This was a really cool thriller and very creepy, made even better by the fact that I read it during a power outage;) The twins were wild and the plot twist I didn’t see coming- I only guessed one part but that ending was excellent!

When She was Me is an intriguing thriller following identical twins who live an isolated life as the result of a mysterious childhood trauma. The twins are living in one of three cabins on a secluded campsite. When the owner of the campsite dies, a new owner takes over, and tragedy strikes when a guest renting the third cabin disappears shortly thereafter. The book bounces back and forth between the twin's POVs and includes chapters from the past told from an anonymous POV. Marlee Bush does an excellent job creating a spooky ambiance and the while the characters are odd, they add to the overall atmosphere of the book. The flashbacks kept me guessing the whole time and I did not see the outcome coming. I felt some of the chapters were a little long and drawn out but overall, a great debut with a surprising ending.

Thank you @poisonedpenpress @netgalley #partner for the free book!

I am a sucker for stories about sisters and what better than to be also be about twins!Cassie and Lenora have an unbreakable bond stemming not only from being sisters but from a fateful night where they are forever intertwined from an event that left them running for the woods. Literally. Hiding and starting over they find themselves at a quiet campground in Tennessee tucked away from their past. Everything seems to be going well until a girl in the cabin next door goes missing. Her disappearance leaves Cassie and Lenora feeling very unsettled bringing back memories they would have rather left buried. As they try to figure out what happened to the missing girl they start to question each other and the past they tried so hard to outrun.

Thoughts: Let me first point out I can’t pass up a book with a creepy house on the cover and this one definitely grabbed me. It gives the perfect secluded in the woods, eerie, missing girl vibes I always am looking for! SOLD on the cover alone! 😅 Thankfully the story was nightmarish as well! I love the relationship between both sisters. Their undying loyalty definitely turned into codependency and enabling each other. It worked well and added to the storyline for me to constantly doubt both of them! This book for me was a bit of a slow burn but as it neared the end the twists and pacing picked up quite a bit! I didn’t guess the motives and drivers for these ghastly deeds! I loved the ending and most certainly will be checking out Marlee’s next book!

This book was not for me. It wasn't that the writing was bad, I just didn't connect with the plot. I found myself zoning out while reading and having to go back so I didn't miss anything, I also wasn't impressed by the twist and the whole thing was very lackluster in my opinion. Again, the writing was good, the story itself just didn't hold my attention.

Unfortunately, this one wasn't for me! I didn't find myself enjoying the writing style right now, but I may try to come back in the future and continue, because I just love the premise of this story.

Wow! This one had my head spinning. This is the story of two twin sisters, many murders, fires, and undying love. Sounds unpredictable? You would be correct. Told from the pov of both sisters, and also past and present, this one kept me guessing. I couldn’t figure out which sister I could trust, or if I couldn’t trust either one. And I never saw the ending coming. Great debut novel by Marlee Bush. 4⭐️ Thank you @marleebushwriter, @netgalley and @poisonedpenpress for this eARC

When she was me by Marlee Bush

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC!

First of all, I have to mention that the cover of this book drew my eye initially and let me tell you the cover is stunning. Definitely an instant pick up if I would walk by it.

Cassie and Lenora are twins, Inseparable and they have been since an awful night that causes so much trauma that Lenora is plagued with the inability to live outside of locked doors in the cabin they rent. Cassie puts her trauma into a more constructive lifestyle retelling the stories in a video podcast type format that focuses on the victims of trauma, in an attempt to overcome her own.

The story takes place in a cabin in the woods when another family inhabits the cabin close by. The family comes for vacation getaway when their 15 year old daughter ends up missing in the middle of the night. . The story gets increasingly interesting when the only other person that saw Tilly was Lenora who was sleepwalking. Such an interesting turn of events.

The story was interesting and kept my attention but seemed to drag to get to the point, I loved the premise of the story and the creepy feelings I would get hoping to have the next aha moment.
I bounced around with rating this book but I believe most people will enjoy this and the crazy that it sheds a light on.

This was one of the most horror-y thrillers I’ve read in a long time. I thought i had things figured out but the plot twists were so good. I was anxious reading this whole book and overall felt like it kept a decent pace. I took off a star because there were some areas that felt a little slow to me and there were also so many horror movie cliches that frustrated me (people were getting murdered so why did 100% of the plot happen out in the woods after midnight?? Also, how did the killer break in when the cabins were locked down??) Overall this was an absolutely exceptional debut and I’ll look forward to future books!

Thank you Posioned Pen Press and NetGalley for the arc. All opinions are my own. Wow what a ride, I wasn't sure who to trust or how this was going to turn out. I just had to keep reading to see. I will be watching for more of Marlee Bush's novels.

Lenora and Cassie have been hiding out…surviving..getting by.. in a remote cabin in Tennessee. After a life changing event the sisters needed a new start with no prying eyes or inquiring minds. A getaway camping trip turned into a new start until the camps owner dies unexpectedly.

