"When She Was Me is a captivating, suspense filled thriller that is filled with unexpected twists, suspicion and a strong sisterly bond." ~nerdywordyreviews

Ever since the night it happened, twin sisters Cassie and Lenora have been inseparable. Although both are dealing with the trauma of the events in their own ways, each is not coping well. Cassie takes Lenora away from most civilization to ensure a safe environment for them to thrive. When their landlord suddenly dies, the unpopulated campground they live at gets sold. The woman who purchases it will allow the girls to stay in their cabin and continue their rental agreement, however, the new landlord is keen to get cliental into the remaining units. When a small family shows for a weekend getaway in another cabin, death strikes and all history unfolds itself. Is this a repeat of the past? Will the killer strike again? Who is causing all the chaos?

Author Marlee Bush did a great job with the main characters and the breakdown of their past and psychological issues. This helped understand what was happening in the girl's minds. By skillfully writing the story and gradually unveiling information about the characters' past, the author Marlee Bush made the story more engaging and kept readers second-guessing their suspicions throughout the chapters.
The twists and turns filled the storyline and revealed more about secondary characters than expected.
Despite suspicions and history, Cassie and Lenoras' love and bond shine through as extremely strong throughout the story.
A surprise and twist filled ending finishes the story off really well.

After reading some reviews on here, I noticed this is the author’s DEBUT novel!? Fantastic! I needed a palate cleanser from the romance books and this thriller really delivered. I immediately fell in love with the creepy atmosphere. Isolated in the woods with a feeling of someone constantly watching you. I was slightly scared to walk around in my house in the dark after finishing this one.

I really enjoyed the bond between both twins throughout the story. I will protect you no matter what vibe. From the multiple POVs, to timeline jumping from past to present, you're trying to put the puzzle pieces together to understand how the sisters got to where they are today.

While reading I continuously doubted every character and didn’t see the end coming. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Marlee Bush and highly recommend this book if you're looking for a twisty thriller.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher Poisoned Pen Press for this ARC.

I recently had the chance to read an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley. Although not typically my genre, I decided to delve in. I found myself captivated by the intriguing dynamics between the twins right from the start. While the plot occasionally left me puzzled, it added to the suspense in a positive manner. The author skillfully kept me guessing about the next turn of events and the ultimate direction of the narrative. The unexpected twist took me by surprise, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'd certainly recommend it if you're seeking a compelling story with well-developed characters and a dose of suspense.

When She Was Me
Marlee Bush

This one was hard for me to get into. For some reason I couldn’t keep the sisters straight. I would be in one girls perspective and had to constantly keep going back to figure out whose point of view I was currently in.

This story definitely gave off creepy vibes. I loved the twin aspect but it was a miss for me because I just felt lost most of the time.

This was a great debut novel from this author! 👏 It had that out-of-nowhere twist that makes you go “Wait…what?!?? Ohhhhhh….”! 😱 Did not see that coming! ❤️ The ending though was a little predictable and I do feel like it dragged a little at one point. But that one twist! 👌

Overall, a great twisty read that I would definitely recommmend checking out! 🙌

Thank you to NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press, and Marlee Bush for the opportunity to read the eARC in exchange for my honest review! Look forward to reading more from you, Marlee! ❤️

DNF at 4%. I felt weird immediately upon starting: the pace is so slow and it gives off a weird vibe that I don’t really like. I could feel it was just setting up for being a psychological thriller between twins and it’s too off putting for my tastes.

Thank you to NetGalley, Marlee Bush, and Poisoned Pen Press for a review copy.

This book grabbed my attention instantly during the prologue.
I found that the whole book left me guessing from start to finish.
The story has a Dual timeline and pov.

The buildup to the plot twist was a tad slow, but it still kept me interested.
If you like a stand alone thriller that keeps you on your toes, I highly recommend. Not to mention, it’s Marlee Bush’s debut book. I can’t wait to see what more she has in store for us!

Thank you NetGalley, Poisoned Pen Press and Marlee Bush for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When She Was Me, by @marleebushwriter is a fast-paced psychological thriller.

This book was so captivating! The plot got me hooked right from the start and got me creeped out from time to time! I was on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what was gonna happen!

You follow the journey of identical twins in a secluded campsite, with both POVs, as well as an alternate timeline going back in the past. The character development is very well executed, especially for a thriller! The woodsy and secluded setting makes the whole book eerie and you're completely immersed in the story.

Now. Let's talk about that twist! WHAT A TWIST! I didn't see it coming. I had my guesses and was not too far off, but maaaaan, I was not expecting that!

This is her debut novel, and I - as you can tell - loved it! I'm definitely gonna check her out in the future!

📆 When She Was Me is being released today! So don't hesitate and go get your copy!

Thank you @netgalley @poisonedpenpress and @marleebushwriter for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

~ "They don't warn you about this in school. They warn you about the men in vans offering treats to get you inside. They warn you of drug use and STDS. But no one ever warned me about the dangers of my own thoughts. No one ever told me that there could come a time when trusting myself would be difficult and hating myself would be easy. What to do when the monster is you." ~

Wow! For a debut novel this was knocked out of the park! I was engrossed the whole time and what a grasp I DID NOT have on it whatsoever😂 I was convinced I had this figured out and wow. Not even close! I really enjoyed the writing style, that’s a big plus for me too!

