"An Anonymous Girl " is the second collaboration between Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Seeking extra money to assist her family, make-up artist Jessica Farris, 28, responds to an ad posting for a psychological study on morality and ethics where she is introduced the study’s conductor and psychiatrist, Dr. Lydia Shields. Because of Jessica’s answers, Dr. Shields invites Jessica to continue with the study and has Jessica engage in a variety of assignments. At first, she agrees willingly, but as the amount of money she is paid increases, Jessica is forced to wrestle with how far she is willing to go and whether her moral compass will hold her back from getting what she wants.
The novel flips back and forth between Jessica and Dr. Shields’s perspectives. I am not sure if one author was solely responsible for each narrative, but the voices of each character are quite distinct. Though the reader gets to spend time in Dr. Shields’s point of view, you only learn additional information about what makes her tick as Jessica does. At the same time, the reader also learns about Jessica’s secrets as she begins to trust and becomes almost obsessed with Dr. Shields.
If you are expecting predictable, this novel is not it. I was kept guessing to the very last page and part of that was because of the brilliant pace and tone created by Hendricks and Pekkanen. I agree with the earlier reviews that you should not pick this novel up unless you have enough time to finish it in one sitting because with the way the authors hook you from the opening page, you will not be able to put this story down.
I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy for my unbiased review. "An Anonymous Girl " is expected to be published by St. Martin’s Press on January 9, 2019.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Wife Between Us, the previous title by the tag-team of Hendricks and Pekkanen, and was eagerly awaiting their next foray into storytelling. They have a perfect blend of voices together; by shifting points of view between two main characters by chapter, the two women are able to capture the fascinating divergence of perspective that makes life - and thrillers - so engaging... It doesn't hurt that they come up with clever and damaged characters who offer a wealth of opportunities to explore morality, life, and social interactions in such a fascinating and nuanced way.

In this iteration, we're again dabbling in the psychological, taking on two women from wildly different backgrounds with wildly disparate lives - or are we? The tension and secrets and questions that hang in the air from page to page are a huge part of what make these women's books so successful I think. They have a marvelous knack for dangling the perfect blend of facts, fictions, and red herrings in front of their readers, and for keeping things taut and tense throughout the story. Even when you've been told what to expect, you don't *really* expect it. It makes for a very engaging read...

I will admit that I didn't find this book to be quite as surprising as the previous one. That's not at all to say that I didn't enjoy it - I did, quite a bit - but it felt a little less "ta-da!" when things were revealed in this one and I saw a lot more coming this time around. The characters were once again a nice meld of likeable and eminently dislikeable traits. I love that Hedricks and Pekkanen not only present but explore the uglier sides of human nature with such glee - their characters are always just this side of over-the-top in their highs and lows... It keeps them just relatable enough that you feel like you might even know them (or someone like them) even when they're at their worst and most fictionalized. By dancing on that line so deftly, the story can venture into places that might otherwise feel overdone or too unrealistic without ever shifting the tenor of the book out of the possible. It's no small feat that, and one of the things I most enjoy about the women's writing.

Here's hoping there are more books to come!

I received an e-copy of this title from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I dabble in the thriller genre, but I'm not as obsessed as many - especially as thrillers seem to be en vogue lately (thanks, Gillian Flynn!). As far as they go, this one is a bit unique with a new and fresh plot. The first half of this book dragged for me. The author is busy setting up the scene and background, but I was anxious for something to happen already. I did like the alternating narrators, but especially at first, Dr. Shield's voice was jarring and not engaging (of course, it is intended to be that way).

Around the 50-60% mark, things started to pick up to a true thriller pace, and I finished that part quickly. I did enjoy the ending and didn't see it all coming, therefore I ended the book satisfied. If you're a big fan of thrillers I would recommend checking this out. If you're a casual fan, I would stick with another title.

Thank you Net Galley for the opportunity to read and review An anonymous Girl for my honest review. Lately I just can’t seem to find a good suspense/mystery book. While this book wasn’t boring, I liked the writing style and it kept my interest. But it never wowed me like I wanted.

First, I’d like to thank NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
Jessica Farris is a makeup artist in NYC. Struggling to pay the bills, she learns of an offer to participate in a psychological study for $500. Enticed by the thought of that much money, Jessica decides to sneak into the study, thinking it can’t be that bad. Little does she know how wrong she is.
The study is conducted by the beautiful Dr. Shields, a sophisticated woman Jessica thinks she aspires to be like. But Dr. Shields is conducting this study for her own very selfish reasons, and has drawn Jessica into her sick plot. Soon, Jessica’s career and relationships with her friends and family are at stake, and Jessica must figure a way out.
I really enjoyed this book. I liked the alternating views of Jessica and Dr. Shields. I felt like I knew the characters; and that ending? Oh, boy! A definite must read. I look forward to more from these authors.

I couldn’t really finish this one I tried hard to get into it because I loved their first book The Wife Between Us but this one just fell flat for me. The story and characters we’re just slow paced and not interesting to me I couldn’t get into the plot. Still a great writing team and look forward to more from them

Another psychological thriller, but this one kept me hooked! Thanks to Netgalley and ARCs, I've read countless thrillers one after the other, but this one stands out from the rest.

Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study on ethics and morality conducted by a mysterious Dr. Shields. Desperate for money to pay the bills, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. She was never the intended participant for the study but Jessica proved herself an interesting subject and Dr. Shields' interest in her grew. As the questions grew more intense and personal, Jessica realizes Dr. Shields knew all her darkest secrets and she is trapped in her game of manipulation. What is the study really about and can she break free from Dr. Shields' hold on her?

The story is told in two point-of-views: Jessica in first person and Dr. Shields in second person. The book's description caught my attention initially; I thought the plot is very original and the way it's written added to the story. In the beginning when Jessica participates in the study and answers the questions, we really get into who she is and what kind of character she is. The alternate perspective from Dr. Shields was a chilling addition and held my attention. It made me wonder, who is this Dr. Shields and what is Jessica getting herself in? The whole book was a thrilling ride and I loved it!

I'm anticipating more great books from this author in the near future. I will definitely recommend this book! Thank you to Netgalley, St. Martin's Press, and authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest, unbiased review.

4.5 stars all the way! (Review also posted on GoodReads)

I received an ARC of this from NetGalley and didn't begin reading it for a while. At that time, I had been waiting for about a month for "The Wife Between Us" and really wanted to read that first. Unfortunately, that did not happen. Still waiting. :( I'm not sure it matters, but either way I'm incredibly impressed with what is my first Greer Hendricks novel. I found the subject matter on this one very unique and I could not for the life of me figure out what was going to happen. There wasn't an "AHA" moment, but a series of gasps throughout this book as the plot thickened again and again. I was riveted until the very last sentence of the book and could not put it down. I found myself taking my eReader everywhere with me to get in just a few pages or a chapter here and there.

The only reason I did not go to 5 stars on this one was the ending - like, the last page or so. I'm not sure if it just surprised me or what, but it did leave me with an unsettling feeling. It must be that pesky morality :) It was not at all how I expected Jessica's story to end. I get it, though. It certainly doesn't take away from the rest of the book for me. It was a great read and I'll read it again once it's published, I'm sure :)

I was approved by Netgalley and the publisher to read this book, thank you!!

Expected publication is January 8, 2019 - don't miss this one!

It doesn't get more psychological than a smart psychologist conducting a morality study. What if the psychologist was married to another psychologist?

Jessica Farris is a make-up artist in NYC trying to make ends meet while also helping her parents with some of their bills. When Jess hears about a morality study she's stressing about money, like she always does, so she takes matters into her own hands to become part of this study for the extra cash. She's required to go to a classroom and answer some questions, honestly. That's it. Until she's invited to go further in the study and hey, the compensation is great but... just know that all that glitters is not gold.

"When money and morality intersect, the results can illuminate intriguing truths about human character."

It will leave you guessing. Dr. Shields is good.

This book reminded me so much of the movie "Gone Girl". It is very riveting. It's a mystery that creates a space where you can definitely relate to all of the characters. The suspense takes you over and you never want to put the book down. There are twists and turns that I never saw coming and make the book worth every minute it took to read. Excellent!

An Anonymous Girl follows main character Jessica as her life descends into chaos. It starts out innocent enough, when she overhears one of her clients talking about a paid study that she doesn't plan to attend. Since Jessica could use every dollar she can get, she decides to attend that study herself. What she didn't know was that Dr. Shields would take such an overwhelming interest in her.

I really did enjoy this book, and although it had plenty of plot twists, I didn't feel like any of them were surprising at all. That being said, it is a great read and one I am sure will stay on my mind for awhile.

You are given the opportunity to take part in a study on ethics and morality. And paid very well for it. So Jessica Farris signs up for it, thinking all she had to do was answer questions, get paid and be on her merry way.

But it didnt work out that way. The questions get deeper and deeper, digging into her past and her secrets....and so Jessica wants out. But she find that Dr. Shields will not let her leave, but insists she take part in her little cat and mouse games. Only these are deadly games and Jessica now needs to find a way out.

This book has you going back and forth on what will happen next, only to bring you into the story deeper and making you wonder if there is any way out. Great story!

I loved 2017's collaboration between Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen, The Wife Between Us, so I was excited to receive this ARC.

"You're Invited: Seeking women aged 18-32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality conducted by a preeminent NYC psychiatrist. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed. Call for more details."

Jessica Farris is a 28 year old woman working as a makeup artist for Beauty Buzz, a service that sends makeup artists to your home. Jessica is in need of additional income because she sends money home to her parents and special needs sister, so when she finds out about a psychological study that pays $500 and one of her clients is going to blow off participating in, she appears in the woman's place.

At first, Jessica is only required to answer questions via a computer screen - questions regarding moral and ethical dilemmas and her personal experiences and moral compass. But soon the computerized questions are discontinued and Dr. Shields, the psychologist conducting the study, wants to move into conducting more practical, real life research. Jessica is happy because it means more money, but she soon begins to question what is happening and if Dr. Shields's motivations are fueled only by a desire to simply conduct ethics research.

An Anonymous Girl is a twisty maze of a psychological thriller told in alternating points of view between Jessica and Dr. Shields. As the story unfolds, Hendricks and Pekkanen masterfully and methodically reveal each character's history and motivations. Delving deeper and deeper into the relationship between them as it builds and ripples out to effect those around them. It's a story that is hard to put down once you start and harder yet to decide who, if anyone, can be trusted.

This book was fast paced and kept me guessing until the end. It was well written and held the readers attention - would definitely recommend

Since I adored the WIFE BETWEEN US I requested AN ANONYMOUS GIRL the moment it became available and OMG I am sososos glad I did. This book is even better than WBU and that's saying something. Written in revolivng first person between the two leads, this book is written so brilliantly, woven so astutely, and filled with so many red herrings ( which I love!) that I can truly say for the first time in a very long time I couldn't predict the ending. I read the entire book in one setting because it was unputdownable.

Twenty-something Jessica Farris finds out a psychological study and worms her way into it under false pretenses because the money is too good to be true. And as most things that are, what appears to be an innocent study on morality turns out to be something entirely different from the questions asked to the mysterious Dr. Sheilds who is conducting the study.

I hate spoilers so I won't go any further than that, except to say this book has some of the best misrepresentation dialogue I have ever read.

5 stars from me andI wish I could give it more! A must read for sure. Thanks to netgalley for an arc of the work for an honest opinion.

3.5/4 Stars

I rather enjoyed the plot albeit a bit creepy and disturbing. The book started out great, pulling me in but then it just seemed to drag for a bit until it picked back up in part two. The author alternated between Jess and Dr. Shield’s points of view, they did not indicate at the beginning of each chapter who was speaking though you could generally determine who it was after a sentence or two. Dr. Shield’s chapters seemed a bit repetitive at times. Overall a good and quick read with some predictable twists and some that were a little harder to guess.

Thanks to Netgalley, the authors and St. Martin’s Press for an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a roller coaster ride! Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for granting access to the ARC in return for an honest review of An Anonymous Girl by Hendricks and Pekkanen.

Jess is a girl trying to make a quick buck to help her family by sneaking into a scientific study on ethics and morality, but her seemingly benign actions place her in a difficult situation between Dr. Shields and
Dr. Cooper. She is tested in a variety of scenarios before she figures out one of the “good” doctors has unethical motives of their own, but which one should be feared?

This story captured my attention from the very first page! By describing details of observations and connecting these these details throughout the story, the authors had me constantly second guessing my assumptions about each of the characters. The storyline was unique and captivating. While you would hope clinicians would be ethical and professional, this story could happen making it all the more creepy! I loved the main character, Jess, she was flawed and vulnerable, but strong in the end. The authors did a great job of developing the chapters and efficiently using each character to draw you into the story. I would definitely recommend this book to fans of suspense, mysteries, thrillers, and women’s fiction.

#NetGalley #AnAnonymousGirl

An Anonymous Girl was a creepy psychological thriller that left me guessing to the end. Not necessarily realistic, but still fun to read!

I received an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I wanted to read this book because I had just finished reading the wife between us and I really enjoyed it! This is another book by the same authors. The main character of this book is Jessica Farris. Jessica is a makeup artist. When she is doing a young girls makeup one day she hears they discussing an ethics study that pays a nice amount of cash that they are going to blow off. Jessica "hears" this as her opportunity to make some money on the side. Only one problem, she needs to lie and say she is someone else.

The ethics study is conducted by Dr. Shields. The first question that is asked is, could you tell a lie without feeling guilt? Unfortunately that is already what Jessica has done. The more questions Jessica answers, the more questions and information Dr Shields wants to know. The second question that is asked is if she have ever hurt someone you care about? Jessica is hiding something, but does Dr Shields already know or does she have her own motives. Jessica is trapped in a web of deceit from the beginning, but can she make it out before all her lies start unfolding.

This book was great and I look forward to many more for these authors. I would recommend this book to a friend!

This psychological thriller is fulfilling on so many levels. The story follows a young woman who signs on to a research project in order to earn extra money. She soon finds herself drawn into a spider’s web of deceit and betrayals that’s could put her very life in jeopardy.