4.5 ⭐️ rounded up to 5 ⭐️

This wasn’t exactly what I was expecting in this book. It was so much for than my expectations. The story does start just a little slow but increases in pace.

Imogen is on her honeymoon when her husband, Lev, goes over the balcony and plunges 60 feet into the ocean. This begins her journey to uncover what really happened that night on the beach.

I didn’t see the plot twist coming. I was beginning to suspect something but I was still wrong.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advanced copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Dark, Twisted, and Totally Unforgettable

I Become Her was such a wild ride—dark, intense, and honestly kind of addictive in the best way. Joe Hart doesn’t hold back, and this book pulled me deep into a story that’s equal parts creepy and heartbreaking. It’s definitely not light reading, but if you’re into psychological thrillers that mess with your head and keep you guessing, this one’s for you.

I Become Her by Joe Hart
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

A mind-twisting thriller that peels back its secrets layer by layer until you’re second-guessing everything, including your own sanity 🤯📖 It’s like the book itself is gaslighting you… lies on top of lies, and every character has something to hide 🔍💀

Absolutely untrustworthy 😉

Big thanks to @thrillerbookloversthepulse for keeping me in the know when it comes to thrillers & killers 🖤🔪

#BookReview #ThrillerReads #MysteryBooks #BookstagramReads #ThrillerAddict #ReadersOfInstagram #ThrillerObsessed #ReadingCommunity #PlotTwistBooks #Unputdownable #PageTurner #BookishLife #SuspenseReads #BookRecommendation #DarkAndTwisty #ReadMoreThrillers #BookLoversUnite #EdgeOfYourSeatReads

I Become Her – Joe Hart
⭐⭐⭐
Pub Date: Aug 26

On their honeymoon cruise, Levand Imogen should be basking in newlywed bliss. Instead, shadows from Imogen's past start creeping in, twisting her trust into suspicion. When she begins to believe her husband is cheating with a waitress they’ve met, paranoia turns into confrontation… and confrontation into a moment that changes everything.

One night, on the balcony of their suite, emotions boil over — and Imogen pushes her husband overboard. He’s later found alive but with no memory of the past six months.
Back home, Imogen is drowning in doubt and fear. Who exactly is the man she married? Is he truly unfaithful, or has her mind betrayed her? And why does it feel like there are deeper, darker secrets waiting just beneath the surface?

As Imogene starts to pull at the threads of the truth, she uncovers a web of lies and hidden dangers where every choice could be the last. I Become Her is a taut, unsettling thriller that plays with memory, trust, and the frightening possibility that the person you love most might be a stranger.

Let's first start by saying I liked the book but did I expect so much more?? Yes I did.
The story started really slow and only picked about 35% in and then when I just started enjoying it, it slowed back again and I found myself figuring out things before they are revealed which I hate the most when reading a mystery thriller.

The story was totally believable and nothing imaginary which was I liked about it the most. That being said each one of us has their own opinion therefore, you should definitely check it out once it's out.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for granting me an ARC of #IBecomeHer in exchange for my honest review.

Xoxo😘

Believe me you’ll want to add this to your TBR! I was immediately captivated by the story and the characters! Hart’s writing is immersive, with an almost atmospheric feel, that kept me in its grips from the beginning to the very end of the book! A psychological thriller with multiple narrators and timelines allowing for a twist I never saw coming. Imogen is an all-encompassing character, so well written, her fears were actually palpable. But is she unreliably paranoid or is she being gaslit?
I highly recommend this phenomenal psychological thriller!

⭐️⭐️⭐️/3

This one fell a bit flat for me.

The beginning of the story really hooked me. We start off with newlyweds on a cruise for their honeymoon. When an unfortunate incident happened on said cruise ship, I knew this was the story for me. That opinion was short lived.

For a suspense/thriller, I wasn’t very thrilled. Specifically, towards the middle of the story, it seemed to lose its momentum. After the incident, the story takes a slow nosedive until it seems to flatline. A lot is going on after the couple gets off the ship and is settling at home, and yet it felt like a lot of it was either unnecessary or could have been better at drawing out the suspense. In short, it felt like the story was drawn out and tedious. Where is the build up?

None of the characters were likable IMO. I don’t think this is always necessary to a story, but at times I definitely would have appreciated it in this particular one. I just left like there was nothing to keep me invested in the story. I was bored with the direction that it took and I didn’t have a specific character to root for so I often questioned why I even kept going. (This was an ARC for me so I felt obligated)

I will say, it read a lot like “Gone Girl”. Totally different story but the tone and vibes were there. I personally went through my GG phase years and years ago and have since then evolved in my reading tastes. I think if I would have read this book back then, I would have absolutely loved it. Considering how these days I tend to lean more towards high stakes, intense suspense/thrillers, I can see why I didn’t vibe with this book.

With all of that said, I don’t think this was a bad book at all and I can see how it would appeal to a specific audience. I am not that audience. But just because this book wasn’t for me, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t for you.

If you are someone who loves long, drawn out stories, I would definitely say to give this one a shot. If you are someone who loves “Gone Girl” and are looking for something with the same tone, this is the book for you.

I would not recommend to anyone who enjoys intense suspense. I personally think this would be a bit dull for you.

This one pulled me in fast. If you love twisty psychological thrillers that make you question everything, definitely add I Become Her to your list. I flew through it.

We follows Imogen, who’s only ten days into her honeymoon when she starts suspecting her husband, Lev, of being unfaithful. Things spiral quickly. After an altercation, Lev ends up overboard and survives but has no memory of what happened. As Imogen digs into Lev’s past she comes across a woman who’s been missing for years. From there, it’s a tense and unsettling unraveling of secrets, lies, and who did what… and I didn’t trust ANYONE.

