This book was fantastic! I first read Pretty Things by Brown, and loved the deep twists and turns that felt appropriately women's contemporary fiction meets thriller. Brown's latest is no exception.

This book is a page turner. I read it in one day because I had to know what happened. There were a few twists and they were well done but nothing too exciting. Overall, a good ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read. I recommend if you liked This Might Hurt.

This is a slow burn-but-worth-the-wait mystery. I loved the aspect of a sister looking for her twin. The writing was beautifully done, and I found myself caught up in the story at many different times.

I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I started reading the physical copy of this until I saw that the audio was narrated by Julie Whelan. I quickly set down my copy and put the audio on hold at the library because ANYTHING narrated by Julie Whelan is sure to be a 5 star read. Sure enough, this was no different. Janelle Brown does a fantastic job of voicing each twins POV and keeping the timeline straight for the reader. I found this thriller centered around identical twins to be fast paced, intriguing, and mysterious. I really wasn't sure where this was going to go until over half way through when the drama really ramped up. I loved the character development in this and felt like I really understood the characters and their motivations by the end. I thought the ending was just perfect and I wouldn't have changed a thing. Really looking forward to more from this author/narrator duo! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

5 amazing stars for I'll Be You by Janelle Brown. Captivating from the very first page and held my attention throughout. This was a true page turner! A book about twin sisters who chose two very different paths in life and the extent that family will go to save the ones we love. Thank you to net galley and the publishers for allowing me to read an advanced copy of I'll Be You.

I enjoyed this one very much. The identical twins swapping places while growing up in Hollywood, the smattering of Cults and kidnappings, it was all just so deliciously mysterious, I couldn't put it down! The plot twists hit at just the right times, keeping me on my toes wandering what was going to happen next, and y'all know how much I love my curveballs. The bond between these sisters is quite touching, and I really like how the author doesn't take it overboard; instead of butterflies all the time, this family holds a working, believable tone for their dynamic. I highly recommend this one! 5 stars

Thanks netgalley for giving me the advanced pdf so that I can share my thoughts and opinions with y'all 🧡

The bond between twins runs deep. I found the story to be pretty fast pace in the beginning as the story described their early years as child actors but once it got to the Cult topic, I found it hard to believe that the "good twin" would move in that direction. Overall the book was ok. The ending seemed unrealistic that you could kidnap a child and not get caught.

Solid 3.5 stars. I was immediately drawn to the plot of this story. Twin Child stars who have grown apart and living with their own secrets. It starts off a little slow but once it picks up I couldn’t stop reading!

This book wasn’t what I expected it to be. I was thinking it would be more of a suspenseful, on the edge of my seat type of read but the “suspense” advertised is very minor. Instead I read the story of twin sisters Elli and Sam- Sam’s struggle with alcoholism and Elli’s poor decision by getting involved in a cult. The book focuses on their relationship and their individual storylines.

In fact, just when I thought the book was about to get more suspenseful the narrator changed from Sam to Elli, leaving me wanting more from Sam and a little confused.

It was a good book just not what I was expecting.

Twins? Cults? YES, PLEASE!!!

I loved Janelle Brown's last novel Pretty Things and I enjoyed this one even more.

Sam and Ellie are identical twins but they could not be more different. Sam, an alcoholic and addict in recovery, tries to get back in her family's good graces when they call upon her to help with Ellie's adopted daughter while Ellie is away at a spa. But when she doesn't return after the long weekend, Sam gets the sense that something may be wrong. Digging into Ellie's whereabouts uncovers secrets that could destroy the twins' family and their lives.

I listened to this book on audio and I always adore Julia Whelan as a narrator. Part of me wished she had done the voices for both Sam and Ellie because they were supposed to sound similar. I also enjoyed Sam's parts of the novel more, possibly because I preferred Whelan's narrating.

A part of the end of this book had me literally sobbing and it's always a testament to great writing when I become that emotionally invested in a novel.

The character development in this novel was fantastic. Ellie and Sam were so different and I loved hearing about their pasts as child actors and the problems in their presents. Even though their stories were so different from my own, it was easy to connect to each twin and empathize with them. Ending this book almost felt like saying goodbye to good friends.

Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for a copy of this novel.

As children, identical twin sisters Sam and Elli were child actors who spent nearly all their time together. Sam loved acting and spending nearly every moment with her sister. But Elli was a reluctant actress and longed for more space and privacy. After acting, Elli dedicated herself to being the perfect wife and dreamed of being the perfect mother as well. Sam never recovered from losing acting, bouncing from one job to the next, struggling with addiction. She's shocked when her parents call her, telling her that Elli has disappeared to a strange spa, leaving her newly adopted young daughter, Charlotte, with their parents. Sam goes to help her parents with Charlotte and tries to figure out what's happened with Elli. As she pieces things together, she wonders if Elli has joined a cult and if her decisions will threaten them all.

This was sort of a strange book. Please note that a 3-star rating doesn't mean I did not like it; I just didn't love it. I admit I had hoped for more based on the author's previous book, and I found this to be less of a mystery and more a character-driven story, though there are certainly twists and plot pieces to figure out as the story moves along.

The focus here is basically entirely on Sam and Elli. The book is told from both their perspectives, and I felt myself drawn more to Sam, despite all her issues (she has many, including addiction to various substances and the ability to abandon and betray all who love her). Yet Elli seems more brittle and when the book shifts to her point of view, it seems almost jarring.

YOU is filled with thoughts on twins, sisterhood, and reflections on self. It's a very thoughtful and reflective tale, even with the central theme of Elli's whereabouts at its core. There are a few surprises thrown in, but if you go into this one expecting more of an exploration of sisters and their relationship, you'll enjoy it more.

