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ingo_lembcke's review against another edition
2.0
Trigger Warning: boredom, nearly no sex, too much family, no suspense. Real trigger warning: Rape, but not very explicit.
DNF, will go FF till the end.
Fell (again) for a blurb which made the book sound way more interesting than it is.
Also some reviews had "page-turner" in the reviews. Well, more like, stick-together-pages-I-had-to-cut-if-I-was-not-reading-an-ebook.
Just checked, the main recommendation was from BookRiot, also I have [b:Gone Without a Trace|29758021|Gone Without a Trace|Mary Torjussen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490395670s/29758021.jpg|50117325] (bought it cheap), which was also a BookRiot-recommendation, now I am wary, I will probably look into it, with the goal to decide early on, wether to read it and finish it, or if that is also another DNF.
Stopped reading in earnest at the beginning of chapter 12, I think.
This reads more like a romance, than a mystery or thriller.
Boring, takes to long and too much familiy with barely a hint, what is wrong. No page-turner so far, and I amnear DNFing it.
Still wonder what other people read, that they think it is a fast-paced page-turner.
Two stars for a good blurb, and I regret pre-ordering this and paying for it, price was ok, though. Will FF to the end and add to this review a little then.
Skimmed a few 4/5 star reviews. And one said, this is "on the lighter side" in comparison to Gone without a trace, so here's hoping, that will be better. There is supposed to be a twist, bit so far I have not read it.
(Added a day later) So, now I have FF through until the end. What a chore! A few little twists, of which one was obvious, the others not so much, but did not save the book from the boredom it transpires. Not sure, wether this warrants 2 stars, but at least there was no vigilant-killing and the reason for not calling the police before the finale was well written.
DNF, will go FF till the end.
Fell (again) for a blurb which made the book sound way more interesting than it is.
Also some reviews had "page-turner" in the reviews. Well, more like, stick-together-pages-I-had-to-cut-if-I-was-not-reading-an-ebook.
Just checked, the main recommendation was from BookRiot, also I have [b:Gone Without a Trace|29758021|Gone Without a Trace|Mary Torjussen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490395670s/29758021.jpg|50117325] (bought it cheap), which was also a BookRiot-recommendation, now I am wary, I will probably look into it, with the goal to decide early on, wether to read it and finish it, or if that is also another DNF.
Stopped reading in earnest at the beginning of chapter 12, I think.
This reads more like a romance, than a mystery or thriller.
Boring, takes to long and too much familiy with barely a hint, what is wrong. No page-turner so far, and I am
Still wonder what other people read, that they think it is a fast-paced page-turner.
Two stars for a good blurb, and I regret pre-ordering this and paying for it, price was ok, though. Will FF to the end and add to this review a little then.
Skimmed a few 4/5 star reviews. And one said, this is "on the lighter side" in comparison to Gone without a trace, so here's hoping, that will be better. There is supposed to be a twist, bit so far I have not read it.
(Added a day later) So, now I have FF through until the end. What a chore! A few little twists, of which one was obvious, the others not so much, but did not save the book from the boredom it transpires. Not sure, wether this warrants 2 stars, but at least there was no vigilant-killing and the reason for not calling the police before the finale was well written.
thephdivabooks's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful, psychological thriller that will make you wonder what you would do if this happened to you!!!
I am a big fan of Mary Torjussen’s last book [b:Gone Without a Trace|29758021|Gone Without a Trace|Mary Torjussen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490395670s/29758021.jpg|50117325]. As a psychologist, I always find books that deal with the character’s mindset effectively to be so compelling, and this is an area Mary really excels in as an author. This book was one I read in two days (which, for someone who works full-time and has a dissertation to write is quite an endorsement). The steady building of suspense in this book had the reader feeling slightly off-kilter along with the protagonist—and that is what made it so hard to put down! I found myself skipping my lunch break to read a bit more, and turning down plans for drinks after work because I had to know what would happen next!
Plot
Gemma owns her own real estate business and loves her career. She has a wonderful husband and a beautiful son, but she also has some darkness in her past. Though Gemma loves her husband and they agreed for him to stay home with their young son while she builds her business, she finds herself occasionally resenting the time he gets with their son. But Gemma would never do anything to jeopardize the family she loves so much.
Until one day, Gemma is out with a client for dinner, and the next thing she knows she wakes up alone in her hotel room with no memory of the night and a blistering hangover… Gemma would never cheat on her husband, but she can’t seem to remember the events of the evening. Sure, she used to be a heavy drinker, but that is in her past, isn’t it?