A new owner brings on a new challenge and a murder. A murder that brings back a flood of memories that lead to trauma bonding. Twins that grew together to never grow apart.

This novel had a lot going on with plot lines and shifting. I really wanted to like this book. I wanted to speed read and fall in love with this debut novel but it was just okay. I could see how someone would love this novel but I had trouble staying invested. The ending came full circle and answered all of the questions which was the most rewarding part of this read.


Pub Date: May 7, 2024
🌟🌟.5

3.5 stars. This book started a little slow for me and I was confused but once it got going it was a faster read. This follows twins Cassie and Lenora who live in a remote cabin after something happened during their childhood. The chapters switch between both girls and as well as back in time. A girl goes missing and it starts to dredge up their past. The setting was interesting and the character study also had some good twists.

I definitely pushed through to get to the end of this book. I know there are some who will definitely enjoy this book, but I felt there were some moments that dragged

Thank you to Netgalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book officially publishes on 5/7/24!

The atmosphere to this book immediately starts out as unsettling, with the majority of this book taking place at a small campground in the middle of the woods. Told from several POVs and two timelines, one of the POVs is a mystery until the very end of the novel. The general plot to this book was a promising one, but to me it was drawn out a bit longer than necessary. In juxtaposition, though, the end is like a hurling roller coaster. The major twist at the end I did have suspicions about but ultimately did not guess accurately. To me, this would be a good beginner thriller. If you decide to pick this one up please check any relevant trigger warnings before doing so!

“When She Was Me,” weaves a story of suspense, sisterhood, and secrets.

The story is a slow burn, told by unreliable narrators, and at times is a bit confusing. I’m not sure if that was the intent, if it was, it hit its mark. I personally, do not like to be confused, because I don’t like having to “work” at reading. With that being said, I stuck with it, and eventually it built in suspense and became twisty.

Marlee Bush, has written a solid debut novel. She had depth to her characters and story. Her exploration of the twin dynamic, and trauma is well done. Her setting, a campground, was definitely my favorite part of the book, it’s eerie and atmospheric.

Overall, a decent read,

Thank You NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for this eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I really enjoyed the back and forth of the narration and the twisty end!? This is a great addition to the thriller/suspense genre. There were a couple parts that truly brought goosebumps to my arms, it was eerie and creepy. I thought I had it figured out but alas! I did not.

A nicely paced slow burn thriller that sees twins Cassie and Lenora realizing that there's something wrong very wrong when Tilly goes missing. The twins have walled themselves off from the world, living at a campground and scraping out a living. Now, though, a family has moved in and the daughter Tilly's disappearance forced them to look at their past. This moves back and forth in time effectively. No spoilers from me. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good debut.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for an e,e-arc in exchange for my honest review. I loved this book. I thought I have the twist figured out, but no no I didn't.

When She Was Me offers a gripping debut that delves into the lives of identical twins Cassie and Lenora, bound by childhood trauma and the isolation of their cabin in the woods.

Their world is turned upside down when a neighboring family's daughter disappears during a weekend getaway, and Lenora, sleepwalking, becomes the prime suspect.

The alternating perspectives between Cassie and Lenora, along with glimpses from the past, create a lot of intrigue. With the book only containing a few characters, I found the suspense to be amplified.

I found the pacing a bit slow, but the merging of past and present timelines was done very well and added incredible depth to the story. The twist might be predictable to a seasoned thriller reader, which may have dampened the suspense for some, but the well-written eerie atmosphere and setting delivered a captivating read.

In conclusion, When She Was Me marks a promising debut in the thriller genre, with its exploration of twin dynamics and the lasting impact of trauma. It leaves the reader eager to turn the next page to find out what will happen next. I can’t wait to see more from Marlee Bush. This book is impressive for a debut novel!

Thank you NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for allowing me to read an ARC of When She Was Me. WOW! What an amazing debut! It was a bit of a slow burn but once the twists started coming I could not put it down. I loved the secluded setting and the multiple POVs and timelines. I will definitely recommend this one!

Wow! Marlee Bush’s debut novel, When She Was Me, did not disappoint!

This book is revolves around a set of twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora, who are living in a cabin at a remote campground. Things are going well for them, until a family shows up to rent a cabin nearby. One night, the family’s teenage daughter ends up missing and subsequently murdered. Lenora was the only other person outside that night, but is unable to remember what she saw because she was sleepwalking. Is Lenora responsible for this girl’s murder??

Both sisters are incredibly unreliable narrators, so I had no idea who/ what to believe the entire book. When She Was Me flashes back and forth between present day and their childhood.

The ending was completely unexpected and just as twisty as the rest of the book!

Thank you to NetGalley, Marlee Bush, and Poisoned Pen Press for this exhilarating ARC. When She Was Me will be available for purchase on May 7, 2024.