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3.09 AVERAGE
3.09 AVERAGE
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This debut psychological thriller starts with such a unique premise. Eden Hamilton is fourteen years old when she has a mysterious accident at a lake near her home. She almost dies, but when she awakens in the hospital, she insists that her name is Eli. Her mother, Lucy, is shocked because Eli is the name of Eden's twin brother who didn't survive in the womb and his death was labeled "Vanishing Twin Syndrome". (This is a real thing - I looked online to get a little more information about it.) While Eden was always close to her father, while Lucy and Eden didn't always get along, Eli is loving and supportive of her mom and acts differently in other ways, too.
The story is told from Lucy's point-of-view in the present and a few chapters from when she was a child. There are also some chapters from Charlie, Eden's friend since childhood. Getting someone else's point-of-view on some of the events helped me understand the story better, especially since some strange things occur. The book is engaging, tense, and sometimes creepy. For the most part, it was fast-paced but there were times when I was so confused, I would have to go back and reread a couple of paragraphs, so that slowed the pace of the book for me.
I was engrossed in the story throughout the book, and by the time it ends, some things have been cleared up, while others remain ambiguous or unanswered. The chilling epilogue confirmed that I was correct in my opinion about one of the main characters. If you are a thriller fan looking for something different and don't mind a story without clear-cut explanations, then this could be the book for you.
I received an advance copy of this ebook from NetGalley, William Morrow Books, and Scene of the Crime. My review is voluntary and unbiased.
I wanted to love this more, it had so much potential! There were many threads happening in this storyline, but I didn’t feel any of them developed as fully as they could have. It was an intriguing read, kept me going, but left wanting just a bit more for at least one or two of the story lines.
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This was a fantastic debut. Part mystery, part drama this really captures the perils of parenting and what it means to be a good mother. I enjoyed the flashbacks into Lucy’s past which gave more insight into her character. I am still confused a bit about Charlie’s POV - I don’t know how necessary it was for the plot but it did provide an insight into the teenage mind. If you love a “be careful what you wish for” kind of plot then definitely check this one out!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, and thank you to BiblioLifestyle and William Morrow for the gifted finished copy.
After Lucy's daughter, Eden, survives a drowning incident, she wakes up in the hospital insisting that her name is Eli. Fourteen years ago, Lucy and her husband, James, found out they were having twins, but one of the twins vanished and was absorbed by the other twin, known as vanishing twin syndrome. Lucy is shocked when Eden starts calling herself Eli, the name that Lucy had reserved for the unborn twin. Lucy knows that something is wrong with Eden, who seems to be someone else entirely. Her stubborn teenage daughter is now laidback and even-tempered. Could Eden really be the twin who disappeared?
"My Name is Eden" will pull you in from the first page and keep you guessing until the final shocking conclusion. The story alternates between the POVs of Lucy (both past and present) and Eden's best friend, Charlie, giving a little more insight into Eden's personality before and after the drowning accident. I was immediately drawn to this book based on its creepy premise, and the first half of the book had me hooked. The second half was not as strong, but I still wanted to keep reading to find out what happened. Most of the story was wrapped up nicely in the epilogue, but I still had many questions and wanted to know what really happened to Eden in that pond. Overall, a strong debut from Eleanor Barker-White, who personally experienced vanishing twin syndrome, and I look forward to reading her future novels.
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
DNF.
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Lucy's daughter almost drowns. When she wakes up, she insists that she is not Eden but Eli, her unborn twin. Has the twin that vanished in utero taken over Eden's body, is Eden having a mental health breakdown from almost drowning, or is Lucy's own grief over Eli's death influencing Eden's current mental state?
The premise for My Name is Eden by Eleanor Barker-White is creepy and intriguing but unfortunately, the plot falls flat. The story is all over the place and hard to follow. The characters are not developed well and are all unlikeable. The story was as struggle for me to finish and the ending was disappointing and unclear. I was not a fan of this story but you may be.
Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
The premise for My Name is Eden by Eleanor Barker-White is creepy and intriguing but unfortunately, the plot falls flat. The story is all over the place and hard to follow. The characters are not developed well and are all unlikeable. The story was as struggle for me to finish and the ending was disappointing and unclear. I was not a fan of this story but you may be.
Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.
Thank you to Harper North for my proof copy of this book.
This is an outstanding debut that had me hooked within two pages. A completely unique and original thriller that will keep you on your toes way past the last page
This is an outstanding debut that had me hooked within two pages. A completely unique and original thriller that will keep you on your toes way past the last page
What a trippy ride! I wasn’t sure who or what to believe in this story and the twists kept me guessing through the end. I really disliked the dad from the start and little Eden/Eli wasn’t much better. The mom, I felt, was too naive for her own good. I gave this 3 stars instead of 4 because I was confused about what was happening during some parts of the story. But overall it is a great premise and storyline.