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dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gore, Blood, Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement, Cursing, Death, Kidnapping, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Violence, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm going to be as kind as I can because this is a debut novel, and I don't like to be mean!
I did not enjoy this. I finished it, because I wanted to know what happened, and the ending did catch me by surprise, so there's that. The plot was cohesive and made sense.
However, Lally's writing reminds me a lot of my own writing back when I was still wanting to be a fiction author - and this is not a compliment by any means. There is a reason I stopped writing fiction, and thank God none of it was published. The writing was just so poor, and I know it's a young adult novel - but I've read middle grade that is written incredibly beautifully, so that's really not a good excuse to me.
I also hated the characters, just about all of them. Drew's gay parents and mixed raced family just felt like tokens, like Lally was crossing things off a checklist.
All that being said, again, the plot was just fine and it was an easy read (too easy) but I definitely was let down by the high ratings this novel is getting. Also, too many grammatical errors for my taste.
I did not enjoy this. I finished it, because I wanted to know what happened, and the ending did catch me by surprise, so there's that. The plot was cohesive and made sense.
However, Lally's writing reminds me a lot of my own writing back when I was still wanting to be a fiction author - and this is not a compliment by any means. There is a reason I stopped writing fiction, and thank God none of it was published. The writing was just so poor, and I know it's a young adult novel - but I've read middle grade that is written incredibly beautifully, so that's really not a good excuse to me.
I also hated the characters, just about all of them. Drew's gay parents and mixed raced family just felt like tokens, like Lally was crossing things off a checklist.
All that being said, again, the plot was just fine and it was an easy read (too easy) but I definitely was let down by the high ratings this novel is getting. Also, too many grammatical errors for my taste.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Physical abuse, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
3.5—almost 3.75 from 4.00, but I’m stingy, and someone said the investigation parts reminded them of Scooby-Doo, and that cracked me up. 🤣 What they mentioned about plot holes also downgraded my rating because they’re absolutely right.
Anyway, the writing is so middd 😭😭😭 The characters' inner voices are like: Shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuck. All the time.
Like, stopppp. I get that this was the author's debut novel, but she said she had been writing for ten years and eight months before this book was released. This is Wattpad-level prose, and I was honestly getting tired and annoyed by the cliché Nancy Drew and the gang–style sleuthing mixed with Hallmark thriller–level storyline and characters when the twist hit.
The twist/ending SAVES this book. And I, for once, forgive the BookTok community for suggesting this book to me. I realized halfway through that this is a YA genre book, and that's a big no-no to me most of the time.
But yeah, not bad. Not bad at all. I willingly put down my pitchfork and admit that my head was too far up my ass this time.
Not about the writing though. I was damn right, and y’all know it! Drew’s chapters are so boring and cliché. I don’t know why the writing quality is so different from the “Mary” chapters. No chemistry at all between the characters, and the romance at the end is unnecessary. Not everyone needs to get together. Time and space, people!
And tbh? It's kinda Drew's fault. Like fr, two gay dads and you still did what you did? Smh. Tsk tsk tsk. Not a single gentleman bone in that boy.
Anyway, the writing is so middd 😭😭😭 The characters' inner voices are like: Shit. Fuck. Shit. Fuck. All the time.
Like, stopppp. I get that this was the author's debut novel, but she said she had been writing for ten years and eight months before this book was released. This is Wattpad-level prose, and I was honestly getting tired and annoyed by the cliché Nancy Drew and the gang–style sleuthing mixed with Hallmark thriller–level storyline and characters when the twist hit.
The twist/ending SAVES this book. And I, for once, forgive the BookTok community for suggesting this book to me. I realized halfway through that this is a YA genre book, and that's a big no-no to me most of the time.
But yeah, not bad. Not bad at all. I willingly put down my pitchfork and admit that my head was too far up my ass this time.
Not about the writing though. I was damn right, and y’all know it! Drew’s chapters are so boring and cliché. I don’t know why the writing quality is so different from the “Mary” chapters. No chemistry at all between the characters, and the romance at the end is unnecessary. Not everyone needs to get together. Time and space, people!
And tbh? It's kinda Drew's fault. Like fr, two gay dads and you still did what you did? Smh. Tsk tsk tsk. Not a single gentleman bone in that boy.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping, Murder
Minor: Stalking
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wow. I read this in just two sittings—it’s that kind of book. That’s Not My Name is a fast-paced psychological thriller about a girl who wakes up with no memory of who she is, only to be told she’s someone she doesn’t recognize. As she tries to piece together the truth, things get weirder and way more disturbing.
This book was a total WTF experience (in the best way). I thought I was ready for the twists, but I absolutely was not. From about 80% to the end, I was either crying or muttering “WTF” over and over again. It got way more emotional than I expected for a “creepy little book”—and I mean that as a compliment.
If you’re in a reading slump, this is a perfect pick. It’s gripping, intense, and doesn’t waste a single page. One of the wildest and most unexpectedly emotional thrillers I’ve read in a while.
This book was a total WTF experience (in the best way). I thought I was ready for the twists, but I absolutely was not. From about 80% to the end, I was either crying or muttering “WTF” over and over again. It got way more emotional than I expected for a “creepy little book”—and I mean that as a compliment.
If you’re in a reading slump, this is a perfect pick. It’s gripping, intense, and doesn’t waste a single page. One of the wildest and most unexpectedly emotional thrillers I’ve read in a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Vomit, Car accident
Minor: Stalking, Death of parent
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
the plot twist omg. this thriller was phenomenal. a must read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Child death, Confinement, Gore, Physical abuse, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Plot - 4
Enjoyment - 4
Artistry - 3
Characters - 3
Heart - 3
Fast paced story with twists and turns. Super enjoyable time. I was sad she ended the story in the way it did but also, feels like it tracks with the story telling that was happening. Would recommend for a thriller fan.
Enjoyment - 4
Artistry - 3
Characters - 3
Heart - 3
Fast paced story with twists and turns. Super enjoyable time. I was sad she ended the story in the way it did but also, feels like it tracks with the story telling that was happening. Would recommend for a thriller fan.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gore, Kidnapping, Stalking
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder
Moderate: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Stalking
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
This book gutted me. Can’t believe it’s the authors first book. Language could use some work in terms of wording but the plot was amazing and she never failed to have my attention from the very first line
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Blood, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Murder, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail