What an enjoyable read! Interesting characters, a great setting, and many, many twists. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Oh wow, where do I even start? A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin is such a deliciously dramatic read. I absolutely loved being drawn into the glitzy yet sinister world of the Sterling family—a mix of wealth, power, and secrets that make your jaw drop. Maya Miller, the scrappy ex-reality star turned society wife, is a character I couldn’t help but root for, even when I questioned her motives. The murder mystery at the heart of the story is layered with twists, and the locked-mansion setting gives it a perfectly claustrophobic vibe.

This book has everything I love—scheming, betrayal, and characters who are just delightfully messy. It feels like Succession and The Inheritance Games had a love child, with all the high-stakes glamour and backstabbing drama you’d expect. My only gripe? Some parts felt a little too over the top, but honestly, isn’t that part of the fun? If you love thrillers with rich people behaving badly and a heaping side of scandal, this one’s a must-read. I couldn’t put it down!

The book's cover immediately grabbed me, setting the perfect tone for the story. The themes of power, wealth, and secrets were engaging . Maya was a compelling protagonist, and I found myself fully invested in her journey, cheering her on through every twist. I couldn’t put the book down and enjoyed the ride from start to finish!

This story was enjoyable overall. I enjoyed exploring the inner workings of a wealthy family and watching Maya adjust to her new role after marrying into it. I liked the flashback chapters from Arianna that provided insight into her downward spiral. The mystery was engaging and took an unexpected turn that kept me intrigued. Although the conclusion wrapped everything up nicely, the ending felt drawn out and the story could have had better pacing.

A Girl Like US is a twisty story about Maya Miller, a girl raised by her gambler father who taught her to the tricks of his trade. A former reality star on The Springs know as Maya Mayhem is now returning from her honeymoon in Mexico, Maya and Colin Sterling's plan is being deverted from New York to London due to an tragic event. Maya is now is sheltering in place with the Sterling at thieir compound The Silver House, trying to put the piecies to how and why Arianna the hieress of the Sterling fortune was killed. Wanting to know about Arianna, Maya begins to ask questions and is getting the run around from the family including her new husband Colin. Maya has her own secrets that she doesn't want the family to know about however with a team of experts her one of her secrets are being revealed. Who can Maya trust in a room full of wolves. This book was well written with all the best plot twists that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. I would like to thank both NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for letting me have an advanced copy of this book.

For some reason I thought this book would be a campy, beach read. It's not. It's a tangled web of lies, secrets, darkness and desperation with a layer of misogyny and mystique. It gives the reader a glimpse into what the dynamics of an ultra-wealthy family who don't trust outsiders and pretend to trust each other. For me this wasn't an 'easy' read and that was a good thing. These characters really made me think on what it would truly be like to 'have it all' but really not have the basic human needs of love and trust met.

These characters were imperfect, trying to survive and also trying to project an image to the world and what happens when the secrets start tumbling out. What will they do to protect the family name? I really enjoyed reading the twists, the turns and guessing where the author would take us next.

I love a story about rich people behaving badly so I was excited to start this one. The book began strong but fell flat for me about halfway through. I was not invested in any of the characters. That being said, there were a couple of twists that kept me reading until the end. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I enjoyed the character development and the coalition of young women on the outskirts of the family fighting and clawing to become recognized and valued. Well-written, fun, and poignant.

Thank you, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark for the copy of A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin. I’m not sure why I couldn’t get engaged with this book. I loved the premise but the story unfolded so slowly it didn’t catch my interest. While we got a lot of description about the house and the grounds, the character development was missing so it was hard to care about the characters. If you love surprising reveals and wealthy people behaving badly, you might love this book. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3.

I always enjoy a story about rich people behaving badly as well as young stars, so I was looking forward to this one. Sadly, it missed the mark for me. The plot was overly convoluted and hard for me to follow. The twists were either obvious or completely out of left field- nothing inbetween. It was definitely a slower burn, which I don’t mind. It kept my interest throughout. I just never really connected with any of the characters and that may have caused my lack of investment at the end of the day.

Think "Succession" meets "Saltburn" in a mansion full of secrets. That's A Girl Like Us, Anna Sophia McLoughlin's electric new thriller that'll keep you up way past bedtime.

When a wealthy family gets together in their luxury estate, things get messy fast. Everyone's got something to hide, and nobody's quite who they seem. McLoughlin builds her characters like master chess pieces - each one complex enough to keep you guessing about whose side they're really on.

The writing? It's gorgeous without being fancy. McLoughlin knows exactly when to pull you in close and when to hit you with a twist. And that ending? Let's just say you won't see it coming.

Sure, these rich folks' problems might seem far from our everyday lives, but the story hits home where it counts - family, loyalty, and the crazy things we do to protect what's ours. If you loved watching the Roy family tear each other apart in "Succession" or got caught up in the dark glamour of "Saltburn," you'll devour this book in one sitting.

⭐⭐⭐½ (4.5/5)

Perfect for: Anyone who likes their thrillers smart, stylish, and seriously twisted.

What a fun one! Is it really worth marrying into money when this is the family you get with it?! The lies, the manipulation, the drama. I had a hard time putting it down. Some of the twists are easy enough to see coming, but it was still an enjoyable ride to get there. Would definitely recommend!

A great story if you love dysfunctional family dramas, particularly wealthy families too. A brilliant story with lots of dark secrets unearthed.

The review below will be shared on social platforms closer to the books publishing date.


“A Girl Like Us” follows Maya Miller, once star of a hit 2000’s reality show, now married into one of the richest and most powerful families in the world. The day after her wedding, she is flown into her new family’s home as the heiress is declared murdered. And Maya has no alibi.

A twisting and gossip juicy book, perfect for fans of DeuxMoi or The Real Housewives. Despite its flaws, this book was a gripping and truly enjoyable read from start to nearly end.

Where the book fell a little flat for me was in its depiction of Maya herself. She’s described as smart, sneaky and possessing this alter ego called Miss Mayhem, who can stir up any media worthy drama. However we never truly see any of that come to fruition in the book. I was excited to see where her mayhem might lead as the threads of the plot unwound, but felt quite underwhelmed by the end.

As well, the final moments of the book felt like a letdown. The climax took a twist I could’ve never predicted, and I was thrilled to see what would happen next. But the book suddenly ended, as if the final two chapters were rushed to a conclusion.

Despite this, it was a fun and quick read. And I look forward to what the author puts out next.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

Rich people drama, family secrets, and murder? A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin is the kind of twisty, high-stakes thriller that grabs you from the first chapter and doesn’t let go. Think Knives Out meets Succession, with a side of reality TV star-turned-Cinderella who suddenly finds herself at the center of a deadly family power struggle.

It’s 2004, and Maya Miller has seemingly hit the jackpot: marrying Colin Sterling, heir to one of the world’s most powerful media dynasties. But the dream turns into a nightmare when Arianna, the family’s golden child and original heiress, is found murdered—and Maya becomes both the next heiress and the prime suspect.

The book dives into the cutthroat dynamics of the Sterling family, and let me tell you, these people have skeletons in every closet. As the family retreats to their secluded English estate, the tension is palpable. Is the mansion meant to protect them, or trap them? Maya’s journey to uncover the truth and prove her innocence is gripping, and her outsider status gives her a sharp, relatable edge in this world of cold power players and opulent deceit.

What makes this story really shine is Maya herself. She’s clever, resourceful, and no stranger to playing the game to survive. But she’s also carrying secrets of her own, and watching her navigate the Sterlings’ web of lies while staying one step ahead of them is both satisfying and nail-biting.

McLoughlin’s writing is sleek and cinematic, with a perfect balance of glamour and suspense. The twists are well-paced and kept me guessing until the end—just when I thought I had it all figured out, another layer of intrigue unfolded.

Thank you to Anna Sophia McLoughlin, SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, and NetGalley for this thrilling read. If you love murder mysteries set against the backdrop of obscene wealth and deeply buried family secrets, A Girl Like Us needs to be on your list.

The Succession descriptor in the blurb ensured I was going to pick this book up, and I definitely felt the Roy family vibes throughout. The story was giving Gossip Girl (specifically Blair) with Maya's scheming, party girl antics interspersed with her being one step ahead of them throughout. This was easily a one sitting read for me – the pacing kept you interested without being TOO unrealistic. I liked it a lot!

had high hopes for this book based on the premise, but unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to my expectations. While the mystery at the heart of the story had potential, the writing style felt stiff and lacked the fluidity that makes a thriller truly gripping. I found myself disconnected from the characters, who felt more like typical archetypes than fully developed individuals.

The plot, while interesting, didn’t offer the twists and turns I was hoping for, and the pacing was inconsistent—slow in places and rushed in others. It wasn’t a bad read, but it didn’t offer anything particularly unique to make it stand out in the crowded mystery genre.

This book is full of twists and turns that will keep you on your toes—I loved not being able to predict them all! Maya is such a layered and dynamic character, and uncovering her complexities felt like unwrapping a gift. She’s slick, smart, and so much fun to watch in action.

The way the story unfolds is masterful, and I appreciated that it didn’t tie everything up with a bow. It leaves you thinking, questioning, and wanting more. A deeply satisfying read that stays with you!

It's 2004 and former reality TV star and party girl Maya Miller has just married the most eligible bachelor on the Colin Sterling, of the globally famous Sterling family whose history of aristocratic titles and land holdings rival a British royal and whose media empire is comparable to the Murdochs. To some, Maya represents the American dream. To others, a gold digger. But when Colin's cousin Arianna, the heiress to the family's immense fortune, is found murdered, Maya is thrust into the first as she is revealed to be the next heiress to the fortune, and then as the prime suspect.

Swiftly, the entire Sterling family goes into lockdown at Silver House, the family's ancestral estate in the English countryside. They're told it's for their own safety—but Maya becomes convinced that it's not to keep threats out, but to keep secrets in. Now, she has no choice but to find and expose the truth hidden within the Sterling family, and why Arianna, a girl she had never met, chose her to take her place. But Maya has secrets of her own. And she knows that in order to survive the Sterlings, she'll have to beat them at their own game.

Loved it

honestly the characters were all insufferable and most of the book was boring. the big plot twist was easily guessed.
the writing isn’t coherent.
sorry friends. just didn’t care for this one.