objection about quality. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood.
October 24, 2023
I read this in one sitting. I couldn’t put it down it was so fast paced and keeps you guessing. Whew that ending too!!
June 2, 2024
When She Was Me
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Marlee Bush
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, Poisoned Press and Dreamscape Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: There's only one way out of these woods…
Ever since that night, twin sisters Cassie and Lenora have been inseparable. As the sole permanent residents of Cabin Two, their refuge on an isolated Tennessee campground, they manage to stay away from prying eyes, probing questions, and true crime junkies. Just the two of them, Cassie and Lenora against the world. The peace and quiet is almost enough to make them forget what happened all those years ago. Almost.
Until a teenage girl camping at the neighboring cabin goes missing, and the memories come rushing back. As the crime becomes ever more recognizable—they know better than anyone that so-called 'happy families' can be anything but—each sister suspects the other knows more than she's letting on….
Trapped in the isolating, claustrophobic wilderness, Cassie and Lenora must piece together the truth of what happened—and the sinister truth lurking in their own pasts—before it's too late.
My Thoughts: For a debut novel, this was great. Cassie and Lenora are identical twins. They live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the woods. Their lives are quiet and they can almost bury their traumatized past. Another family moves into the cabin next door for the weekend. Their teenage daughter, Tilly goes missing in the middle of the night. The only other person that could have witnessed what happened is Lenora, however, she does not recall anything as she was sleepwalking in the middle of the night. With a short list of suspects, Cassie and Lenora must try to get to the truth, before the trauma from their past is exposed.
The story was narrated by Cassie and Lenora, in their POVs, with past flashbacks sprinkled in. Our protagonists are unreliable, at best. Cassie is more extroverted, while Lenora is more introverted, does not like to interact with anyone other than her twin sister. Cassie uses the trauma she has been through in a job where she focuses on victims of murderers. Lenora hides from her trauma and is barely surviving. The twins have very different contradictory personalities but have undying loyalty to one another, that they would not break for anything.
The characters were well developed with mystery, secretive, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, compelling, twisty, and engaging. The author had me invested from cover to cover. The author does an amazing job at setting an atmospheric, claustrophobia isolated setting in the woods. The descriptions and scenery paints a picture that draws you in and makes you feel like you are there. The characters were built up in a slow burn manner. There is a bit of internal monologue, but it works well for this novel. The plot was fantastically delivered in twisty layers, even twists within the twists. Then the final conclusion was clever and unpredictable.
I had the pleasure of having the digital and audio book ARCs. I leaned more on the audiobook. The narrator, Imani Jade Powers, was impressive. Her voice variation was spot on with appropriate character distinction. Her pace/flow as perfectly smooth, allowing me to listen at 2x speed with no issues keeping up. This has all of the elements of a good thriller, it was creepy, dark, twisty, captivating, compelling, and gripping. Watch out for Bush, with her master storyteller abilities, she will quickly make a mark in the thriller genre. I highly recommend picking up or borrowing from your library today.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Marlee Bush
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, Poisoned Press and Dreamscape Media and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: There's only one way out of these woods…
Ever since that night, twin sisters Cassie and Lenora have been inseparable. As the sole permanent residents of Cabin Two, their refuge on an isolated Tennessee campground, they manage to stay away from prying eyes, probing questions, and true crime junkies. Just the two of them, Cassie and Lenora against the world. The peace and quiet is almost enough to make them forget what happened all those years ago. Almost.
Until a teenage girl camping at the neighboring cabin goes missing, and the memories come rushing back. As the crime becomes ever more recognizable—they know better than anyone that so-called 'happy families' can be anything but—each sister suspects the other knows more than she's letting on….
Trapped in the isolating, claustrophobic wilderness, Cassie and Lenora must piece together the truth of what happened—and the sinister truth lurking in their own pasts—before it's too late.
My Thoughts: For a debut novel, this was great. Cassie and Lenora are identical twins. They live in a cabin in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by the woods. Their lives are quiet and they can almost bury their traumatized past. Another family moves into the cabin next door for the weekend. Their teenage daughter, Tilly goes missing in the middle of the night. The only other person that could have witnessed what happened is Lenora, however, she does not recall anything as she was sleepwalking in the middle of the night. With a short list of suspects, Cassie and Lenora must try to get to the truth, before the trauma from their past is exposed.
The story was narrated by Cassie and Lenora, in their POVs, with past flashbacks sprinkled in. Our protagonists are unreliable, at best. Cassie is more extroverted, while Lenora is more introverted, does not like to interact with anyone other than her twin sister. Cassie uses the trauma she has been through in a job where she focuses on victims of murderers. Lenora hides from her trauma and is barely surviving. The twins have very different contradictory personalities but have undying loyalty to one another, that they would not break for anything.
