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malsnyc's review
4.0
This book was so weird, but a major page turner for me. Also the premise of it is lawyers and document review, so can relate.
___allison's review
3.0
3.5 stars for this one. I loved the premise behind it and was super excited to start reading, but I found Cassie to be overly annoying with her interactions and internal thoughts. The book did turn in the middle-end and I couldn’t put it down until it was finished. The epilogue is a nice touch that leaves me wanting more.
heyitsjord's review
4.0
What a wild ride. I absolutely devoured this. I was scared of Cassie but also felt sorry for her. She was unhinged, and being inside her head while she made her decisions was as entertaining as it was unnerving.
erinmae's review against another edition
3.0
I'm going to be honest as say that I only finished this book because I won it in a Goodreads giveaway, and I wanted to see why she was fired. I was not invested in Cassie at all. I'm not someone who has to like a main character in order to enjoy the book. In fact, I love hating them. However, Cassie came across as annoying, a terrible liar, and just plain stupid. When it all comes crashing down she still thinks that she can fix it. At least she never gives up. The very last sentence made me roll my eyes. I guess some people never do learn.
There was a lot of potential; sadly the story fell short for me.
There was a lot of potential; sadly the story fell short for me.
cassies_books_reviews's review
4.0
Cassie Woodson had it all until an “incident” at her law firm happened. So now she works as a temp and spends her day mindlessly going through email correspondences for a large Medicare fraud suit.
One day she stumbles upon the emails between one of the partners Forrest Watts and his wife Annabelle. She deems them the perfect couple and now she can’t stop herself, between her addiction to alcohol, caffeine and Tylenol she’s now addicted to finding everything out about this perfect couple. Soon online sleuthing isn’t enough she wants to be part of this perfect couples life. She believes Forrest is the perfect man and maybe Annabelle doesn’t deserve him she does! Between ordering the same shampoo as Annabelle, hanging out at the same places stalking online she believes she can be the new improved Annabelle for Forest. Soon we see a situation unravel and maybe perfection isn’t all what it appears. Wow this is the female Joe!! Cassie takes stalking to a new level! Plus I’m laughing because my name is Cassie... so watch out Joke!! Anyways I was getting weirdly excited to see what crazy turn she was going to take next! Loved this debut! Four stars!!
One day she stumbles upon the emails between one of the partners Forrest Watts and his wife Annabelle. She deems them the perfect couple and now she can’t stop herself, between her addiction to alcohol, caffeine and Tylenol she’s now addicted to finding everything out about this perfect couple. Soon online sleuthing isn’t enough she wants to be part of this perfect couples life. She believes Forrest is the perfect man and maybe Annabelle doesn’t deserve him she does! Between ordering the same shampoo as Annabelle, hanging out at the same places stalking online she believes she can be the new improved Annabelle for Forest. Soon we see a situation unravel and maybe perfection isn’t all what it appears. Wow this is the female Joe!! Cassie takes stalking to a new level! Plus I’m laughing because my name is Cassie... so watch out Joke!! Anyways I was getting weirdly excited to see what crazy turn she was going to take next! Loved this debut! Four stars!!
xokristim's review
5.0
This book was so amazing. After reading the description I knew I had to request it. I got major “You” vibes. I’m a huge fan of books that revolve around people being obsessed with others, especially ones they don’t know.
Cassie was an awesome main character whose obsessive personality was portrayed perfectly. She was great to read about and the air of mystery behind her past was just enough to keep me guessing the while book. I loved the idea of her reading through e-mails and making assumptions of people, and how we got to hear how her mind worked.
This book blew me away! I thought the twists and turns were written so well that just when I thought I knew what was going on I was hit with how wrong I was! I would definitely recommend this one for any fan of psychological thrillers based on obsessions and fans of the “You” series.
Cassie was an awesome main character whose obsessive personality was portrayed perfectly. She was great to read about and the air of mystery behind her past was just enough to keep me guessing the while book. I loved the idea of her reading through e-mails and making assumptions of people, and how we got to hear how her mind worked.
