This well-written teen thriller captivated me from the very first chapter. Nora, her ex-boyfriend and new girlfriend are caught in a bank robbery gone awry when trying to make a deposit with the proceeds from their fundraising efforts. Nora must figure out a way to get all the hostages out alive. Luckily, as we learn in backstory chapters sprinkled throughout, Nora was raised by a con-woman mother and her mother taught her well. Rebecca, Katie, Ashley, these are all personas Nora assumed in the past as she helped her mother pull cons on gullible men. And the lessons she learned along the way eventually help her in the current bank robbery hostage situation. With many twists and turns and missteps, Nora’s story will captivate readers until the very end. The only downfall I see is the author’s liberal use of the F-bomb throughout. It was totally unnecessary, added no heightened emotion to the story and was trite at best. I will never understand why authors seem to think it is necessary to use such language. But alas, that seems to be the way of the world. We read it in books, we hear it in movies and on television and it has become a part of the lexicon. I find it interesting that classic books like Tom Sawyer or Gone with the Wind have been banned because of present day sensibilities, but it is OK to drop the F-bomb whenever and wherever you want. It is just one more example of the lack of respect in American society.

"Nora O'Malley's been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up as her mother's protégé. But when her mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape."

This novel takes turns alternating between present and past moments in Nora's life. This absolute page-turner tells the story of a young girl destroyed by a reckless and awful parent and past. In the present day, Nora is stuck in a bank robbery with her current girlfriend and ex-boyfriend. The only thing she can do to help her situation, and get everyone else out alive, is offer herself up. We learn that Nora's past is dangerous and filled with many people who want to find her, Of course, not everything goes as planned. The Girls I've Been is an amazing novel that begs to be read.

I really enjoyed reading this book. One of the reasons I was drawn to it was that the plot is so different for a young adult book these days. How many young adult books are about a teenager who used to be a con artist? Throw in some action and some LGBTQ+ and you have a hit in the making. The storyline kept me hooked and the characters kept me invested in the story.

Wow. What a beautiful concept for a book: young girl who is trying to overcome a past of being forced into cons by her mother. Nora was dynamic, endearing, and heartbreaking. You consistently found yourself rooting for her, no matter how far-fetched the odds. Her best friends, Iris and Wes, were also well-developed. It in no way felt like a typecast of three best friends and none of their flaws felt forced. It created a balance that is needed due to the chaos of the plot.

I felt the way that this book weaved all of the pieces of Nora’s life together was beautiful. You were able to walk through her life without feeling confused because you’re always thinking about the missing piece just as it seems to appear.

And while I do understand why this plot line was needed in order to showcase Nora’s background, sometimes I found myself going “Is it really going THERE now!?” However, no matter what, I always found myself wrapped back in by how genuine the characters were.

Highly recommended: NetGalley early release review.

The Girls I’ve Been by Tess Sharpe is a classic thriller set up – bank heist gone awry.

In a YA twist, it is the teen heroine trapped in the bank that has all the skills to get the thief (and ultimately, her friends and the other hostages) to safety. Why she has the smarts, and how she uses them is the story the unspools as she sweet talks, connives, and muscles her way through this very satisfying story.

This was a really compelling book, but it is way more serious and trauma-filled than the rather cutesy book blurb would lead you to believe. The "Three Problems" listed in the copy pale in comparison to all the lives that Nora has lead. The bank-robbers aren't some slapstick joke from a comedy movie, and Nora knows their types all too well because of the abusers she's encountered in her life. And Nora's not alone in her long history of physical and emotional scars, the main characters all have their own tough histories. It's a compelling read and I can see the potential for a second book, which I would pick up because I really liked these characters, but there is so many different kinds of abuse in this book that it's really the laidback jacket copy that leaves me annoyed.

Great thriller. I've loved falling for Sharpe's voice and writing style all over again and i love how incisive and precise and gut-wrenching it all felt. Her characters were raw and the plot was captivating thanks to the 24hrs timeline and the numerous flashbacks that allowed us a better understanding of Nora.

This is a quick, fast paced, unputdownable read! I really enjoyed how this book was was split into telling what was currently going on - the bank robbery - and learning about Nora's past that created who she is today. It was very interesting to learn about all the girls she has been, the lessons and tricks she has learned, and the relationships she built over the years. There were plenty of twists and turns along the way. I really didn't want it to end! Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.