I was completely gripped by this story and was impressed with the writing quality. I was entertained throughout the story and would not hesitate to recommend this book.

I wasn't sure what to expect going into this, as it isn't the typical book I read, however the mystery element set out in the blurb intrigued me enough that I knew I needed to pick this up. This is a book that took me a while to get through, not because it was bad but because I wanted to take everything in.

"Who She Is" was such a wonderful read, and Diane Byington crafted such wonderful characters that will surely stay with me for a long time.

I found myself rooting for Faye, a teen in the sixties growing up with unstable parents and a passion for running during a time when women weren't encouraged or even allowed to be athletes. Faye's passion for running helps her befriend Francine and leads to an unforgettable adventure.

Overall, a wonderful read!

I very much enjoyed this book. It took a tumultuous historical time and manages to weave history in with a human story that is very believable. The characters are rich and in most cases likeable, I wanted to cheer for her running too! I couldn’t find anything I thought missing or lacking and finished it in one sitting because I wanted to hear the end of her story.

I enjoyed this book it was an easy read, liked the link to the Boston marathon. I guessed the twist & thought the end was a little rushed but an enjoyable read.

Byington tackles a myriad of issues; social issues of the 60s, health issues, bullying, and stigma; she then brings them together in a flawless plot. It's seamless and a wonderful read.

This was a well-written story about a couple of high school girls from Florida determined to run in the Boston marathon in 1968 before women were allowed to run in it. There is a lot more to the story, but I wouldn't want to spoil anything. Honestly, this book is best if you don't even read the book summary.

I was disappointed that you knew something that was going on very clearly by the half way point of this book, well before the main characters did. I was also disappointed that the adults in the story shrugged off certain things that would be huge red flags for people now-a-days. Were times so different back then that these things would have been ignored? Possibly, but it's difficult to look through today's filter and not expect it to be handled differently.

Otherwise, it was a really good story. I thought the author did a really good job of bringing the social issues of the day into the story, Vietnam, race, and gender issues were all addressed as they applied in 1968.

I thought the ending was a bit long. The author seemed to want to wrap up all loose ends. Fortunately, this wasn't too neat. You get to know what happened to everyone, the good and the bad.

I think this was a really good debut and worth a read for anyone interested in track, historical fiction, or family drama.

DNF- I'm sure there is mystery in this book some where but by 20%, which is where I called it quits, I'm bored. I don't really care about the running topic. And the running seemed to be the main focus, at this point in the book. I kept waiting for it to pick up and it hasn't yet.

Thank you for the opportunity. Sorry I can't give you better feed back.

Rating does not reflect my feelings.

*** ARC provided by Netgalley via the publisher in exchange for an honest review. ***

Faye’s family never stay in one place for very long, they are constantly moving throughout her childhood. However, this time her parents have promised that they will stick around at their new home in Florida until she graduates high school. This allows Faye’s to tentatively made friends with a fellow runner. Faye’s parents disapprove of her running as she has epilepsy and they think that running will trigger her illness, which leaves Faye stuck between her parents and her friend Francie’s desire to entire the Boston Marathon. At the same time, training for her run starts to bring to the surface memories that Faye doesn’t recognise and makes her start to question her entire life.

Definitely a page turner, I enjoyed every minute reading this book and would absolutely recommend. I felt there were two distinct storylines, the ‘mystery’ plus Faye’s determination to compete in the Boston Marathon at a time when women weren’t allowed to enter. Unusually I enjoyed both of these storylines equally and felt the author juggled the themes well.

Such a great story about overcoming the ups and downs of life. So glad, I was able to experience this story and discover a new story.

I loved this book. It had me right from the start and wanting to know what happened. I was totally engrossed and felt emotionally involved with the characters. Highly recommend.

I had high hopes for this book after reading the description and some of the reviews but I have to say that I was disappointed with this book. Not really sure where the story was going and could not connect to any of the characters, could not recommend this book, it has no direction and is quite a hard read

Most enjoyable story about two friends,who met their Junior yr.in HS and remained friends thru out their lives.
Most of the story revolves around Faye who has lived a life of many hardships and is a fast moving story and a real page turner.
I Read the book in one sitting & you will too,it's that good.
Unable to say a whole lot about the book or will give the plot away.
Would highly recommend for a quick,light read.
Many thanks to Netgalley and Publisher for allowing me the privilege to Read and give my honest review of " Who She Is"

Good read about being a female in the male world of running that turns into so much more! I would strongly recommend this book to everyone. I received a copy from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was an emotional, but good read. For most of the story I was fighting for Faye, hoping that she would get out of the relentless hold of her parents Sue and Bud but I also knew she was under sixteen, had led a very restricted lifestyle and to rebel and break away was going to be hard if not impossible.

Moving every few months, no roots, a father who seemed over powering and a mother who was a coward Faye never had it easy. Her passion for running should not have got such a lot of opposition from her parents. She did not ask for money for the sport, it had the support of the school, she was so good at it that she could possibly get into college so why were the parents so anti running. Was it just because they thought it was not their social level to go to college, or is it that they just wanted another wage earner in the family. Or was it something a bit more.

Unravelling the story was a good one. Only revealed half way through that things are not exactly as they seemed for this family it goes one step at a time with fortunately a happy ending for Faye.

Interesting, gripping book set in 1960’s American during a time that was not easy. Thank you to both netgalley and Book Go Social for giving me the opportunity to read ’Who She Is’ in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

*Thanks to NetGalley and Red Adept Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.* Faye Smith's family are constantly on the move. Itinerant farm labourers, they never stay in one place for any length of time. Faye has learnt not make close friends at any of the new schools she attends. However, something happens when her family move to the Floridian town of Valencia. Francie won't take no for an answer and soon the two teenage girls are training together, with the hope of running in the Boston Marathon. The book starts in 1967 and, at this time, only males are allowed to run in the marathon. However, the girls are determined to race. What really struck me about the book was this - my mother was in high school in the 1960s. She lived through her childhood, adolescence and early adulthood being told what females couldn't do. Yet, she went on to have two daughters who believe in shattering glass ceilings. This book made me reflect on how far we have come, but also how far we still have to go.

This is a simple novel about a teenage girl who is struggling to make a better future for herself.
Writing and story was good.Character of 'Faye' is portrayed really well along with all the teenage emotions.
I felt ending did not do justice to the novel overall.A better ending could have lifted this novel from good to great.
Nevertheless, I enjoyed reading it.Not a outstanding story, but definitely a one time read if you are looking for a light read.

Faye Smith is a 16 year old girl growing up in the late 60s. It's hard enough for her to make friends when she's forced to move schools every few months, but having an overprotective mother who's unwilling to let Faye play sports makes things worse. She secretly joins her new school's track team and discovers her love for running. When she almost gets run off the road one night, she has a flashback of another time when she was a young girl, in a car accident, and terrified of the dark. New flashbacks keep coming making her question who she is and where she belongs.
I really liked this book. I loved Faye's determination to join the track team and then run the Boston marathon at a time when women weren't allowed to participate. The author was really able to capture the teenager's emotions about her new school, new friends, and her parents. I read this book in a day, just couldn't put it down! Thank you Diane Byington and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

Who She Is describes the twisting and turning path Faye Smith takes, runs, actually, to discover who she is, as the title says.

Always wondering if she is who her parents say she us, Faye takes up running as a way to escape her difficult childhood. When her friend Francie convinces her that they should sneak into and run the Boston Marathon (which was only open to men at the time the book is set), with a mere five months of training, they do. That’s ludicrous item number 1. I don’t know how anyone who has never run at all can go from zero to 26.2 miles in five months.

Then there’s the mystery about her parents, which I figured out early.

I was not sure if I were reading an adult or YA book most of the time. The characters are flat and the story and its writing not only trite but not believable.

I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley.