Thank you to Netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very fast past thriller told by two points of view. I found it a little confusing to decipher the two voices sometimes. The story coveras a very interesting topic of morality and how people think one way, but act another. I think the book was a little long winded, but overall it kept my attention.

Thank you St. Martin's Press for this review copy!

I came late onto the Henricks and Pekkanen train, only just finding The Wife Between Us on audiobooks via the library in August. I'm picky about thrillers on audio and get tired of heavy breathing rather quickly but The Wife Between Us was so engaging, beautifully told, and just an overall great listen. Imagined my surprise when I saw that a new book by the authors was coming in 2019! Even though I was a bit nervous considering my love for the first book, I just had to read it, Here's my thoughts:

I am giving it a four stars. Having done "anonymous" computer studies in undergrad for money, the premise was provocative. "How is this going to end?" I wondered after reading the synopsis, while cringing at the thought of a therapist breaking ethics codes. So what does happen when the anonymous girl, Jess, gets too close to the researcher, Dr. Shields? Well unfortunately a lot of headache, to say the least, and a ton of malpractice. Jess gets in DEEP, so deep that I felt claustrophopic reading the passages.

I wished I loved this book but in order to do so, I'd have to take off my therapist's hat and engage fully in a story about a therapist's harmful doing, a woman's scorn and a husband who is unlikeable but made to appear the victim. I just can't stop shaking my head.

So why the four stars you ask? Because man, Henricks and Pekkanen can write! All the while shaking my head, I was quickly turning the pages and wanting to read more. It's a solid story and from now on, I will read anything these two authors write.

AN ANONYMOUS GIRL is the next novel of psychological suspense and obsession from the authors of the blockbuster bestseller The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks in collaboration with Sarah Pekkanen, with an expected publication date of January 8th 2019 by St. Martin's Press.

As I really enjoyed their previous novel, The Wife Between Us, I was overjoyed when I received a digital copy of their new novel, An Anonymous Girl through NetGalley. I couldn’t wait to read it, as I was so impressed with their debut. I read this book twice because there was so much to absorb and think about. I can honestly say, this is one of the best books I have read in 2018!

The story is told in the first person from two different perspectives.

The story unfolds with twenty-eight-year-old makeup artist; Jessica Farris living in New York, who after travelling to her client’s destination, hears about a chance for females to participate in an ethics and morality study, questionnaire, in exchange for a $500- dollar payment. So, when Jessica hears that her client won’t be attending, she decides to go in her place, as she could really use the money.

Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.

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, things are not what they seem.

“Could you tell a lie without feeling guilt?”
“Describe a time in your life when you cheated?”
“Would you cancel plans with a friend for a better offer?”
“Would you ever deeply hurt someone you care about?”

These questions blew me away…I had to stop and think about them. The questions blew my mind.
Jessica begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding.
It soon becomes apparent that Jess can no longer trust anyone.

"A secret is only a secret if one person holds it."

This is a riveting story about doubt, passion and trust and one that will keep you guessing right to the end! It is one book that I can read and read again! It deserves more than 5 stars!

I would like to thank St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for providing me with a digital copy.

Jessica Farris is a makeup artist with a troubled past. Her younger sister was permanently injured in an accident and Jess blames herself. She was abused by a higher up at her last place of employment but never spoke up about it, instead finding a different job and avoiding her former friends. Both those things play part in her emotional disconnect from other people, while also dealing with stress through one night stands.

When Jess becomes aware of a study on ethics and morality, that pays $500 for a few hours of time, she fibs her way into the program. Within a few questions, answered on a computer, with no one else in the room, she become the focus of the unseen researcher and soon becomes the only person in the research group. Next she actually meets the researcher, Dr. Shields, face to face and is offered much more money to participate in more involved research.

What started with a spur of the moment attempt to earn some quick money turns into a very scary and dangerous relationship with a researcher who won't let go. Dr. Shields learns all of Jess's secrets and then, as she asks more of Jess, holds those things against her, to get what she wants. At times Jess tries to turn things around so that she is less the prey and more the predator but Dr Shields is always one step ahead. Thomas, Dr Shields husband, is introduced into the mix and things get more complicated and and deceitful.

The story is told from alternating views of Jess and Dr. Shields, as Jess realizes she's become trapped in something she may not be able to escape. I enjoyed the book very much although it was hard for me to relate to Jess, who took risks that I would never take myself. Still, I loved reading this book and wondering where it was all going with Jess, Dr Shields, and Thomas and seeing if Jess could make it out of the mess her life had become.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this ARC.

Having missed the boat on The Wife Between Us (I still haven’t read it), I immediately jumped at the opportunity to read and review An Anonymous Girl. One, I have adored Pekkanen’s writing since day one and two, it sounded like an awesome concept. It doesn’t pub until January 2019, but I couldn’t wait to read it so….

I was not disappointed to say the least. This duo is an amazing writing team. Hendricks and Pekkanen created a psychological thriller like none I’ve read thus far. Every page brought new intrigue, making it impossible to put down. I read it in a day because nothing else existed once I started reading.

Jess is a makeup artist with a bit of a secret past; Dr. Shields is noted professor and psychiatrist running a study on morality. As the two come together things get dark, twisted, and obsessive right to the end!

I highly recommend this one - look for it in January!

WOW!! This was a fabulous page turner that grabs you and won't let go. A must read for thriller lovers.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC.

Wow! I read an ARC of their first book "The Wife Between Us" and I didn't think anything can come close to that book; boy was I wrong.

Jessica Farris, a makeup artist, who travels around the city of N.Y. spending most of her days in strangers homes making other people look pretty. One Friday night, she's working on two NYU college students and she overheard a voicemail conversation reminding both girls about the time and that they were getting paid $500 for participating in a study for their Psych professor. The student, Taylor, doesn't want to wake up that early on a Saturday morning, so she decides not to go. When Taylor walks out of the room, Jess grabs her phone to copy down the info so she can go. She needs the money. Her younger sister, Becky, suffered an accident when she was 7 years old and as a result sees has traumatic brain injury that left Becky having to relearn everything again. Her parents don't know it, but Jess helps with her medical bills.

After telling the research assistant that Taylor gave Jess her seat, she's admitted in. She has to answer questions on ethics and morals, but when they get very personal, she starts freaking out. She doesn't realize that the doctor is on the other side watching her through the camera on the computer. Jess gives her some false answers at first, but the Doctor wants her to dig deeper. When she finally opens up she feels drained.

Meanwhile, Dr. Shields is planning to use Jess for her own selfish reasons, but you don't know what yet. So she takes the semester off so she can concentrate on her time with Jess and she is paying her $300 an hour when they talk; and up towards $750 when she has to go out and do things that turn out to be uncomfortable for her.

Jess has told the Dr. her deepest, darkest secrets. Things she hasn't even told her parents. Not realizing that her secrets will be used against her later on. When Jess finally figures out what's going on, she wants no part of it. She asks Dr. Shields why she is using her like that. The Dr just keeps up her mind games, but Jess is done. She should have known that she wouldn't have been able to walk away so easily. Dr. Shields calls her job and gets her fired, so now she HAS to stay and work for her.

At this point, Jess lost her boyfriend because Dr. Shields told him she's mentally insane. The Dr sent her family to Florida, making sure that Jess couldn't go home for the holidays; So she would be alone.

But Jess gets smart and starts thinking like the Dr. does. Jess found Dr. Shields ' husband by accident, Thomas, they are separated. The doctor lied about him being busy all of the time. And Thomas warns Jess about Lydia (Dr. Shields) telling her that she preys on young students. They start working together to try to get Jess out of the Dr.'s clutches.

On Christmas eve, Dr. Shields plans a dinner for 3 not telling Jess or Thomas that either one is coming. Thinking she has them just where she wants them, until Jess spills the truth. Telling the Dr. that she knows what really happened to her old research student. When Thomas hears Jess' story, he stops believing Lydia, because he knew all along something wasn't right.

This book is a definite must read!!

Another great book from Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen! This story line kept you wondering and on the end of your seat the whole book. It was a great and easy read!

Compelling psychological thriller. I loved the story line involving the main character's long term guilt regarding her role in an accident in childhood. There were a few times when the reader has to suspend disbelief. Would a reasonable adult really reveal all her innermost thoughts and deepest, darkest secrets to a computer after just a few hours just because she needs cash? I've been young and broke, but that just seemed a little hard to believe for a woman in her early 20s in this day and age. Would a grown, educated man really be so careless with his extramarital indiscretions with his background in psychology knowing his wife's history? But it was fun overall. Recommended for fans of the authors' earlier book, The Wife Between Us.

An Anonymous Girl a collaborative effort by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, is due for release in early 2019. It is an interesting and nicely-paced thriller with some unfortunate credibility issues. The story is told in alternating points of view, beginning with protagonist Jessica Ferris, a young woman barely getting by as a contract make-up artist in New York City. In first-person narration, Jess describes her turning away from friends and a potential career in the theater after experiencing debasing sexual harassment. She needs more income to support herself, and she also is secretly subsidizing expensive treatments for her sister with special needs. During an appointment with two NYU students, Jess overhears them discussing a highly-lucrative university study that one of them is planning to skip out on the next day. Jess decides to seize this opportunity for some quick cash by showing up for the appointment and impersonating the student. It turns out that the study involves questions of morality and ethics and is being conducted by Dr. Shields-a well-respected psychology professor and therapist. Dr. Shields provides the other voice in the novel, her chapters are presented from the second-person point-of-view. After Jess and Dr. Shields meet in person, what began as a straightforward computerized questionnaire evolves into an expanded, in vivo sequence of experiments with greater personal risk and payment for Jess. Jess increasingly becomes dependent on the money and Dr. Shields but is unaware of the objectives of the research and its underlying motives. The reader comes to understand that Jess is being manipulated, and she is not the first to be drawn into a potentially deadly scheme. Hendricks and Pekkanen require the reader to believe that Dr. Shields has an almost supernatural ability to read people, collect details about them, and persuade them to act. While Jess is a sympathetic character, she makes many dubious decisions and her gullibility is often implausible. The stakes for Jess are so high, the reader might wonder why she allows herself to continue on such an obviously dangerous path. A side romantic plotline is also cursorily brought into the story but it is thin and remains underdeveloped. An Anonymous Girl remains an entertaining novel, with some genuine thrills and originality for those who can suspend disbelief and overlook these minor flaws.