As Gemma tries to shake off the sense of unease she had that fateful night, she begins getting reminders in the mail. First, she receives a receipt from that night. But why would the hotel mail her a copy of her receipt? Then, she gets a photo of her kissing someone who is not her husband in the hotel. As Gemma’s world begins to unravel, and the reminders get increasingly threatening, Gemma wonders if she will ever remember what happened that night, and if she does, will it be too late to save her marriage??
Reflection
Gosh—I loved this book! Though I loved Mary’s first book, there is never a guarantee that the second one will live up to the first. In fact, often it is hard for an author to write a book that lives up to what was loved about the first book—but Mary Torjussen has done it! This book was very different in terms of the plot and characters from her first book, but the writing elements I loved were still there.
The slow but steady build in suspense was masterful. At the beginning, this could have just been a book about the struggles of work and marriage. And yet, there was always the sense of unease. That sense built throughout the book until the plot burst onto the page. I found myself at about 35% in shock and horror about what was happening. I couldn’t imagine being in Gemma’s spot! What would I do??? And the memory gap was masterful. The notion throughout the book that you can almost grasp the memory, but it escapes you—that is something we can all understand, and it really added to the suspense.
I loved Gemma. She was damaged yet strong. Shockingly strong, in fact. In so many of these psychological thrillers, the protagonist is such a mess, but Gemma was not that way. And for that reason, it was easy to put yourself in her place. To imagine what would happen if you were forced to keep a secret from those you love most, in part because you’re not entirely sure about what the secret is!
I want to thank the author Mary Torjussen for facilitating this Advanced Reader Copy for review. I also want to thank Berkley and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book honestly and fairly. I actually kept my pre-order active because I know I'll want a physical copy of the book to have for use with my reading circles!
See my review here: http://novelbutnice.blogspot.com/2018/04/review-girl-i-used-to-be.html
I am a big fan of Mary Torjussen’s last book [b:Gone Without a Trace|29758021|Gone Without a Trace|Mary Torjussen|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1490395670s/29758021.jpg|50117325]. As a psychologist, I always find books that deal with the character’s mindset effectively to be so compelling, and this is an area Mary really excels in as an author. This book was one I read in two days (which, for someone who works full-time and has a dissertation to write is quite an endorsement). The steady building of suspense in this book had the reader feeling slightly off-kilter along with the protagonist—and that is what made it so hard to put down! I found myself skipping my lunch break to read a bit more, and turning down plans for drinks after work because I had to know what would happen next!
Plot
Gemma owns her own real estate business and loves her career. She has a wonderful husband and a beautiful son, but she also has some darkness in her past. Though Gemma loves her husband and they agreed for him to stay home with their young son while she builds her business, she finds herself occasionally resenting the time he gets with their son. But Gemma would never do anything to jeopardize the family she loves so much.
Until one day, Gemma is out with a client for dinner, and the next thing she knows she wakes up alone in her hotel room with no memory of the night and a blistering hangover… Gemma would never cheat on her husband, but she can’t seem to remember the events of the evening. Sure, she used to be a heavy drinker, but that is in her past, isn’t it?
As Gemma tries to shake off the sense of unease she had that fateful night, she begins getting reminders in the mail. First, she receives a receipt from that night. But why would the hotel mail her a copy of her receipt? Then, she gets a photo of her kissing someone who is not her husband in the hotel. As Gemma’s world begins to unravel, and the reminders get increasingly threatening, Gemma wonders if she will ever remember what happened that night, and if she does, will it be too late to save her marriage??
Reflection
Gosh—I loved this book! Though I loved Mary’s first book, there is never a guarantee that the second one will live up to the first. In fact, often it is hard for an author to write a book that lives up to what was loved about the first book—but Mary Torjussen has done it! This book was very different in terms of the plot and characters from her first book, but the writing elements I loved were still there.
The slow but steady build in suspense was masterful. At the beginning, this could have just been a book about the struggles of work and marriage. And yet, there was always the sense of unease. That sense built throughout the book until the plot burst onto the page. I found myself at about 35% in shock and horror about what was happening. I couldn’t imagine being in Gemma’s spot! What would I do??? And the memory gap was masterful. The notion throughout the book that you can almost grasp the memory, but it escapes you—that is something we can all understand, and it really added to the suspense.
