This book had a really promising premise and I really enjoyed the third quarter - I found that the most gripping. The big twist about half way through was really well executed and creative.

I did find the writing style a bit challenging at times - there were lots of instances of being told how the character felt, rather than actions/thoughts/revelations/reactions doing that heavy lifting. I also found the ending at odds with the best part of the book and quite unrealistic - I could see we were going for a full circle moment but it negates lots of the character and world building the author had created up to that point.

I thought about 12% I might not finish the book but I’m glad I did! I just would have preferred slightly more complex character thought processes, a more engaging 5-15% and an ending that was better aligned with the characters we came to know.

2/5 stars

The tagline on the book cover got my interest straight away. I wanted to know what happens to these two girls and why they aren’t who they say they are. This was a great mystery and different to anything I’ve read before. Truthfully there were a few moments that I didn’t understand but didn’t ruin the story. Throughout the book it gives you new twists to the story which I enjoyed. I’d definitely recommend checking this book out! I give this book 4 out of 5 stars.

The Other Girl - Emily Barr
Publication date 15th May 2025

I thought this book had a very strong opening and really had me gripped. You’re very quickly introduced to the two main characters and are wondering straight away what Tabbi is running from. I enjoyed that there was a second part / pov from Ruby. I liked the twists, especially in the second part. I did find it a little far fetched, but over all it was just a really fun story.
It’s quite hard to review this book without giving away the twists and what the characters are running from, but I really would recommend this. It was a book I found hard to put down! I also really liked the cover of the book, which is also partly why I wanted to read it.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for this ARC

this had an interesting premise!! so this YA thriller follows two girls; Tubbi & Ruby and has dual pov following our main characters (although it wasn’t alternating between the two characters but rather half one pov and half the other which was different)

Another excellent thriller from Barr. It’s a great premise, there is solid character development and the dual point of view was very effective at keeping the reader on their toes. As usual, Barr took me to places I haven’t travelled to before. I was not a fan of the ending, but overall I’ll be recommending to students enthusiastically.

Emily Barr’s The Other Girl is a gripping and twist-laden psychological thriller that reinvents the classic person-swap trope with fresh energy and unexpected depth. This novel is a masterclass in suspense, keeping readers hooked from the first page to the last with its clever plotting, surprising twists, and complex characters.

The story begins with two girls meeting on a train journey. One is trying to avoid being sent to an expensive rehab centre in the Swiss mountains, while the other is running away and running out of money. By the end of the journey, they agree to swap identities, each pretending to be the other for a little while. What follows is a high-stakes game of deception and danger, as their lives become increasingly entangled and the consequences of their decision spiral out of control.

Barr’s writing is sharp and immersive, capturing the tension and urgency of the girls’ predicament with precision. The novel’s exploration of identity, trust, and the lengths people will go to escape their pasts is both thought-provoking and emotionally resonant. The characters, initially unlikeable, reveal layers of complexity as the story unfolds, making their journeys compelling and ultimately sympathetic.

The pacing is relentless, with each twist and turn heightening the suspense and keeping readers guessing. Barr’s ability to weave together multiple plot threads and deliver satisfying reveals is nothing short of masterful. The cinematic settings and action-packed sequences add to the novel’s appeal, making it easy to imagine The Other Girl as a thrilling film adaptation.

The Other Girl is a story of deception and redemption, of the masks we wear and the truths we hide. It’s a tale that will keep readers on the edge of their seats, eagerly turning pages to uncover the next surprise.

If you like unlikeable MCs, then this is the novel for you! Tabbi and Ruby are both running from something and it's interesting to see how running away gives them clarity in one way or another. However, my only critique is the format of the novel. It felt like it could benefit from alternating chapters rather than having one half devoted to Tabbi and the other half to Ruby - I think the pacing would have been better in that sense but in saying that, this is an intriguing novel nonetheless.

Even in the epilogue, you get a sense that there is unfinished business!

I don't know how I felt about this. As a YA thriller type it was engaging but a bit too far fetched for my liking in places. I didn't particularly warm to Tabbi or Ruby and felt that the epilogue showed that neither of them learnt a thing.

A dual narrative of Tabbi, the spoilt rich girl and Ruby from a far less privileged background. Tabbi thinks she’s out manoeuvred Ruby when she suggests swapping lives and we follow her to adjusting to virtually no money, especially after she drinks away what she does have. We become immersed in her new life and discover Ruby has left out one important detail as to why she was running away.
Then we swap to Ruby’s side of the story and now it’s Tabbi who comes off less well.
The reader is drip fed details of the girls’ former lives even to the very end which has the result of alternating feelings of which girl is the more flawed character. A great read with surprises at every turn.

In a Prince and Pauper-style life swap, two very different girls trade lives for a short time - each for their own reasons - after meeting unexpectedly on a train.

