Fun thriller with a sci-fi twist. The Other Me reminded me of a modernized Twilight Zone episode and the memorable concept kept me wondering how it would all play out.

I like a lot of spice in my domestic thrillers because you usually know exactly what to expect when you read one. A lot of authors never dare to dabble in science fiction because it usually ends up being overcomplicated and difficult to plot an ending, so I appreciate the new take! The opening twist keeps the novel fresh and kept me engaged, and while never getting to Blake Crouch levels of scifi, the ending was satisfying.

The Other Me was an exciting new approach to thrillers that I read all night! Thank you Berkley and Netgalley

Kelly Holter is a promising artist from Chicago whose career is yet to take off. Watching her already rich friend thrive in the art industry while she has to work some awfully tedious side-gigs in order to keep painting is not fun, but Kelly is determined not to give up on her dreams. That’s before she’s thrown into an entirely different world – one in which she never even left Michigan, didn’t pursue an art career, but instead became a graphic designer, remained a hobbyist painter, and married one of her former high-school classmates, Eric. The transition between these two alternate universes leaves Kelly nauseous and completely lost. One second she was in the art gallery’s bathroom at her friend’s opening, then she’s walking out to a surprise birthday party back in her hometown. She remembers everything from her life back in Chicago – the tattoos she used to have that are now gone, her creative friends who have no recollection of who she is, all the art lessons and the techniques she acquired through the years, but can’t apply anymore – yet that world seems completely intangible. In Michigan, she has things that seemed out of reach before like a good relationship with her family, a loving marriage, a dog, and financial stability. Things that she sacrificed back in Chicago in order to focus on her career.
Her life in Chicago had been glamorous, artsy, but uncertain at times. By contrast, she has nothing to worry about in Michigan as Eric has it all figured out. Her husband loves her, provides for her, and looks out for her to the point where his overprotective tendencies suffocate her. He rarely lets her make decisions on her own, he’s always there to protect and assist her in a way that infuriates Kelly terribly. Yet, he always knows how to make amends, find excuses for himself, and Kelly can’t shake the familiarity between them, nor the tender moments she vaguely remembers they’ve shared. All of this almost drowns out Kelly’s suspicion that her husband might be somehow involved in taking her away from her Chicago life. After all, Eric offers her comfort and her life with him isn’t all that bad... Perhaps it was the life she had always been meant to live. She tries to comfort herself with such thoughts, but the memories of her old life in Chicago are too pressing. The longing she feels for her other life pushes her towards finding the answers she needs to go back and reclaim everything she lost.
While the mystery is a bit predictable, the characters are well developed and the story is intriguing enough to make up for it and keep the readers fully immersed. The premise is original and its execution is equally impressive. Sarah Zachrich Jeng’s strength resides in her ability to create compelling characters that react very realistically in the contexts they are put, no matter how outlandish these are. The only weakness is that the ending is quite abrupt and ties up too nicely and too quickly all the loose ends. The readers might be left with the impression that the first half of the book is too slow while the other half is fascinating, but put on high-speed.
The Other Me combines the intricacies of an identity crisis with exciting discussions on technology, ethics, and the future of it all, succeeding in opening readers’ minds to new possibilities and horizons. If you’re looking for something to keep you on your toes, look no further – this is a fast-paced, exhilarating tale that touches on subjects like autonomy, do-overs, regrets, tech, and identity. Sarah Zachrich Jeng is incredibly adept at building organic conflicts and dealing with human psychology which makes The Other Me an absolutely impressive debut.

A speculative fiction imbued with intriguing mystery premise and addictive writing. Kelly is an aspiring artist residing in Chicago attending her best friend's art gallery opening. She opens the restroom door and mysteriously walks into her hometown Michigan and into her unrecognizable life. In this other life, Kelly is married to her high school sweetheart Eric, no longer an artist and has a better relationship with her family. However, her life becomes complicated when her old and new memories begin to merge together. In Kelly's new life, she loves Eric and wants to trust him but their marriage seems a little too perfect...suspiciously perfect. As she delves deeper into her investigation, she embarks on an unnerving and perilous journey in search of the truth.

The enticing premise is what made this novel very inviting. A slow-burn mystery that perfectly executed the disorientation and claustrophobic atmosphere.The concept of manipulative relationship in this story was refreshing and compelling. Examining Kelly and Eric's interaction in their marriage seems perfectly healthy on the surface. However, through the author's detailed observation in the subtlety of Eric's behavior and dialogue, the sense of deception and distrust brews beneath the surface. The unsettlement is constantly lurking in the shadows permeating an ominous tone. The suspense made this book a page-turner. The protagonist's inner struggles and her conflicts were relatable and resonated with me. Strong character development was the driving force of this story. The relationships between Eric and extending to her family and friends made the impact of Kelly's decisions much more at stake. The layers of poignant depths and its various messages had so much to unpack. It would have been nice if the author went more into detail on the sci-fi aspect, however this did not take away my enjoyment of this book. I was still fully invested in the story and its characters. A thought-provoking multilayered examination on marriage, male entitlement, identity and the tech industry was cleverly executed. An impressive debut novel by Sarah Zachrich Jeng filled with gripping storytelling, imaginative and a unique concept made it an exhilarating read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Other Me is a book about two paths diverging. One day, Kelly is eking out a living in Chicago, living her dream of being an artist. Upon her birthday, Kelly feels a bit sick and walks into the bathroom only to come out of the bathroom into a surprise party in another state and another life. Who is this person? Who is this Kelly who never left her small town in Michigan? What is going on and what will unfold? Will Kelly want her old life back? Can she get her old life back?

This is a really impressive debut novel by Jeng, and my feelings for this book are all over the place. First, I am incredibly biased because I hail from Michigan and loved all of the references to the great Mitten State. The main character, Kelly, was relatable: She had two lives, one where she never left her small town and one where she moved to the big city. The plot itself was pretty unique especially toward the end. That being said, there were a few things that I just couldn't over look. This book was evenly paced, and it should be cut in about half. The second half of the book was the better part. There were also way too many characters, too many brothers and sisters and cousins. However, in my opinion, these last two points really boil down to how good of an editor the author has, if you can find an editor who isn't afraid to give out honest review notes.

Overall, an extremely impressive debut novel by Jeng although it is unevenly paced.

This sort of Russian Doll-esque story intrigued me, and I'm so glad because I couldn't put it down! Imagine opening a door and finding yourself in a completely separate universe - one where your life has taken a completely different turn than the one you left.

This was a little bit of a slow burn, and I think it could've been shortened slightly in editing to make it a bit more punchy - but I had a lot of fun with the pacing when stuff was GOIN' DOWN (you'll know what I mean), so I can't complain too much there!!

The Other Me by Sarah Zachrich Jeng is a science fiction thriller. This one brings to mind things like Tom Hank’s in Big or Freaky Friday where characters wake up in a different bodies but this thriller is a woman finding herself in a completely different reality.

Kelly is celebrating her birthday at a friend’s art gallery opening when she begins to feel strange. Kelly heads to the ladies room at the gallery but as she passes through the doorway she finds she stepped into a restaurant in her hometown where her whole family is gathered to celebrate her birthday with her.

Some of the people around Kelly she hasn’t seen in years seeing that Kelly had left for art school right after she graduated. Then there is Eric who now seems to think he is Kelly’s husband. Eric had been in high school with Kelly but they hadn’t been more than friends. As Kelly takes in her new surroundings she finds she now has memories of two different lives and can’t figure out how she landed in this new reality.

So I admit I’m a sucker for this type of story where a protagonist finds their life completely turned upside down whether it’s a wish to be “big” or another occurrence like we find here. The fact that our protagonist here had no wish for her life to change kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to discover how and why it had happened and taking in all of the changes around her as she discovered them. The ending to this one was rather thought provoking too after spending time in Kelly’s shoes during the story. I was rather surprised to learn that this had been a debut novel for the author so I will definitely be on the look out for more from her in the future after completely enjoying this first.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

4.5 stars

The tag line pretty much sold me on this book: Two Lives. The one you wanted. The one that wanted you.

