These two authors really know how to weave a story. I read The Wife Between us and was blown away and this book, An Anonymous Girl is just as tightly written, suspenseful and thrilling. The characters are so developed, yet there is still something that the reader has to try and develop and understand on their own. It was a very good read. I can't wait for more from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkamen.

Well that was underwhelming. I started this book as a second chance for Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's writing because at the begining of the year I read The Wife Between Us, with the highest expectations and it was my most anticipated book of 2018, and I was very disappointed as I was with this book. An Anonymous Girl started out promising for me and in the first 25% of the novel I was really enjoying it. However at the 35% mark I felt it dragged on way too long and by 50% I was completely over it. This book had potential but fell very flat in my opinion. As with The Wife Between Us the ending was underwhelming and I think I have chalked it down to their writing style not being for me. I gave the authors a good try but with both novels not working for me I think I'm going to skip their next book.

2.5 stars out of 5

This story is told from two different viewpoints, that of a psychologist, Dr. Shields, and that of Jessica who signs up to serve as a subject in a study run by Dr. Shields. Neither woman was particularly likable. Jessica seemed remarkably naïve and too easily manipulated. She consistently made really poor decisions and I always felt like something wasn’t quite right with her. I had the feeling that I was meant to be cheering for her and hoping that she could escape the predicament she had gotten herself into but I just couldn’t be in her corner.

Dr. Shields’ sections were written in a very different style. She was clinical, cold, and detached. She treated life as a psychological study or experiment and could never immerse herself into actually living instead of observing and recording data like a scientist. I found her more elegant of speech but she was a total bore. Have you ever known someone who recounts their day step by step in minute detail? These people exist in real life, unfortunately, and they are excruciatingly dull. No one cares about the particulars of your life and I certainly didn’t care to read Dr. Shields’ minutiae. I dreaded her chapters and truthfully started half-skimming them. I understand this was done to illustrate her issues and state of mind but I wish it could have been accomplished in a more engaging way.

I don’t need to like or even relate to the main characters in a book in order to enjoy it so I don’t think the personalities of the two women was a deal breaker. The plot was just fine and I believe if it was written solely from the perspective of Jessica I would have been much more involved. The story would explode forward with something interesting happening and then I’d come to a Dr. Shields chapter and it would grind to a halt. If there was less of the Dr. and more of anything else I would have enjoyed the book a lot more.

The conclusion was a bit anticlimactic. There was a bit of a twist at the end that although it disappointed me it did not surprise me. I really wanted to like this book but my enjoyment level while reading was very low and I couldn’t wait to finish and be done with it. I don’t think it is a bad story by any means and I’m not entirely sure why it didn’t work for me. Reading other reviews it seems I’m the black sheep on this one and please don’t let me dissuade you from giving this a try. It wasn’t my favourite thriller but it might be yours!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an Electronic Advance Reader Copy via NetGalley for review.

Not as twisty as The Wife Between Us, but truly enjoyable to read. Well written. Four stars - I’d definitely recommend.

A fairly bland psychological thriller. I appreciate and have patience for a good slow burn if executed well, but it felt like that was most of what this book consisted of, with the payoff at the end not as explosive as I had hoped nor meriting all of the buildup. Although there are some interesting elements at play here concerning morality and obsession, I wish that overall the story had felt more worth my time.

It sounds like an easy way to make some much-needed money to make-up artist Jessica Farris. Just answer a few questions for Dr. Shields’ psychology study, what could be difficult about that? But some of the questions are tough to answer and cause Jessica quite a bit of discomfort. But she tries to be honest and do what she’s being paid for. Then she meets Dr. Shields and is asked to expand her participation in the study and quite a bit more would be asked of her. The excellent pay pulls Jessica in further and further until she doesn’t know who to trust or just what to think about Dr. Shields’ strange study. What will Dr. Shields do with the information she’s gathering and why does she need it in the first place?

I was immediately pulled into this book and was completely intrigued. I couldn’t read fast enough wondering just what was going on and what this study was all about. I have to admit that when I found out the “why”, I was a bit disappointed. But I was hooked by that point and had to know more. This is a book that has a surprise around each bend in the road. Like Jessica, you won’t know who can be trusted or what’s next in store for this very likeable character. Try not to read too many reviews about this one because you want to go in blind and not know too much. Let these excellent authors tell the story the way only they can. An addictive read about obsession, betrayal and morality.

Recommended.

How much do you know about the people you give your information away to? When you log into Facebook, you're giving who knows who access to your name, your likes and dislikes, your friends, your family, your photos. But what if you could be anonymous- just a number amidst a group of other numbers? Jess, sliding into a vacant spot in a psychological study, thinks some of the questions she's being asked are a little TOO personal- but she's just a number, so what's the harm in answering honestly? She's being paid, after all, and she needs the money. But the questions keep coming, and they become less theoretical. How far is Jess willing to go for a paycheck?

Hendricks and Pekkanen's follow-up to 2018's The Wife Between Us is another suspenseful trip through the minds of multiple narrators. You're never quite sure who is telling the truth, or if it's only the truth as they see it. The ending is definitely different from the usual psychological thriller, and not necessarily one even an avid reader of the genre would foresee. An Anonymous Girl is definitely worth picking up, reading... and then reflecting on how much you share.

If you ask me if this was better than The Wife Between Us... YES it was! This duo came out pretty strong once again with this twisty psychological thriller. I loved that it kept me guessing and changing my mind of what happened pretty much the whole time! What will you do for money? Money to support your family. The story is told from the point of view of Jessica aka subject 52 and Dr. Shields (blessed her heart). Jessica will learn the hard way that not everyone is what they seems to be. If you liked The wife between us you sure don’t want to miss this one!

I really liked The Wife Between Us by this author duo so was both looking forward to their next endeavor as well as being a little nervous that it would not be as good as their first.  I was captured almost from the beginning, reading nearly half of it in an afternoon. It is a much different story than The Wife Between Us but for those of you who have read their first book and remember the major surprise twist halfway through it, An Anonymous Girl will not disappoint you.  It is structured differently in that it has multiple twists and you will want to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next.

Jessica Farris is a young woman working as a makeup artist in New York City.  She struggles to make ends meet and help her parents financially with the care of her special needs younger sister, Becky.  In an effort to earn extra money, Jess signs up to participate in a research study about morality and ethics. As subject 52, the story of her involvement with Dr. Shields, the researcher, serves as the plot for this thriller.  To tell much more about the plot would be a disservice to those who might want to read this. It is much better to go into this story as blind as possible. Just know you will enjoy it from beginning all the way to the end.

Thank you to the authors, St Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel.

Whoop!They did it again!!! Even better than the first book this writing dual wrote together!

An intense twisty story that will make your head spin and your heart race! A book that made me check behind me just in case somebody creepy was watching! An absolute must read my psychological thriller loving friends, the hype is real!

Jess is a struggling makeup artist trying to find her way in NYC... in need of money she fakes her way into a psychological research project... The research soon begins to spin out of control, leaving Jess bewildered and concerned... soon lines become blurred and research becomes reality.... A naïve girl, a creepy doctor, and a question of ethics... how much money would it take for you to compromise your morality? And how vulnerable does that make you?

Jess was such a sympathetic character, I really adored her, and oh how I felt for her! She really wanted to help her family out and I think that might have blinded her to some huge red flags when it came to good old Dr. Shields... dr. Shields, yikes! SO creepy! I don’t even want to use a pronoun, because I think it is best to go into this book not even knowing if the doctor is a he or a she.... just know they are one manipulative disturbed SOB! There were so many times during this book I was on pins and needle’s, just waiting to see what the doctor would do next!

This book was an intense ride until the very last word! A different and unique approach to the psychological thriller a twist to the twist! Absolutely recommend, this is one of the best!

*** A big thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my copy of this book ***

A solid psychological thriller that I’ll confidently hand to those requesting the genre. This left me guessing to the end.

A very taunt suspense that has me on edge waiting for the snap! This story does not disappoint and so clever with the mind game and a thrill to try to pull the puzzle pieces together!

