Member Reviews

Quick read, Nancy Drew/Mystery Machine vibes but obviously a darker tone due to the subject matter. Since it moves quickly and one POV has memory loss it's impossible to know how much is a reliable narrator and the twist at the end is well done.

3.5 stars. Recommended.

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Ok now, I must admit I don't typically read thriller books because well I can't seem to stray away from romance. However, this book has really opened me up to reading thrillers. This was a great book I felt was fast-paced so I was able to finish it in one go.
I want to say thank you to Megan, Source Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book I really enjoyed it.
I really didn't expect the kind of story that "That's Not My Name" was, I was anticipating something more predictable or at least a typical cliche read. I was pleasantly surprised by how I was consumed by this book for the time I read it.
I loved Drew and Mary's perspective throughout this book and I through it was well written from a youth perspective. While it was a YA I still felt that it was written in a way that even adults can enjoy.
I loved the way we jumped right into the story with the main characters and how we got to go through their experiences with them.
4/5 I really liked this book and thought it was a great YA thriller, I wouldn't say this is the scariest thing ever so I feel that it is perfect for beginners just like myself. Good writing style, addictive characters, and a thrilling story.

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This book destroyed me, in the best possible way. I read it in two days, and would have read it in one had time allowed.

A girl wakes up on the side of the road with no memory, severely injured. Her father finds her at the police station. He has her birth certificate, along with photos of her on his phone. So she’s released into his custody. Things are fine, for a little while, except he doesn’t seem to know much about her, and he doesn’t like it when she goes outside. But she can’t remember any other life so what’s she supposed to do?

Meanwhile, Drew is intent on finding his missing girlfriend Lola—and proving to his whole town that he didn’t kill her. He recruits his cousin and Lola’s besting friend and the three of them set out to do what the police can’t—find Lola and bring her home.

When these two stories intersect there’s a twist I did NOT see coming. I raced through the end of this book, my heart pounding the whole time. And now I am a wreck. Thank you Megan Lally for shattering me this way!

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WHEW! This book puts the thrill in thriller.

An injured girl wakes up on a road with no memory of who she is or how she got there. After the police pick her up, a man claiming to be her father, with proof that she is his daughter, takes her home. But is he really her father? At the same time, a high school boy named Drew is relentless in his search for his missing girlfriend, Lola, even if the entire town thinks he had something to do with her disappearance. As he begins piecing the clues together, could the injured girl with amnesia and his girlfriend Lola be the same person?

Wow I read this in one sitting. Super creepy, fast-paced, and a heart-racing read. The finale and epilogue really added a heavy emotional weight to the thrilling story. Megan Lally is a talent to watch!

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"That's Not My Name" is a great YA thriller. Megan Lally builds characters in depth for maximum engagement and there is a sense of dread and eeriness to the story from the first chapter on. The ending is intense but to say more would spoil it. I read this in one sitting. Recommended for readers who love puzzling and pulse-pounding pages. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

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Two stories unfold through this book. We have a girl who wakes up on the side of the road in a ditch. But she has no clue who she is or any memories. A cop finds her on the side of road and takes her back to the station. Both of them try to figure out who she really is. Then a frantic man comes rushing into the station claiming thr mystery girl is his daughter, Mary Boone. He as documents, a school ID and a whole slew of proof that she is his daughter. But things aren't quite adding up and Mary is trying to unlock the truth. Who is Mary really? Meanwhile, Drew is accused of the murder of his missing girlfriend, Lola. He spends all his spare time trying to find her and putting up fliers. One fight between the two leads to her walking home alone. Bur she never makes it back. Now Drew is on a mission to clear his name and find Lola.

What I enjoyed:
- this was a wild ride and so fast paced. I started this before bed and before I knew it I was half way through. I woke up the next morning and finished it in one sitting. I was hooked from the start
- I love the dual POVS between Drew and Mary. This kept me on my toes trying to puzzle it all together
- I loved the twists!
- Just a spectacular debut novel! The writing was great. The story was absolutely intriguing. All the teen characters were very likeable

Wow, what a fun and fast read! I seriously was so into this book from the first chapter. I honestly can't wait to read future books from this author. 4.5 stars out or 5! Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

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A captivating premise with a breathless ending.

The story is a bit slow-burn, with the only smatterings of suspense happening around the 50% and 60% marks, but the twists and breathless pace of the last 30% or so made up for it. I DID keep catching myself holding my breath, and couldn’t read fast enough.

I will say, the characters did feel younger than their 17 years—which totally might be realistic for teens of this time! But there *was* quite a bit of strong language, and some random political moments that seemed out of place, so I had a hard time placing where to recommend this. I had a hard time connecting with Drew’s side of the story because of that, but Mary’s was breathless and I couldn’t get enough.

3.5 stars rounded up. Very grateful to Netgalley and SourcebooksFire for the arc!

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A great fast-paced YA thriller. I loved seeing the main character, Mary, slowly gain back her memory and witness the horror of the situation she faces. Great book for young adults!

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That's Not My Name is a thrilling rollercoaster of a novel that kept me engaged from the very first page. With a gripping premise, well-crafted characters, and a suspenseful plot, this book takes you on a wild ride into the unknown.

The story begins with a nameless teen, shivering and bruised, waking up on a deserted dirt road with no memory of her identity. The author skillfully weaves together two parallel narratives, one following the nameless girl's journey to uncover her true identity, and the other focusing on Drew, who is desperately searching for his missing girlfriend, Lola.

The pacing of the book is relentless, and I found myself eagerly turning pages to uncover the truth. The characters are vividly portrayed, each with their own secrets and motivations, making it a joy to play detective alongside them. The author's ability to keep readers guessing and questioning the characters' intentions adds a layer of complexity to the story that I appreciated. This makes it an ideal choice for young adults looking to dip their toes into the world of thrillers.

What truly sets this book apart is its emotional depth. The epilogue took me by surprise, and I found myself shedding tears as the characters' grief felt incredibly real and palpable.

In summary, That's Not My Name is a four-star read that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This makes it an ideal choice for young adults looking to dip their toes into the world of thrillers. It's a fast-paced, emotionally resonant thriller with well-drawn characters and a mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Sending my thanks to NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy!

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This is the perfect case of don't judge a book by its genre. For some weird reason I tend to stay away when a book is labeled as Young Adult even though the ones I have read, I have loved, including this one. I am so glad that I gave this a chance after reading the description. It was such an intense, frustrating, grievous mystery following the disappearance of a teenage girl and her boyfriend on his own mission to find her. The writing itself sucks you right into the story and makes you feel so compelled to read just one more chapter everytime you plan to put it down. I can honestly say there was not one dull moment in it and I am astonished this is a debut. This author knocked this out of the park and I give it the full five stars it deserves.

Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC.

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The premise of this book was very promising, but I found it to be pretty predictable. Additionally, the split perspective didn't add to the narrative for me. Overall, a good YA thriller for fans of Mindy McGinnis or Kara Thomas.

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I really loved this book, it definitely kept me guessing.
Not a big fan of the twist ending though, wish it would've ended up differently.

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This was a great debut mystery/thriller. I couldn't read this one fast enough, I was glued to the pages. We get the story from two POVs, one from Mary (who is Mary?) and the other from Drew (where is Lola?) Very impressive how the author used these two point of views to tell seemingly two different stories which then collide. Megan Lally definitely knows how to play with my emotions. I was on edge the entire time with suspense and frustration and then the ending was sentimental and brought me to tears. Not what I expected from a thriller. Very brilliantly done! I will be on the lookout for future releases from this author!

Thanks to Netgalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire, Sourcebooks Fire for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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This was an interesting story - I generally don’t love YA Thrillers but I was very captivated by this one. I loved the pacing and the twists and turns that the author took with the plot.

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This is a pulse pounding read, leaving you guessing until the very end. I loved every single minute of it!

A teenage girl wakes up battered and bruises with absolutely no memory. An officer finds her and soon, her father comes to take her home. He says her name is Mary and he has a slew of documentation to prove it.

Meanwhile, hours away, Drew is grasping at straws searching for his missing girlfriend, Lola. Everyone in town thinks he killed her, but he is the only one still actually looking for her.

The first takeaway from this book: all the adults were capital S- Stupid!! They were the worst, never listening, showboating, blaming, just terrible. The second takeaway: holy smokes, this book was fantastic.

Drew is relentless when it comes to finding Lola. He works tirelessly, infuriated by the fact that nobody else seems to be looking, especially not the sheriff… Along with his cousin and an unlikely ally, they seek answers anywhere they can, following a dangerous path for the truth.

Mary is home with her dad, though it becomes clear very quickly that something is not right here. We get their alternating POV in different chapters, leading to an explosive ending! I loved the writing, I loved the way the author keeps you guessing, and I loved the characters.

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One of the best YA thrillers I’ve read in a long time! The fact this is a debut novel to boot really emphasizes how well written the plot was and the depth of the characters. That’s Not My Name had me glued to the page right from the start and was the perfect mix of slow burn and suspense. The ending was not at all what I was expecting, but the authors choices only made the plot stronger. I really enjoyed how the mystery (Who is Mary Boone? What happened to Lola?) and how the events played out in two different POVs/locations. I was completely blown away!

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

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Disturbing from page one. This read was definitely a slow burn, but it did not disappoint with the suspense factor.

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Wow!!! I could not put this thriller down. I was engrossed the whole time and that is not how I feel about a lot of teen thrillers. I didn't guess the twist or the ending AT ALL. I can't wait to recommend this one to teens in my library.

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Thank you NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Fire for the copy of That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally. I love a good YA story and this debut is a fun one. I was expecting a typical “Missing girl, boyfriend is accused” tale, but it was so much more! I loved Drew and Mary as main characters and they both had really good narratives. In true YA fashion, the adults are not really well defined, and mostly play minor roles. Many books have epilogues, but this is the best one I have ever read; other authors should take note of how it wraps everything up so perfectly. If you want a well-written, fast-paced book that you will want to read in one sitting, this is it!

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This book is incredible. Truly hard to believe it's a debut it's so well crafted. The pacing is IMPECCABLE. I stayed up all night to read it in a single go. I truly haven't read anything else so binge-able all year. This is going to be a TikTok sensation, calling it now.

Quite note for the publisher: the quotations have gone awry in several moments. Dialogue tags are clearly not where they were intended by the author, and I hope this can be fixed before the book goes to print because it's truly a breakout book and I'd hate to see it poorly reviewed due to some formatting mistakes.

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