Janelle Brown never disappoints! I read this in one sitting. The relationship between the main character, Sam, and her twin sister, Elli, is heartwarming. They drifted about, but Sam will go to any lengths to find her sister when she goes missing. This story, IMO, doesn't the same-old, same-old thriller plot. The audiobook narrators, Julia Whelan and Kate Rudd, do a fantastic job.

CW: cult abuse

A big thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for a copy of this ARC.

This was a fun fresh take on the twin storyline, which has been don't quite a bit in recent years. As someone who grew up in the Olsen twins era too, I enjoyed! The way the story was told in altering perspectives is something I really enjoy especially with twins so you get to know their personalities! This was definitely more emotional than I would have predicted, but in a good way. I enjoyed and would recommend

I’LL BE YOU follows twin sisters and former child TV stars Sam & Elli into their adult lives. The sisters followed two different paths in their lives following Hollywood. Then Elli goes missing. On Sam’s path to find her sister, she learns not everything is what it seems and her sister may not be the person she thinks she was.

What I liked:
-the reader understood the character’s motivations, even if the actions were questionable or just plain outlandish
-commentary on sister bonds and the length someone will go to for their family

What I didn’t like:
-Pacing: most of the action occurred in the last quarter of the book
-Some unrealistic twists

I LOVE a good book about a cult, and I absolutely loved Janelle Brown's unique twist on the traditional cult story, with the twist of estranged twin sisters, a mystery adopted child and a history of child acting to create endless surprises in where the plot kept turning.

Without giving anything at all away, I will say that I went into this relatively blind, and I would totally suggest that for readers on this one. I really enjoyed not being exactly sure where the story was headed, and I was pleasantly surprised by how complex the mystery in the middle of this plot really was.

The pacing is spot on, and the movement between twins perspectives added the exact right level of revealing the stories secrets at the exact right times.

I couldn't have enjoyed this more, and it proves why I will be a life-long Janelle Brown fan!

I appreciate the chance to read and review this book. I have previously enjoyed her work. I liked this story but didn't love it. There were parts that resonated and felt plausible to me and other parts less so. This story will suit some readers more than it did me. It was okay without wowing me.

#IllBeYou #NetGalley #RandomHousePublishingGroup

Thank you Netgalley, Random House Publishing Group - Random House, Random House and Janelle Brown for free e-ARC in return of my honest review.

The book had a lot of potential with its interesting premise of a child celebrity struggling with addiction and the pressure that comes with fame. However, the author tried to tackle too many issues at once, which made the story feel disjointed and overwhelming. The family relationships between the twin sisters were intriguing, but they were overshadowed by the protagonist's addiction and recovery journey. While the writing was decent, I found myself struggling to stay engaged with the story. Overall, the book was okay, but it wasn't really entertaining. The author's attempt to address too many issues at once made the story feel cluttered and prevented me from fully connecting with the characters.

I love the twisty nature of all of Brown's books and this one, about identical twins, hit the mark again. Brown is such a skilled writer that I find myself getting lost in both her prose and characters, and this one was propulsive and fun. Recommend!

Listen, I’ll be real quick with this review, because I believe it’s mostly the marketing team’s fault, and not the author. This is marketed as a twisty thriller. Which, for me, means it’s a thrilling book with a lot of unexpected twists and turns. I don’t know, maybe it’s me, but that’s what I come to expect when you sell something to me saying “twisty thriller”.
I have no idea what the twists were supposed to be, because to me the whole thing seemed pretty obvious, and the only thing that was not that predictable, wasn’t predictable because there had been no hints, no foreshadowing that could lead you to think about it in any way.
This book was just plain boring. When you write about twins there are so many things you could do, even if you decide to write a cult story (that, in my opinion, are generally boring). The possibilities are endless, and this author didn’t go there in the slightest.
Also, there were both the sisters’ POVs and you couldn’t tell them apart. The whole point of this was that while they looked extremely alike, they were very different people. Well, you should show me that, not just tell me. I want to feel their differences even in their voices.
Moreover, they were both extremely annoying people. They did not have many characteristics, to be completely fair, but those they had were grating on my nerves, and I did not care for them or for what happened to them. They could have died and I wouldn’t have cared.
The plot, as I said, was predictable. This doesn’t add anything new to the cult fiction subgenere, and this certainly doesn’t add anything to the thriller genre, since it’s not one.
The writing was also extremely basic and bad, as far as I am concerned. The pacing was off, as I said the voices were not distinct and the prose was just very bland. Nothing exciting.
I honestly would not recommend this in the slightest. If you like cult stories, I assure you there are better ones. Personally, I am not a fan of those, but I think that The Project by Courtney Summers is a better one, for example, and you should try that instead.
Or you could pick up some non fiction about IDK Scient*logy, which would not only be more interesting, but could help prevent you or someone you know being scammed by them. I have an agenda against them, as everyone should, and this is my suggestion.
That is going to be all, sorry for the short review, but I honestly have nothing more to say.

