This book was everything I hoped it would be- cults, Hollywood, kidnapping, twins. I love when books focus more on non-romantic relationships. I honestly can’t think of anything I wish had improved in this book, though it was kind of unbelievable that they never got caught after returning the girl.

I LOVED this book. Not your typical thriller, but absolutely a suspenseful mystery that will keep the reader hooked up until the very last word. Twin sisters who have grown apart, whose lives seesaw in terms of who has it together and who is falling apart, a mysterious adopted daughter, and a women's group that is possibly a cult in Ojai combine to make this twisty book an instant favorite. Highly recommend!

Two identical twin sisters and former B-list child actors Sam and Elli grew up incredibly close as kids. But over the years, their lives went in opposite directions. Elli is a homemaker, married to a successful man with a house only a few blocks from the beach. Sam, on the other hand, having never recovered from her failed acting career, went down the wrong path and became addicted to booze and pills. Because of the latter, the twins stopped communicating altogether. When Elli goes missing, Sam is called in by her parents to help pick up the pieces.

As a sister to identical twins, I am automatically drawn to a plot like this. Knowing how close identical twins can be, it's fascinating to think that a wedge can come between the two people who once shared a womb. And this plot is wild!

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it's fast-paced nature. While it wasn't what I was expecting -- at all -- I could not put it down!

You be me, and I'll be you...

Twin sisters Sam and Elli were inseparable as children, and knew each other inside and out. They knew each other so well, they would often switch places, and could mimic each other's mannerisms so perfectly that they even fooled their parents. After becoming mildly successful child actors, Sam and Elli's lives eventually took separate paths. Elli became a picture-perfect housewife and Sam struggles with addiction, unable to launch a solo acting career. Their relationship has been reduced to shreds, so Sam is surprised to receive a call from her father asking for her help. He informs her that Elli has gotten divorced and adopted a toddler, who she has left in the care of her parents while embarking on a retreat in Ojai with a mysterious women's group. Sam and her parents are concerned as Elli stops responding to calls and messages, and doesn't show up on her expected return date. Is Elli truly having a soul-searching experience, or is she being held against her will?
I could not get enough of this story, and I was blown away by the sheer number of revelations and twists throughout. This novel alternates between the past, present, and Sam and Elli's individual perspectives. I listened to the audiobook, and the narrators were wonderful at creating the perfect emotional atmosphere for Sam and Elli. I would recommend this novel to anyone who loves thrillers!

I’ll Be You by Janelle Brown was an interesting read. Twin sister, Sam and Elli, grew up as teen actresses in Hollywood but have since gone their separate ways. Sam is the screw up and Elli is the traditional sister with her life together…or so it seems. When Sam’s mom calls and asks her to come home to help out with something for her sister, Sam doesn’t know what to think. She arrives to a shocking twist and quickly discovers that her sister’s life is not what it seemed and something isn’t right. Can she figure out what is going on with Elli and bring her home?

I wanted to like I’ll be you but it was just so slow to develop and I had trouble staying interested. The twins were both kind of a hot mess, and not in an endearing way. There was a lot of detail about Sam’s story that I don’t feel like was necessary. Then it all just kind of wrapped up in a neat bow. Was it bad? No not at all. Was it great? Not really. But I kept reading to find out what was up with Elli.

3.5/5

Another winner by Janelle Brown!
This was a book I didn’t want to put down!
You get lots of culty vibes, which is something I love, as well as family drama and some twists. The relationship between the twins is fascinating to read. Brown is definitely an auto-read author for me and I am excited to see what she does next!

Sam and Elli are identical twins, sometimes switching places so effectively their parents could not even tell them apart. They became child actors, often sharing a role. But as adults, their divergent paths are more apparent, Elli being the homemaker and Sam spiraling through addictions, with roots stemming from her teen years in Hollywood.

As adults the sisters become estranged after a falling out. When Sam’s father contacts her that Elli has been out of contact for over a week, and has left her child in their parents’ care that Sam reluctantly goes home to help her parents with her niece, and uncovers evidence leading her to find Elli’s been involved with a cult, isolating her from the outside world.


This slow burn story was the perfect psychological thriller. We get to hear from both sisters points of view and I felt each was well represented. And for fans with cult themes, this will check all the boxes because it gives plenty of insight into that world as well.

I adored PRETTY THINGS, also by Janelle Brown, so I was so excited for this new one. TV star twins! Cults! A mysterious child! A disappeared mother! So many crazy and fun plot points. It was certainly a page-turner, and while some of the twists are insanely far-fetched, it was also just simply such a fun read. A perfect book to kick off summer.

I absolutely loved this book! I found it hard to put down. I highly recommend reading it! You won’t be disappointed.

When they were child actors the twins, Sam and Elli were inseparable. But as they grew older, they also grew apart. Elli couldn’t wait to leave the Hollywood glamour behind and enjoy a normal life, while Sam continued to chase elusive fame. This resulted in poor choices, while heading down a path of self-destruction. With one misstep Sam also managed to alienate her twin. Now, just when Sam might be redeeming herself and is ready to take on a more responsible role with her sister, Elli has seemingly disappeared.

I’ll be You has all the earmarking of a super thriller and family drama. However, my enjoyment of the book was overshadowed by Sam’s personality and her lack of appeal. While the story started out quite strong, with an interesting premise, it became somewhat slow and sluggish. There were a couple of minor twists that propped up the story but, in the end, the final chapters seemed a little abrupt and, all in all, it was a mlld thriller at best. For me it was 3.5 *s.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing a copy of this book for review.

Did not finish this book. I wasn't able to get into this one at all. Thank you for this free copy. I will still be willing to read more from this author.

This book. hooked me from the very beginning. The relationship between the girls was so complex. I did figure out the big twist, but I still enjoyed it. It was definitely a "slow build" but about 40% in, things really started happening! I'd recommend this one for sure.

I loved this thriller. The relationships with the twin sisters, the structure of the novel and how it unfolded, the cult, it was engrossing and I enjoyed all of the twists and turns!

Twins Samantha and Eleanor were surprised when a talent scout spotted them on the beach, and they soon became minor performers in a children’s’ show on television. While Sam loved the camera and performing, Elli did not, and when the show ended production, Elli was delighted at the chance to be a normal teenager. Soon the girls had another opportunity to perform on another TV show, and as Elli’s acting talent declined, Sam took over for Elli, acting both roles. The girls grew apart, with Sam’s substance abuse and Elli’s failing marriage chipping away at their bond. With Elli’s involvement in a women’s group designed for personal growth that required extreme loyalty, Sam is determined to figure out where Elli has been, and why she left her newly adopted daughter behind.

I have read several of Janelle Brown’s books, and this one did not disappoint. Sam and Elli have taken very different paths, and yet they have that unbreakable bond that keeps them together, protecting and helping one another. Sam’s substance abuse and Elli’s involvement with GenFem drive a wedge between the girls, and I enjoyed reading about their journey, together and separately. I’ll Be You is an interesting story of love, loss, and the many ways in which we reinvent ourselves as we mature.

“‘You be me, and I’ll be you,’ I whispered. She looked back at me, wide eyes blinking under dense mascara. ‘We can do that?’”

Our story begins when Sam receives the news that her twin sister is missing and that she needs to quickly travel back to her parents’ home to help care for her two-year-old niece. Sam, a recovering addict, returns to the family that she abandoned to find her sister and to reevaluate the paths that led to their estrangement.

This is a book that will grip you from its first line and will tighten its clutches a little more each time you turn the page. You will become acquainted with each of the sisters to the extent that you will feel as if you know them personally. You will sympathize and empathize with them. At times, your heart will ache for them. You will be glued to your seat until they’ve told their stories, and still, you won’t want to leave them.

Janelle Brown is an author who never disappoints. She consistently pens stories that will entertain her audience while making them think and making them feel. With this psychological offering, she weaves a tale of best-laid plans gone awry, addiction, family drama, and the power of sisterhood. This one is simply stunning from start to finish.

When I picked up I’ll Be You, I had no idea if I would love it or hate it. I recently read The Atmospherians which also centered around the cult concept, and I couldn’t really get into it. While cults are in theory really fascinating and intriguing, I had no idea what to expect here. Another reason I’ll Be You caught my attention was that it centers on identical twin sisters. I absolutely loved all things Mary-Kate & Ashley growing up, so I thoroughly enjoyed the references to them in the book.

The sisters, Sam and Elli, were B-list child actors at best who each handled fame in their own way. While I think it would be so much fun and amazing to be a twin, I could definitely understand their individual struggle to figure out who they were without the other, especially when you come as a pair. Elli was shy and introverted, wanting to be a normal kid with normal friends at a regular school, while Sam was driven by the fame and attention of acting, constantly being someone else to please others. Sam ends up in the stereotypical downward spiral with drugs and alcohol, while Elli moves back to their hometown to create the seemingly perfect life of marriage and owning a business.

