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_ashton_reads_'s review against another edition
2.0
This was an interesting set up, but the execution was pretty poor and I was bored by the end.
amaally's review against another edition
4.0
Are You Sara? by S.C Lalli is a gripping and suspenseful novel that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The premise of two women named Sara, each getting into a ride-share and only one making it home alive, immediately sets the stage for a thrilling mystery. The author masterfully explores the theme of identity and how it can be intertwined with danger. The plot is well-crafted and the characters are well-developed, making it easy to become fully invested in the story. The plot twists and turns keep the reader guessing and I found myself unable to put the book down. The novel also explores the class and societal issues in a very nuanced way. Overall, I highly recommend this book to fans of mystery and thriller novels!
luckycharmedlovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Two women named Sara/Sarah get into a Ride after leaving the bar one night. One of them does not make it home alive. The story line really intrigued me and I had really high hopes for this book. I was a little bit underwhelmed when I finished as I was hoping for something more from the stories of Sarah Ellis and Saraswati Bhaduri. The dual timelines felt a little disjointed at times. A few sections seemed highly unbelievable but they did still keep me reading until the very end to find out what really happened that night and what led up to it. I should have seen the ending coming and yet, i did not, so that earned this book more stars from me.
Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow and Scene of the Crime Reads for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow and Scene of the Crime Reads for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest opinion.
scorpionnrose's review against another edition
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
brooke_review's review against another edition
3.0
S.C. Lalli's debut novel Are You Sara? is a book I was really excited about on initial premise alone. If you have ever utilized a rideshare, you know that the driver asks you upon entering the car to verify your identity. But what happens when two girls with the same name call for a ride at the same location at the same time?
When the rideshare driver asks Sara Bhaduri, "Are you Sara?," upon picking her up at the bar where she works, she of course answers "yes," because she IS Sara; but as it turns out, she is the wrong Sara. This ride was meant for Sara Ellis, a girl that Sara found passed out drunk in the bar's bathroom and subsequently helped get a car home.
Sara Bhaduri, an exhausted law student working two jobs to make ends meet, falls asleep on the ride to her apartment and doesn't realize the mistake until she reaches her destination and discovers she is in the ritzy part of town, not the rundown, crime-riddled neighborhood where she lives. Once she makes her way home, she finds that the other Sara has been brutally murdered at her apartment. Sara wonders in horror - was this supposed to be her fate?
With her life potentially at stake, she has to find out if the killer was stalking her or Sara Ellis, so she embroils herself into an investigation of Sara Ellis' life and relationships. However, as she uncovers more and more of Sara Ellis' secrets, she discovers that it is not so easy to keep her own skeletons in the closet.
Are You Sara? is one of those novels that I like to describe as a mixed bag. There's a lot here to weave a compelling story around, and this book starts off quite strongly. I was super invested until characters from Sara Bhaduri's past come into play, and we learn that everything may not be as it seems. Normally, I enjoy a good twist, especially one that plays on a person's character and integrity, but here it felt out of place and underdeveloped. Furthermore, Sara Bhaduri is completely unlikeable and frustrating. That would normally not be a major problem for me, except I had trouble finding anything redeeming or even remotely intriguing about her. Instead, she came off like a slick chameleon, changing her core values and personality to suit the situation.
When the rideshare driver asks Sara Bhaduri, "Are you Sara?," upon picking her up at the bar where she works, she of course answers "yes," because she IS Sara; but as it turns out, she is the wrong Sara. This ride was meant for Sara Ellis, a girl that Sara found passed out drunk in the bar's bathroom and subsequently helped get a car home.
Sara Bhaduri, an exhausted law student working two jobs to make ends meet, falls asleep on the ride to her apartment and doesn't realize the mistake until she reaches her destination and discovers she is in the ritzy part of town, not the rundown, crime-riddled neighborhood where she lives. Once she makes her way home, she finds that the other Sara has been brutally murdered at her apartment. Sara wonders in horror - was this supposed to be her fate?