Thank you Netgalley for my free copy in exchange for an honest review.

Janelle Brown's latest novel, "I'll Be You," is an absorbing and emotionally charged exploration of identity, family dynamics, and the power of secrets.

Here we have a set of identical twins who couldn't be more different from each other. One is a screw-up and the other has a seemingly perfect life. One year ago, Sam and Elli had a big fallout and haven't spoken since then. Sam then decided to get a hold of her life and started her recovery from alcoholism. When her mother calls her to ask her to come and help with her new niece, Sam thinks it's the chance to finally make up with her sister. She then discovers that her sister's seemingly perfect life might not be so perfect.

I really liked this book. Although it's categorized as a thriller (and it does have some thriller aspects), I think this is more a family drama exploring the complexities of being a twin and having your our identity. Janelle Brown has crafted a captivating story that reminds us of the importance of embracing our true selves and the power of authenticity. With its well-drawn characters, intricate plot, and skillful exploration of identity and family, "I'll Be You" is a must-read.

It took me so long to read this and now I am glad i did. This was one of the mysteries I have read of finding what happened to her twin sister but also of self discovery. Told from the sister's perspective, you will understand them both individually and separately. Thank you NetGallley for the ARC, it was a wild ride.

Identical Twins. Are they really interchangeable?

Ellie and Sam test that theory over and over from the time they were children. From being child stars to committing criminal acts.

They work hard to find their independence from each other but to what extent are they willing to go? The answer will surprise you.

Janelle Brown is a great author and her work will always keep you from wanting to put it down. A definite must read!

Another smart, twisty read from Janelle Brown! I liked the POVs from each twin and the strong character development.

Ellie and Sam are identical twins. They starred in a teen drama on TV, but now their lives have diverged dramatically. Sam has battled addiction for years, but is sober for over a year, when her mother enlists her help in caring for Ellie's toddler daughter. Ellie's marriage is falling apart and she has gone off to a "spa" to recuperate, but she's been gone for longer than expected and is not answering her phone.

This is a great suspense/secrets/family drama/cautionary tale that has lots of twists and turns. The title stems from the twins' tendency to swap with each other -- in school, on the set of the TV show, at home -- and they are still doing it! Ellie and Sam are great characters and they will suck you into their story. Told in alternating voices, the reader is kept guessing -- who is telling the "real" story? How will the twins figure this out? I really enjoyed this book -- it's a real page-turner. I could not put it down. I've read others by Janelle Brown and this is every bit as good as the rest.

This was quite a powerful mystery story that delves deep into a missing sister. Although it’s not my usual style of writing, the storyline was engaging and moving.

I enjoyed the intricacies in this tale. The twins and the cult really had me fascinated…especially the cult. Very creative how the author entangled the followers. You will have to read this to find out! Definitely a good intrigue with a kick!

Oh my goodness! The twists and turns! Janelle Brown is a master of the modern thriller! I found myself gasping aloud at the end of several chapters and devoured this book!

Okay read. Wasn't as exciting as I would have liked. The characters were bland and the situation wasn't that different from other books available. Have written another book by the author and enjoyed much better.

#ILLBEYOU #JANELLEBROWN #NETGALLEY

Identical twin sisters Elli and Sam were B-list TV stars as children. They earned a rise to fame with a hit Nickelodeon show as teens. One turns to substance abuse and addiction while the other, more reserved, steps out of the spotlight. Fifteen years later, Sam is a recovered addict and Elli is a housewife to a real estate attorney. They're pretty much no-contact until their father calls Sam and tells her Elli's husband has left and she's abandoned her adopted 2-year-old with their parents while she checks into a mysterious spa.
Is Elli just trying to unwind, or is she in trouble?
I was instantly drawn to Brown's writing and loved the plot twists. I also loved Sam's voice and observations. The twins' background as child stars also made this one fun.
Part 1 told from Sam's pov, part 2 from Elli's, part 3 goes back to Sam. It really helped with background information to better understand the characters and why they are the way they are. I enjoyed the mysteries woven throughout the book.

Thanks to the publishers ad Netgalley for sending a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Sooo good! One of my faves to read! Definitely would recommend picking this one up if you see it in the store!

Definitely not my favorite Janelle Brown, but enjoyable. I loved her first few books but her last two have been a little more mainstream and seem to be following the beach read trends.