Member Reviews
Who I Am by Sarah Simpson was a twisty story. Told from multiple points of view it was at times confusing with lots of unlikeable characters. I didn't love this book but I did enjoy it once I got my head around it all.
The story of friends from university Andi and Camilla. Andi is living the perfect life in Cornwall with a beautiful home, husband and kids. But she is hiding a secret from her past and she thinks it is coming back to haunt her and destroy her.
Thanks to Aria and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
This book looked like one I would really enjoy. Unfortunately I didn't. I found it very slow, confusing and I could not invest much interest in the characters. I am sure the style of writing will appeal to many, as will the construction of the narrative but it didn't do it for me.
Thanks to Netgalley & the publisher for letting me try to read & review this book.
This story described the two main characters, Andi and Camilla, as best friends. However, I was only a chapter or two into it before it became clear that one was a friend where the other was a user insinuating herself into the other’s life because she was wealthy. Not very friendly at all.
It starts with an allusion to the fact something happened at a Cornish beach which left two young women dead and another killed herself a week later. The author keeps the identities of her characters a close secret, leavening the reader to decide who they are reading about. Internal emotion appears to be the theme of this book. Guilt, envy, betrayal, loss, tragedy, trauma is all there but never fully explained although a sense of menace pervades the narrative.
The story is written in three points of view set in two different timeframes eighteen years apart, making it difficult to keep track of who was speaking as the narrative kept switching viewpoints and times. The writing is thought provoking and well crafted, but hard work keeping up with. I had to keep backtracking to remind myself what was going on and whose head I was in.
However, it was worth sticking with to find out where all the angst, paranoia, and self-doubt was leading and who wasn’t what they claimed to be. I guessed the ending quite early on but other reviewers did not, making this is story everyone can immerse themselves in.
I received a copy of this novel via NetGalley in return for an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and Aria for the ARC.
I really enjoyed this book. About halfway through I thought I knew how it was going to end and had to stay up and finish the books to see if I was right. Won't say either way so I dont' give anything away inadvertently but this work a read.
I spent some of my time reading this in confusion. I found it hard to keep track of the different points of view. I figured out what was happening quite early on and had to keep plodding on to see if I was right. I did like the story don’t get me wrong, I just wasn’t riveted to the pages.
A Fast Paced rollercoaster of a read. It was a slow burner to start with but really glad that I stuck with it.
Set in two time periods 1999 to 2017. The story is about two women Andi and Camilla who are best friends or are they and who is the stalker?
I read this book in one sitting I could not put it down. So many twists and turns, some were a little predictable but it did not stop my reading pleasure.
A really good psychological thriller/ domestic noir.
I would like to thank the author Sarah Simpson, Aria and Net.galley for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for giving an honest review.
Thank you Netgalley and Aria for the ARC.
I finished this book two days ago and I still don't know what to make of it. The writing is beautiful, raw and true to life, it grabbed me and urged me to continue.
There is a postgraduation party on a Cornwall beach. Four female roommates from different backgrounds. Something bad happens, but all the reader gets are feelings. What lead up to the event and continued the days and years after?
The story jumps from 2000 to 2017, from Edinburgh to London back to Cornwall, all characters involved. I had to take notes to keep track. In between chapters is the voice of an anonymous stalker, who are we dealing with?
We mainly look into the lives of Andi and Camilla, one rich the other poor. True friends, or is there more going on? Bad situations develop, cyberstalking among them. What is real? Who can be trusted? The story is slow, but not unpleasant.
All the way to the end, when most is said and done, the pace turns to speed and the truth comes out, crashing like waves against the cliffs. At this point I'm so confused by all the characters involved, that what should be the twist feels like a bummer. "Who I am" definitely left an impression. I enjoyed this book, but did I?
Right from the get go, I loved this book. There are two voices - Camilla and Andi, and then a third mysterious narrator. I was intrigued by all three, and happy to switch between them all to unravel the mystery.
The story flows out over various timelines from 1999 to 2017, and settings from Edinburgh to Cornwall. I loved those settings and other pluses were the clever plot, the lack of unnecessary fluffy detail, and the gripping storyline that held my attention till the very last page.
I’d recommend this to you if you like quick-paced domestic noir type thrillers, and twisty endings. Fans of Gone Girl, Unravelling Oliver and The Girl on the Train should also enjoy this one
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I found the book to be average. I felt that the characters moved around a little too much for me to follow it.
As always, just because it was not my favorite, doesn't meant others will not like it.
Thank you to Netgalley, the Publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book in return for my honest opinion and review.
To be honest, I am not sure what I think about this book, part of me really liked it but it also feels forgettable and it had a hard time holding my attention, I read this one a road trip and found myself staring out the window more than reading.
