What would you do for your child if they were in a coma and the insurance is running out. You would do everything in your power to give them more time. More time to come out of the coma and hopefully have a chance at life. Anyone in this situation would be at the end of their rope, exhausted, beyond hope, emotionally drained, not knowing what to do or where to turn. What happens if someone presents a gift? A way in which time is no longer an issue and neither is money. Would you take it, even if it meant signing your life over to them? Would you do it for your child, you bet I would.

Tamysn and Ed have set up a vigile beside their daughter's bedside since that fateful night when she was involved in a hit and run accident. They are losing hope and counting down the days until the insurance runs out. A man comes to them with an offer they cannot refuse. The chance to have Scarlett back in their lives, granted she will be an AI replacement, a cyborg, but their daughter will be back. They agree and their life is uprooted, and they move to Switzerland. Where the laws work in their favor. It all seems too good to be true. A fabulous new apartment, new clothes, gifts, and of course a perfect daughter. Sophie does not have all of the anger that Scarlett had, and she fits seamlessly into their family. A perfect family of three, what happens if Scarlett wakes up?

This book started off a bit slow for me. With each passing page I became more invested and interested. The pages started to fly, and the questions started to pile up. This is such a unique story, unlike my normal reads. It will take you by surprise and the twists and turns will shock you. Thank you to Evie Green and Berkley Books for my gifted copy of a book that took me out of my comfort zone.

I liked this book so much! You will too, especially if you're a fan of Black Mirror or the books in the Jolvix series by Faith Gardner. It's thriller meets technology in the (maybe) not so distant future.

The story starts with a very dysfunctional family. Their home is a caravan, Ed and Tamsyn aren't really communicating, and their daughter, Scarlett, is out of control. She runs from the house to meet someone, and the next thing we know she's in a coma from a hit and run. Ed is approached with an offer he can't refuse....VitaNova will provide medical care, a place to live, and a new job for Ed. The catch? They will create a clone of Scarlett. And what's a little lack of privacy and morally gray areas when you can have your precious daughter back?

If you're even a little intrigued, read this book! You won't be disappointed!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an advance reader's copy.

What's it about (in a nutshell):
The New One by Evie Green is a fast-paced thriller about what happens when grief and AI combine. Tamsyn, Ed, and their daughter, Scarlett, are scraping to get by. Scarlett is a teen acting out in concerning ways. Ed keeps a packed bag hidden under the bed. And Tamsyn is just struggling to hold it all together. So, when tragedy strikes, they are offered a Faustian-type deal that could change their lives forever. What could they possibly have to lose?

My Reading Experience:

Woah! The New One is such a great thrill ride from start to finish. It's full of moral dilemmas and leaves so much for the reader to discuss with others. I just loved all the twists and turns, shocking revelations, and questionable decisions – but I know that grief and fear can cause people to make decisions they would otherwise never.

Much about this story is just plain complicated, like character development. I don't want to say too much about it for fear of giving anything away. I've left the character section off this review, but I will say what I can here. There is character development, but it doesn't come in the way you might expect. Tamsyn and Ed are desperate, so there is a lot of repetition at first as they harp on defending their choices in their own minds. This makes it seem like no development is happening but it actually is!

Narration & Pacing:
The narration is primarily third-person-focused, and the story is told through Tamsyn's eyes. There are first-person narrated chapters dotted throughout and told by either Scarlett or Sophie. The story stays tightly focused throughout, leading to a breakneck pace that I enjoyed very much. Using third-person-focused narration for Tamsyn is the perfect choice as it lets the story focus but doesn't give too much away to the reader before it's revealed.

Setting:
For most of the story, the setting is Lake Geneva, Switzerland, and what an idyllic setting it is.
It reflects the idyllic nature of Ed and Tamsyn’s choice so well. Going from living in a camper/trailer situation in the UK to being offered a condo overlooking one of the most beautiful lakes in the world reflects their dilemma subtly. I loved that about it.

Read if you like:
• Technothrillers
• Moral dilemmas
• Fast-paced thrill rides with plenty of twists and turns

𝑻𝒂𝒎𝒔𝒚𝒏 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒘𝒂𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒐𝒘𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒃𝒂𝒄𝒌. 𝑺𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒔𝒆𝒍𝒇 𝒕𝒐 𝒃𝒆 𝒂 𝒄𝒓𝒂𝒑 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒖𝒕-𝒐𝒇-𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒍 𝒄𝒉𝒊𝒍𝒅 𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒂𝒏 𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒔𝒄𝒂𝒑𝒂𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒍𝒍. 𝑾𝒉𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒕𝒂𝒍𝒌𝒆𝒅 𝒕𝒐 𝑺𝒐𝒑𝒉𝒊𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒔𝒐𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 𝒃𝒆𝒕𝒕𝒆𝒓, 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒇𝒆𝒍𝒕 𝒍𝒊𝒌𝒆 𝒂 𝒈𝒐𝒐𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏.

