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4.01 AVERAGE
4.01 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
RATING: ⭐⭐☆☆☆
The premise of That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally promises a taut, identity-driven mystery about a teenager found disorientated and amnesiac in a small town. Who is she? Why can’t she remember? And who around her can be trusted? However, the writing style felt far too juvenile for the weight of the subject matter and the plot was riddled with implausibilities that undermined the stakes. For instance, we’re asked to accept that a police officer would hand over a traumatised, underage girl—who has refused medical treatment and doesn’t recognise the man claiming to be her father—without hesitation. It’s unbelievable to the point of frustration.
And the characters—oh, the characters. From Drew to Autumn to Sheriff Mark Roane, every single one managed to be insufferable in their own way. Their decisions were shallow, their dialogue flat, and their personalities paper-thin. Rather than feeling invested in their fates, I found myself rolling my eyes more often than turning the pages in suspense.
The premise of That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally promises a taut, identity-driven mystery about a teenager found disorientated and amnesiac in a small town. Who is she? Why can’t she remember? And who around her can be trusted? However, the writing style felt far too juvenile for the weight of the subject matter and the plot was riddled with implausibilities that undermined the stakes. For instance, we’re asked to accept that a police officer would hand over a traumatised, underage girl—who has refused medical treatment and doesn’t recognise the man claiming to be her father—without hesitation. It’s unbelievable to the point of frustration.
And the characters—oh, the characters. From Drew to Autumn to Sheriff Mark Roane, every single one managed to be insufferable in their own way. Their decisions were shallow, their dialogue flat, and their personalities paper-thin. Rather than feeling invested in their fates, I found myself rolling my eyes more often than turning the pages in suspense.
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
Decent thriller. Was a super fast listen on audiobook
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
N/A
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
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
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This was a YA mystery. Girl disappeared and her boyfriend is the main subject. Flipping back and forth between his POV and another girl who has lost her memory in another city. It is pretty obvious the way it is heading as the boy is trying his own search to find her while the girl is trying to recover her memory in a cabin with her father. The ending did surprise me and also make me tear up a little (which was unexpected). Good quick read!
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-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
Oh my gosh!! I was so hoping for a different ending ☹️ This one kept me on my toes and continuously guessing what was actually happening. I never thought it would’ve been as bad as it ended up being. There were some clues that the girl wasn’t Lola (ex- her memories only included a mother when Lola had come from a 2 parent home) but, the fact the this turned into a SERIAL KILLER situation was absolutely mind blowing. I think the author did a wonderful job in using the dual perspectives to tell the story and build the suspense.
I wanted for a happy ending so badly and for Lola to come home to her family and friends and everything to be okay. Now that I think of it, that would’ve been a little bit too cliché given, the extent the author went to develop the plot throughout the book. Though it wasn’t the happy ending I’d hoped for all along, I think the ending perfectly captures the perspective I can take away as well. That being, though Lola wasn’t found alive, it was still her friends’ perseverance that saved Madison, revealed a serial killer, provided closure for many families, and prevented the likely demise of many others. In that, I will say, this was a wonderful book and I’m so happy that I read it.
I wanted for a happy ending so badly and for Lola to come home to her family and friends and everything to be okay. Now that I think of it, that would’ve been a little bit too cliché given, the extent the author went to develop the plot throughout the book. Though it wasn’t the happy ending I’d hoped for all along, I think the ending perfectly captures the perspective I can take away as well. That being, though Lola wasn’t found alive, it was still her friends’ perseverance that saved Madison, revealed a serial killer, provided closure for many families, and prevented the likely demise of many others. In that, I will say, this was a wonderful book and I’m so happy that I read it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Violence, Blood, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Injury/Injury detail
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes