An Anonymous Girl – Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen

I was fortunate to receive this novel from Netgalley.com as an Advance Reader Copy, in exchange for an objective review.

Would you share your innermost secrets, if you knew you were anonymous??!

Jessica Farris is a young cosmetician who visits individual homes to assist with make up for special occasions. On one such visit, a college girl mentions an ethics and morality study she’s signed up for, and decides she’ll likely blow off the meet. Jess is intrigued, as she needs some extra pocket cash, and the study reportedly pays a good amount. She secretly copies the info off her client’s phone and takes her place in the study the next morning.

Almost immediately, she is disconcerted by the questions, and the way the interviewer interacts with her between questions. But, comforted by the apparent anonymity, she answers the questions posed to her with honesty, revealing things that she has never shared with others. Seemingly satisfied with Jess’s responses, Dr. Shields invites her back for more questions, and eventually, to participate in scenarios. But what is Dr. Shields after and why? What do these seemingly random exercises mean? Soon, Jess finds herself caught in a web of paranoia and deception that seems to be beyond her control...

Told from the perspectives of the mysterious Dr. Shields and Jess herself, this story grabs you from the first page and keeps you enthralled until well after the very last page is turned. This one kept me up late into the night and had me at it again early in the morning! I couldn’t put it down!!

An Anonymous Girl written by authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen is a slow building psychological thriller that addresses the ethics and integrity within psychology. I wanted to read this book because I really enjoyed The Wife Between Us written by the same authors.

An Anonymous Girl starts off slow enough that we really get to know the main character Jess as she maneuvers herself into being a test subject in a study for a Psychology professor. Soon Jess is wrapped up in her new relationship with Dr. Shields and the doctor's husband, Thomas who is also a psychologist. Some would call this a cat and mouse style book written with danger as its theme. The narrative switches back and forth between Dr. Shields and Jess- allowing the reader to really experience their emotions as the plot unfolds. I think An Anonymous Girl is more about the layers and secrets we hide even from ourselves and how far we are willing to go past our moral lines. It is about pushing back the fear that controls us to uncover what our integrity really means... About a third of the way into the book, the pace really starts to pick up and that is when it becomes impossible to stop reading. ( So stick with it readers and realize it starts off slow to really build the relationships between the reader and the characters....)

Thank you to NetGalley, Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced readers copy of this book. I appreciate the hard work it takes to get this book published. As always, my opinion is my own.

5 Stars, because I did not want to put this book down. From the very first chapter, or even page, I was hooked. I loved the alternating story telling and how secrets kept unraveling about each of the characters. The plot was fascinating and unique, and though I was racing to get to the end, I’m now sad it’s over. I enjoyed The Wife Between Us, but thought this one was even better! I can’t wait for the next book from these two, as they have just upped their thriller game. Lastly, thanks to St. Martens Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book hooks you from the first chapter. A psychological thriller with many twists. Just when you think you have it figured out, there is another unexpected twist. All three main characters are well developed and you are never sure who you should trust. Highly recommend!

First and foremost, I’d like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy of this book. I was and still am so pumped about it!!
I had really high expectations for this. Hendricks and Pekkanen’s novel, The Wife Between Us, is still one of the best books I’ve read this year. It is so, so good. This follow up didn’t disappoint at all. It was creepy, twisty, and just fantastic. I loved it so much, and couldn’t put it down. I’ve already put in the request for the library I work for to order it when it comes out. (It’s supposed to be released in January 2019.) I felt that this book dragged a little bit in comparison to their other novel, but it didn't alter my opinion on the book at all. Hendricks and Pekkanen have a way of sucking you in the minute you pick their books up.

OMG this book was SO good. I couldn't put it down. If I could give this one 6 stars I would. This book and author definitely live up to the hype. I will be reading any books by these authors. Loved the story line and the characters. I will be telling EVERYONE to read this!

Oh boy; this is a page turner and you won't be able to put it down until you finish it and find out all the secrets and twists! It will make you think again before signing up for any sort of survey or research group. It kept me on the edge of my seat going back and forth on who is the real perpetrator here. The characters and setting are so vivid! GREAT READ!!
Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for the ARC

Page-turner alert! I couldn't put this one down. I loved the moral ambiguity--that's putting it nicely--of each of the three main characters. I don't want to say much more lest I spoil it, but boy, are there some twists in this book. I kept trying to figure out who was screwing over whom and in the end I was totally wrong!

Recommended for people who enjoyed The Wife Between Us, and really anyone who likes twisty suspense. It's a quick read, one you can easily devour on a single cross-country plane ride or a few evenings after work. Love this author duo! I will be on the lookout for more of their work in the future.

I'm a big fan of psychological thrillers. This is one of the best I have read in years. The story was captivating. The characters were well developed. The writing was excellent. An all around winner.

Ok so I loved The Wife Between Us. This book, while not as great as that, was an enjoyable read.
Jess needs to make some more money. So when she is at a clients house, doing their make-up and hears about a study that could make her some money, she pretends to be someone else. This brings her into contact with Dr. Shields, who is supposedly doing a study on morality and ethics, but she's actually going to use Jess to see if her husband is a repeat adulterer.
I found Jess to be a little flaky. She really wanted Dr. Shields to like her and would do anything she asked, but then question herself and why she did it. Some parts of the book were super predictable.
It is written in alternating voices between Jess and Lydia (Dr. Shields) and I found Lydia's part to be a little too technical oriented and a little bit confusing.
The ending left me unsatisifed, I think the authors just wanted to quickly tie up all the loose ends.

Twenty-eight year-old Jessica pulls a fast one in order to participate in a student study so she can make a few extra bucks. Instead, she finds herself caught up in a tricky love triangle. Except it’s really, really not “love,” and definitely more of a life or death trap instead of a “triangle.” Even though I wasn’t a great fan of their first collaboration with A Wife Between Us, I definitely enjoyed this second go around by Hendricks & Pekkanen, enough so that I’ll be keeping my eyes out for their future efforts. If you want a page turner that is easy to read with a few moral and ethical quandaries along the way, then I recommend this one for sure.

Great suspense with lots of twists and turns. This will make you wonder........Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

4.5 stars

Well this book certainly fits the definition of a psychological thriller. The role psychology played in this book with the ethical and moral dilemmas the main character faced just really elevated the novel into the top tier in the genre. To say this held my interest is putting it mildly.

Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study on morality and ethics because she needs the money and she will be compensated for her time. But the questions asked of Jess, aka Subject 52, become more and more invasive and soon she is placed in situations in which she is told how to act and behave. Is this a true research study or is Dr. Shields playing some weird, manipulative game with Jess?

This was such a creepy, but fun read. Even though I have read other books in the genre featuring therapists, the premise of someone participating in a research study was unique. Jess's backstory with her family and how it related to some of her actions was fascinating although at times it could be frustrating as you questioned if she was making the best decisions. This was such a good rainy day read and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone who loves this genre.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing me with an advance digital copy!

I absolutely loved this book!!!! Great story that will leave you guessing the whole way through and there's a few twists I definitely did not see coming. Highly recommended if your looking for a unique psychological thriller.

I am most likely in the minority here but I'm giving it 3 stars. I have not read the author's other book, The Wife Between Us, but I might be willing to pick it up in the future.

An Anonymous Girl is about Jessica Farris, a twenty-eight year old makeup artist, who becomes involved in a psychology study about ethics and morals. What was supposed to only last for a weekend turns into an ongoing commitment when the mysterious Dr. Shield offers to pay Jessica to continue on in the study. Desperate for money, Jessica agrees, with the assurance that she can back out at any time. What started as answering questions on a computer screen turns into Jessica being told where to go, what to wear, and who to interact with. As the tasks start becoming more uncomfortable and manipulative, Jessica finally starts to question just who she got involved with.

This book was ok. I liked the plot because it was new and refreshing in the suspense genre, and I've read so many books from this genre that they're all starting to feel the same. The book is told from two different perspectives. It's mostly told from Jessica's point of view, but Dr. Shield's POV is thrown in here and there in the beginning, with more chapters from her POV as the book progresses. I wasn't a fan of her chapters as it seemed like the author overdid it on the "menacing" feel you're supposed to get from her. It seemed overdone and fake.

I found the first half of the book very slow. It didn't really pick up until about 40% of the way in, then it was fast paced and I couldn't put it down until about 80%. I found the ending to be drawn out and the characters coming to the same conclusions over and over again. At one point toward the end something is "revealed", but I thought the reader was already supposed to have assumed it the whole time. The ending wasn't anything spectacular or unexpected, and there wasn't a "big reveal", just a couple small ones that weren't anything special. I rounded up to three stars because the plot was new and not recycled, but overall it wasn't one of my favorites. However, I think fans of the author's first book will really enjoy this one too.

Original post: I want this more than the Kardashian's want a higher character count on Twitter!

In this case study I would like to give you three scenarios. Within your answers you may find yourself being able to dive deeper into your psyche more than ever.

Scenario 1:
Imagine you are back in high school and you have just sat down with your number 2 pencils ready to take a test. Your palms are sweaty and your heart is palpitating to the beat of the seconds on the clock. Would you consider cheating to make sure your future doesn't falter? After all, you think you are about to take the most important test of your life.

You thought wrong.

Scenario 2:
Now imagine you are strapped for cash, are trying to be a better person after some heartbreaking events, and are faced with an opportunity that could solve all your problems. However, there is a catch.

You belong to the study now.

Would you join at the risk of becoming part of a psychological experiment mastered by an evil genius?

Scenario 3:
Finally imagine you are a reader that has been dying to read a certain book. Especially after loving their first novel The Wife Between Us. You enter every giveaway, you mentally want to punch those who got an arc way before you, and you check daily to see if it's offered to review yet.

Would you scream in excitement and be so nervous that reading this book will make everything else in life fall to the wayside?

Let me answer that one....

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Go into this blind because if you don't you won't feel the insane amount of tension I felt. All I can say is that I secretly love evil geniuses. I especially love when said evil geniuses are so psycho they would be dream clients for those in their profession......

Now if you excuse me, I have to go call my mother Cynthia and my younger sister Danielle. (No joke there).

I read this in a couple of days (would have been 1 day but I had to work!) and found myself completely absorbed in the story. I could not put it down. Filled with twists, mystery and suspense that had me racing to the end to find out what was happening and how it would all end. Highly recommended!

This was a very interesting read- different from anything I have read before.. The authors keep you guessing until the very last page. I would highly recommend fans of psychological thrillers addison this to their to read list!

Thank you so much St. Martin's Press for an Advance Reader's Copy of this incredible new thriller.

When I first read the synopsis of this novel I wanted to get my hands on this book ASAP. This book took me on the biggest and most thrilling ride ever! These were the best 384 pages I have ever read, literally. Matter of fact, one of the best thrillers that I have had the pleasure of reading and one of the best books I have read this year. This book really lived up to the hype that it was getting and I’m pretty sure that this book is about to be a really big hit in the future. All I have to say is that readers better buckle up to read this new and exciting new novel that comes out in January because it’s going to take them on a good and bumpy ride.

One of the best qualities about this book was the writing, the writers of this novel made you actually feel like you were right there witnessing all this drama unfold right before your eyes. The characters were so wonderfully written that you felt sympathy for them and felt like you actually knew them in some weird way. When I finished this novel, I was surprisingly distraught because I didn’t want this novel to end. In other words, I wanted more because the book was so good. Literally, this novel had the most memorable characters out there in the thrilling genre. You could actually feel the regret and guilt that Jess was feeling, the anger and the jealousy that Dr. Shields was dealing with, and the fear that Thomas was feeling as well. With these wonderful characters, this book will take readers all over on an emotional ride. If I didn’t have to work and go to school I think I would have read this book in one day.

Another thing that I loved about this book was the suspense that it contained. Because the writing was so good, the suspense was remarkable and popping. I have never read a thriller or a novel with so much suspense that had me at the edge of my seat. Even though this novel builds up there is still this suspense that goes on that keeps you reading the novel. Also, the twists in this novel were shocking and unpredictable, I tried to guess sometimes but I always was proven wrong. Most importantly, readers will walk away from this novel feeling satisfied that it ended the way it did because it was the perfect ending to the perfect story. I really can’t praise this book even more, everyone will fairly enjoy this novel and I will recommend this novel one thousand percent. In fact, I have a confession, I thought that no other thriller this year would have topped Stephen King’s, The Outsider, but this one def. past it and that is a lot to say. Please, when this novel comes out in January go run to Barnes and Nobles or your nearest book store because this book will shock, fascinated, and entertain you. Now I’m just waiting for my copy of The Wife Between Us to get here because I want to continue reading books made by these two excellent writers.

I had read Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen's recent novel "The Wife Between Us" and really enjoyed it, so was looking forward to picking up this book. The latest book is an interesting take on a thriller, it's definitely unique compared to other novels in this genre. I enjoyed the novel, the plot was fast paced enough to hold your attention, and there were various twists and turns that kept you on your toes. The only thing I couldn't really relate to, was that I wouldn't have made any of the choices that the main character made that got her into her situation, but regardless you could still understand what she was going through