Ahhhhh this story was amazing! Twisty and had me guessing the whole way through. I definitely needed this kind of book.
Thanks for the Arc.

This started really great, but fell a little flat towards the end. I guess after reading The Wife Between Us I kept waiting for a big plot twist but there really wasn’t one. I also kept getting confused about how much Dr. Shields knew and how much was purposely done. It just didn’t make it very clear.

I received an advance readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is too twisted for color TV and I love it. Everything about this book was completely over-the-top and unnecessary but it worked. If you like really fucked-up lady-thrillers you'll love this.

Omg. This book is amazing. Had me guessing till the very end. The writing is wonderful. These girls know how to get your attention and keep it. Jess was a wonderful character and Dr. Shields makes you love and hate her.

*Slight spoiler* To anyone who has read this book - the movie version of Dr. Shields would be played by a slightly younger Nicole Kidman, right? That is the only person I could picture portraying the beautiful, porcelain, cunning redhead therapist.

This duo from The Wife Between Us has done it again - but better, in this reader's opinion. While The Wife Between Us had me glued to the page, the twists and turns at the end were much too abrupt. In An Anonymous Girl, there is still plenty of action, lies, duplicity and suspicion but at a more believable pace. The ending was so satisfying on so many levels, mainly because it felt true to real life - it wasn't all happy but it wasn't all bad, and there was peace for our main girl, Jess.

What would you do for money? And what would you do, for love?

What would you do for a little extra cash? What would you do for a lot of extra cash? Would you tell all of your inner private secrets? Would you do things that are against your moral compass?

Jess maneuvers her way dishonestly into a study for women 18 to 32 on ethics and morals. At first, it was just questions, deeply personal questions on things she hasn’t shared with anyone but the money was fantastic. $500 for the first day and more to follow. Then it went a little deeper. More money meant more than just questions and before Jess knew it, she was in way over her head. The psychiatrist, Dr Shields wanted her to do things beyond what she was comfortable with but now knew all of her secrets, including one that she hasn’t share with anyone; one that altered her family’s whole lives. After divulging more than she intended to and a few other things she is afraid to share, she is manipulated into continuing with Dr Shields as little by little her world starts to collapse. Who can help her? As she tries different avenues to get out of the mess she’s put herself in, she gets in deeper and deeper with the whole premise of the study falling apart.

I was pretty excited to be sent this novel by the publishers and net galley as this duo’s debut last year was a 5 star read for me, and one of my favourite reads of last year. Unfortunately this one fell short for me. I did see other reviews, many with 4 or 5 stars and I don’t know what they got out of it that I didn’t.

The plot itself was a great plot. But for me so much more could have been done with it. While it is a quick read, I found it to be a little predictable and did not have a lot of suspense. I missed the magic of a psychological thriller keeping me intrigued and flipping pages.

It is narrated alternately by Jessica and Dr Shields. The beginning of the chapters didn’t indicate who was narrating. It could be figured out by a sentence of two, but just seemed like a little unnecessary confusion. I found it to be repetitive, especially the sections narrated by Dr Shields. For me, they just went on and on as she rambled. The characters are not a likeable bunch and sometimes that makes a difference in the liking of a story but for me, I just wanted off the merry go round.

I will not give up on this duo though as their debut book was fantastic. But for me, this one was not a great read. 2 1/2 stars.

Thanks to net galley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Everyone has secrets. I wonder if they’ll reveal theirs.”

What secrets would you reveal if you were to remain anonymous and being handsomely paid for your honesty? Would you, my friend, dig down into the very inner most depths of your soul, into your own innermost being, and vomit all your dirty deeds? And at what price? An Anonymous Girl, centers around that question. What would you divulge, what would you do for money - lastly what is your price?

An Anonymous Girl is a bent, infectious, sordid tale brought to us by the talented duo who gifted us The Wife Between Us. It is a read that grabs you by your throat as you beg and gasp for air hoping for it to let go!

I give An Anonymous Girl 5+ stars! What can I say other than I read what I love! Yet another favorite added to my list!❤️❤️

4.5 stars

Jess is a makeup artist trying to make ends meet in New York City. She jumps at a chance to be part of a NYU psychology study, one that will pay her just to fill out a morality questionnaire. Jess knows the importance of being safe, and everything here is, right? An university sanctioned study that leads to a well published and non- judgmental psychologist, Dr. Shields. But nothing is what it seems, and soon Jess has to rely on her own wits to survive a very dangerous game.

I really liked this book! Jess and Dr. Shields were both intriguing characters, and I loved how the mystery of what was happening unfolded. The ending was also very satisfying, though a tad disturbing as well! Overall, this was a psychological thriller I was reluctant to put down.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for an arc.

Thanks NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for making this highly anticipated read available to readers for 48 hours. Thank goodness I didn’t have any major plans those so I could tear through this book in under 24.

How do you know if you really trust someone?

Jessica is just another NYC gal trying to make ends meet in a creative, but low-pay field. She’s taken her makeup skills to the public after having a #MeToo moment while working in theater. At one appointment she overhears a girl state she’s not going to participate in a college research study she signed up for, so Jess steals the details and joins the lucrative study on morality. The study director, Dr. Shields rapidly holds sway over Jess and asks her do more and more unusual things. But she’s not studying Jessie, she’s really intent on trapping her cheating husband. Where will it all end?

Jess joins the research study for the money, but stays for Dr. Shields. I didn’t feel a sufficient depth to Jessica's hunger for money. Yes, reasons were given (laid off dad, disabled sister), but it didn’t seem to motivate her nearly as much as her intoxication with Dr. Shields. As far as Dr. Shields goes, it wasn’t clear to me what her allure is or why it’s so incredibly strong that Jess falls into her web so deeply and quickly. Plot-wise, authors Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have come up with another fabulous story, but I would love it if some things had been fleshed out a bit more as the characters are just not three dimensional.

Recently I commented to @crimebythebook that books that are “popcorn reads” (her term, which I take to mean not life changing literary fiction) have great escapist value and are often some of my favorite books. In this particular case I’d call An Anonymous Girl popcorn without the butter—plenty of substance, but missing some delicious guilty pleasure topping—3 stars

First things first, I loved this book. I started it last night at bedtime, which was an immense mistake, as I didn't go to sleep until I finished it. It was a rough morning, as a result. This was a real page-turner, to use the old cliche, (my kindle swiping finger is tired today.)
The plot was suspenseful without being overwhelmingly complex. The characters were well-developed, with the protagonist, Jess, being easy to identify with, and the antagonist being increasingly intense and causing a sense of impending doom. The supporting cast was even fairly fleshed-out, with a sense of identity for each that helps the story become more realistic.
I thought that the ending was well-written, ending with a sense of relief for the protagonist and a sense of justice coming swiftly after.
All in all, this is a great read if you're a fan of Greer's other work, Shari Lapena, or Mary Kubica. It is a new favorite, I can't wait to read what comes next from this amazing author.

This was just okay for me. I liked it but I didn't love it. While this has been put into the thriller, mystery, and suspense genre, I would personally label it women's fiction (chick-lit) drama. There is a bit of mystery but most of that was fairly predictable.

The main plot focuses around the ethics and morality study and there is a story that goes with that but that plot--and the purpose of the study--seemed a bit too OTT to me and just really fell flat.

I think the book failed to recognize it's potential, especially as a thriller. It's decent women's fiction but it's quite slow-paced, there are a lot of fashion and physical appearance references (I don't like being reminded of these things), and alternating chapters are written in second-person.

Overall, I really liked the authors' first book, this one was just okay, but I really look forward to any future work they publish.

Due to the over-the top plot and slow-pacing, I'm afraid I have to give this one three stars (which still means that I liked it).

Jessica Farris is struggling to make her rent as a makeup artist in New York. When she overhears one of her clients talking about a psychology study that pays $500, she manipulates her way into the experiment. The study is based on ethics and morality and is run by a mysterious psychology professor Dr. Shields. When Jess decides to open up about her deepest secrets, she finds herself getting invited back for a continuation study, one that's eluded to be more personal. Jess, needing the money, agrees but suddenly finds that she is questioning everyone and everything as Dr. Shields continually places her in precarious situations. Jess begins to question whether these exercises are actually part of the study or if she has become a pawn in a deadly game of deceit. Telling someone your darkest secrets can be dangerous especially when they have secrets of their own...

An Anonymous Girl is an exciting new psychological thriller by author Greer Hendricks. Along the lines of The Wife Between Us, the characters are not always who they appear to be. What begins as a simple morality questionnaire turns into a deadly game of cat and mouse were the characters all have something to hide. I absolutely loved this novel and devoured it in an afternoon. I love that the author writes the characters in such a way that it has you questioning who's more dangerous. This novel had me on the edge of my seat as the plot twist continued to unfold and the true nature of the characters were revealed. This is definitely a must read for 2018.

If you read and loved The Wife Between Us, you will enjoy An Anonymous Girl. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen deliver a multiple-angled story with classically unreliable narrators. The result is a book difficult to put down as the reader is drawn into an an increasingly taut situation with no clear cut good guys or bad guys, only a feeling of menace. With a psychiatrist as creepy as Hannibal Lecter, although minus the gore, and a victim who isn't so entirely innocent, the book is excellent psychological suspense, a great game of cat and mouse where it's not always clear who the cat really is.

I received a copy of AN ANONYMOUS GIRL on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and authors.

Can I give this book 20 stars? Seriously. Five is simply not enough.

I couldn’t put this story down. Riveting. Total book hangover. A psychological thriller that tops all others.

I started reading AN ANONYMOUS GIRL in the afternoon and completely ignored my responsibilities until I finished it. And, if that doesn’t stay enough about what a page-turner this book is, let me tell you that it’s been several days and I’m STILL thinking about AN ANONYMOUS GIRL.

I love the premise. Told in dual POV, this book is about a young woman, battling her own secrets, who is desperate for money and participates in a typical academic psychological study conducted by a medical professional on campus, who is not only disturbed but also obsessive. What happens next takes you on a twisted plot ride. I laughed. I cried. I wanted to wring a few characters’ necks.

THE WIFE BETWEEN US was amazeballs and yet, authors Hendricks and Pekkanen managed to exceed my expectations with AN ANONYMOUS GIRL. Can't wait to see what they write next!

If you love exceptional writing, plot twists that’ll make your head spin, and a book thrill ride of a lifetime, then AN ANONYMOUS GIRL is for you. Highly recommend.

This booked sucked me right in and kept me on the edge of my seat for it’s entirety! Very suspenseful! A must read!

I was interested in reading this book because the author's first (The Wife Between Us) was awesome. While this book is intriguing, it's not as good as the first one. The plot is definitely unique, and I was anxious to find out what happened next. But I was waiting for some big twist, and it never came. I would rate this book 4 - 4.5 stars. Worth the read!

I loved the “The Wife Between Us,” so was thrilled to get a NetGalley ARC for “An Anonymous Girl” by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen. Wow, are these ladies talented and they’ve hit another home run with their latest hot hot hot novel of psychological obsession and suspense!

The setup is intriguing:
“Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.”

When Jessica Farris signs up for this psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks it will be easy peasy: answer a few questions, collect her check, and skedaddle. But as the questions get more intense and even invasive, and as the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she realizes this is no common research study and wonders what the cunning Dr. Shields is actually up to.

Will keep you gripped ‘til the last page, missing meals, missing sleep, essentially AWOL until you’re done. And even then, you’ll remain obsessed by “An Anonymous Girl.” Highly recommended!

Pub Date 08 Jan 2019   

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

Pub Date 08 Jan 2019

#AnAnonymousGirl #NetGalley

Participants in psychology studies rarely get caught up in real life drama. But Jessica is not there at random and the psychiatrist has other reasons for using Jessica, which lead to a web of lies and deceits. The unraveling, and the denoument make for compelling reading - this is a truly original story. The ending is wonderful, the epilog a little less so, but probably true.

AN ANONYMOUS GIRL
By Greer Hendricks

This book had appeal to me because I had always planned on becoming a psychiatrist growing up. My interest in psychology has always been piqued questioning, always looking for motivations that underlie what are reason's some people are prone to be the epitome of kindness and what dynamics cause other's too be not so kind. Ethics and Morals are the hypothesis for an experiment that Dr. Lydia Shields, a New York City psychiatrist is conducting in a study for female subjects aged 18-32 years old. She is offering $500.00 to subjects that participate in a survey that she is administering to all qualified participants.

Jessica who is a make up artist who while doing a make over for two young women learns about this study and thinks it is an easy way to supplement her income. Five hundred dollars is what Jessica earns doing ten make up clients. Sometimes an impulsive decision can completely change the trajectory our lives take.

"It's easy to judge other people's choices. The mother with a grocery cart full of Froot Loops and
double stuf oreos who yells at her child. The driver of an expensive convertible who cuts off a
slower vehicle. The woman in the quiet coffee shop who yaks on her cell phone. The husband
who cheats on his wife. But what if you knew the mother had lost her job that day? What if the
driver had promised his son he'd make it to his school play, but his boss insisted he attend a
last minute meeting?..."
"We all have reasons for our actions. Even if we hide the reason from those who think they
know us best. Even if the reasons are so deeply buried we can't recognize them ourselves."

Jessica is subject 52 in this study and she wants to participate so she shows up in an empty classroom with a laptop computer and is given instructions to be honest and expansive on all of the invasive unexpected questions that pop up on the computer screen. She wants to stay in the study so she reaches down deep to try to answer what is morally and ethically politically correct. She tries to answer the questions with what would be the answer that the psychiatrist conducting the study will want to hear so she can continue to remain a candidate.

Without spoiling this for any interested readers I will say that this is a page turner and Jessica and the psychiatrist will expand on this research to where this study takes on more complex instructions for Jessica to carry on without at first any suspicions from Jessica but certainly to the reader or at least myself instructions that would make me uncomfortable. This is something I would absolutely not do no matter how much I needed the money and the amounts of money offered for each task is exorbitant and the tasks may or not seem so unorthodox for the demographic ages of 18-32 year old today.

Personally, I found the this to hold my interest and unable to put down until the question became am I going to get a couple of hours sleep or go without sleeping and be tired the next day. I knew that the psychiatrist was unethical and using Jessica for reasons that were crazy. How dangerous was this psychiatrist was foremost in my mind. The manipulations and the psychiatrist conducting her research for her personal human testing of somebody close to her held my interest because of the reasons and motives of all involved.

There are many elements to this story that I have not disclosed. Was this fascinating? A resounding yes. Where the character's believable and could each one have a plausible reason for doing what they did for self serving reasons? Yes. Was the real reason for the character's each individual's motives for making the choices that they made for self preservation? I will let you answer these questions if you decide you want to read this. I would rate this a 3.5 star book even though I can assure you that this novel was like driving past a roadside accident and that you have to force yourself not to look. Upon reflecting for realism after I would say this situation after much pondering requires suspension of belief especially towards the end. Still I am grateful for the chance to have read it and believe it will reach a wide audience.

Thank you to Net Galley, Greer Hendricks and St. Martin's Press for making this title available in exchange for a fair and honest review.

An Anonymous Girl, due for publication in January 2019, is from the same writing duo who penned the bestseller The Wife Between Us. Their second novel leaves no doubt how good these authors are and just like with their first book, the less you know going into it, the better.

In An Anonymous Girl, Jessica Farris is a struggling make-up artist on the job one day when she overhears two clients discussing a psychological morality and ethics study. It starts out as a short survey paying $500. The doctor conducting the study, Lydia Shields, offers Jess the opportunity to expand her participation in the study into real life scenarios. All is not as it appears, however, as Jess soon starts to figure out, when the doctor's requests become stranger and more personally invasive.

This was a really fast read and I was invested the entire time in finding out what was really happening and how the authors would resolve the story. They did a really effective job at slowly letting the tension grow as it got creepier and creepier building toward the climax. My final recommendation: don't miss this one, just make sure you set aside enough time to read it, because you're not going to want to put it down until you get to the last page.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.