With her life potentially at stake, she has to find out if the killer was stalking her or Sara Ellis, so she embroils herself into an investigation of Sara Ellis' life and relationships. However, as she uncovers more and more of Sara Ellis' secrets, she discovers that it is not so easy to keep her own skeletons in the closet.
Are You Sara? is one of those novels that I like to describe as a mixed bag. There's a lot here to weave a compelling story around, and this book starts off quite strongly. I was super invested until characters from Sara Bhaduri's past come into play, and we learn that everything may not be as it seems. Normally, I enjoy a good twist, especially one that plays on a person's character and integrity, but here it felt out of place and underdeveloped. Furthermore, Sara Bhaduri is completely unlikeable and frustrating. That would normally not be a major problem for me, except I had trouble finding anything redeeming or even remotely intriguing about her. Instead, she came off like a slick chameleon, changing her core values and personality to suit the situation.
bookishlifeofabbyh's review against another edition
3.0
Thanks to William Morrow & Company for this ARC!
Sara Bhaduri is a law student and Sarah Ellis is an undergraduate Pre-Med student. Both getting Rides, but both took the wrong car. Now one Sarah is dead, and the other is questioning if it was supposed to be her that was dead?
We follow Sara as she tries to figure out who killed Sarah Ellis. Ellis was an undergraduate at the same university that Sara was getting her law degree from. Was the person who strangled Ellis meaning to strangle Sara? That is what she is thinking. She feels as though she is being followed at various points. Everyone is saying that Ellis was on the wrong side of town buying drugs, but we know that wasn't the case. Was it this mysterious man that Sara keeps alluring to and missing his calls? Was it Ellis' ex boyfriend? Was it a random person on the street? The premise to this story is every woman's nightmare. Did the Ride driver do it? We all get nervous taking rides from apps, but especially when we are alone.
I think that there were too many things happening in the story for it to be scary to me. Sara was dealing with sketchy lawyers while also going to the same university and living in the same location that Ellis was killed. It was a quick read that I devoured, but I think that it just wasn't a favorite of mine. It seemed obvious at points and then it just felt like the author was just adding more plot line just to add them. I think that others may enjoy this, it just wasn't a favorite of mine.
Sara Bhaduri is a law student and Sarah Ellis is an undergraduate Pre-Med student. Both getting Rides, but both took the wrong car. Now one Sarah is dead, and the other is questioning if it was supposed to be her that was dead?
We follow Sara as she tries to figure out who killed Sarah Ellis. Ellis was an undergraduate at the same university that Sara was getting her law degree from. Was the person who strangled Ellis meaning to strangle Sara? That is what she is thinking. She feels as though she is being followed at various points. Everyone is saying that Ellis was on the wrong side of town buying drugs, but we know that wasn't the case. Was it this mysterious man that Sara keeps alluring to and missing his calls? Was it Ellis' ex boyfriend? Was it a random person on the street? The premise to this story is every woman's nightmare. Did the Ride driver do it? We all get nervous taking rides from apps, but especially when we are alone.
I think that there were too many things happening in the story for it to be scary to me. Sara was dealing with sketchy lawyers while also going to the same university and living in the same location that Ellis was killed. It was a quick read that I devoured, but I think that it just wasn't a favorite of mine. It seemed obvious at points and then it just felt like the author was just adding more plot line just to add them. I think that others may enjoy this, it just wasn't a favorite of mine.
wrenl's review against another edition
2.0
This book gives me the same views as Complicit by Winnie Li. Both feature Asian American female main characters who make some morally gray decisions. Similarly, both are quite boring. I wanted this book to be more, but it doesn’t dig deep about systemic injustice and white male privilege. The mystery component is lackluster, and I’m not convinced by the ending. It feels like a cop-out and a weak ending to a weak book. I did enjoy the Sarah Ellis PoV chapters because they have a distinct style and captured a teenager’s energy well.
allyx's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
sailorari's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
3.75