This book confirms Brown's ease with writing interesting characters and concepts. It may not be as much a gut punch that Pretty Things was but it is definitely a quick and worthy read!

Book Review: I’ll Be You by Janelle Brown
I’ll Be You is a contemporary fiction novel about two estranged twin sisters who decades after being child television stars find themselves on diverging paths.
Sam is a recovering addict working as a barista in Hollywood after her acting career dried up and she blew through all her money. She is estranged from her twin Ellie after she drunkenly crossed a line and the two haven’t spoken in over a year. She is shocked when their father reaches out for help with Ellie’s toddler Charlotte after Ellie went to a mysterious spa retreat one weekend and didn’t come home. Sam will find herself forced to be a caretaker for Charlotte, deal with her aging parents, struggle with her sobriety and try to figure out why her sister walked away from everything for a spa weekend and what it will take to get her back.
I really enjoyed this dramatic novel with a realistic portrayal of childhood stardom, addiction and how a cult can often hide behind radical self-improvement. Both sisters were relatable but also complicated and often frustrating. I enjoyed reading Sam’s point of view because of her wry sense of humor and the bold attitude that allowed her to thrive as a childhood star, survive her addiction and then take the risks she needed to go after her sister. Many readers can probably also relate to Ellie who is heartbroken by her struggle with fertility and the eventual loss of her marriage as well. With no child, husband and estrangement from her sister she’s a perfect candidate for a cult and she finds herself making terrible choices to build a family and find the joy she’s missing.
I recommend this novel for readers that enjoy books about complicated family bonds and afar we will risk for the people we love.

https://thereadingraccoon.com/f/book-review-i’ll-be-you-by-janelle-brown

Janelle Brown’s “Pretty Things” turned me into a fan of hers, and “I’ll Be You” was a very good, engaging and fast paced summer read. She packs a punch with interesting characters - in this case twin sisters who were teen TV stars and have struggled in different ways as adults since. Sam has flamed out through addictions; Elli sought a simpler suburban life and finally has a child she wanted but things are not as they appear, and she has fallen susceptible to a women’s empowerment group that is clearly (not a big spoiler here)… a cult.

Read it for the relationship between these sisters, characters who are not always sympathetic but ones you still root for, and a story that keeps you turning the page.

Not for me. I can’t pinpoint why I couldn’t get into this one but I’m appreciative of the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Los Angeles Times has this pegged as "an addictive thriller that will keep readers burning through pages."
I think I read a different book, I didn't find it addictive, nor thrilling. I wasn't bored but it certainly wasn't riveting, in fact it took quite awhile for me to stick to reading it. Had I known this book would focus more on the cult aspect I would not have requested it. What I also didn't like was the underhanded way the sisters would switch places and even manage to confuse their mother, to me that's not funny...it's dangerous and conniving.
A story about identical twin sisters Sam and Elli who while they're identical in looks have very different personalities. We have a then and now scenario explaining how each sister ended up where they are now. Sam is a recovering addict (pills & alcohol) and Elli appears to have been swept up into a cult promoting female empowerment. Their parents are enablers and take a passive approach to parenting which didn't do a thing for either girl's confidence. The various storylines were simply implausible to me, particularly regarding Elli's daughter. The ending felt too tidy and rushed for the subject matter and smacked of "oh so that's how people with money operate."
I'm giving this book 3 stars for the writing, but that's it. I didn't like it and wouldn't recommend unless you like reading about cults teaching women to hate men and anyone else who is stopping them from being their true selves.

Thank you to NetGalley & Random House for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

I’ll Be You has really got to be inspired by America’s favorite annoying twins…The Olson Twins of course! Although I suppose there have been plenty of twins in Hollywood, especially as two are needed to play the role of one child with a bigger role. Still, it was the Olson twins that I pictured in my mind as I read the book. Although it was also NXIVM that I pictured when it came to the cult, so really it was just a mismosh of all the fun Hollywood child stars.

There’s one thing that child stars have proven time and again. Growing up in Hollywood messes you up. It’s no different for Elli and Sam. One turned to drugs and one worked hard to build the most stable, “normal” life she could fathom. But neither escaped without deep psychological issues.

I’ll Be You is a compelling tale of two twins who are stuck in the downward spiral of having lived through a dysfunctional household. But it’s also the tale of the bond between two sisters and definitely worth a read.

Special thanks to Netgalley and Random House for an advanced review copy in exchange for my honest review.

I really loved this riveting story of two twins--former child stars!--whose lives have seriously diverged. I really enjoyed the family dynamics and the way that Sam, the "damaged" twin, grew so close to her niece. The first half is from her POV as she tries to figure out why her sister, who has it all together, has suddenly disappeared. I inhaled it. The second half is from the POV of Elli, and it was less compelling, but still interesting. It just felt less twisty, and Sam was a more interesting narrator.

Overall, I really loved this story and especially Sam. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy of this book.

I'll Be You was absolutely thrilling. It was such a unique story that I had a hard time putting it down. I read this one quickly, because it truly captured my attention.

✨Book Review✨
I'll Be You by Janelle Brown
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
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I had no idea what to expect going into this book, but I was pleasantly surprised. I have always been obsessed with identical twins, so the premise of this book intrigued me immediately. I almost think it's better going in without knowing much about it so I won't say much more.
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This book explored some deep themes such as addiction, infertility, family struggles, and whether or not identical twins can grow into their true selves while growing up together. Pick this one up if you want a good suspense novel that will keep you turning pages trying to figure out what is going on.