One was headed for rehab, and the other one was out of options, so it seemed like a good idea at the time! The outcome, however, ends up being somewhat unexpected...

An entertaining YA thriller, this one is worth checking out if you enjoy the genre. It gets 3.5 stars.

This Young Adult novel is a great take on the identity swap premise.
Seventeen-year-old rich girl Tabbi is on a train to Zurich. She has been ordered by her father to go to a luxury hotel in the Swiss mountains. To ensure she arrives, a chaperone, sitting a few seats away, has been hired for the journey. When a scruffy young backpacker in a purple wig comes down the aisle, Tabbi has a crazy idea. She invites the girl (Ruby) to sit opposite. By the end of the journey she has persuaded her to swap lives for six weeks.
Armed only with Ruby’s rucksack, inter-railing pass and purple wig, Tabbi evades her chaperone, alights at Zurich and heads on a different train for the south of France.
Tabbi is a flawed yet compelling protagonist whose experience as a first-time backpacker feels authentic. As well as evoking the atmosphere of the Mediterranean coast and other destinations, the author keeps up a sense of suspense. Why was Tabbi so desperate not to remain in Zurich? And why was Ruby so willing to take her place? Both girls have done despicable things, but the author does a good job of keeping the reader on side by gradually revealing their motivations and backstories.
I enjoyed spending time with Tabbi on her emotional and physical journey across Europe as she struggled to keep one train ahead of those pursuing her. And then I liked learning more about Ruby, another flawed but rounded character.
A pacy read.
With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

On publication, I will post my review on my blog, Amazon and GoodReads.

Apologies to all the other tasks that got neglected because I couldn’t put this book down!

It sets off running and immediately gets its hooks in and when I say I was addicted, I forgot about things I had to do kind of addicted once I got started. Definitely the traits of a great book!

It was so easy to enjoy for me and the concept of the identity swap between two girls from completely different walks of life was super captivating and I was eager to get through more of a story to how it would unfurl. I was all for the twists and turns and man, I could not read it fast enough!

5 star read easy a pie! Most exciting book I’ve read so far this year!

A Twisted, Gripping Ride – 5 Stars

The Other Girl by Emily Barr is a masterclass in suspense and psychological drama. From the moment the two main characters meet on the train, the tension builds, and I was hooked until the final page. This book had me questioning everything and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

The premise is utterly compelling. Two girls, both from completely different worlds, meet by chance. One, privileged and chaotic, is on her way to a luxurious rehab centre in Switzerland after months of self-destructive behaviour. The other, struggling and on the run, is desperate to escape her own life. And just like that, they swap lives – for a short time, they pretend to be the other. But of course, things don't go as planned.

What I loved most about this novel was how Barr dives deep into the psychology of both girls. The contrast between them is stark, yet both are flawed and vulnerable in their own ways. It’s fascinating to see how they try to navigate each other's lives while trying to keep their own secrets hidden. I really enjoyed the unraveling of their motivations and what drives them to make such drastic decisions.

The pacing is spot-on, with plenty of twists and turns that keep you guessing. Barr does a fantastic job of building suspense and giving just enough information to keep you hooked without giving too much away. Every time I thought I had figured out where the story was headed, it took a completely unexpected turn.

The setting of the rehab centre and the backdrop of a life that seems so glamorous yet hollow adds another layer to the story. The exploration of identity, privilege, and the consequences of living someone else's life are handled with great skill. There are moments of darkness and psychological depth, but Barr balances it well with the thrilling, fast-paced nature of the plot.

The characters are well-developed, and I found myself deeply invested in both of their stories. The twists towards the end were shocking and kept me turning the pages long into the night. I love how Barr is able to create such tension and drama while making the characters’ struggles feel real and relatable.

Overall, The Other Girl is an unforgettable, page-turning thriller. It’s smart, twisted, and brimming with suspense, making it impossible to put down. I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of YA thrillers, and it’s definitely a must-read for anyone who loves a good twist. Five stars from me!

Two girls meet on a train journey. One of them is trying to avoid being sent to an expensive rehab centre in the Swiss mountains. The other is running away and running out of money. By the end of the journey they have agreed to swap, each pretending to be the other for a little while.
The Other Girl is a brilliant take on the person-swap concept and it had me hooked from the beginning. I found it difficult to put down and raced through the book, wanting to see how it turned out. Once finished, I spent three days trying to marshal my thoughts because it seems nigh on impossible to write a review without including a spoiler of some sort. There are so many wonderful surprises, twists and reveals which I am unable to rave about in this review but what I will say is that by the end of the book, I came to like two fairly unlikeable characters. This book would make a great transfer into a film as it has numerous cinematic settings as well as lots of action.
The Other Girl by Emily Barr will be in bookshops in May 2025 – buy it, it’s a wild ride!