I've been sitting on this one for a while, because I just wasn't sure how to rate this book. An Anonymous Girl's plot is incredibly original, and is what piqued my interest; however that's where it ends for me.  I'm guessing my opinion will be in minority, as this book will most likely appeal to the masses.

The book alternates between two points of view: Dr. Shields (Lydia), the alluring, manipulative psychologist conducting research on morality and ethics, and Jess, a struggling make-up artist and unlucky participant that catches the attention of Dr. Shields.  After some initial questioning, Dr. Shields decides Jess is the most suitable to test her hypothesis formed on the bases of a personal agenda; once Jess agrees a process of manipulation and grooming takes place.

It is assumed Dr. Shields' character is meant to exude creepiness, but this fell flat for me.  Jess' character is likable enough, but is a victim of her own secrets which in the end makes her an easy target for Dr. Shields and of course Jess plays right into her hand.

Now I am all for a slow burn, but let me tell you, this burn is too slow.  I was hoping for a change close to the half way mark, but that didn't happen.  It felt as if the book was being stretched and un-needed information/details was thrown in, in an attempt to insert suspense, but again this fell flat.

All-in-all the synopsis paints a picture of a story more psychologically frightening than what was experienced.  The story itself in implausible, the twists fall flat, and the ending was just blah.  I gave this one 3.5 ⭐ rounded up for originality and the simple fact I was able to finish the book despite it's issues.

A great psychological fiction book from the writing combination of Hendricks and Pekkanen. A real page-turner, I couldn't read it fast enough.

In this book you have a crazy person (with no back story to see how she got that way) who does stuff that makes no sense at all, just because she’s a crazy person. And she speaks like a robot, especially in her constant internal monologues, but no one seems to notice this and everyone admires and idolizes her. She’s pretty good at probing people’s secrets and moral lapses and exploiting their vulnerabilities, but she was such a cardboard cutout of a person that it was hard to see how anyone could fall under her spell. I am a really, really hard sell for psychological suspense. If there is even a whiff of unbelievability I general find the book to be a stupid waste of my time. In this case, I did manage to finish the book by skimming the second half, but I didn’t find it suspenseful. I didn’t like “The Wife Between Us” either, so I guess these authors are just not for me. I received a free copy of this book from the publisher.

I’d just love to say that ONCE AGAIN, Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen have written the perfect thriller! I read The Wife Bewteen Us when it was first released, so I knew when a new book by the duo was announced that I HAD to read it! I’m so glad I read this one. What I love about their writing is that you always think one thing is happening or about to happen then something totally different happens! This book had everything I look for in a great mystery/thriller story. Can’t wait to see what these two come up with next!

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley. Thank you to Netgalley, to the Author and to the Publisher. This is the second book by Greer Hendricks that I have read, and it is the second book by her that I have given 4 stars. This book drew me in right away, and kept my interest through the whole book. There were a number of times that I kept changing my mind about who I liked and who I didn't, who I trusted and who I didn't. I would definitely recommend this book.

I thought this was a gripping read, super interesting and thrilling. I don’t know if the characters were totally believable but I enjoyed the read for sure. Their first book was a twistier but this one was fun! This book took me 4 hours to read. 4 stars.

MY THOUGHTS:
5 (what in the hell did I get myself into?!) stars! The dream team (Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen) are back!
Insanely readable. Relatable. Psych research speaking to my heart - er - brain?

I love a book that has to anything to do with psychological research. I majored in Psychology for my undergrad and I find it endlessly fascinating. In another life where I don't have 4 children and no money to go to college for the rest of eternity I would get my Ph.D in Psychology and be just like Dr. Shields. Haha, not. Not even close. But I did find her completely captivating - just like Jess did.

And ultimately that is one of the big reasons why I loved this book - because I could totally relate to Jess. Even though our life experiences were nothing alike, she was a relatable character and when she got herself in a pickle I thought - it's okay, girl, I would have got reeled in too!

Finally, I say this all the time, but I love not knowing who and what to believe and this book delivered on that. Right up to the end I was questioning everyone! Great domestic thriller! Read it!

MY RATING:
Entertainment Value: 5
Characters: 5
Voice: 4
Plot: 4.5-5
Overall: 5 stars!

<i>Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!</i>

Riveting, twisted, and shocking-I wasn't sure what to expect from An Anonymous Girl, but I was quickly drawn in and found it hard to stop reading to do life! WoW! It was a wild ride. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED psychological thriller!

I wouldn't read a lot about this before starting, go in blind and let your mind go...

**Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an ARC to read and honestly review**

Hendricks and Pekkanen are the power duo of booklandia lately, so obviously I've been seeing An Anonymous Girl around everywhere. I didn't love The Wife Between Us as much as everyone else did, so I wasn't sure what to expect with Anonymous. But it was good!

The novel follows Jess, a struggling makeup artist living in the city and trying to do right by her family. When an opportunity arises for her to make some significantly extra cash by entering a research study, she jumps at the chance. After some preliminary questions, she's offered a chance to proceed further into the study for even more money. Only the study isn't what she expected - she gets in too deep, in too personal, and she's not quite sure anymore if entering the study was a good idea.

Both books from the dynamic duo have asked readers to make no assumptions, and assumptions truly did no good with this book anyways. From reading the first page, I was fairly hooked, though reading as an ebook made the journey a little longer than I think it would have been as a physical book. The chapters were short and intriguing. The characters were well developed and very broken in their own ways. But for anyone who's been obsessing over You lately (either the show or the book), this is a perfect next read.

"We all carry the weight of secret regrets... And we are all forced to constantly make moral choices. Some of these decisions are small. Others are life-altering." Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen, An Anonymous Girl

I really enjoy when a book offers many parallels within the story, and this book didn't disappoint. There are so many parallels with the characters and the snippets within this novel and it definitely made for a very intriguing story. It was always such a welcome surprise but would also make so much since. Not to mention, every single time I thought I knew what was happening or who to trust, the script would flip, and I'd be confused all over again. Seriously, I wasn't sure who to trust the entire novel, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. I definitely don't want to ever enter any research studies, or focus groups ever again.

I'd also say I was fairly pleased with the ending, for reasons I don't want to share here for fear of ruining the ending for anyone, but you can definitely reach out to me on Instagram if you've read it and want to discuss!

When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking… and what she’s hiding. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly. review: I thoroughly enjoyed The Wife Between Us, so I was excited to get my hands on their newest book, An Anonymous Girl. From the first chapter I was hooked and kept quickly turning each page to see how the story would unfold. I had a few ideas on what the twist was, but each one proved to be wrong. I loved the suspense and the way they story was told. This author duo are so great together and I'm already crossing my fingers for another book from them. rating: 4 out of 5 ⭐️

A chance to earn $500 by answering a few questions in a study on ethics and morals? Struggling makeup artist jumps at the chance but soon gets caught in Dr. Shield's manipulative web of jealousy and deceit. At times suspenseful and creepy, it was entertaining enough to keep me flipping the pages to the very end.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for providing an advanced digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.

The moment I first discovered An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen, I knew I HAD to read the book. I read their first collaboration, The Wife Between Us, last year and enjoyed the story SO much, and I was so curious to see what new story would come in this new book. I have to say, these two authors really know how to write, and this book had me HOOKED!

Let me start this by saying that I LOVE a good book that keeps me guessing. Since I read so much, I often times manage to figure out a plot very early on in a book, which can get old after a while. That did not happen with this book. It totally kept me guessing as I flew through the pages, and I was suspicious of every single character along the way. Not enough books keep me guessing, and I love when one actually does!

An Anonymous Girl is full of interesting characters, including the main character, Jess. I found myself relating to Jess more than a few times throughout the story, as I, too, sometimes feel like just another anonymous girl. I definitely felt the same paranoia that she experienced as the story went along, though had I been put in her shoes, I would not have handled things nearly as well. Dr. Shields was such mystery, I never knew what to expect from her, and she definitely freaked me out more than a few times as the story went along. This book is full of completely fascinating characters, and everyone was a suspect.

The storyline for this book was absolutely addictive. It was intense and mysterious, and kept me on the edge of my seat as I flew through the pages. Did I mention already that I love a book that will keep me guessing?? I do. And this book totally did that. I found myself wondering what in the world was going on in the story, and what was going to happen next. So many secrets. So much mystery. Ah, I loved it!