This book blew me away! I thought the twists and turns were written so well that just when I thought I knew what was going on I was hit with how wrong I was! I would definitely recommend this one for any fan of psychological thrillers based on obsessions and fans of the “You” series.
laurenkd89's review
4.0
Look at me, all ready to write this book off halfway through as yet another [b:The Last Mrs. Parrish|34043643|The Last Mrs. Parrish|Liv Constantine|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1486501028l/34043643._SY75_.jpg|55049770], [b:The Photographer|52422207|The Photographer|Mary Dixie Carter|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1605109151l/52422207._SY75_.jpg|77802809], [b:Single White Female|1180497|Single White Female|John Lutz|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1181685984l/1180497._SY75_.jpg|1168381] type thriller. Boy, am I glad I stuck with it! The last 20% of the book completely flips this trope on its head, changes your expectations, and delivers something different. I'm impressed.
Our main character, Cassie Woodson, is a temp lawyer working in the dungeon-like basement of a large NYC law firm, doing the most banal task a lawyer could imagine themselves doing: clicking through emails in a process of e-discovery for a firm's client. Working alongside other JDs who have somehow ended up here, Cassie hates her life. She's lonely, has absolutely no career prospects, and feels totally hollow. She wasn't always in this position - just a few years ago, Cassie was a rising star attorney at her corporate law firm, with a handsome, successful fellow lawyer boyfriend, a beautiful apartment, and life at her fingertips. But she alludes to an incident that occurred that basically ruined all of that, rendering her career-less and alone.
On another day clicking through these pointless emails related to a healthcare client, she comes across a personal email from one of the firm's partners, Forest Watts, to his wife, Annabelle Watts. Cassie is immediately struck by this email: its romance, its unconditional support, the perfection of their lives. In an instant, Cassie becomes obsessed with this couple. Handsome, successful Forest, beautiful, ethereal Annabelle, their amazing Bronxville mansion, and their charmed lives. She makes it her mission to know absolutely everything about them, and lucky her!, due to a mistake in the algorithm that selects emails to be reviewed, Forest's inbox appears in Cassie's queue basically every day.
After discovering that Forest's and Annabelle's relationship may not be as picture-perfect as it seems, Cassie comes up with a new mission: replace Annabelle. Using her arsenal of everything she knows about Annabelle, from her clothes to her workouts to her signature scent, she readies herself to become everything Forest wants.
The premise of this so far sounds exactly like other thrillers I've read in the past few years, where a lonely woman becomes obsessed with a life so far from her own and insists on becoming part of it. I don't hate those stories, but they're overplayed. I wish I could give a hint as to what changes in the latter half of this narrative to make it distinct from those, but part of the fun of getting there is not knowing where it's going to take you. All I can say is that it's unexpected and a great ride - I just wish it came a little earlier in the story. You really don't find out much until the tone changes around 85% of the way through.
Overall, this is a fun, new take on an old trope, and I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you to Ballantine for the ARC via Netgalley!
Our main character, Cassie Woodson, is a temp lawyer working in the dungeon-like basement of a large NYC law firm, doing the most banal task a lawyer could imagine themselves doing: clicking through emails in a process of e-discovery for a firm's client. Working alongside other JDs who have somehow ended up here, Cassie hates her life. She's lonely, has absolutely no career prospects, and feels totally hollow. She wasn't always in this position - just a few years ago, Cassie was a rising star attorney at her corporate law firm, with a handsome, successful fellow lawyer boyfriend, a beautiful apartment, and life at her fingertips. But she alludes to an incident that occurred that basically ruined all of that, rendering her career-less and alone.
On another day clicking through these pointless emails related to a healthcare client, she comes across a personal email from one of the firm's partners, Forest Watts, to his wife, Annabelle Watts. Cassie is immediately struck by this email: its romance, its unconditional support, the perfection of their lives. In an instant, Cassie becomes obsessed with this couple. Handsome, successful Forest, beautiful, ethereal Annabelle, their amazing Bronxville mansion, and their charmed lives. She makes it her mission to know absolutely everything about them, and lucky her!, due to a mistake in the algorithm that selects emails to be reviewed, Forest's inbox appears in Cassie's queue basically every day.
After discovering that Forest's and Annabelle's relationship may not be as picture-perfect as it seems, Cassie comes up with a new mission: replace Annabelle. Using her arsenal of everything she knows about Annabelle, from her clothes to her workouts to her signature scent, she readies herself to become everything Forest wants.