I was worried that this book would be a little too sci-fi for my taste, but I was wrong. This was the chilling, engaging story of Tamsyn and Ed, a couple who is struggling to get their teen daughter Scarlett under control. Their living conditions are deplorable, and their relationship is suffering due to the stress of parenting Scarlett. Then Scarlett is struck by a car, and her diagnosis is grim until the couple is offered a second chance in the form of an experimental medical trial that will offer them an AI version of their daughter. Without hesitation, the couple agrees and moves to Switzerland, quickly finding themselves set up in a sumptuous apartment with every amenity possible. Best of all, their new daughter Sophie has been programmed to be calm, agreeable, and seems to actually enjoy spending time with her new parents.

Then Scarlett wakes up from her coma, and everything changes. Tamsyn and Ed soon find some dark, disturbing truths behind this miraculous trial that will change everything about how they see their daughter...but who is their daughter, Scarlett or Sophie?

I was completely blown away with how original this storyline was. I always shy away from sci-fi because I feel like some of components are just too unbelievable, but everything worked beautifully in this story because with modern technology, I feel like this scenario could actually happen. I was invested in the characters and couldn't wait to know the outcome, and when I tell you that twist got me...I had to put my Kindle down for a minute to have a private "wtf" moment.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Berkley for the early copy. THE NEW ONE will publish March 28, 2023.

Picture this: Tamsyn's world turns upside down when a hit-and-run leaves her daughter Scarlett in a coma. Desperate for a solution, she's offered a chance to participate in a medical trial. The catch? In exchange for round-the-clock care for Scarlett, she must take care of an AI version of her daughter. This reanimation looks, talks, and acts like Tamsyn's daughter, but the question remains: what will happen if the real Scarlett wakes up?

This fresh sci-fi thriller will keep you on the edge of your seat!

When I cracked open The New One, I felt like I was stepping into a sci-fi thriller straight out of Hollywood. It reminded me of the crazy plot twists and nail-biting suspense from the movie M3GAN. And let me tell you, this book did not disappoint.

Don't worry if you're not into heavy-handed science; this is a thriller that anyone can enjoy. Green manages to write a fresh, thought-provoking take on classic AI themes that kept me on the edge of my seat. And when the big plot twist hit me at the 75% mark? Mind. Blown.

Who would like this? Fans of Orphan Black, Black Mirror, M3GAN, Blake Crouch, dystopian fiction, thrillers lovers

Thank you, Berkley Publishing & Netgalley, for my copy!

What a fun premise! It's like Stepford Wives meets an episode of Black Mirror. While the book started off with a bang (or rather, an accident) it did slow a bit in the middle. Though, I understand it was to establish character depth. The plot was fun and exciting. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of light Science Fiction/Suspense.

(3.5 Stars rounded up.)
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advance Reader's copy of this title!

Thank you so much to Berkely for the chance to read and review this book prior to release,

When a couple's daughter Scarlet is in a coma after a terrible accident, they are offered a once-in-a-lifetime chance to have their daughter back...well kind of. Their new daughter is part human and part AI and in many ways an easier and better version of their real daughter. The perfect daughter doesn't come without a LOT of complications and things get CRAZY and there were a couple twists I would have NEVER seen coming!

This is thriller meets sci-fi, and while I typically am not drawn to sci-fi at all, I actually enjoyed it! I think this will have a select audience that will really love it even if it may be a little too weird for the basic thriller reader. Don't go in expecting a believable story and you'll have a lot more fun!

This book will be available on March 28th.

3.5 Stars

I received a gifted galley of THE NEW ONE by Evie Green for an honest review. Thank you to Berkley Publishing and PRH Audio for the opportunity!

THE NEW ONE begins with a horrible accident. Tamsyn and Ed have a rebellious teenage daughter Scarlett. As they are attempting to keep her home and she is attempting to get away, she is struck by a car and left comatose. With insurance about to run out and no other recourse, someone offers them a miracle. Scarlett’s medical care will be provided free of charge, they will be given unlimited cash and a new home… The only thing they must agree to do is taken in a duplicate copy of their daughter.

Initially a bit wary, but willing to do anything to keep their daughter alive, Tamsyn and Ed agree. They are surprised to find how real and lovable this replacement is, a perfect combination of human clone and AI. But what happens when Scarlett wakes up and disrupts the newly happy family?