Overall; I do believe that Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen have yet another hit on their hands with An Anonymous Girl! I very much enjoyed this story, and I really, really hope that these authors continue to write more books together in the future. If you’re looking for a good mystery thriller to read, do check out An Anonymous Girl, and The Wife Between Us as well! Both books are really great.

Happy Reading!

✨Book Review✨
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Thank you @stmartinspress for the free copy via @netgalley for review.
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Ok, I’m going to say it. This book is way overhyped. The first half was a little slow. I kept waiting for it to pick up. It did pick up about halfway through and it was suspenseful and I was so intrigued to see how it was going to end and what the twist was going to be. Then it ended and it just fell so flat. I was left wanting it to be so much more than what it was.
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I really enjoyed their debut book, and so this was disappointing for me. Especially after seeing all the amazing reviews for it. It kind of made me feel like, did I even read the same book?
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Don’t get me wrong, it wasn’t bad. But it wasn’t the twisty, shocking thriller I was expecting.
⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
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What was the last book you read that you felt didn’t live up to the hype?
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#bookreview #bookstagrammer #bookstagram #igreads #bibliophile #thetipsyreader #netgalley #stmartinspress #ananonymousgirl #mystery #thriller #suspense

Four and a half stars: A twisty, psychological thriller that will have you questioning morality.

Jessica works hard as a makeup artist in New York. One of the things that drives her is her never ending guilt over the condition of her younger sister. Things are tough at home for her parents who are caring for her disabled sister. Jessica feels obligated to send money and help out. When an opportunity arises to participate in a psychology study on morality for five hundred dollars, Jessica jumps at the chance. The study is conducted by Dr. Shields. As Jessica answers the morality questions, she begins to feel like Dr. Shields knows her and she begins to open up. Things take a turn when Dr. Shields asks Jessica to meet in person. Soon Jessica is completing tasks for Dr. Shields because she can’t turn down the money. Suddenly what seemed like a simple morality study takes a darker turn, and Jessica finds herself in a dangerous game of cat and mouse. Who can Jessica trust?
What I Liked:
*After reading The Wife Between Us last year, I knew I had to get my hands on this latest book by this dynamic author duo. An Anonymous Girl did not disappoint. This was a cleverly written twisted mystery that will have the reader guessing up until the stunning conclusion. If you are a fan of psychological thrillers, this is one to check out!
*I loved that this book was told with two view points. Jessica’s view point is delivered in first person narrative, making it easy to connect with her. Jessica is a young woman, racked with guilt doing her best to make ends meet. She has few friends and counts on herself. When Dr. Shields takes her under her wing, Jessica begins to open up and she starts sharing her secrets. I liked Jessica and I wanted her to succeed. The second view point is told with a second person narrative. Dr. Shields portion is fascinating and more chilling. It was a trip getting into her head and seeing what drove her. I am usually not a fan of narratives that change from first to second narration, but in this book, I thought it worked perfectly.
*The suspense is thick in this one. From the moment I started reading Dr. Shields view point, I knew that she was an unreliable narrator. As her true motives come out, I was fascinated. All I can say is she has some major issues! You have to experience it for yourself. There is never a dull moment in this one!
*I liked that this book constantly has the reader questioning morality issues and what is right and wrong. So much to explore and think on.
*As the plot thickens, a deadly game of cat and mouse ensues. Who will prevail? I loved the calculation and the outwitting that took place. I also loved that during the final portion of the book, Jessica finds herself stuck between two people, not knowing who to believe or trust.
*The ending is brilliant. I have to admit, I didn’t predict the final outcome. I also liked the little twist at the end. Well done! I appreciated that everything concluded in a good spot without nagging questions, and that it was was believable.
*I listened to the audiobook version which was fantastic. I thought the narrators for Dr. Shields and Jessica were outstanding. Definitely grab the audiobook if you can!
And The Not So Much:
*The big sticking point for me was that I was left wondering what the deal was with Thomas. Why was he acting the way he was? Why didn’t he walk away? It was never clear as to what his motives were.
*I also wondered why Ben, the assistant, was wary. What happened to him??

An Anonymous Girl is an outstanding psychological thriller that will suck you in. I was fascinated by the issues of mortality and the manipulation in this one. I also appreciated that it was suspenseful and that it had a believable and satisfying conclusion. These two authors have proved that there are a force to be reckoned with in the psychological thriller genre. If you are on the hunt for the next big psychological thriller, this book is one to read!

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own, and I was not compensated for this review.
Posted@Rainy Day Ramblings.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This was one crazy ride with spins and turns I never saw coming! I didn't like [the suicide aspect within this story, it's one of my hard limits I don't like reading about (hide spoiler)]but I still truly enjoyed this thriller.

I was very excited to see another book by Greer and Sarah; "The Wife Between us" has been recommended numerous times to my customers, all of whom enjoyed it.

I had a hard time getting into this one; I found myself not as focused and forcing myself to go through it. I felt it was a little predictable, which is always a turn off for me

I did finish it however, and will definitely recommend to my customers, as my experience was completely different than one of my coworkers who devoured the book in two days.

This was quite the thrilling ride of a novel!!! I will happily admit that I could not quite figure out who to trust throughout the book and I really liked the ending. It was suspenseful, unexpected, and highly readable. Definitely recommend this one!

Publisher: St Martin’s Press
Publication Date: January 8, 2019
Rating: 5 stars
ARC, library or own: eARC (Netgalley)

A special thank you goes out to Netgalley and St Martin’s Press for allowing me to read this book early. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

First Thoughts;
It is becoming quite apparent that Greer Hendricks is the author for me. It is also apparent that St. Martin’s Press is one of the best publishing companies out there. Seriously, almost all their books that I have read have been at least 4 (four) stars and this book was no exception. I spent 6 (six) hours reading this and I have no regrets.

Characters;
This book had two POVs: one from Jessica, whose POV is first person and the other is a mystery POV that’s in second person. I really enjoyed the mystery POV. That character was just something else! They were exceptionally smart and played a mine game like I have never seen.

Jessica was great as well! I appreciated her ability to remain calm and figure out how to help herself and it was one of my favorite things about her. Even when I thought she was going to have breakdown, she pulled herself back up and kicked ass.

Plot;
When can I even say about the plot that won’t give away anything? All I can really say is be prepared for the unexpected. Every person you meet in this book will throw you. There will be on one you can trust. You can’t even trust your own thoughts about this book. That is how messed up it is.

Trigger Warnings;
While this book is not graphic, it does have some trigger warnings that need to be mentioned. They include: psychological abuse and warfare, cheating (very prevalent as it’s the story line), suicide and sexual assault.

Final Thoughts;
Overall, this book was amazing, if you couldn’t tell from my glowing review. I encouraged everyone to read this book and to keep an eye on Greer Hendricks. She is seriously on her way to greatness and I have become a huge fan.

Jessica, a makeup artist makes enough money to make ends meet, but just barely. As she is doing makeup for a couple of college aged girls, she hears one telling the other that she’s going to blow off a ethics and morality study for the next day. She secretly gets the information from the girl’s phone and shows up for the study using her name. After all, $500 is a lot of money to her. The questions keep going deeper in her psyche. Under the guise of the study, the doctor sent her places and manipulates her to the point she doesn’t know what is real and what isn’t. Unbeknownst to her, Jessica also meets the doctor’s husband, who is also a psychologist. Who is telling the truth and who is setting Jessica up? This dark thriller will keep you guessing from beginning to end. An excellent read!

Also reviewed at Kobo & B&N under the name IrishEyes430

I am astounded by this pair of authors because they somehow manage to write the BEST thrillers out right now. The Wife Between Us was amazing, so good that I set my expectations lower for their second novel. After all, sometimes debuts are just the best the writer has to give.

I WAS WRONG! An Anonymous Girl was breathtaking. The suspenseful plot is tight, everything placed just so for maximum story impact. The characters are absolutely fascinating; I loved Jessica, even her imperfections, and all the supporting characters were great in their roles. The pacing really is the best because it doesn't feel rushed but you still can't put the book down. And the tone! The difference in writing Jessica's POV versus the clinical notes of Dr. Shields is done so well; they are nothing alike and yet fit together to tell the story beautifully.

Usually at this point I mention something that could've been better or improved upon in the next novel. I have nothing here on this one. I'm spoiled because now I just want Hendricks/Pekkanen novels every single year because now I know for sure this pair is the real deal. I can't WAIT for their next release!

Note: I received a Kindle edition of this novel via NetGalley in exchange for the honest review above. I would like to thank NetGalley, the publisher St. Martin's Press, and the authors for the opportunity to do so.