A girl like us

Maya is a former reality star who rose to fame through her drama on the show and “party girl” antics.

She is now married to eligible bachelor, Colin Sterling. They had been off again on again, and the most recent “on” was quickly passionate, leading to pregnancy and a marriage that is questioned in the tabloids.

She is labeled as a gold digger and the plot thickens as the heiress to Colin’s family fortune is found murdered. Even more curious, Maya is named as the new heir by Arianna (murdered cousin).

Maya quickly finds herself mega rich and mega suspicious, the family (including Maya) goes into lockdown at their estate for “safety”. Maya is in a missing to keep her secrets hidden but reveal and uncover the secrets of the family.

Reminded me of Inheritance Games and Succession (Lite).

Loved this fun inheritance/ rich privilege thriller / mystery. Thanks to NetGalley and RBMedia for the ARC/ALC in exchange for an honest review. Out now- late review !

Anna Sophia McLoughlin’s A Girl Like Us is a captivating and emotionally resonant novel that delves into themes of identity, love, and self-acceptance. With its relatable protagonist, engaging plot, and thought-provoking moments, this book offers a heartfelt exploration of what it means to be true to oneself while navigating the complexities of relationships and personal growth.

The story follows a young woman who, after facing significant personal challenges, embarks on a journey to rediscover herself. McLoughlin does a remarkable job of portraying the protagonist’s internal struggles and emotional transformation, making her relatable and easy to connect with. The narrative is grounded in themes of self-worth and resilience, and the author masterfully blends these themes with a touch of romance and emotional depth.

The pacing of the novel is well-balanced, with McLoughlin taking her time to develop the characters and their relationships. There are moments of tension and conflict, but the novel never feels rushed. Instead, it builds steadily toward a satisfying resolution, allowing the reader to fully immerse themselves in the protagonist’s journey. The writing is sharp and accessible, with moments of introspection that feel authentic without being overly heavy-handed.

The characters in A Girl Like Us are well-developed and multi-dimensional. The protagonist’s growth is the heart of the story, and McLoughlin skillfully portrays her journey with emotional depth and honesty. The supporting characters, particularly the love interest, add to the richness of the narrative, though some of the secondary arcs could have been explored in more depth. Still, they contribute meaningfully to the overall story and help illuminate the protagonist’s growth.

While the book touches on familiar themes of self-discovery and romance, McLoughlin’s execution makes it feel fresh and engaging. The central conflict feels authentic, and the character’s emotional journey resonates long after the final page. However, some readers may find certain aspects of the plot predictable, especially if they are familiar with coming-of-age or romance genres.

In conclusion, A Girl Like Us is a beautifully written and emotionally satisfying novel that explores the complexities of self-identity and relationships. Anna Sophia McLoughlin’s ability to create a relatable protagonist and weave a thoughtful narrative makes this a compelling read. While the plot may feel familiar at times, the heartfelt character development and emotional depth ensure that it remains a rewarding and enjoyable experience. Fans of character-driven stories will find much to appreciate in this heartfelt and inspiring novel.

If you enjoy locked room thrillers with a “reality show” feel, check this one out! It unfortunately wasn’t for me though. Thank you to Gallery for the author for the ARC!

The layers that this book has would put an onion to shame!

It's some really clever storytelling.... So Maya has married eligible bachelor Colin Sterling, not bad for a reality TV star. When they find out his cousin has died, they bring the whole family to their main home... Maya didn't even know about the cousin but yet Arianna left her vaste fortune to her.....

It was great. I had no idea what was going on and there were secrets on secrets on secrets.. Lies and more lies and half truths.. OMG I was so entertained. The writing was phenomenal. It takes some real skills to keep all those balls in the air and keep everything straight. It was a really well done thriller.

I literally had no idea what was going on until the end and I was like yeah... didn't see that tidal wave coming.

If you love thrillers... add this one to your list.

4.5 stars

This is rich people's problems at it's finest. Although, I do not think this was very 'Saltburn', because the Sterlings did not give any sort of chill vibe in the slightest... but definitely nailed the Succession vibes because, my goodness, these people are brutal and awful.
I felt like the pacing of this book was very inconsistent. The first 60-80% of the book was kind of slugging along, and then everything happened all at once towards the end.
The 'locked room' setting feels to be more prominent in the rich people's problems sub-genre, and while it's definitely fitting, it does feel a bit overdone.
I wish I had connected with the characters, even Maya, but I just didn't feel that with them. Which is definitely a me problem. But I know so many people who love these types of books will devour this one!

LOVED this one! Succession vibes all the way, but I ate it up. If you like rich people behaving badly, definitely try this one. I was very entertained, a solid popcorn mystery/suspense novel.

I was excited for this but I found the characters hard to like, and it wasn't in a good way. The writing felt detached to me, so I was detached as a result.

This is a fun well written thriller! I was intrigued and had a good time. This is fast paced and unique. I would recommend this! Special Thank You to Anna Sophia McLoughlin, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for allowing me to read a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

An innovative story with good twists and turns. A strong narrative. The protagonist hold her own and the ending was good too.

