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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I love when these authors work together and I think their story lines are always so intriguing and twisty, but I found myself wanting so much more from this one. I think a lot of it was predictable and it felt like it could have been condensed a bit if no more details or plot twists were to be added. I did really enjoy the characters though! I wish Noah was more included because I felt really attached to his goodness in the mystery and psychology of it all, and I think Ben could’ve provided more twists as well. Overall, I felt like the book would’ve been set better as a movie or a show with the timeline it had, it just felt a bit too slow for a book, especially by this quick duo.
I think the fact that I read this in under a day makes it obvious that I thought this was EXCELLENT.
I will be reading their other book as soon as possible.
I will be reading their other book as soon as possible.
A really gripping thriller, if not slightly implausible. There were lots of twists and turns in this and the plot line leaves you guessing until the end. The core theme of this is morality and the lies people tell. There’s some dastardly dealings and scheming going on in this read. This is my first read from Hendrinks and Pekkanen but I’ll definitely be checking out their other books.
“We all have reasons for our actions. Even if we hide the reason from those who think they know us best. Even if the reasons are so deeply buried we can’t recognize them ourselves.”
Jessica Farris is a makeup artist in New York City and when she overhears information about a psychological study for some quick cash she finds a way to get into it. Sitting in an empty room she answers questions on a computer on ethics and morality. She’s prompted to be as honest as possible and she is; she has no reason not to be. This is an anonymous study after all where she is referred to only as Subject 52. She’s generously paid and when the individual in charge of the study, Dr. Shields, dangles the carrot of further payment if she continues the study outside of the classroom she accepts. The things Jess is asked to do are slightly unnerving and confusing, unsure how it has anything to do with ethics and morality, but the desire to help her struggling family out is more than enough incentive to quiet the discontent in her mind. The more studies she completes though, the more the discontent grows.
Most mysteries these days tend to count on unreliable narrators to keep the reader guessing. In the end, you’re thrown a curveball of an answer that causes you to question the hundreds of pages you’ve just consumed. It can be just as fun to work your way back through the story, reevaluating everything you assumed but now with a new understanding. That’s what I enjoyed most about An Anonymous Girl, you think you know exactly what’s going on, and you might be right, but there’s just enough uncertainty that you can’t be sure, so you keep reading. Alas, the lead up was great, but the ending wasn’t quite the shocker that I had anticipated and felt a little too ‘easy’ of a conclusion when compared to the chaos that led up to it. I sometimes feel that by reading too many mysteries that I’m dulling any future enjoyment, that I become too adept at deciphering what’s truly going on. Or maybe this was simply a mediocre mystery.
I received this book free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
Jessica Farris is a makeup artist in New York City and when she overhears information about a psychological study for some quick cash she finds a way to get into it. Sitting in an empty room she answers questions on a computer on ethics and morality. She’s prompted to be as honest as possible and she is; she has no reason not to be. This is an anonymous study after all where she is referred to only as Subject 52. She’s generously paid and when the individual in charge of the study, Dr. Shields, dangles the carrot of further payment if she continues the study outside of the classroom she accepts. The things Jess is asked to do are slightly unnerving and confusing, unsure how it has anything to do with ethics and morality, but the desire to help her struggling family out is more than enough incentive to quiet the discontent in her mind. The more studies she completes though, the more the discontent grows.
Most mysteries these days tend to count on unreliable narrators to keep the reader guessing. In the end, you’re thrown a curveball of an answer that causes you to question the hundreds of pages you’ve just consumed. It can be just as fun to work your way back through the story, reevaluating everything you assumed but now with a new understanding. That’s what I enjoyed most about An Anonymous Girl, you think you know exactly what’s going on, and you might be right, but there’s just enough uncertainty that you can’t be sure, so you keep reading. Alas, the lead up was great, but the ending wasn’t quite the shocker that I had anticipated and felt a little too ‘easy’ of a conclusion when compared to the chaos that led up to it. I sometimes feel that by reading too many mysteries that I’m dulling any future enjoyment, that I become too adept at deciphering what’s truly going on. Or maybe this was simply a mediocre mystery.
I received this book free from the Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Jessica Farris is a struggling make-up artist in her late twenties. When she has the opportunity to answer questions in a morality survey for a professor at NYU in exchange for a paycheck, she can’t resist. The professor takes a special interest in Jessica because of her answers and offers her a substantial amount of money if she is willing to become a long-term participant in the study. Jessica accepts, not knowing that this study may be more personal to the professor than she ever realized. Soon she is deeply involved, and it may be too late to back out.
Similar to The Wife Between Us, this one was fast-paced and fun to read. I really enjoy psychology, and there was a lot of it in the book in terms of reading people and the experiment that the professor was conducting. I didn’t feel like the ending wowed me, but I enjoyed the journey reading it, so it’s getting 4 stars for me. It takes place around the holidays, so it’s a perfect read if you’re looking for a thrilling Christmas read!
Similar to The Wife Between Us, this one was fast-paced and fun to read. I really enjoy psychology, and there was a lot of it in the book in terms of reading people and the experiment that the professor was conducting. I didn’t feel like the ending wowed me, but I enjoyed the journey reading it, so it’s getting 4 stars for me. It takes place around the holidays, so it’s a perfect read if you’re looking for a thrilling Christmas read!
I can't not add this to my favorites list when I would have read it all in one day if I had the time/stamina. Is 2019 the year of mystery/thrillers for me? It's looking that way so far!
I will automatically pick-up anything these two write because I have loved their first two books.
Spoiler
I really loved this twisty tale of a girl who sneaks her way into a psychological study in order to earn $500, a lie which sets her on a wildly dark and dangerous journey. Dr. Shield's parts were especially creepy with he 2nd person narration. What I love most about this writing duo is their pacing. The twists that come up are always so well laid and I never quite guess correctly at what's around the next corner. Similar to their first novel, I loved the last bit. It was like a final twist of the knife against Thomas - who certainly was far from innocent in this story.I will automatically pick-up anything these two write because I have loved their first two books.
It reminded me of gone girl… the level of crazy, definitely not the plot.
I was hooked from the first page. Well written and captivating, this book is a gem. Small twists and turns kept me reading well past my bedtime. The ending seemed a little rushed, but it does not deter from a 4.5 star rating.