This was a great and thrilling ride. This duo never disappoints. Their debut novel back in January 2018 - The Wife Between Us - got me so hyped up for future works from this author duo. However, it made me nervous, because I was hoping it wouldn't be like one of those "One Hit Wonders." That is not the case with this book. The characters jump out from the page and insert themselves into your life, meaning you won't want to put this down until you've turned the very last page.

Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have again written a “glued to your Kindle” thriller with so unique characters filled with twists & turns. Thank you so much to the NetGalley and the publisher.

This is the 2nd book I've read from these authors, and they are becoming a favorite....

This story deals with morality, guilt, family, lies, betrayal, and other bad schtuff. I think the two main characters were portrayed very well. If you are betrayed by a loved one, then doubts will start to surface and all those thoughts consume you. It is like a prison in your own mind. You try to run from those thoughts and feelings, but they will not let go. That is something so powerful. This book portrays those feelings very well.

Jessica has an innocent, random thought and runs with it. She decides to be part of a morality study (how she became part of this study is the match that starts this huge-ass fire) because it pays well and she's desperate for money. That one decision leads her on a really scary course. She gets in too deep and things spiral from there. Not to mention Dr. Shields, who is a bit cray cray (tick-tick-BOOM!). But like I said, betrayal is a powerful motivator. Read on, my GR friends.

AN ANONYMOUS GIRL was is an amazing gripping novel that is definitely worth the read. I went back and read all of 's Hendrick's & Pekkanen's novels in my library again.. Read them all yourself you will not be sorry as they are all so completely different but equally great.

This was a totally engrossing psychological suspense/thriller. There are lots of 'what would you do' moments in this story. My favorite part, the turning point (no spoilers I promise) was the accident. After that happened, this book was hard to put down. From the beginning, I found the main character, Jess or Jessica, totally likeable, a 28 year old girl trying to make it on her own in New York. I think I was disappointed more in the ending because the book ended then I was in the ending itself. This is no fairy tale, there is no happily-ever-after ending. If that's the type of book you're looking for, this one is not for you. If you enjoy suspense and psychological thrillers, waiting until the January release date is going to be tough!

I throughly enjoyed this second book from this duo. As usual it keeps you guessing until the end.

The back and forth from the three main characters developed very well.

Although I did not enjoy as much as the wife between, I look forward to their next book!

This was a wonderful book. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time, and was a fresh idea! I love this author! Also posted a review on goodreads.

well… This duo did it again !! In a smooth way Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen wrote yet another intelligent, suspenseful full of twists, wonderful book. They are here to stay and will undoubtedly surprise us again and again.

This is a story of lies, treachery, and manipulation.
We are following Jessica who signed up for a paid study on ethics and morality and end up developing a relationship with the dcotor in charge : the stunningly beautiful Dr Shields. Jessica needs money, Dr Shields has money, they both have secrets and hidden agendas. One is forced to wonder if a psychologist could be so cunning to manipulate their patients outside their values ?

The blurb gives enough information without giving up too much.
The book is written alternating between Jessica and Dr Shields POV. I’m not sure how the writers cut the work among them, but the writing is very smooth and indiscernible between them.

This book is a perfect choice for a women’s book club. So much to dive into between couple relationship, family relationship, psychologist/patient relationship, life mistakes, the need for money, littles lies and big lies, values, consequences…

I most definitively recommend this book and will personaly be on the lookout for next year’s installment.

***Thank you St Martin Press for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. I feel very privileged***

Very interesting premise for this story, I was sure I knew what would happen next , but the twists kept on coming

I would like to thank the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review

I have no problem seeing this book scaling the heights of bestsellerdom when it’s released next year. These authors have once again given us a riveting, and emotional roller coaster of a read. It lacks the EPIC jaw dropping twist that The Wife Between Us had, but is still a very enjoyable read.

Had they not set the bar so high with their debut, I think I would’ve rated this one even higher. But given it fails, in my humble opinion, to reach the heights of their debut effort, I have to knock one star off because I know they can do better!! ;)

If you like engrossing psychological thrillers – and are not too fond of sleep – then I highly recommend you check this one out when it drops in 2019. Everyone else will and you don’t want to be left out!