Skip to main content

Member Reviews

I do love stories that start off with a shocking moment. I’m rarely surprised by “whodunnit “; you got me Hendricks/Pekkanen! This book will be in many beach bags this summer.

Was this review helpful?

Excellent addictive storyline! Shays life seems so pathetic and sad, especially when she witnesses someone jump onto subway tracks. It was great to watch her blossom and come to life under Cassandra and Janes direction. They seemed like strong, together women. How could Shay know they also love to participate in vigilante justice? For me, the book really took off when Shay started questioning things. I loved all the twists and I thought it was a very satisfying ending. I could have used more character development at the beginning, at least for Shay. Sometimes I wasn’t sure who I should be cheering for in the story.

Was this review helpful?

Since loving this author duo’s debut, The Wife Between Us, their books have become auto-reads for me. Unfortunately, I’m beginning to think they’re a bit of a one book wonder for me.

I was bored for about the first 90% of You Are Not Alone. There was some mild intrigue with Cassandra and Jane, the Moore sisters, and figuring out what exactly they’re up to, but it didn’t really take long to figure things out. I kept hoping there was a lot more to them and their group of friends, but there wasn’t. While I did like reading the multiple perspectives, getting the others just made Shay’s perspective more frustrating. I just wanted to yell at her to stop being so stupid all the time, which isn’t necessarily fair since I was privy to more information than she was. Still, though, for how intelligent she was supposed to be, I felt like it took her way too long to become suspicious.

I found the writing between the two authors to be seamless, as always. They have very compatible writing styles and I do find that impressive. I was just underwhelmed with the story. I thought much of it was very obvious and thought things drug out for too long. There was one surprise towards the end that I hadn’t guessed, but it wasn’t exactly a game changing twist like I have come to expect.

Overall, You Are Not Alone, just wasn’t for me. While there was initially some intrigue, I felt like things become obvious way too early in the story and I kept waiting for things to get really crazy, but they never did. I found myself just trying to get through the story, rather than enjoying it. While I still think these authors are talented, this story missed the mark for me.

Overall Rating (out of 5): 2.5 Stars

Was this review helpful?

You Are Not Alone is an outstanding cat and mouse tale. You'll be holding your breath at times, agreeable at times and then WAM you'll be knocked down. I read it in one day as I could not put it down. Really great story, you come into it totally accepting everyone and everything and way before the end you become suspicious of everyone and everything. Great thriller! Thank you #NetGalley #StMartisPress # YouAreNotAlone

Was this review helpful?

It is rare that I become so immersed in a story that it actually gets my heart racing - You are Not Alone by Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks had me anxious at multiple points throughout the story. The scenes where Shay was alternating between stalking the sisters and hiding from the sisters were so well written that they were nearly cinematic - I had a clear picture playing in my mind. I've read all the books by these authors and they are becoming experts at tension and intrigue!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this! (in case the 5 star rating threw you) ;0)

I do have to state up front that you need to go into this blind and just let the story lead you. Don't think about how this wouldn't happen IRL. There are a lot of liberties taken here, but if you can just roll with it, you are in for a treat!

We all know a Shay Miller (Protagonist)-- Could be your friend, neighbor, co-worker.
And we all know some version of the Moore Sisters. Hopefully not a friend, might be a neighbor or co-worker, or just someone you see from a far that makes you feel just a bit less of yourself.

What stems from these 2 unlikely characters meeting and forming a bond sets the stage for an explosive thriller that kept me spellbound.

I can see this playing out on the silver screen...fingers crossed!

ARC provided by NetGalley

Was this review helpful?

Twists and twists and more twists. What a delightfully warped story with original characters. I love that feeling of constantly trying to figure out the plot just to have it keep changing.

Was this review helpful?

This is the third book I have read by this author duo, and it may well be my favourite one. It will be hard to write a thorough review without spoiling too much, and I highly recommend going into this book knowing as little as possible, but I will try.

In this book we follow a few different sets of characters. Firstly, we follow Shay. She is a normal woman in her early thirties, trying to figure out her place in the world. Shay feels like she is lost, she is on a temp job that is due to end soon, she is in love with her roommate who is already in a serious relationship, and she feels isolated. Her life changes when she witnesses a suicide on her way to work. She soon meets the Moore sisters and their group of friends. They are successful, fashionable and everything Shay wants to be. However, appearances are not always what they seem.

I really enjoyed the multiple perspectives this story was told from. I found that Shay and Cassandra/Jane all had very distinct voices, though I felt the other characters could have been distinguished more. I really liked the way that the plot unfolded through the eyes of both sets of characters, and the way the twists were revealed. I felt on edge and worried for Shay and intrigued by the Moore sisters and their friend group. The plot kept me guessing and moved at a really great pace. There were some twists that were predictable for me, but that didn't diminish the overall quality of the plot. There were some aspects of the characters/plot that were explored more thoroughly, but again, it did not change the overall experience I had while reading this.

Overall, I loved this book, and I would highly recommend it to any thriller or mystery fans.

Was this review helpful?

You Are Not Alone is my favourite book by this writing duo! It was compulsively readable, with short chapters, shifting perspectives, and tons of little twists.

Was this review helpful?

Well @greerhendricks and @sarahpekkanen have done it again! This book was FANTASTIC! I went into it completely blind and I am so happy I did! The twists and turns through the whole book will leave you on and the edge of your seat and upset when you have to put the book down! Don’t be surprised if you find yourself staying up late to read *just* one more chapter! Guilty 🙋🏻‍♀️. You Are Not Alone will be released on March 3rd! Preorder your copy today! Thank you @netgalley and @stmartinspress for this ARC!

Was this review helpful?

This was a very good psychological thriller. The author does a great job having you guessing what the motives are for the group of women who Shay gets tangled up with. Shay is so data-driven and logs all of her thoughts and analyst that this helps her figure out what is going on.

Was this review helpful?

Sarah and Greer have done it again! This smart, addictive, exciting novel is exactly what I have come to expect from this amazing duo. Anyone looking to get hooked on a psychological thriller should absolutely read this book.

Was this review helpful?

The moment I heard Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen were coming out with a new book, I was beyond excited. I absolutely loved The Wife Between Us. It's one of my favorite thrillers. I decided going into this book that I wasn't going to read the synopsis. I feel that's what I normally do with most mystery/thrillers. I had no idea what to except but let me just tell you I was hooked from the start.


This story is very action packed. Right from the very start of the book. I was hooked. I found myself constantly wanting to read more. I needed to know what was going to happen next. I never felt bored. I feel Greer and Sarah did a great job keeping you on your toes.


This story also is told in multiple perspectives. I did like that because I feel you're not so in the dark. So you kind of have a sense what is going on in the book but there are still somethings that are left out that you won't find until later on so I did enjoy that. It did make me wish I could just pop into the story and talk to one of the characters. However that wouldn't have made it a good story. So I did like seeing the obstacles put out there for the one character. 

Another thing that I really liked and isn't something I see a lot in thrillers/mysteries is stats. The main character Shay is very into statistics. She's constantly recording everything and taking notes of everything going on around her. An example of that is, "The murder rate in the United States dropped last year. New York City isn't even one of the top 30 most dangerous cities in the country..." It's interesting and can be a little creepy at times. I feel a part of me wished I was that observant and into statistics like that. It just seems like a fun skill to have. It did make her good at research.


Overall I really ended up liking this. This is the first real thriller I read in 2020 and I'm so happy to say it's another favorite of mine. I enjoyed the pacing of this book. I didn't want to put it down. This book had some relatable characters and also some unlikable characters. I ended up enjoying both a lot. Yes I was annoyed with certain characters but it worked with the story. I never felt like it was ever overdone or over the top. Yes I feel you were let in on things but then other things you were kept in the dark on. So there was still that element of mystery. It had some good shocking moments. I really can't wait to see what these authors come up with next.

*This e-arc was provided by the publishers in exchange for an honest review*

Was this review helpful?

I was able to read You are not alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen for free from Netgalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an advanced ARC in exchange for an honest review.It is hard to review without giving spoilers: Shay is lonely and she is in a difficult space in her life so when she sees a woman commit suicide in the subway it derails her completely. A great thriller ride especially for anyone who rides the train. Fantastic characters, fast-paced plot, and an ending that will have you cheering.I have read these authors before and this one does not disappoint, a recommendation for sure.

Was this review helpful?

The dynamic duo is at it again! While An Anonymous Girl didn’t quite do it for me as much as The Wife Between Us, You Are Not Alone makes up for that times ten! This has to be their best yet! I read it during any spare time I had and was so eager I finished it in 3 days! Explaining the plot could give spoilers so I’ll just say what I can without giving away the fun! Shay is feeling down on her luck and isolated. No real social life and a measly temp job. But one day she witnesses a suicide on the subway, and after that her life changes, for the better. All because of the two Moore sisters. She meets them at the memorial for the woman who committed suicide. Shay feels lucky, excited and hopeful. But all is not as it seems. Told from multiple points of view, it can be confusing at first but as the book goes on, the pieces start to connect. And I love how the authors weaved the stories together this way for one final WHOA at the end of this book. Yes this book has some twists but what creeped me out the most is the literal title of the book:you are not alone. But who’s watching you? Definitely a must read book!!

Was this review helpful?

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest opinion -
Shay sees Amanda throw herself on the subway rails. She picks up her fallen necklace.
And - suddenly she meets the Moore sisters. They lead a glamorous life that Shay envies. She is so excited when they involve her.
Quickly she gets a new apartment, a new job but things aren't as they seem...
And then - it becomes very scary - What is going on? Will Shay survive?

Was this review helpful?

I have enjoyed these authors prior book and this one was very good also. It took me a while to understand what was going on, bit it was an enjoyable read..Kudos to the authors and many thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Was this review helpful?

I received a complimentary digital galley of YOU ARE NOT ALONE by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen for an honest review. Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the chance to read and review!

YOU ARE NOT ALONE begins with Shay, a woman obsessed with statistics and a little down on her luck. She’s in need of a job and soon a new place to live as the roommate she has a crush on is getting pretty serious with his girlfriend. When Shay heads out for the day she finds the subway platform nearly empty save for a woman who we later learn is Amanda. Shay is horrified when she realizes the woman plans to jump in front of the oncoming train and there’s nothing she can do to stop it.

Sisters Cassandra and Jane Moore knew Amanda, though their link isn’t entirely clear. As Shay feels compelled to find out more about what drove this woman to suicide, she becomes obsessed with the sisters and their group of friends. She feels welcomed into their crowd, excited to find new friends of her own. Still, it is clear to the reader from the beginning that the sisters have ulterior motives that Shay doesn’t know about.

This book immediately hooked me into the drama and I couldn’t help but feel sorry for poor Shay. She’s a bit socially awkward and doesn’t have much going for her at the moment. Her obsession with the fallen woman’s life is a bit extreme, but also understandable given the state of her own life. As she begins to feel more of a kinship for Amanda, it becomes important to understand how to avoid getting to contemplating suicide for herself.

The chapters in this one alternate from Shay’s perspective to that of the Moore sisters and their friends, often in flashbacks to give more of the story of how their friend group was built and what exactly drove Amanda to do what she did. I thought that the quick chapters and switches in POV worked well to make this a gripping read. I finished this one in a single day because I wanted to find out what happened!

I definitely recommend this one to the thriller fans! YOU ARE NOT ALONE is out on March 3, 2020!

Was this review helpful?

Told in multiple POVs, You Are Not Alone has a varied cast of characters with the main ones being the Moore Sisters and a somewhat of a loner, Shay. Shay is taken in by their charisma and their empathy. But of course, the sisters are not what they appear to be. They incite vigilante justice and are seemly addicted to sweet revenge. The duo of Pekkanen and Hendricks write awesome dark, twist-filled thrillers that keep you on the edge and hooks you from the beginning. Full of mind games, which the authors excel at, leaving you with a wonderful, never see it coming ending that leaves you so happy to experience this page-turning thriller. Not my favorite from this author team, but it was definitely entertaining, engaging, and I’m eager for their next book to come out.

Was this review helpful?

When given the opportunity to read You Are Not Alone, I obviously jumped at the chance. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are quite the dynamic duo when it comes to suspenseful and twisty thrillers. I've never read any of their solo novels, but together, they truly seem to work great as a pair.

Shay Miller is unfulfilled. Her roommate is man she's in love with, whose girlfriend visits often. She has no friends, and no prospects. When she witnesses a horrific event one morning in the subway station, her life is quickly flipped upside down. She's thrown into a whirlwind of anxiety and PTSD, and stumbles right into the path of the Cassandra and Jane Moore, who quickly take her under their wing. Only now, her situation has spiraled into "too good to be true" territory, which has become quite suspect.

It's funny how the nitpicky things become nonessential when looking back. I rated The Wife Between Us with three stars, but considering it now, I actually really enjoyed the story and thought it was incredibly shocking and twisty. I also enjoyed An Anonymous Girl. As for You Are Not Alone, I thought I was going down this path of figuring out what the twist would be, but boy was I wrong. I totally didn't see the twist coming - but looking back into the story, it makes so much sense. You can follow the pieces and connect the dots, and it leads you right to it. Hendricks and Pekkanen have a way of leading you down into a completely immersive story and then switching paths hard enough to give you whiplash, though the feeling can be quite enjoyable when it's done in a completely metaphorical way.

Something I didn't like, though, was how many of the characters that I thought were going to be much more involved in the story basically disappeared about two-thirds of the way through. They were absolutely integral to the plot, but eventually just disappeared, which was weird and kind of awkward. Seriously, where did they go? It made the story feel like pieces were missing, so I felt a bit unsatisfied by the end of the book.

Something else is these books seem to be written for a very particular demographic. I do enjoy the stories and I get really attached to a Hendricks/Pekkanen novel - they are seriously page-turners. But when reading any of their stories, the majority of the characters are all very White, very blonde, very fit, and very well off. Even the characters who are struggling financially seem to be rich. The struggle seems unrealistic. I have struggled, and have come from a disadvantaged background, and the "struggles" of these characters seem unrelatable and unrealistic. These people live in NYC with a savings account and enough money to buy a $200 top on a credit card with a temp job. The characters are a bit too "perfect," even in their imperfections. The main police officer in the story was Black, but other than that, all three books have lacked diversity (in ways even outside of race). I would like to see more diverse characters in future Hendricks/Pekkanen novels.

"Some people contend there are two primal fears. The first and most basic is the end of our existence. The second is isolation; we all have a deep need to belong to something greater than ourselves." - You Are Not Alone, Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen

Overall, the story was just as shocking and twisty as the last two books from this duo. You Are Not Alone was definitely a page-turner, and I'll likely read any future novels this pair releases. But I would really like to see more diversity in their stories.

Was this review helpful?