This book is a slow burn that I flew through. I really enjoyed it.
The story follows twin sisters, told from a POV of each sister. It also takes places in dual timelines (if you have been following my reviews, you know that I love multiple pov/timelines) This was done really well in my opinion. At times I thought I was confused but once I got to the ending it was a "OH " moment, and it all got wrapped up nicely.

I'm not going to say too much but what kept me from giving it a full 5 star rating was that I just wanted more on the twins. Throughout the story it felt like it was leading to something major and ultimately it didn't come to a full boil and I just felt a little unsatisfied.

The twist though!!!! did. not. see. that. coming.

Read this book if you enjoy: suspense, domestic thriller, isolation, wilderness, twin sisters, multiple pov, dual timelines, slow burn

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press, netgalley and Marlee Bush for sharing a digital copy, as always opinions are my own.

I really love the cover of this book. But that’s about it 😅. I was soo bored. It was slow, repetitive and the alternating timelines were confusing. This could have easily been a DNF for me. There weren’t any moments were I was gripping the edge of my seat. I thought multiple times I could stop here and it wouldn’t bother me if I didn’t find out what happens.

Twin sisters Cassie and Lenora are living in a cabin in the woods, trying to hide from their past. Lenora is obsessive and suffers from PTSD which keeps her inside at all times. When a teenaged girl, whose family is camping nearby goes missing, Cassie thinks her sister is guilty.

Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for an eARC. When She Was Me is available now.

The premise of this book sounded so good. Twin sisters, isolated cabin in the woods, murder mystery... sounds gripping and suspenseful!

Unfortunately, it was neither.

The multiple POV with multiple timeliness really threw me off on this one. There was something with the cadence of the speech that I never fully grasped what was happening and to which sister and in what timeline. The fact that one was a very successful crime YouTube who doesn't investigate the crime that happens on their doorstep is mindblowing and made me wondering what the point of having that plot line was.

Maybe in the first 20% I felt like I figured out the big twist as to what had these sisters all worked up. At 45% I just wanted to give up because it was so hard to get through. I skimmed the rest of the book, didn't feel like anything amazing happened, and on the last chapter realized I called it.

I know a lot of people are going to love this book. For me it was a little boring and predictable and didn't keep me on the edge of my seat.

Thank you to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I had high hopes for this one, but it couldn't quite keep my interest. It wasn't one that I was continuously craving to read, I felt like it didn't have a ton going on and wasn't as "thrilling" as it could have been

What a beautifully written debut! The atmospheric tension, the eerie twin element, the POVs…I’m obsessed.

Interesting premise, but it was repetitive and slow. It picked up somewhat, around 70%, and then went back to the initial inner thoughts. The ending was rushed, and the twist was anticlimactic.

To be honest, I think there were some chapters that didn't seem important at all and it made seem the book longer than it was. Yet, there's enough mystery, an eerie vibe and the fact that, in the end, some important facts were revealed that it makes you question everything. Congrats to the author on her book debut!

I'm sorry, but this is a debut novel?? This book centers around twin sisters, Cassie & Lenora, who live in a remote campsite. Choosing to live away from others and stay hidden after the trauma they endured all those years ago.

The middle of this book slowed down pace some, but remained creepy and kept me reading to see what was going to happen next. Past and present tense chapters. Codependent main characters. And a missing teen girl.

Solid 4.5 starts on this one!

Special thanks to NetGalley & Poisoned Pen Press for the advance copy of this book. Pub date is 5/7/2024.

Do you like slow burn psychological thriller with unreliable narrators? How about stories on sisterhood, of sibling love that will do just about anything to protect each other?

If these tickle your fancy, then this debut novel by Marlee Bush is for you! When She Was Me started with POVs of reclusive twins Cassie and Lenora, living in a cabin at a remote campsite, away from the prying eyes of the public. From the get go, we know something happened to them 15 years ago. The book won’t tell us what it was until the end so it really will amp your anxiety and raise your suspicions. Both sisters claim to know one another, but at the same time distrusts each other. A past timeline interspersed with the present one serves to further throw us some backstory. But be warned, this could either clarify or confuse the heck out of you! I guessed part of the plot twist but it didn’t really matter. I still liked the story, especially as it portrayed strong sibling bond, specifically that of twins, which could turn toxic if left unchecked. Overall, this was a solid debut novel. I would definitely read anything Marlee Bush writes! Love her beautiful prose, dark characters and deeply atmospheric setting.

The bond between sisters, especially twin sisters, plays a major part in this debut thriller. As children, they experienced severe trauma. Their means of coping is to remove themselves from the rest of the world, thinking the'd never be hurt again. So their home is in a remote area, where they see few people. Then a family stays in the cabin close to theirs, where the teenage daughter promptly disappears. This is the back story of WHEN SHE WAS ME. Marlee Bush then takes the readers through the investigation where the sisters must interact with strangers, causing PTSD flash backs. The sisters will stick together as the story grows and the hunt intensifies. The end is definitely not what I expected.

Shoutout to Poisoned Pen Press and Netgalley for the ARC! Unfortunately, this one didn't quite grab me like I hoped. Despite having all the elements I usually love – interesting characters, a unique premise, creepy vibes, and a tantalizing mystery – it fell flat for me. I found myself taking way to long to read this and then was annoyed by the delayed secret reveal. But hey, everyone's taste is different, so give it a shot if it sounds like your thing! When She Was Me drops today!