The characters were well developed with mystery, secretive, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was complex, compelling, twisty, and engaging. The author had me invested from cover to cover. The author does an amazing job at setting an atmospheric, claustrophobia isolated setting in the woods. The descriptions and scenery paints a picture that draws you in and makes you feel like you are there. The characters were built up in a slow burn manner. There is a bit of internal monologue, but it works well for this novel. The plot was fantastically delivered in twisty layers, even twists within the twists. Then the final conclusion was clever and unpredictable.
I had the pleasure of having the digital and audio book ARCs. I leaned more on the audiobook. The narrator, Imani Jade Powers, was impressive. Her voice variation was spot on with appropriate character distinction. Her pace/flow as perfectly smooth, allowing me to listen at 2x speed with no issues keeping up. This has all of the elements of a good thriller, it was creepy, dark, twisty, captivating, compelling, and gripping. Watch out for Bush, with her master storyteller abilities, she will quickly make a mark in the thriller genre. I highly recommend picking up or borrowing from your library today.
June 1, 2024
4.4 ⭐️
What a bag of emotions this book has left me in! Such a unique story with a jaw dropping twist from a new author 👏🏼
🌑 I felt in the dark for much of the book, but was so intrigued with the mystery that I was fully invested as my mind raced with possibilities.
✍🏼 The writing style was not my preferred. It wasn’t bad, but it was written in a way that slowed me down. But still worth reading for sure.
💧This books oozes with secrets, loneliness, darkness, jealousy, mystery and unbreakable bonds.
“There’s an intimacy between Tilly and me. One formed last night as I spent hours becoming her friend online.”
👯♀️ The twins own mother held resentment for them, literally since the day they were born.
“…that baby cried helplessly on her chest, our mother could only stare at her husband across the room and watch the way his eyes followed the pretty nurse down the hallway.”
🌪️ This book threw such a crazy twist at me that I never expected. My jaw dropped so hard that I had to put it down and walk away for a moment to recollect my thoughts. love being shocked!
Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Marlee Bush for providing me with a complimentary ARC to review!
What a bag of emotions this book has left me in! Such a unique story with a jaw dropping twist from a new author 👏🏼
🌑 I felt in the dark for much of the book, but was so intrigued with the mystery that I was fully invested as my mind raced with possibilities.
✍🏼 The writing style was not my preferred. It wasn’t bad, but it was written in a way that slowed me down. But still worth reading for sure.
💧This books oozes with secrets, loneliness, darkness, jealousy, mystery and unbreakable bonds.
“There’s an intimacy between Tilly and me. One formed last night as I spent hours becoming her friend online.”
👯♀️ The twins own mother held resentment for them, literally since the day they were born.
“…that baby cried helplessly on her chest, our mother could only stare at her husband across the room and watch the way his eyes followed the pretty nurse down the hallway.”
🌪️ This book threw such a crazy twist at me that I never expected. My jaw dropped so hard that I had to put it down and walk away for a moment to recollect my thoughts. love being shocked!
Thanks to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Marlee Bush for providing me with a complimentary ARC to review!
June 9, 2024
This was such a great debut novel for Marlee Bush! It had me riveted from start to finish even though it was a slow burn thriller. The slow build-up made it even more satisfying once the story picked up.
There were seriously some crazy twists and turns, and the dynamic between Cassie and Lenora was truly fascinating. So much of this book was deeply uncomfortable, and the pivotal scenes were very intense. Overall, this was a well plotted thriller and definitely worth the read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
There were seriously some crazy twists and turns, and the dynamic between Cassie and Lenora was truly fascinating. So much of this book was deeply uncomfortable, and the pivotal scenes were very intense. Overall, this was a well plotted thriller and definitely worth the read!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.
April 26, 2024
When She Was Me is much more than a whodunnit mystery thriller. With its eerie isolated setting, the contrasting personalities of the twins, and the alternating timelines/POVs, you’re immersed directly into the fear and thoughts of each character.
This is a slow burn story, and I’m not sure I would have enjoyed reading it as much as listening. 🎧 The narrator did a perfect job at truly bringing the creepiness of the story to life! Although, the twins had such similar voices that it requires you to really pay attention and remember who is speaking.
Solid debut novel! 👏
Thank you to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.
This is a slow burn story, and I’m not sure I would have enjoyed reading it as much as listening. 🎧 The narrator did a perfect job at truly bringing the creepiness of the story to life! Although, the twins had such similar voices that it requires you to really pay attention and remember who is speaking.
Solid debut novel! 👏
Thank you to NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the opportunity to listen to this ALC. All opinions expressed are my own.
May 16, 2024
4.25! If you like Freida McFadden novels, I would highly recommend this one🫡
Twin sisters, Cassie & Lenora 👯♀️ are forced to live in an isolated & spooky cabin, located in Tennessee; due to a past they are both escaping from. When a family decides to stay at a rental cabin nearby & their teenaged daughter winds up missing, the twins try to piece together what happened.
This is a debut, & I was completely blown away by it. The storyline starts to gain speed about 70 pgs in, & it really never slows down from there. It's told in a way where you truly don’t know who to trust, & the dialogue flows together smoothly. The ending wraps everything up phenomenally, & the plot twist got me good! I was shook🤯 The writing style is somewhat similar to Freida in the sense that her sentence structures may feel short/choppy. I felt like it made for a movie-like reading experience; & while it did take me a bit to adjust, it essentially started to almost feel like a screenplay. Other than that & the semi-slow start, I’m OBSESSED & need more from this author! 😍
Twin sisters, Cassie & Lenora 👯♀️ are forced to live in an isolated & spooky cabin, located in Tennessee; due to a past they are both escaping from. When a family decides to stay at a rental cabin nearby & their teenaged daughter winds up missing, the twins try to piece together what happened.
This is a debut, & I was completely blown away by it. The storyline starts to gain speed about 70 pgs in, & it really never slows down from there. It's told in a way where you truly don’t know who to trust, & the dialogue flows together smoothly. The ending wraps everything up phenomenally, & the plot twist got me good! I was shook🤯 The writing style is somewhat similar to Freida in the sense that her sentence structures may feel short/choppy. I felt like it made for a movie-like reading experience; & while it did take me a bit to adjust, it essentially started to almost feel like a screenplay. Other than that & the semi-slow start, I’m OBSESSED & need more from this author! 😍
June 19, 2024
A well written twisty book, with an ending you won't see coning.
Great story, relatable characters, and an ending you'll never guess correctly.
4 stars from me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC
Great story, relatable characters, and an ending you'll never guess correctly.
4 stars from me.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC
February 18, 2024
I don’t normally like thrillers very much but this was very good and I really liked the writing style - great debut novel
April 12, 2024
When She Was Me
4⭐️
This had a dark eerie feel from beginning to end. Cassie and Lenora are twins with a traumatic childhood. They chose to leave the life they knew and move to a remote cabin, relying only on each other. Cassie still craves connections with others while Lenora struggles with agoraphobia. Chapters alternate between Lenora and Cassie’s POVs. There are also chapters with an unnamed narrator.
I loved the ominous feelings. At times it was frustrating not having all the facts regarding the past, but it kept me reading and eventually all my questions were answered. This is for you if you enjoy books about identical twins, secluded areas/woods, questioning reality vs mental illness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date 07 May 2024
4⭐️
This had a dark eerie feel from beginning to end. Cassie and Lenora are twins with a traumatic childhood. They chose to leave the life they knew and move to a remote cabin, relying only on each other. Cassie still craves connections with others while Lenora struggles with agoraphobia. Chapters alternate between Lenora and Cassie’s POVs. There are also chapters with an unnamed narrator.
I loved the ominous feelings. At times it was frustrating not having all the facts regarding the past, but it kept me reading and eventually all my questions were answered. This is for you if you enjoy books about identical twins, secluded areas/woods, questioning reality vs mental illness.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for providing this ARC. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads.
Pub Date 07 May 2024
May 1, 2024
*4.5
Wow. I don’t know how Marlee Bush did it, but this is somehow a psychological slow-burn and a chaotic page turner all in one!
This novel presents itself in a dual POV, taking you through the thoughts and lives of inseparable twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora. They reside together in a cabin in the woods, permanently, after fleeing a dangerous incident with their family that happened one late night many years ago.
Cassie and Lenora are used to being alone together and free of the chaos of the outside world. That is, until a small family rents the other cabin on the lot…and the young daughter turns up dead. Quickly, the memories of their past start flooding in, causing them to question what all truly happened that night, so many years ago…and how well do they really know each other?
I absolutely loved this twisty psychological thriller, and I can’t wait to read future novels by Marlee Bush! What a killer Debut. (No pun intended.)
Thank you so much NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for granting me a copy of this great novel in exchange for an honest review!:-)
Wow. I don’t know how Marlee Bush did it, but this is somehow a psychological slow-burn and a chaotic page turner all in one!
This novel presents itself in a dual POV, taking you through the thoughts and lives of inseparable twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora. They reside together in a cabin in the woods, permanently, after fleeing a dangerous incident with their family that happened one late night many years ago.
Cassie and Lenora are used to being alone together and free of the chaos of the outside world. That is, until a small family rents the other cabin on the lot…and the young daughter turns up dead. Quickly, the memories of their past start flooding in, causing them to question what all truly happened that night, so many years ago…and how well do they really know each other?
I absolutely loved this twisty psychological thriller, and I can’t wait to read future novels by Marlee Bush! What a killer Debut. (No pun intended.)