WOW!!!!!! Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have another best seller hit on their hands!!!!! I was intrigued from the first page but halfway through the "action" slowed down a little for me. Then on the next chapter picked right back up. Jessica Farris is a make up artist who on a job makes a decision to participate in a psychiatrist study in place of one of her clients. By doing this she meets mysterious Dr. Shields. After 2 or 3 sessions of answering questions on a survey Dr. Shields wants to up the study to more physical session and that is where it goes downhill for Jessica. Starting with thinking she is doing a morality study a psychiatrist to what turns into a deadly attempt to save her life. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this riveting page turning thriller for my honest review

Anonymous Girl was absolutely FANTASTIC! I really loved Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen’s first novel The Wife Between us, it was creative, twisty, and shocking so when I found out they were teaming up to write a second novel I knew I had to get my hands on it. This dynamic duo did NOT disappoint on their second book, Anonymous Girl...it was even better than their first, I didn’t think it was possible. They really outdid themselves, it was exceptional.

Big BIG thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this phenomenal book in exchange for my honest review.

I will post my review on Amazon and Barnes and Nobel on the day of release.

This book was so good! It kept me guessing at every twist and turn. It was so creepy I loved it! Very well written and highly recommend!

The premise of An Anonymous Girl is interesting in itself - a girl, needing money, volunteers for one of those surveys/experiments that are constantly offered on college campuses. This one is on morality. As she answers the questions, she finds herself thinking about morality as well. However, also while she's answering the questions, the professor in charge of the survey is assessing her.
The two form a one-sided partnership which lends itself to a page-turning book that you can't put down. The motives of each character are believable, and each twist is perfectly timed. I like books that have smaller twists throughout, little nuggets of information dropped throughout until it all comes together at the end, and this fits that bill. The suspense level was high and this book was excellent.

Wow. This book did not disappoint! I absolutely loved The Wife Between Us, so I was very excited to read another by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. The beginning of this book had me hooked and I could not wait to see where it went. Jess is a relatable character who is just trying to get by in New York. She learns of a study that pays and manages to join it in an unconventional way. When she meets the "man behind the curtain" things take an interesting turn. That is the point where I did not see the rest of the story coming. I felt that there were subtle twists that really didn't seem like much until it was seen from another perspective and that enhanced the book for me. It almost had a Girl on the Train vibe, in the sense that the character thinks they know something important and the events that follow, but this story is so much better. I really loved everything about it!

Review will be updated shortly - had a difficult time with this story so the review in in process but will be updated by the end of this week

Wow, this book is a real page turner and had me guessing to the very end. Everything is not always as it seems. This book certainly had me second guessing participating in any studies...lol. Jessica needs money and she happens upon what she thinks is an easy way to make some quick cash. She poses as someone else in a study but little does she know that her choices will soon have dire consequences.

This book seems to be one of the most anticipated new releases of 2019. It’s written by the joint author team that penned The Wife Between Us – a New York Times bestselling thriller – last year. I haven’t read The Wife Between Us, but I’ve read many positive reviews, so when I picked up An Anonymous Girl I had high expectations.

The premise of this novel is interesting enough: a young woman named Jessica joins a psychology study to make a few extra bucks. As the study progresses she forms a complicated relationship with the psychiatrist and researcher running it, and becomes much more deeply involved than expected. Jessica is asked to do increasingly uncomfortable and bizarre things and begins to question the motives of the psychiatrist.

I had two main problems with An Anonymous Girl: the dialogue wasn’t believable and the story dragged. Anyone who’s read my reviews before will know how particular I am when it comes to dialogue. I hate when characters in books speak in a way that you’d never hear in real life. The dialogue in An Anonymous Girl – especially from the psychiatrist – read as very formal and forced, and very unlike how people really talk. Since the plot was pretty far-fetched to begin with, I felt the conversations made it even harder to believe and feel invested in.

An Anonymous Girl is also just a bit too long. It takes too much time to really get to the heart of the story, and even when tension starts to build and the truth starts to come out there isn’t really one particular climactic moment. I felt like I held on throughout the novel for no real pay-off.

While I personally didn’t like this book and wouldn’t recommend it, I have seen many positive and supportive reviews. It’s already been picked up for a television series, so clearly there is something likable in the novel. I think it just didn’t mesh well with my tastes. I think it will – and already does – appeal to people who are adamant fans of the thriller/untrustworthy narrator tropes, but I wouldn’t say it’s one of the better novels in that genre.

I’ve said it before, but I think the thriller genre has become over-saturated. For me, An Anonymous Girl was a perfect example of that. It tries too hard to be psychological and misleading and ultimately ends up being disappointing.