Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to honestly review.

Like It Never Was by Faith Gardner is a gripping psychological thriller that delves into themes of guilt, friendship, and the haunting nature of past secrets. The narrative follows Jolene, who, a decade ago, was involved in a traumatic accident that nearly claimed her friend Elizabeth's life—a secret Elizabeth remains unaware of. Consumed by guilt, Jolene drifts through various jobs and locations, attempting to escape her past. Fate intervenes when she unexpectedly reunites with Elizabeth, who bears physical scars from the incident but no memory of the events leading up to it. As their renewed friendship unfolds, Elizabeth's increasingly unsettling behavior forces Jolene to confront whether it's her own conscience tormenting her or if Elizabeth is seeking retribution.

This 316-page novel offers readers a deep dive into the complexities of human emotions and the shadows cast by unresolved guilt. Gardner's storytelling is both evocative and suspenseful, keeping readers engaged as they navigate the intricate dynamics between the characters. The book has been praised for its compelling plot and well-developed characters, with readers highlighting its ability to blend psychological depth with thrilling twists.

For those interested in exploring the darker facets of human nature and the impact of concealed truths, Like It Never Was presents a thought-provoking and captivating experience.

Enter a world where memories are fragile, and the past is a puzzle waiting to be pieced together.

"Like It Never Was" by Faith Gardner is a hauntingly beautiful and deeply mysterious tale that will linger in your mind long after you've turned the final page.

Imagine waking up with a blank slate, your life a complete unknown. That's the unsettling reality faced by the protagonist in this captivating novel. Gardner expertly weaves a narrative that's both suspenseful and introspective, exploring themes of identity, memory, and the secrets we keep from ourselves. The atmosphere is thick with tension, and every clue only deepens the mystery, drawing you further into a web of intrigue and uncertainty. You'll find yourself questioning everything alongside the protagonist, desperate to uncover the truth hidden beneath the surface. If you crave a story that's emotionally resonant, intellectually stimulating, and filled with unexpected twists, then "Like It Never Was" is an absolute must-read. Prepare to be mesmerized by this enigmatic journey into the depths of the human mind.

Check out this teaser :

The deeper the secret, the darker the shadow.

Ten years ago, Jolene nearly killed her friend Elizabeth in a gruesome accident. And no one has any idea. Not even Elizabeth.

Jolene has been trying to outrun the guilt ever since, wandering from place to place and career to career. So she’s shocked when, after her latest move, she runs into the very person she’s been trying to avoid for ten years.

Elizabeth still lives with scars from the accident. And she’s still clueless about what happened that fateful night.

Or is she?

As the two women rekindle a friendship, Elizabeth’s increasingly disturbing behavior makes Jolene wonder if it’s her own guilt stalking her—or Elizabeth finally exacting her revenge.

Talk about an off the rails rollercoaster ride of suspense and twists that had me dying to know what was happening next I really liked it!

Thank you Netgalley, Faith Gardener and irror House Press for the eArc of Like it Never Was.

This is a medium paced thriller that explores both grief, trauma and resilience. The character building entwined with the direction of the plot was constant and flowed really well. This kept me engaged and wanting to keep reading! With the plot twists and whether you think you have a couple of unreliable narrators in hand ( or not?! ) I thoroughly enjoyed reading Like it Never was.

4 stars

To start, the author skillfully explores the weight of guilt and the complexities of friendship through the intertwining lives of Jolene and Elizabeth. The premise is haunting: ten years after a tragic accident, Jolene finds herself face-to-face with the one person she has tried to forget. The narrative dives deep into the psychological impact of secrets and the shadows they cast on relationships.

The character development is particularly commendable. Jolene’s internal struggle and feelings of guilt are portrayed with depth, creating an immersive experience for the reader. Elizabeth, on the other hand, is intriguing and unpredictable, making readers question her motives and sanity as the story unfolds. The tension builds expertly, keeping me on the edge of my seat and guessing throughout.

The pacing is well-maintained, with just the right mix of flashbacks and present-day encounters to unveil the mystery surrounding the accident. The author does an excellent job of weaving suspense into the storyline, leading to a climax that left me breathless.

However, I believe there are moments where the secondary characters could have been fleshed out more, as they seemed to serve merely as plot devices rather than fully realized individuals. This does not detract significantly from the overall impact, but deeper connections could have enhanced the story's richness.

Overall, this novel is a thought-provoking exploration of guilt, friendship, and the darkness that can overshadow even the strongest bonds. A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers, I highly recommend it to anyone seeking a gripping story that lingers long after the last page.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

What?!~?!?! That was a rollercoaster of everything ever.
I had no idea who was good, who was bad.... WHAT!?!

Like It Never Was by Faith Gardner is a gripping, emotional read that blends mystery with themes of trauma and resilience. Sharlot wakes up in a hospital with no memory of nearly drowning, only to realize that something about her survival doesn’t add up.

The writing pulls you in with its eerie, almost dreamlike quality, making Sharlot’s journey feel raw and real. While some twists are predictable, the emotional depth and strong character work make up for it. A solid 4-star read—haunting, thought-provoking, and hard to put down.

Faith Gardner’s Like It Never Was sets up an intriguing psychological thriller, blending guilt, buried secrets, and the tension of a long-lost friendship with a dark past. The story follows Jolene, who has spent a decade running from the truth about a tragic accident—one that nearly killed her friend Elizabeth, who remains oblivious to what really happened. Or so Jolene thinks. When fate reunites them, their rekindled friendship takes a disturbing turn, making Jolene question whether Elizabeth knows more than she lets on.

