I loved the setting for this book: an isolated campground in Tennessee. The surrounding woods, the nighttime sounds, and the missing young camper was a recipe for a great time. Unfortunately, I wanted this mystery thriller to lean more mystery than thriller, or at least provide a 50/50 split, but it is definitely more firmly in the thriller category. The synopsis also advertises more isolation than what seems to be on page, specifically when it comes to Cassie's very popular true crime YouTube channel. For me, it contradicts how "they manage to stay away from prying eyes, probing questions, and true crime junkies" (quote pulled from blurb).

I have elected to DNF this book at 32%, as it is clear this book will not work for me. However, I can see myself recommending the title to those who love a thriller with many popular, classic tropes. I have marked it as 3 stars to provide a neutral rating, as I chose not to continue my reading of it.

Identical twins, Cassie and Lenora, live in a cabin at a campsite after their parent’s deaths. The owner of the campsite suddenly dies and a new woman takes over. After a family arrives to stay in another cabin, the only child of the family, a teenager, goes missing and strange things begin to happen that no one can seem to explain.

The dynamic between the twins is intriguing and kept me wanting to find out what happens. The story, however, is a very slow burn. I found myself getting confused at times and losing track of if the characters perspective was a past memory or the present. There are also a lot of details that get rehashed over and over.

Being an identical twin myself, I’m drawn to reading stories featuring twins. I thought this story did a great job with the twin character arc in this psychological thriller. Cassie, a true crime podcaster lives with her sister, Lenora, a ghost writer in a remote resort cabin. Told in a dual, first person point-of-view, the present envelopes both ladies with paranoia as the teen from next door goes missing and opens the locked door to their horrible past. Due to Cassie and Lenora both being an unreliable narrator, the air of mystery never dissipated throughout the story. I thought this was a great debut from the author.
Thank you to NetGalley and Poisoned Pen Press for the eARC.

I ended up listening to the audiobook for this once it was released as I was so interested in the story but couldn't get through physically reading much of it. I liked the story line but the authors writing style made it a slow read physically. I did however enjoy the book when listened to. I love the story of the two twins and why they live the way they do. There's a lot of jumping back and forth between pov's and timelines but it's needed and adds to the intriguing ending of the book. A 3.5 star book.

Wow!!!! I've never read one of Marlee Bushes book before but I don't know where I have been but she is freaking awesome and knows how to write a book.. I was drawn from the very first chapter.. I've said this before but I really was hooked on this book I finished it in one day...

Psychological Thriller: Twin Sisters’ Dark Past

When She Was Me is a psychological thriller centred around twin sisters Cassie and Lenora. The story unfolds in an isolated campground in Tennessee, where the sisters live alone, attempting to escape their troubled past. The narrative takes a dark turn when a teenage girl camping nearby goes missing, which triggers a flood of repressed memories for the twins. The book skillfully blends past and present, leading readers through a suspenseful and atmospheric journey as the sisters confront their dark history and unravel the mystery of the missing girl.

When She Was Me is a captivating psychological thriller that excels in creating a tense, atmospheric setting and complex characters. The dual narrative adds depth to the story, making it a compelling read. While some readers noted pacing issues, the overall reception has been positive, marking it as a strong debut for Marlee Bush. Fans of psychological thrillers and stories about complex family dynamics will find this book particularly engaging.

In conclusion, When She Was Me is a must-read for anyone looking for a psychological thriller that delves deep into the human psyche and explores the dark side of familial bonds.

Marlee Bush's When She Was Me is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into the complexities of twin sisterhood and the dark secrets that can lurk within a seemingly idyllic family.

The story follows twin sisters Cassie and Lenora, who live a secluded life in a remote campground. When a new owner takes over, their peaceful existence is disrupted, forcing them to confront their troubled past and the mysterious disappearance of a young girl. As the sisters' bond is tested, the reader is drawn into a web of lies, deceit, and unreliable narration.

What I Loved:

Compelling Characters: Cassie and Lenora are complex and well-developed protagonists. Their contrasting personalities and shared trauma create a fascinating dynamic.
Suspenseful Plot: Bush masterfully builds tension and keeps the reader guessing throughout the novel. The twists and turns are both unexpected and satisfying.
Psychological Depth: The book explores themes of identity, memory, and the blurred lines between reality and perception.
Atmospheric Setting: The secluded campground setting adds a sense of isolation and foreboding to the narrative.
While the pace may be slow at times, When She Was Me is a thought-provoking and thrilling read that will stay with you long after you finish the final page. Fans of psychological thrillers and dark family dramas will appreciate this haunting tale.

This one kept me on the edge of the seat and turning the pages. I recommend for a good autumn vibes read!