I loved Gemma. She was damaged yet strong. Shockingly strong, in fact. In so many of these psychological thrillers, the protagonist is such a mess, but Gemma was not that way. And for that reason, it was easy to put yourself in her place. To imagine what would happen if you were forced to keep a secret from those you love most, in part because you’re not entirely sure about what the secret is!
I want to thank the author Mary Torjussen for facilitating this Advanced Reader Copy for review. I also want to thank Berkley and NetGalley for allowing me to review this book honestly and fairly. I actually kept my pre-order active because I know I'll want a physical copy of the book to have for use with my reading circles!
See my review here: http://novelbutnice.blogspot.com/2018/04/review-girl-i-used-to-be.html
skukic1031's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed this one! It contained a good amount of twists that were not terribly unrealistic (as I tend to find a lot of twists in books unrealistic). The plot was enjoyable and the characters were well thought out. I have to admit I did kind of figure it out before I got to the end and I try not to do that to let myself be surprised, but this book was kind of easy to figure out. I would still recommend this to friends! Thank you to First To Read for this arc in exchange for an honest review!
mellabella's review against another edition
3.0
I'm kind of torn between 3 and 4 stars. This was an engagingly taut and suspenseful book.
You're not going to be on the edge of your seat with the thought of something happening to the protagonist until later on. But you will be on the sedge of your seat wondering what's happening to her and why. The story comes out little by little.
Gemma is a successful business owner. She is married and has a young son. The book opens right after highs school for her. She and her friends are going to a party. Post graduation, pre university. You guess early on what happens to her. But, now in the present day, who is threatening her and why?
Great premise and a likable protagonist. The subplot with her and her husband Joe being slightly off due to his being a stay at home dad to their young son (with no ambition to return to work... Therefore leaving her a the sole bread winner) seems realistic. But the pressure comes with her trying to keep everything away from him while trying to figure things out.
3.5 stars
You're not going to be on the edge of your seat with the thought of something happening to the protagonist until later on. But you will be on the sedge of your seat wondering what's happening to her and why. The story comes out little by little.
Gemma is a successful business owner. She is married and has a young son. The book opens right after highs school for her. She and her friends are going to a party. Post graduation, pre university. You guess early on what happens to her. But, now in the present day, who is threatening her and why?
Great premise and a likable protagonist. The subplot with her and her husband Joe being slightly off due to his being a stay at home dad to their young son (with no ambition to return to work... Therefore leaving her a the sole bread winner) seems realistic. But the pressure comes with her trying to keep everything away from him while trying to figure things out.
3.5 stars
mhoffrob's review against another edition
3.0
With thanks to the author, Mary Torjussen, and NetGalley.com for the Advanced Reader Copy.
"The Girl I Used to Be" is a well written thriller centered on Gemma, who owns a real estate firm in Chester, England, where she lives with her stay-at-home husband and 4 year old son. On a weekend training course, she bumps into a client and drinks a little to much at dinner, but cannot remember the details of the evening. Soon, a receipt for the dinner arrives in the mail, followed by a picture of herself kissing the client. Memories slowly return, but she's at a loss for why this is happening and what the sender wants. The plot keeps you guessing, and although I had an inkling of who might have started the trouble for Gemma, her accomplice comes as quite a surprise. The wrap up at the ending between Gemma and her spouse was a little too quick and easy, but all in all this was a quick and enjoyable read that kept me reading til the end.
This title will be enjoyed by fans of Gillian Flynn, Tess Geritson, and readers of psychological fiction in general.
"The Girl I Used to Be" is a well written thriller centered on Gemma, who owns a real estate firm in Chester, England, where she lives with her stay-at-home husband and 4 year old son. On a weekend training course, she bumps into a client and drinks a little to much at dinner, but cannot remember the details of the evening. Soon, a receipt for the dinner arrives in the mail, followed by a picture of herself kissing the client. Memories slowly return, but she's at a loss for why this is happening and what the sender wants. The plot keeps you guessing, and although I had an inkling of who might have started the trouble for Gemma, her accomplice comes as quite a surprise. The wrap up at the ending between Gemma and her spouse was a little too quick and easy, but all in all this was a quick and enjoyable read that kept me reading til the end.
This title will be enjoyed by fans of Gillian Flynn, Tess Geritson, and readers of psychological fiction in general.
sevireene's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kbranfield's review against another edition
4.0
The Girl I Used to Be by Mary Torjussen is a suspense-laden mystery about a woman who is being harassed by someone she barely knows for unknown reasons.