This was a fun mix of sci-fi with a bit of thriller and mystery thrown in. The company behind this miracle procedure is of course not entirely on the level and Tamsyn and Ed have been targeted as desperate parents willing to do anything no questions asked. While I did guess some of the twists along the way, I didn’t get all of them and the author did manage some suprises.

In addition to the thriller / sci-fi plot, the author does include some interesting conversations about what makes a person who they really are. The technology proposed here is of course fiction, but also a little scary. When discussing their daughter’s duplicate, they have the option to tweak her personality. While her parents love her, wouldn’t it be nice to have a daughter who wasn’t quite so rebellious? It also asks the question how well her parents know her to begin to know what should be changed.

This was a really fun ride and a quick binge read on audio. I appreciated that we got two narrators to help with the POV shifts as well on the audio.

Thank you to NetGalley, author Evie Green, and Berkley Publishing Group for providing me with a free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion!

This was overall an intriguing and interesting read! With the instant cult classic of M3GAN released this winter, I have a feeling this book will be quite popular, since it explores similar topics. I usually enjoy sci-fi books that deal with near-future technology, and I think Green did a great job in making this seem realistic. I totally could see AI reiterations that are half-human/half-AI existing sooner rather than later, and I think that's part of what made this book both so creepy and convincing. I enjoyed seeing how the book unfolded, and there were a few twists that genuinely caught me off guard. However, there were a few things that held me back from being fully invested in the story. I thought that there was a bit too much repetition from the characters about how different their new life was from the old; I got tired of reading the same descriptions of how the new apartment was so much fancier than the camper throughout. I also thought the ending wrapped up way too quickly and nicely. The book takes a major pivot once a certain twist is revealed and makes the ending kind of cancel out the direction the book goes for the majority of the story. While not necessarily bad, it didn't feel as believable, and I found myself wishing the author went in a different direction. This wasn't a bad read if you enjoy creepy AI human-esque robots, but due to the nature of the repetition and the ending, it fell flat and remained forgettable when it truly could have soared.

This book was WILD! It's not something I would normally read, but I am so glad I did.

So many twists and turns! I was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire book! And just when I though I knew what was happening, BAM - another twist!!

Thriller with some sci-fi (and sci-fi is not normally my thing, but LOVED this one!)

We start the book in a trailer park with the Trelawney family who are just basically one unhappy, hot mess. Tamsyn, the mother, is angry, tired, verworked and downright miserable in her life. Ed, the husband, is also exhaused and over it so much so that he has an "escape bag" packed and under the bed. Last is Scarlett, their thirteen year old who gives them nothing but grief - swearing, hanging out with a bad crowd, lying, drinking, running away - you name it, she does it!

Ed once again brings Scarlett home and a blowout fight results. They all go to bed. Later, Scarlette is on the phone with a mystery man and escapes the trailer. Tamsyn and Ed are hot on her heels.
She runs right out in front of a car and it doesn't even slow down and Scarlett is hit.

Next thing we know, Tamsyn awakens next to Scarlett's hospital bed where her daughter is comatose, hooked up to machines and fighting to stay alive.

Their insurance won't cover this for long and they don't know what they will do. Then an offer that seems too good to be true comes their way - a medical trial! Scarlett will get the best treatment possible if the family will move to Switzerland. They will be housed in a furnished, luxury apartment and expenses will be paid. And in return? They agree to allow the trial to make a "clone" of Scarlett. They feel like they have no choice but to accept the offer.

They are hesitant at first, but live seems great in Switzerland. The artificial version of Scarlett, Sophie, is smart and kind and everything Scarlett used to be.

When a miracle happens and Scarlett awakens, things change a bit. We see different sides of everyone, and things may not be exactly what they seem.

Buckle up for a wild ride with this one!!

Many thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Tamsyn, Ed, and Scarlett have been struggling as a family- with money, with time, and with Scarlett's behavior. And then the 14 year old is hit by a car and left in a coma. Just when Tamsyn and Ed are losing hope. they grab at an offer to move to Switzerland, clone Scarlett, and still treat her. Sounds good until it isn't- and then when the real Scarlett startles everyone by waking up. This blends topical subjects like AI, medical experimentation, the cost of healthcare and so on with a nifty horror premise. No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I found this more entertaining than I expected- it's a page turner.

The premise of the story is fascinating and the story did not disappoint me. Tamsyn, Ed, and daughter Scarlett are having a hard time. With financial and family relationship problems, things are at a breaking point. Tragically, Scarlett is hit by a car and is now in a coma. With insurance running out to keep her on life support, the family are given a most unusual opportunity to be a part of a medical trial . Scarlett will be taken to Switzerland where she will receive the top medical treatment at no cost to the family. In return, Tamsyn and Ed will move to Switzerland and will allow them to clone Scarlett and create a new daughter who will become part of family.

What happens once everyone arrives in Switzerland was captivating and the use of AI in the clone was intriguing as well. This story was more complex that I expected. It gave me a lot to think about with how I would handle what the characters were faced with in the book. Also, the twist blindsided me completely and the second half of the story was intense. I don't think you need to be a science fiction fan to enjoy this one.

Thank you Berkley Publishing for the advanced copy to enjoy.

While the premise of this book was intriguing, the pacing was glacial. There was way too much repetition. The novel could have had the word count cut significantly and just gotten to the good stuff. It did get better as it went on, but I found it a slog.

The first part is tense in an uncomfortable—not compelling—way. Tamsyn and Ed work long hours for little money and return home to their caravan to a fourteen-year-old daughter who, in the last year, has become a nightmare. She runs around at all hours and swears and yells at her parents, who are at their wits end. Then one night, Scarlett is run over by a car. She’s alive, but barely, and their insurance will run out soon. They are offered what seems an amazing opportunity. They will be moved to Switzerland into a life of luxury, and they will get a new version of their daughter, harvested from the real Scarlett but with an AI brain.

Pretty quickly you doubt everything, and, indeed, nothing is exactly as it seems.

Netgalley provided an advance copy of this novel, which RELEASES MARCH 28, 2023.

Eerie, suspenseful, and addictive.

This book hooked me from the first chapter. I felt awful for Tamsyn and Ed as their 14-year-old daughter, Scarlet, upended their lives after she ran away from home one night and was involved in a tragic accident. The time spent in the hospital recovering, and the uncertainty of whether their insurance would cover her treatment created realistic tension, pulling me further into the story. When they were presented with the option of an experimental medical trial in Switzerland it definitely felt too good to be true. Tamsyn's suspicions and Ed's blind optimism felt authentic when presented with the trial, and since they had a lack of options, it felt like the logical next step. The new technology mentioned in the book was interesting to learn about and I enjoyed the creative spin on the genre making it feel like The Stepford Wives meets M3gan. I didn't care for Scarlet's character in the beginning, especially her contempt for her parents and their humble life in Cornwall. The character I felt the worst for was Tamsyn, dealing with the accident and the shock of her new living situation, while also feeling estranged from her family.

I blew through the chapters as the plot unfolded and when the first big twist was revealed at the midpoint I was shocked. It was interesting to read about the AI and reanimation technologies, especially when introduced to supporting characters in the story. I found the whole concept disturbing but couldn't put the book down. The writing was vivid and immersive, pulling me into each scene. I enjoyed the change in perspective, learning what each character remembered around the night of the accident and what secrets they were keeping from each other. The perspectives of the reanimations—including their telepathic communication—was an interesting layer to the story. The characters were believable and the dialogue easy to follow. As much as I enjoyed this book overall, I would have loved one final twist in the last chapter.

4/5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

For readers who enjoy suspense with an element of sci-fi, compelling characters, and big twists.

After a tragic accident leaves their daughter in a coma, parents Ed and Tamsyn are handed a lifeline in the shape of an AI medical trial. In addition to their daughter being reanimated, they’ll be given all the money and gifts they could ever want or need, a fancy new apartment, and around the clock care for their comatose daughter, Scarlett. Things seem to be better than okay when Scarlett makes a recovery and comes face to face with her twin.

THE NEW ONE by Evie Green was a wild, wild ride! This one is a dash of thriller, a sprinkle of dystopia, and a pinch of sci-fi, making it an easily bingeable read.

The twists had me thinking about my own conscience and brain matter, and I could easily (yikes) envision this plot unfolding in the real world a la Black Mirror.

I think this is going to be a big hit among readers!

Thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: March 28, 2023

I really enjoyed this book! It was such a different premise and the story was great. I could not put the book down and I just wanted to know what happened. I was very surprised at the twists!

What do you get when you combine futuristic AI, human experiments, and horror???? The answer equates to being a thrilled Sam. The New One by Evie Green and represented by Berkley Publishing Group gave me all the inclinations of Disney Channel's Pixel Perfect, where a family likened their needs to "build a daughter" and then got the girl of their dreams, only for it to backfire in their faces. I am really thankful to have received access to this book and can't wait for publication day on March 28, 2023.