Special thanks to Poisoned Pen Press and NetGalley for the ArC of this book.

This book was gripping and I enjoyed it a lot because I like 2 POVs chapter after chapter changing. Especially when they are twins and different ones at that. Cassie is the one that shines, while Lenora stays inside mostly and remains in the shadow of her.

They both live together in a cabin deep in the woods. , Cassie is into true crime and Lenora, well, is just so very different. When a 16 year old goes missing from a cabin near there cabin, that night Lenora was sleepwalking and the list of suspects is short. I really liked this one and the big differences in the twins made it the story better. I recommend it.

#whenshewasme A fantastic thriller that makes you want to stay up late to finish. That what’s going to happen next keeps you going and wondering. A great ride from page one!

While this was a very promising debut it just didn’t quite hit the mark for me. I wasn’t a fan of the pacing of the story or the overall storyline however it was also well written if that makes sense. There was a lot of time spent on the characters and their development which is something that is usually lacking or overlooked. All in all it was enjoyable but I not super memorable

This is a dark, creepy tale with an abundance of twists and turns to keep readers guessing until the shocking, yet satisfying, end, I highly recommend.

Thank you Net Galley for allowing me to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

When She Was Me follows two twins sisters who are living in a secluded camp site. They enjoy the privacy and prefer a peaceful lifestyle. All is well until a teenage girl ends up missing in a neighboring cabin at their campsite. Not only are they trapped in seclusion with a potential kidnapper (or maybe even murderer), the twins’s twisted and traumatic childhood memories resurface.

I thought the atmosphere for this book was well done. The reader feels like they are trapped with the main characters and the feeling of panic and worry escalates throughout this book. The twists and turns were great but I do wish there were more to keep my invested! I thought it was a bit of a slow burn and repetitive, and the ending was predictable. Overall, I gave When She Was Me 3 stars.

Cassie and Lenora are twin sisters and permanent residents in a campground cabin in rural Tennessee. They have a troubled past, but while they live here they can just simply... exist. Trying to forget their troubled past isn't easy, but they're giving in their, almost, best shot. A new campground owner, Sarah, takes over and initially both sisters are worried that she's here to change everything. Not long after she shows up, a young girl who was staying in a cabin with her parents is murdered. The finger is pointed at everyone, and we are left wondering... who did it?

It seems like there are twists and turns at every corner, but yet I still found it quite slow and hard to get into. It wasn't until about 70% of the way through the book did I really start to get invested. I enjoyed the locations and found the author skilled in descriptive writing, and allowing us to really visualise where we are. Some of the characters were interesting, and none of my theories panned out in the end which I quite like.

I love thrillers and mysteries and this book was REALLY good and I highly recommend it! I did find some issues with it (hence the 4 stars) but I will definitely be getting the book and it will be on on my forever reread list. Go read it! You will not regret it! If the author has more books I will definitely be reading them!

This was an ARC read for NetGalley. Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for allowing me to read this. This is my honest review and I was not paid for it.

A little slow in pacing but if you are a fan of a slow burn mystery/thriller with a true crime + murder pod feel you will enjoy this.
Personally I just like my thrillers/mysteries to have a little more of a jog and less of a early morning mall walker vibe.

4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




✨ Two Povs
✨ Different timeline
✨ Psychological thriller
✨ cabin in the wood vibes





✨ the story kind of reminds me of where the crawdads sing. Cabin in the wood vibes . Survival on a remote place. But the difference was the story is twin . Comes into two pov, Cassie and Lenora .
It’s a super slow burn, telling what happen in the past what is going on with there lives now to survive.
Somewhat one is hiding something and as a reader it’s good that you keep guessing what will happen next.


✨ overall, it’s a good read.
It just too slow and almost dnf it .
The hype wasn’t worth it but considering this is a debut book of the author I couldn’t wait what can she do.


✨ Thankyou @poisonedpenpress for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.

I enjoyed it I have been in a thriller kick lately and have been discovering new authors and after reading this book I will be reading more of Marlee bush’s work

So much love for this psychological thriller! The isolated world of twin sisters Cassie and Lenora was so hypnotic that I was immediately engrossed in trying to learn what happened in their past. The writing style is exactly my pace--a slow burn that still holds the reader's attention throughout. I cannot believe that this is a debut novel; Marlee Bush writes in a show-don't-tell manner of authors who have been writing for decades. When She Was Me is a perfect book for the upcoming spooky season, and I cannot wait to see what future novels come from this author!

When She Was Me is a dark multi-POV tale of sisters, secrets, and a creepy secluded campground. Smart twists and turns kept me guessing the whole time. The ending was satisfying and not what I expected. I'd definitely recommend this to fans of psychological thrillers featuring complex characters.