Fifteen years ago, Gemma Brogan's life was forever altered at a party with her classmates just as she was about to go off to University. By the time she meets her now husband, Joe Brogan, she has finally moved past her demons and they are now settled into married life. Gemma owns a thriving real estate business and she puts in long hours so Joe can be a stay at home dad to their three year old son, Rory. Her life is shockingly upended following a dinner with prospective client, David Sanderson, who begins sending her harassing photos and threatening messages. With few memories from that night, Gemma is desperate to keep Joe from finding out she was less than truthful about how she spent her evening whilst she was at a business conference. When she uncovers stunning information about her stalker's identity, will Gemma stop him from ruining her life?
Gemma puts in long hours at her business which means little time to spend with Joe and Rory. She desperately misses her little boy, but with Joe not working and the downturn in the economy, she cannot afford to hire another employee. She loves Joe with all her heart, but Gemma is becoming resentful of being the family's sole breadwinner. Unfortunately, she risks losing her husband and her son if she reveals to him that someone is threatening her. One innocent lie about how she spent her evening during her business trip soon becomes a tangled web of mistruths as she tries to uncover the truth about David's identity.
The first half of the novel is written entirely from Gemma's perspective. Her exhaustion, frustration and fear are keenly felt as she tries to keep her life together. After she stumbles onto shocking information at about the halfway point, the novel then alternates between two points of view: Gemma's and one of her employees. She then discovers who is harassing her and why, but will the two of them take their discovery to the police before it is too late?
The Girl I Used to Be is a fast-paced and compelling mystery. Gemma is a well-drawn character and it is very easy to empathize with her as she tries to disentangle herself from this stunning turn of events. Although sharp-eyed readers will most likely zero in on a suspect fairly early, Mary Torjussen has a few clever plot twists that will keep the pages turning at a blistering pace. The novel's conclusion is just the teensiest bit predictable but this does not detract from the overall enjoyment of watching the perpetrator get exactly what they deserve for their despicable actions. An outstanding read that fans of the genre are sure to love.
Fifteen years ago, Gemma Brogan's life was forever altered at a party with her classmates just as she was about to go off to University. By the time she meets her now husband, Joe Brogan, she has finally moved past her demons and they are now settled into married life. Gemma owns a thriving real estate business and she puts in long hours so Joe can be a stay at home dad to their three year old son, Rory. Her life is shockingly upended following a dinner with prospective client, David Sanderson, who begins sending her harassing photos and threatening messages. With few memories from that night, Gemma is desperate to keep Joe from finding out she was less than truthful about how she spent her evening whilst she was at a business conference. When she uncovers stunning information about her stalker's identity, will Gemma stop him from ruining her life?
Gemma puts in long hours at her business which means little time to spend with Joe and Rory. She desperately misses her little boy, but with Joe not working and the downturn in the economy, she cannot afford to hire another employee. She loves Joe with all her heart, but Gemma is becoming resentful of being the family's sole breadwinner. Unfortunately, she risks losing her husband and her son if she reveals to him that someone is threatening her. One innocent lie about how she spent her evening during her business trip soon becomes a tangled web of mistruths as she tries to uncover the truth about David's identity.
The first half of the novel is written entirely from Gemma's perspective. Her exhaustion, frustration and fear are keenly felt as she tries to keep her life together. After she stumbles onto shocking information at about the halfway point, the novel then alternates between two points of view: Gemma's and one of her employees. She then discovers who is harassing her and why, but will the two of them take their discovery to the police before it is too late?
The Girl I Used to Be is a fast-paced and compelling mystery. Gemma is a well-drawn character and it is very easy to empathize with her as she tries to disentangle herself from this stunning turn of events. Although sharp-eyed readers will most likely zero in on a suspect fairly early, Mary Torjussen has a few clever plot twists that will keep the pages turning at a blistering pace. The novel's conclusion is just the teensiest bit predictable but this does not detract from the overall enjoyment of watching the perpetrator get exactly what they deserve for their despicable actions. An outstanding read that fans of the genre are sure to love.
mpr2000's review against another edition
4.0
Gemma Brogan has a flourishing business, a stay-at-home husband and a sweet little kid to make her feel like she has a successful life. But as I am sure you know, everything is not always as beautiful as it would seem from outside. Gemma has been working really hard to make her business working, with long hours at the office and without time to spend with her son and husband, making her to feel disconnected from her family and tired all time. So, when she finds one of her clients on one of her trips to London, she doesn't doubt to dinner with him, without thinking that he will be her worst nightmare.