The premise of this so far sounds exactly like other thrillers I've read in the past few years, where a lonely woman becomes obsessed with a life so far from her own and insists on becoming part of it. I don't hate those stories, but they're overplayed. I wish I could give a hint as to what changes in the latter half of this narrative to make it distinct from those, but part of the fun of getting there is not knowing where it's going to take you. All I can say is that it's unexpected and a great ride - I just wish it came a little earlier in the story. You really don't find out much until the tone changes around 85% of the way through.
Overall, this is a fun, new take on an old trope, and I really enjoyed reading this. Thank you to Ballantine for the ARC via Netgalley!
jeanniemo1's review
1.0
Sorry, but I detested this book. After the first 70 pages, I thought, “I CANNOT CONTINUE READING THIS BOOK!” I hate not finishing something. So I read the last 20 pages, and didn’t miss a thing. Don’t waste your time. I couldn’t suffer through a stupid person making stupid after stupid decision. Done and done.
mayarelmahdy's review
4.0
I could not stop reading this.
It's like YOU but more desperate and faster. Cassie's in love with a made-up version of some random guy. It's a classic obsessive person falling in love with actual trash story.
The last 10 chapters go off in a new direction. It's pretty expected but still makes you gasp once it happens.
I really liked this. Glad I picked it up.
It's like YOU but more desperate and faster. Cassie's in love with a made-up version of some random guy. It's a classic obsessive person falling in love with actual trash story.
The last 10 chapters go off in a new direction. It's pretty expected but still makes you gasp once it happens.
I really liked this. Glad I picked it up.
lyzz's review
5.0
Do you live in Outlook all day like me? What if I told you that this book is one of the best thrillers, I have read all year and focuses on email, and is set in a dreary conference room with a bunch of temps? Would you believe me? Maybe you will just have to read this one for yourself!
Cassie Woodson is a temp for a law firm, reviewing correspondence for a large-scale fraud suit. Cassie does not have much going on in her life – no family, no friends, no love life. But then an email between one of the partners, Forest Watts, and his wife Annabelle catches her eye and lights her obsession.
Three words to describe this book: Page-turner. Obsession. Email.
Cover: This is probably one thing I did not like about this book. I love the blue and purple hues. It just did not draw me into the novel.
Character Development: Cassie has a significant amount of character development including her relationship with her father, her humiliating firing at her previous firm, and her previous relationships. I felt like it was just the right amount that helped build the plot but not deter from the pace.
World-Building: This book is set in New York but not on the glitzy side. Most of the novel takes place in a conference room with Cassie reading messages. I very much got a sense of place from this novel.
Plot & Pacing: The plot and pacing were spot-on. I devoured this book. There are some decent twists, and the ending was a bit of a surprise for me. I ended up reading the last half of the book in one sitting which is really rare for me.
Verdict: I know it does not sound like a book about a temp reviewing emails would be the perfect beach read – but it is! You need to pack this book for your summer adventures.
This book will be published on July 27, 2021.
ARC was provided to me by St. Martin’s Press, in exchange for an honest review.
Cassie Woodson is a temp for a law firm, reviewing correspondence for a large-scale fraud suit. Cassie does not have much going on in her life – no family, no friends, no love life. But then an email between one of the partners, Forest Watts, and his wife Annabelle catches her eye and lights her obsession.
Three words to describe this book: Page-turner. Obsession. Email.
Cover: This is probably one thing I did not like about this book. I love the blue and purple hues. It just did not draw me into the novel.
Character Development: Cassie has a significant amount of character development including her relationship with her father, her humiliating firing at her previous firm, and her previous relationships. I felt like it was just the right amount that helped build the plot but not deter from the pace.
World-Building: This book is set in New York but not on the glitzy side. Most of the novel takes place in a conference room with Cassie reading messages. I very much got a sense of place from this novel.
Plot & Pacing: The plot and pacing were spot-on. I devoured this book. There are some decent twists, and the ending was a bit of a surprise for me. I ended up reading the last half of the book in one sitting which is really rare for me.
Verdict: I know it does not sound like a book about a temp reviewing emails would be the perfect beach read – but it is! You need to pack this book for your summer adventures.
This book will be published on July 27, 2021.
ARC was provided to me by St. Martin’s Press, in exchange for an honest review.