The story kicks off with Sam receiving a call from her parents to come back and help them care for Elli’s foster child while Elli is away at a wellness retreat even though the sisters hadn’t spoken in a decade. From there, the story of their estrangement begins to unfold. The story was a bit slow at times, but there were some intense twists, and I was shocked by how relatable it was – especially how Elli ended up immersed in a cult!

Who doesn’t want to better themselves? I recently scheduled one of those free coaching calls which ended in a sales pitch for their personal development program and if I signed up that day I could get in at the “low” price of $10K. Of course, I did not move forward with it, but I did recognize a lot of similarities in Elli’s story including some of the same lines used to justify the cost and I could easily see how Elli got wrapped up in it.

The story was told in two parts – one from Sam’s perspective and one from Elli’s. This was effective to demonstrate each of their inner thoughts and make them both relatable and likable. I both understood Elli’s desire for normalcy and motherhood as much as Sam’s need for the spotlight and attention. This made I’ll Be You an enjoyable read and a great look at the bonds of sisterhood.

The only thing I have to say I kept laughing at was how many times Sam managed to get Charlotte in and out of a car seat. As a mom to a toddler myself, I couldn’t help shaking my head and laughing at how impossible it would be to not only get in and out of the car so many times in such a short span of time, but also the lengthy car rides that Sam consistently took Charlotte on only to turn back around after five minutes out of the car. It might’ve been the least probable thing in the entire book!

I really enjoyed Pretty Things so I was so excited to read this. This was a gripping, character-driven novel (rather than a thriller). I thought the pace was just right, had a twist that caught me by surprise, and I was invested in the mess of a pickle the sisters found themselves in. Also, I was head over heels in love with the little two-year old, Charlotte and she added plenty of smiles. The book centers on twins who spent a lot of pivotal moments in their lives pretending to be each other (hence the title). I’m an only child and I always wanted to have a twin (or even just a sibling!) These girls (Sam & Elli) are child stars who gave me Mary Kate and Ashley vibes. They play the part of the role of a single child on a popular television show. Sam loves being in the spotlight, and starts secretly taking over the more introverted Elli’s half of the work. I wouldn’t say this book is really a mystery or a thriller. More of a literary family drama type tale. I really enjoyed the way Janelle Brown writes. Her characters are intriguing and always have interesting back stories and motivations.

I received a reviewer copy of I'll Be You by Janelle Brown from the publisher Random House from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

CW: Substance Abuse, Cults, Abandonment.

What It’s About: Sam and Elli used to be child stars, that was in the past and it led to them coming undone. Sam loved acting, Elli did not. Sam fell into substance abuse, Elli fell into the American Dream, awesome husband, a flower shop, and a home for the kids she desperately wants. A year ago, Sam and Elli had a fight and haven't spoken since. Now, Sam is a year sober and is called back to help with Elli's daughter after Elli has fallen off the map.

What I Loved: I loved it. I thought this book was fantastic, there were so many layers to it. We follow Sam and Elli, two complex characters and we want desperately to unwind what is going on. How did their childhood fame unfold? What led to their estrangement? What motivated Sam to commit to sobriety? Where did Elli go? What is going on with Elli? This book was propulsive and smart, I loved the character development, the plot was fantastic. Janelle Brown has used character development to make her plot propulsive, it was so well done. An awesome literary mystery.

What I didn’t like so much: Honestly, I liked everything, if anything I wanted more details. I don't want to say about what cause I don't want to give away too much. But there were some threads I wish were better tied up.

Who Should Read It: People who love books about twins and cults and former child stars. People who love character driven novels that make the plot propulsive.

Summary: A propulsive literary mystery centered on former childhood actors who are twins.

Although I’ll Be You didn’t end up being the suspense thriller I expected, it was a satisfying and interesting read in other ways. I would categorize it as a character-driven family drama with several unexpected twists. Not having read many books with the twin trope, that was what initially attracted me to this book. The shared connection – so close through their teen years then each choosing a different path - made for an interesting storyline. Normally, I don’t choose to read about cults and since I didn’t catch that theme from the pre-publication info, I was surprised when it played such a major part altho I would have been satisfied with a bit less. Overall, the characters were what grabbed and sustained my interest through to the satisfying ending.

FYI - I received a copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love books about twins and this didn’t disappoint. Twin sisters who become child actors. One wild twin, one not looking for the limelight. Throw in a cult and my interest was peaked.
This is the first book I’ve read by Janelle Brown and it won’t be my last. I loved the alternating chapters told from told both sisters and the back and forth timeline between childhood and adult hood.
This will be a great summer read. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest opinion.