Thank you Netgalley & Berkley for an eARC of The New One by Evie Green. WOW! I wasn't sure what to expect with this one - It's a very unique premise, and I'm so glad to say that I absolutely loved and devoured this book.

Life is tough for Tasmyn and Ed, and their daughter Scarlett is rebellious as ever. A tragic accident leaves Scarlett in a coma with minimal chance of recovery - When all of a sudden, an unusual medical trial seems to answer their prayers. The couple will get the best medical treatment for Scarlett, a fully furnished luxury apartment, and a spending account with no limit. All they have to do is move to Switzerland and welcome an artificial copy of Scarlett into their home - An AI version of their daughter named Sophie.

I'm going to leave my synopsis there, because I do feel like the book's full synopsis gives a chunk of the story away. I love John Marrs' series with seemingly futuristic developments & problems (The Passengers, the One, The Marriage Act) and I got major vibes of that series from this book. The scariest part of this book while you're reading it is that you CAN picture it happening someday. The plot took a few turns that I wasn't expecting with one JAW-DROPPING twist that literally gave me chills. I love when that happens! It's one of those books that you'll want to read again from the beginning once you've finished it. I can't wait to see what Evie Green comes up with next and I am crossing my fingers & toes for a sequel of some sort.

Tamson Ed and Scarlet or“That “family in the neighborhood. The ones you can hear arguing all the time the one with the foul mouth daughter and the poor family everyone feels bad for but also steers clear of. Scarlet is 14 going on 30 and she curses her parents out tells them she hates them and wishes they would die. On the night of the accident her mom was clutching the front door key to the camper van in her hand and Scarlet violently took it away. This didn’t stop Tamzin from running after her daughter after she realized the car coming up the road was definitely going to hit her. When Tamson wakes up she is in the hospital sitting next to her daughters comatose figure. Right when the health benefits are going to run out the team that has been taken care of scarlet come to Tenzin and Ed with a proposal they say they could make Scarlet just as good if not better with a I and a few other modern breakthroughs. Tamsin a Bursts is reluctant but ultimately agrees and Ed just wants everyone to be happy. The next thing we know the family is living in Geneva they visit Scarlet who is the team is still taking care of it and prepare Tamzin and Ed’s new beautiful villa with cameras and other forms of communication to keep tabs on the family once the new “scarlet“ comes home. When she’s ready they call her Sophie only because the real Scarlet is still in a coma and may wake up any day. On the day they finally meet their new daughter they also meet a guy who Tamsin and Sophie instinctually dislike immediately but they play nice only because he seems to be the leader of the program. Just like the 6 million Dollar Man Sophie is better stronger faster and smarter and the more she’s around the smarter she gets. She is a good girl and listens to her parents talks to her mother in also loves her daddy things are great Tamsen and Ed are in love again their daughter is a good girl but right when familiarity breeds contempt Scarlet wakes up. Tamsin is overjoyed to have the real Scarlet Home but has since fell in love with Sophie but her and Ed are ignorant to the fact that they both don’t like each other. Scarlet is jealous of Sophie and Sophie just wants them to be a family of three. If this were the families only problems they could deal with it… Sibling rivalry easy right? As they say in the commercial but wait there’s more and when the twists come so do the questions and OMG what questions they’ll need answers for! Evie green has taken a deep dive into the what if and given serious consequences to the game what would you rather? I found this book smart fast paced with authentic twist and I highly recommend it. If you like the Jolvix Series by Faith Gordner then you’ll definitely like The New One by Evie Green this is truly a study of the OMG and the WTFN is so worth reading. I received this book from NetGalley and Berkeley but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

The synopsis of this one grabbed me. What an interesting concept that sounded so original and controversial. I couldn’t wait to read it! I think this would be a great pick for book clubs, as this book could spark some interesting conversations!
Domestic thriller meets sci-fi with some perfectly placed twists that completely blindsided me, makes for a thoroughly entertaining and shocking reading experience! This was unlike any book I’ve ever read and that was my favorite thing about it. These characters were unique and complex! If your loved one was on life support, and insurance was forcing you to pull the plug… would you make a deal with the devil to save their life? That is the dilemma Ed and Tamsyn face when their daughter, Scarlett, is in an accident. Their decision changes all of their lives, in so many ways! Pulling them from their awful living condition and life, and plunging them into a plush, fancy lifestyle that gives them the freedom to have and do whatever they want, with their “new” daughter. I don’t want to give too much away! But this one was definitely enjoyable! If you get your hands on a copy, cancel your plans because you won’t be able to put it down until you finish it!