I can not imagine anything worse than waking up in a room without remembering the night before. Gemma can not remember anything of the night she was in London, simply returning to her room and a kiss with a client... She "knows" that didn't happen anything that night, but she didn't tell her husband that was having dinner with a client, so what will happen if he discovers the truth? And what does "David" (the mysterious client) really wants from her?
This had been a twisted and addictive read, even if we know soon what is really happening, the mystery and the guessing doesn't stop. Gemma had a past, a night when she was young that made her change forever and it seems that if she wants to have a future, she will have to confront her past.
I am not sure I really liked Gemma in the beginning, she is not happy with her life, but instead of talking with her husband she works more and more, making her more unhappy and missing to spend time with her family, a vicious circle. And of course I didn't like Joe at all, I know what it is staying at home with your child 24 hours a day, and without going out with friends or running... But let me say that if my husband ever had a trouble at work, he always knows he could talk to me, even if he is tired, scared or doesn't know what to do, he knows I am there! So, I can not understand his need to move to another country or complain while Gemma is not at home (but she is working) and he is not able to go out on time with his friends...!
Let's face the truth, Gemma has bad luck, she didn't do anything bad on the fateful night in London, but someone has decided to make her pay for something she hasn't done, she should go to the police or confront the hater? While the reader has a lot of doubts and guesses during all the plot, we really trust Gemma that she is innocent, simply scared to have her marriage broken and being separated from her son, something all mothers would understand if they would be in their place. But that makes the story more real and connected to the reader, we could understand Gemma's decisions and thoughts, she simply wants her life to be right, stay with her son and husband at home.
The story is told between two parts, the first one it explains Gemma's life and how everything started, and the second one told in first person, and making the reader discover in first hand the secrets that were kept from the past, shocking and disturbing, of course.
I can only say good things about this book, I liked the writing, the story and the unexpected twists hidden on the plot, making this a great book and a suspenseful read.
Ready to discover the Girl I Used To Be?
I can not imagine anything worse than waking up in a room without remembering the night before. Gemma can not remember anything of the night she was in London, simply returning to her room and a kiss with a client... She "knows" that didn't happen anything that night, but she didn't tell her husband that was having dinner with a client, so what will happen if he discovers the truth? And what does "David" (the mysterious client) really wants from her?
This had been a twisted and addictive read, even if we know soon what is really happening, the mystery and the guessing doesn't stop. Gemma had a past, a night when she was young that made her change forever and it seems that if she wants to have a future, she will have to confront her past.
I am not sure I really liked Gemma in the beginning, she is not happy with her life, but instead of talking with her husband she works more and more, making her more unhappy and missing to spend time with her family, a vicious circle. And of course I didn't like Joe at all, I know what it is staying at home with your child 24 hours a day, and without going out with friends or running... But let me say that if my husband ever had a trouble at work, he always knows he could talk to me, even if he is tired, scared or doesn't know what to do, he knows I am there! So, I can not understand his need to move to another country or complain while Gemma is not at home (but she is working) and he is not able to go out on time with his friends...!
Let's face the truth, Gemma has bad luck, she didn't do anything bad on the fateful night in London, but someone has decided to make her pay for something she hasn't done, she should go to the police or confront the hater? While the reader has a lot of doubts and guesses during all the plot, we really trust Gemma that she is innocent, simply scared to have her marriage broken and being separated from her son, something all mothers would understand if they would be in their place. But that makes the story more real and connected to the reader, we could understand Gemma's decisions and thoughts, she simply wants her life to be right, stay with her son and husband at home.
The story is told between two parts, the first one it explains Gemma's life and how everything started, and the second one told in first person, and making the reader discover in first hand the secrets that were kept from the past, shocking and disturbing, of course.
I can only say good things about this book, I liked the writing, the story and the unexpected twists hidden on the plot, making this a great book and a suspenseful read.
Ready to discover the Girl I Used To Be?
wombat_88's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
cook_memorial_public_library's review against another edition
4.0
Recommended by Cindy. Check our catalog: https://encore.cooklib.org/iii/encore/search/C__Sgirl%20i%20used%20to%20be%20torjussen__Orightresult__U?lang=eng&suite=gold