Thank you so much NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for granting me a copy of this great novel in exchange for an honest review!:-)
March 20, 2024
Wow, what a debut! This book has all of my favorites in a thriller:
Multiple POV's
Twin trope
Dual timeline
Atmospheric and isolated setting
Twin sisters Cassie and Lenora living in an isolated cabin suffered a traumatic event when they were younger, and are now faced with reliving their past as a teenager goes missing nearby. Many of the events of this missing teen mirror what happened to them in the past. Now Lenora and Cassie are forced to face secrets from each other, trust their gut instinct, and relive what brought them into isolation in the first place.
Fast paced, well-written, and a highly entertaining psychological thriller!
Multiple POV's
Twin trope
Dual timeline
Atmospheric and isolated setting
Twin sisters Cassie and Lenora living in an isolated cabin suffered a traumatic event when they were younger, and are now faced with reliving their past as a teenager goes missing nearby. Many of the events of this missing teen mirror what happened to them in the past. Now Lenora and Cassie are forced to face secrets from each other, trust their gut instinct, and relive what brought them into isolation in the first place.
Fast paced, well-written, and a highly entertaining psychological thriller!
June 17, 2024
I'm sad to say that I had to DNF this book about 25% in. And it felt like the longest 25% I've ever read. I actually thought I was much further into the book than I actually was.
I had high hopes after reading the synopsis for the story. Two twins living in a cabin in a small, rustic compound. Both have severe childhood trauma, but both handle it in different ways. A new family moving in and a missing teenage daughter. It all sounded thrilling!
Unfortunately, it felt very repetitive and didn't really keep my attention.
I had high hopes after reading the synopsis for the story. Two twins living in a cabin in a small, rustic compound. Both have severe childhood trauma, but both handle it in different ways. A new family moving in and a missing teenage daughter. It all sounded thrilling!
Unfortunately, it felt very repetitive and didn't really keep my attention.
April 26, 2024
When She Was Me by Marlee Bush
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted ARC.
Blurb:
"A nail-biting story of sisterhood, suspicion, and suspense. When She Was Me weaves together past and present seamlessly to create a twist you won't see coming." — Tracy Sierra
✨My thoughts:
I loved this! It was a fast an ominous read that I couldn’t put down. Deep diving into sister bonds, the unreliable narrator was the star of the show for me. I truly did not see that twist coming. Deep in the woods, isolated, and creepy… Marlee Bush really gave us a backdrop to be unsettled in. I haven’t read too many books using the twin trope but if they’re anything like this, sign me up to read more! I loved the story, loved the writing, and I can’t wait to read more by this author. This is a book I want to get a finished copy of to keep on my shelves! When She Was Me is out 5/7/24! You won’t want to miss it.
Happy reading 📖
Thank you Poisoned Pen Press for the gifted ARC.
Blurb:
"A nail-biting story of sisterhood, suspicion, and suspense. When She Was Me weaves together past and present seamlessly to create a twist you won't see coming." — Tracy Sierra
✨My thoughts:
I loved this! It was a fast an ominous read that I couldn’t put down. Deep diving into sister bonds, the unreliable narrator was the star of the show for me. I truly did not see that twist coming. Deep in the woods, isolated, and creepy… Marlee Bush really gave us a backdrop to be unsettled in. I haven’t read too many books using the twin trope but if they’re anything like this, sign me up to read more! I loved the story, loved the writing, and I can’t wait to read more by this author. This is a book I want to get a finished copy of to keep on my shelves! When She Was Me is out 5/7/24! You won’t want to miss it.
Happy reading 📖
November 17, 2023
Cassie and Lenora, twins with a codependent bond, are living in a campground, secluded away in a cabin. They are just trying to escape their troubled past, when a girl from a neighboring cabin is found dead. This is bringing back a plethora of memories they have tried to bury, and the resemblance they se in this girl’s relationship with her parents is eerily similar to one they both know well.
Both Cassie and Lenora are hiding secrets from the other, each sure the other knows more about what happened than they are divulging. This situation is spiraling them down into a headspace neither of them want to be.
I loved the dual narrative, but I thought the other narrative we get from the past was done really well. It kept me on edge because it’s a first person, but seemingly talking to someone. I found it a fun addition.
This is filled with dark secrets, deception, obsession and fear and I thought it was so well written. The story is gripping and well paced, leaving me feeling like I was watching everything play out in front of me.
Both Cassie and Lenora are hiding secrets from the other, each sure the other knows more about what happened than they are divulging. This situation is spiraling them down into a headspace neither of them want to be.
I loved the dual narrative, but I thought the other narrative we get from the past was done really well. It kept me on edge because it’s a first person, but seemingly talking to someone. I found it a fun addition.
This is filled with dark secrets, deception, obsession and fear and I thought it was so well written. The story is gripping and well paced, leaving me feeling like I was watching everything play out in front of me.
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