Andi and Camilla were from different sides of the tracks and were ill fated friends, but for Camilla, friends by design, as she sought to not be who she was; little did she know, but Andi sought a different life for herself as well.. The twists and turns in this book were good but I easily guessed some and really didn't care about the others. I found the way the story was wrapped up lacked something for me. Not a bad storyline, just maybe not my favorite.
This book started off well but then I lost interest and sadly didn't finish it. Not for me. Sorry !!
Wow, everyone tells me that I am "overrating" books, but I was very confused with this one. I appreciate the hard work that went in to this story, yet I never quite got the grasp of it. Perhaps if it had been told in sequential dates, it may have been clearer. There was just too much jumping around of both time and characters. I found myself having to go back many times to check who was who.
I really was, however, grabbed at the start! The beginning was easy to follow and keep straight. Yet, as I read to the end, I was let down - even the twists were expected...
I am sorry, but I have to give this a 2-star. A GREAT start, but confusing the rest of the way, sorry.
Many thanks to Aria and NetGalley for giving me the chance to review this book.
I wanted to like this book more than I did it was just a bit slow and I found myself getting distracted as it just wasn't gripping me so much. The characters were good but maybe it was just me that couldn't seem to connect with them. Well written and I am sure others will enjoy it more that myself ..3 stars My thanks to NetGalley and Aria for a chance to read the ARC.
Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Took me quite a while to get started with this book and even though I enjoyed it can't think of anything to write as a review.
Intriguing and a a bit confusing is how I would describe this book. As the book goes on the chapters are written from different characters points of view and sometimes that was hard to hold in mind who was speaking. However, I loved the story and it certainly was one of those books where you want to keep reading to find out what happens. I did guess the ending but that did not detract from the enjoyment of the book.
Found this book a bit slow & really just not for me. Wasn’t what I expected unfortunately. Thanks for the preview
WHO I AM by Sarah Simpson is a deep suspenseful novel that is worth the read. I had never read any of Simpson's novels before but I will be on the hunt to read more from this great author.
There was a lot going on in this story but for some reason it stalled along the way too many times for me. The overall plot, characters and twists were good but the overly descriptive writing and retelling pulled my overall rating down. The ending was pretty good; didn’t see that coming.
This is my first book by this author. Like I said the story was good it just could have used a trim. But please try it as my impatience with the descriptions may not be yours🙄.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and Aria for a copy in exchange for a review.
I received an advanced readers copy exchange for an honest review. The problem is, by the time things finally got going, I just didn’t care. Slow iand laborious. 2.5 rounded up
Wow,now this is my favourite type of thriller,compelling,intricately plotted,unreliable characters and unexpected twists and turns. A page turner that keeps you guessing and frantically turning the pages,wanting to know all the characters secrets but simultaneously not wanting the story to end.
This is the story of two women from totally different social standings,Andi who was loved and adored by her rich parents and never had to struggle for anything and Camilla who felt neglected by her parents who were poor,alcoholics. Andi and Camilla met when they were at University and struck up an unlikely friendship,becoming very close quite quickly and sharing Andi`s flat with two other girls Jo and Clara. They were young and had their whole lives ahead of them. But fate had other plans for them and one night after a graduation party in Cornwall,two of the girls went missing,presumed drowned and swept out to sea.
Years later Andi lives in Cornwall with her husband Kyle and their two young children. Camilla lives in Edinburgh,is single and is the joint owner of a restaurant. Despite being almost two decades later,both women are still haunted by events from the past.
More than one character is not who they appear to be,secrets never stay buried forever. More than one person feels they have been betrayed and want revenge but who and why?
The chapters alternate between Andi and Camilla and flip back and forth between 1999,2000 and 2017. It's a twisted tale of revenge,deception,manipulation,jealousy,friendships,love and discovering that very often the grass isn't always greener on the other side. Sometimes you should really appreciate what you already have. The characters were all vivid,well rounded and realistic,some likeable,some not so. I really loved Kyle,it made a refreshing change to read a book featuring a male character who wasn't the usual stereotypical cheat and abusive bully. There was some chapters that were voiced by some secondary characters including Kyle and Eve who we met in Sarah Simpson's previous thriller Her Greatest Mistake. This book is set six months after the shocking conclusion in Her Greatest Mistake,Eve is back at work and her son Andy is preparing to sit his GCSE`s. Both trying to move on but still affected by events from the past.
This is a mesmerising,enthralling psychological thriller. You really have to concentrate while you read this story due to the constant flipping back and forth in time. The chapters are clearly marked with the year that chapter is set in and which character that chapter is about.Sarah Simpson's words flow with ease,captivating the reader and drawing you into her characters fictional worlds.Amazing book,worth far more than five stars and highly recommended by little old me.