The best way that I can describe this book is like a more adult version of The Inheritance Games. I’m a sucker for family mysteries so the slow build up to the truth worked well for me. While the characters themselves were not very likeable their personalities were still distinct enough to make them interesting to the story. This was definitely a great comfort read that I took with me on the train and in between classes. Easy to follow and a good recommendation for readers interested in a little bit of rich people problems.
1 like

I loved the reality show world juxtaposed with the wealthy powerful family saga. Maya was a fun protagonist to root for and although I guessed part of the twist, it still didn't take away from my enjoyment of this book. Very dark and wickedly fun, the Sterlings were an entertaining lot. Highly recommend to thriller fans!

Murder, creepy rich families, and the one person who doesn't quite belong - YOU KNOW YOU WANT TO READ THIS!

Former teen reality star Maya Miller has just married into one of the richest families in the country, The Sterlings. However, within 24 hours of getting married, Maya is not only named heir to the Sterling fortune but also accused of murdering the former heiress. WHAT?! Yeah. You really need to get on this wild ride.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I enjoyed the beginning and end of this novel, though I found the middle a bit too full of circuitous plotting and red herrings. Overall it was a good read with clever twists. I look forward to seeing what the author dreams up next.

Recently married to Colin Sterling, Maya Miller is leaving her past as a reality star behind and stepping into the role of wife. However, her honeymoon is over quickly when it is discovered that Colin's cousin and heir to the Sterling fortune, Arianna, has been murdered. The entire family is summoned to the Sterling estate, where Maya must hold her own and evaluate her past and part in the death of the heiress. Overall, this was a quick read with tones of The Inheritance Games mixed with little snippets of Saltburn and reality shows like The Hills. Just like the teen and 20s reality shows, the plot was manufactured and unrealistic at times, but overall the story moved quickly and kept me interested. I look forward to more from the author!

A Girl Like Us is a delicious, twisty novel that has been described as "Succession meets Saltburn." When reality tv star Maya Miller (one of the first shows as this story takes place in 2004) meets handsome Colin Sterling they embark on a whirlwind romance, complete with an engagement, baby and marriage, she feels she has finally escaped her past and looks forward to returning home from her honeymoon. Colin, whose family made their fortunes in media (think the Murdochs) has influence around the world and the wealth to eclipse it. While some have called her a gold digger others respect her climb. Things take a dramatic turn when Colin's cousin Arianna is missing and then found murdered. As heir to the entire family empire, Arianna's death triggers a lockdown at the family home in in England. Colin, Maya and their baby girl Bex are re-routed on their return flight to NYC and summoned to Silver House along with the rest of the family. At first, it is out of safety and an abundance of caution. Then, as Arianna's will and estate leave the family in shock as Maya is named the new heir, Maya realizes they're trying to keep everyone-and every secret-in while the world is shut out. Secrets and rumors start flying around and Maya finds herself in danger. The family would never accept her as the heir-and suspect her involvement in Arianna's death. Maya determined to find the truth (while holding onto secrets of her own) has to fight back while staying alive. With twists (some more obvious and others very well hidden), good character development and the stark and ornate setting, A Girl Like Us is a great debut!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and author Anna Sophia McLoughlin for the gifted copy!

Why are stories about rich people behaving badly so delicious? And when you add in a locked door setting, secrets, lies, family drama, dysfunction & yes a murder … you’ve got yourselves a thrill ride! That’s what we have in this book & I ate it up! I thought for sure I knew where this was going, but a few good twists derailed my guesses! The chapters are well paced & each reveal gets juicier & more scandalous! Loved it! A great debut by an author I am excited to see more from in the future!

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Overall I thought it was decent overall read. Rich people behaving badly, family secrets, and a few twists along the way.
Maya the main character had some backbone to hold up against her new rich relatives. There were some slow parts and some predictable answers to some of the mysteries, but also a couple interesting surprises. I would definitely give her next novel a read.

A GIRL LIKE US was a mystery about a bunch of people who you can't help but love to hate. It explored the dark side of wealth and celebrity through different timelines that weaved together seamlessly. This is also a bit longer than the mysteries that I typically gravitate towards, but I found myself gripped the entire time. While not a new favorite, this is one that I enjoyed and would recommend! Thank you to the publisher for the gifted copy!

Thank you to Sourcebook Landmark for the free ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This is out now!

Mystery Thriller. Maya Miller is a famous ex-reality star who had to work for everything she’s ever had after growing up with a criminal father and without her mother. That is, until she marries Colin Sterling, a member of the globally powerful media tycoon Sterlings from England. After touching down in NYC after their honeymoon in Mexico they learn Colin’s cousin and heir to the Sterling fortune, Arianna, was found murdered not far from where they honeymooned. Immediately they head to Silver House in England and are out in lockdown with the rest of the Sterlings until the murderer is caught and that’s where they all learn that Arianna left the sterling fortune to Maya - who she had never met. The family is immediately suspicious, and Maya is desperate for answers. But her pursuit of the truth also means Maya has to contend with secrets of her own.

The blurb says things Succession meets Saltburn and I think it mostly lives up to that assessment (no bathwater was drank, however). Maya is easy to root for despite her flaws. Sometimes locked room mysteries grow old for me, but the fact it was set in this massive mansion made it work. I blew through this one and it was a fun thriller.

This was a little slow and drawn out for me.

The characters weren't particularly likable, which made it difficult for me to connect completely with the story. I did enjoy the twists, however, even if they weren't completely surprising.

I know this type of story will definitely find its audience, even if it wasn't really for me.

As always, I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to have an advanced ebook copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

3⭐️