This book blew my mind. While the premise felt like a version of Sliding Doors or The Family Man…. It’s that and much more than you could even imagine. The twists and turns had my second guessing every time I thought I had figured it out. I ran the gamut of brain bending intrigue, to affronted indignation, to fist pumping when the heroine takes control and chooses her destiny.

Kelly is celebrating her 29th birthday in Chicago, at her best friend’s gallery showing. After some champagne, she’s not feeling well and the next thing she knows, she is back in her hometown in Michigan. At her favorite restaurant, celebrating her birthday…. With her husband, Eric. She remembers Eric, they were friends in school, nothing more. But now she feels out of touch as she has memories of both timelines. The one where she started dating Eric in high school and the one where she went to Art School instead. Two very different timelines of events.

Now Kelly is in a race to figure out which timeline (Chicago Kelly or Michigan Kelly) was the real one and how to get back to it.

I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough to figure out which was real and which wasn’t. The outcome is conclusive and amazing. Thank you to Netgalley and Berkley Publishing for the opportunity to read this.

Great time travel premise but felt there wasn’t enough science to support the fiction. I never once bought into the possibility of the actions in the story, starting at the very beginning when one of the main characters was transported into a different time and place and she basically had a non-reaction. I’m guessing that most of us would be hysterical at that point! The writing was solid but the narrative needed a reality check. I did love the part played by Bear, the dog, though.

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkeley Books for the ARC to read and review.

“Two lives. The one you wanted. The one that wanted you.”
3.5****

Chicago Kelly is an artist with interesting body art and eccentric artistic friends. She is single and loves her life!

Celebrating her 29th birthday party with friends, she walks out of one door and BAM!!!! She is Michigan Kelly. Married to Eric, a mixture and loss of 12 years of her life. Her husband works for a mysterious tech company GNNI. Her boy art appears and fades…weirdly.

The Other Me is satisfying enough to finish but did not blow me away. An interesting slow-burn mystery that doesn’t take long to probe the guilty culprit.

Well-written and this debut author Sarah Zachrich is to watch.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this Arc in exchange for my honest opinion!

SO SO GOOD! If you loved The Midnight Library, you will absolutely love The Other Me. I couldn't put down Sarah Zachrich Jeng's new book - just had to know what happened.

“Don’t you ever think about how your life could be different, if you’d made different choices? Or if . . . if you could go back and live your life over again. Knowing what you know now.”

“There are always those moments between, when she’s not one thing or the other.”

“Failure is not an end but a beginning.”

3.5 Stars Out Of 5

The debut novel by Sarah Zachrich Jeng has an interesting concept that I found unique yet familiar. This is a slow burner at times but the action and story ratchet up the last half. In many ways, this is a character driven book between the main character, Kelly, and her husband Eric. There is a lot of science fiction but nothing that is over your head while it focuses on domestic relationships and the mystery surrounding Kelly going from her 29th birthday as a single artist in Chicago to all of a sudden a married Kelly in Michigan on her 29th birthday; and all the while, having memories of both timelines. The Other Me is not a perfect read and I did guess all of the major plot twists, but it is a fun journey as each part unfolds.

As a fan of time-travel and genre-bending books, this one reeled me in from the first page and didn't let go. I especially appreciated how the reader learned what Kelly did as she navigated her journey, and I loved the character development. Saying too much will spoil the book so let me just say this: the fast-pace and inventive plot make this story a must-read, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

I began this book when I couldn’t sleep one night thinking I would read a few pages which would help me fall back asleep. Well joke was in me as once I began there was no way I was going to sleep. It’s a page turner! Fantastic thriller spin on the “sliding doors” theme which I love!! I’ve already shared on insta and can’t wait for others to read so we can talk about the twists and the paths we ourselves would have taken! Bravo to the author & pub team!!

On Kelly's birthday she walks through a doorway and into a totally different life. She starts to notice things are different. She misses some things from her own life but is also starting to like things in this "new life." If she has to choose what will she choose? An interesting premise and good read. Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for an ARC

A bit of a grower, but definitely not a shower.

Kelly is a 29-year old artist living in Chicago. She’s at her best friend’s art show. During the night, she opens a door that turns into…

Kelly is a 29-year old wife living in her hometown of Michigan. It’s her birthday, and while she remembers her Chicago life, it seems she is stuck in some sort of Sliding Doors-esque world where her other life might not have happened…

...or are both scenarios legitimate?

Sounds super intriguing, right?

I’ll be brief so I don’t spoil anything.

I almost DNF’d multiple times through 45%.

I unexpectedly gained a bit of interest after that.

I still didn’t like the direction it went in.

Some (all?) of the characters were so unlikable, and I had a hard time caring about them.

I had to let suspension of disbelief run rampant.

I didn’t fully understand the logic of the story when all was said and done.

I just didn’t love it, but...

Great writing from a debut author. I see promise, and I will grab her next book as soon as I can.

There have been some phenomenal ratings/reviews for this book, so please read those too.

2.5 stars

I kindly thank Berkley for a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 8/10/21.

Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com

Kelly walks through a doorway on her birthday and into a totally different life.
This thriller finds Kelly in that other life but fully aware something is wrong. She’s missing tattoos, her hair has grown, she has a husband! She has clearly different sets of memories--going out with Eric or not, going to art school in Chicago or staying home and going to Michigan State—both seem real. But at the heart of this might be the question, which does she want to be true? This was an interesting premise that looks at our choices and a few important moral questions.

Interesting storyline, I never hate a parallel universe type of plot. Unfortunately, this felt a little rote or "done" to me.

"Two lives. The one you wanted. The one that wanted you.

Her birthday should be like any other night.

One minute Kelly's a free-spirited artist in Chicago going to her best friend's art show. The next, she opens a door and mysteriously emerges in her Michigan hometown. Suddenly her life is unrecognizable: She's got twelve years of the wrong memories in her head and she's married to Eric, a man she barely knew in high school.

Racing to get back to her old life, Kelly's search leads only to more questions. In this life, she loves Eric and wants to trust him, but everything she discovers about him - including a connection to a mysterious tech startup - tells her she shouldn't. And strange things keep happening. The tattoos she had when she was an artist briefly reappear on her skin, she remembers fights with Eric that he says never happened, and her relationships with loved ones both new and familiar seem to change without warning.

But the closer Kelly gets to putting the pieces together, the more her reality seems to shift. And if she can't figure out what happened on her birthday, the next change could cost her everything..."

I love Sliding Doors like stories!

I loved this book. I am always looking for this kind of genre-bending thriller, especially with sci-fi elements, from a female author! This story managed to pull me in and keep me consistently intrigued. I was worried that the time-travel theme would become too complicated and burdensome in a story that is light on science, but the author managed not to get cornered by it, while also not falling into too-predictable tropes. A pleasantly surprising great read!

A young artist opens a door at an art show and ends up in a world where she gave up art for a high school boyfriend she barely remembers. Kelly suddenly has 12 years of memories she didn't have before, and a husband named Eric - a boy she once did a high school project with and barely spoke to after. Now, Kelly is jostling with two sets of lives in her mind - one where she was a tattooed artist in Chicago living the single life, and one where she is a somewhat happy housewife in her hometown with her husband. But then she starts having other memories too, of fights she had with Eric that seemingly didn't happen, things disappearing and then reappearing, and begins to wonder how much she can trust him, even as he acts overly protective with her. A chance overheard phone call, and Kelly begins to ask herself one question - just what did Eric do? And can she ever get her old life back? And more importantly, does she want to?

This story sucked me in and didn't let go until the very last page. There's science fiction without it being too science-y, time travel, alternate realities, and a very dark and introspective look on what the costs to others changing things in your life can take. And a bit of a hard look at control and gaslighting as well. I want this to be a movie ASAP.