The novel starts strong, drawing readers in with its morally complex protagonist and the weight of unresolved guilt. The tension between Jolene and Elizabeth creates an unsettling atmosphere, and Gardner effectively builds suspense through small, unnerving moments. However, as the story progresses, the pacing becomes uneven, and some of the twists feel predictable rather than shocking.

While the psychological elements are intriguing, the execution doesn’t quite match the novel’s potential. The characters’ motivations could have been explored more deeply, and the ending, though satisfying, lacks the impact needed to make the story truly unforgettable.

This was a fantastic thriller. Twists, suspense, tension. The mystery was riveting. I . Right away, I was hooked with how odd this situation was, and things only increased, which had me on the edge of my seat.

What on earth did I just read? More importantly, why did I like it so much?

Jolene moves to Berkely, California to start fresh. Ten years after high school she lives with impending guilt for a terrible accident she caused to a friend. It consumes her. Then one day she runs into her again.

This novel was full of twists and turns and I loved every minute of it. I guessed a couple of the twists, but definitely not all of them and I was super engulfed in the plot.

3.75 stars

I loved the twists in this book! I had a small feeling about one of them, but I didn’t really know the connection to how it would be one of the twists.

The MC Jolene is such an unlikeable character along with all of the other characters, but that didn’t deter from the story. Jolene has surrounded herself with so many people who do not really want to help her. I can understand where they are coming from, but it really starts to get annoying.

I would have given this book four stars, but the middle gets very long since it becomes very repetitive and not much happens besides instilling the fact that Jolene is either going crazy or someone is messing with her.

Thanks NetGalley and publisher for the digital copy in exchange for my honest review!

Like It Never Was by Faith Gardner is a poignant and thought-provoking novel about love, loss, and personal transformation. The story follows Anna as she grapples with the complexities of her past and the emotional turmoil of a relationship that once defined her. Gardner’s writing is introspective, capturing the nuances of healing and self-discovery with depth and sensitivity. With rich character development and a quiet yet powerful narrative, Like It Never Was is a compelling read for those who appreciate emotional, character-driven stories.

As a fan of Maxine, I couldn't pass up Like It Never Was.

The story revolves around Jolene, a high school senior who makes a fateful decision to prank her friend Elizabeth. What starts as a joke spirals into a chain of events with devastating consequences for both young women.

For ten years, Jolene has been haunted by guilt over what happened that night. She knows she’s responsible for the events that led to Elizabeth’s tragic accident. Unable to find peace, she drifts from country to country and job to job, her criminal attorney father frequently stepping in to bail her out.

Now, Jolene has decided to move back to Berkeley. She hopes to rebuild her life and find some stability. Her father helps her secure a new job, and she finds an apartment within walking distance of her workplace.

Then she sees Elizabeth again. To Jolene’s surprise, Elizabeth wants to reconnect and rekindle their friendship. But what is Jolene supposed to do? Could Elizabeth know the truth about that night—and is she seeking revenge?

The plot is intriguing, centered around an unstable protagonist. Jolene is a mental breakdown waiting to happen. Her paranoia leaves you questioning whether the danger is real or all in her mind.

My only complaint is that the book sometimes felt too YA for my taste. That said, the twist at the end made it a worthwhile read.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Mirror House Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

One night high school senior Jolene plays a prank on her frenemy, Elizabeth, that goes horribly wrong. Elizabeth is seriously injured and permanently disfigured. Jolene, who left the scene and has never properly confessed, has carried the guilt and shame with her ever since, which the antagonistic voice in her head makes sure she never forgets.

Now thirty, Jolene’s life has been a string of flighty choices lacking any real commitment, the most recent of which is a move to Berkley, California and a new job as the personal assistant to a melodramatic nutball poetess. She’s particularly loving her improv class, until the teacher introduces his new protege with those familiar scars …

Could it be? Of course!

You can be assured that this reunion is only the beginning of the crazy. When all sorts of menacing, unexplained things start happening to Jolene, she has to question if Elizabeth really doesn’t remember the events of that long ago night, as she claims!

Faith Gardner definitely lacks NOTHING in the imagination department, and depending on how willing you are to set aside logic and just roll with it, you may have a blast reading this. Many readers are already eating it up!

I’ve adored her sci-fi psychological thriller Jolvix series, my favorite of which is the first - Amen, Maxine (now re-titled The Prediction). It’s unique, really witty and smart, and the other books I’ve read so far in that series have followed suit. Gardner’s creative mind and dark humor are delightfully fun, so no one was more surprised than me that this didn’t grab me as much.

It seems like I'm in the minority with this book, so maybe it's just not for me, but the characters just did not sit well with me. Their dynamics were immature and juvenile, and made me question what reading level this book actually was.

I was pretty intrigued by the synopsis when I found this one and was quite into it at first. Unfortunately I could not stand Elizabeth and I knew what was actually happening to Jolene early on.

Suspenseful plot. Beautiful writing. Mystery not easily guessed.

I enjoyed this book way too much. No complaints here.

This book was very hard to get into with some characters that were difficult to connect to, i really felt like the story was very slow to get rolling, i did not finish this because of it.

One night high school senior Jolene plays a mean prank on her so called friend Elizabeth that goes awry. Elizabeth gets hurt and will never again be the same. Joelene left the scene and never came clean but she has never forgotten what she did. Now over ten years later she has flitted around never committing to anyone or anything. In her latest move she takes an improv class and is introduced to the teachers protege with some very familiar scars. Lets just say that thing start happening to Jolene and that is an understatement. I loved the frenemies aspect of that book and found there to be character development. It was a bit slow in areas and I just wanted to get to the good stuff in others. All in all I think that someone looking for a retribution and story about friends and what happens when things go crazy will enjoy this read.