Highly recommend for fans of domestic suspense and psychological thrillers!

I enjoyed the internal conflict of the tension in Imogen and Lev’s new marriage. The alternating POVs kept me guessing at which version of events would turn out to be true. This is one twisted and suspenseful story. Fans of domestic or psychological thrillers would enjoy this book.

3.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book had me hooked from the start. Although I did find the ending abrupt. Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer for ARC.

I'm a HUGH fan of Joe Hart. I've been loving his work for over and decade and have read a dozen of his books. This writer is truly great at thrillers and is a master of the female protagonist. Every chance I get I grab or request his latest novel knowing there is little change to be let down. I become her was an outlier for me. I didn't love Imogen and this left me wondering why. It's been a week since finishing this book and this gave me time to process my review. I think she came across as too broken from her past. No doubt anyone who would have her backstory as their own would be a mess. I also had a hard time connecting with her husband, Lev. He was hard to get a read on, and until the final handful of chapters, he felt flat. As the climax is fast approaching I was all about this monster of a character Joe had crafted. The book was full steam ahead and the end was a surprise and fantastic for this reader. As always, I look forward to Joe Hart's work and always scan the horizon for that next book.

In 2021 and 2022 I read two books by Joe Hart that were solid four star reads: Or Else and Where They Lie. Then, in 2023, Never Come Back was a solid five stars, and I was eagerly awaiting more from Hart. Not sure if I missed something, but thanks to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, I recently received a copy of I Become Her in exchange for this honest review.

Admittedly I am a crime junkie, both fictional and true, and in a flash of synchronicity, in the past week I watch a Netflix documentary and listened to multiple podcasts about the disappearance of Amy Bradley, so the whole idea of a horrific event happening on a cruise ship was front and center for me. Also I am personally not fond of cruises, either real or fictional, and I admit the idea of even boarding a ship is repugnant to me. BUT! the advance information about Joe Hart’s new book I Become Her, which starts with an incident on a cruise ship, had me hooked from the jump…

It’s in one of my favorite genres (when done well): psychological thriller. And it’’s a simple premise: a couple is on their honeymoon cruise and all is not going smoothly. She suspects he is unfaithful. They fight. He falls overboard. A fishing boat rescues him. He loses his memory. After they return home, she is afraid he will remember. Then she finds information about a woman from his past who disappeared. Does he remember more than he is letting on? Is he lying? If so, why? Is she in danger? You get the idea.

Good writing, well developed characters, some nice twists in the plot. Very fun read. Well Done! Recommended. Five stars. Keep writing, Mr. Hart!!

"My first book by Joe Hart” ✅
“Book devoured”✅

From the moment the book started, this twisty, tension-filled thriller grabbed hold and refused to let go.

Hart's writing is incredibly engaging, making it a true page-turner that left me desperate to know what would happen next.

The characters felt so real, their emotional journey resonating deeply, and the atmospheric setting only added to the experience. Hart's writing style is captivating, making it impossible to put down. Definitely adding more of his books to the list!

The cleverly crafted plot kept me completely absorbed. If you love thrillers that keep you hooked until the very end, this is a must-read!

Thank you, Amazon Publishing, MBC Books, and Joe Hart, for my gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

Wow, this is my first book by this author and it was gripping. It was fast paced and pulled me in from the start. I enjoyed the short chapters and all of the suspense. If you're looking for a really good thriller to keep you up late into the night, this is the perfect book for you.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.

If you are a fan of Joe Hart this is another book that you will love from him, written in his usual style that from the very first page has you engrossed in this tale. Newly married and away on the cruise of a lifetime, Imogen suspects that her husband Levi may be having an affair. Then things go wrong, Levi ends up overboard and as he has no memory of this, circumstances remain suspect. What really happened? Returning home Imogen’s suspicions grow further and then she discovers a past relationship Levi had that she knew nothing about and so the story moves forward.

This is a psychological thriller highlighting an extremely chilling and creepy atmosphere that will have you on the edge of your seat trying to work out the puzzle Joe Hart has presented us with. As Imogen’s worries turn to fear, the suspense increases twofold, a chilling story that I found completely riveting. Hart’s portrayal of Imogen’s character is to me what really sells this book, cleverly devised and so multi-layered. Another excellent book from this author.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the book, all opinions expressed are my own.

I Become Her by Joe Hart is an intriguing novel that builds slowly until it climaxes in a flurry of activity that is twisty and gripping.
The book is as beautifully written as one would expect from Hart, but I admit that I found myself repeatedly considering putting it aside into the DNF pile. I had that much difficulty becoming engaged. It wasn't until the last third of the book that the story really took off for me, and by the time I was at the 80% point, I couldn't put it down. The end left me in a bit of shock, it was so twisty and suddenly made all of the little things in the slower parts of the book make sense.
I recommend sticking through the slower bits; it will pay off big time in the end.
Thank you for the ARC of #IBecomeHer to #NetGalley.

While on their honeymoon newlywed Immogen suspects her husband of cheating, after confronting him on the balcony of their cruise ship he falls overboard (with a little help from Immogen). When he's rescued he doesn't remember what happened or at least he says he doesn't. She begins to suspect her perfect husband and life are not what they seem and starts looking into his past. This had some good twists and I liked the dual POV in the book. I want to thank NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for a digital copy of this book. The opinions are my own and freely given.

Lev and Imogen are on their honeymoon, on a cruise ship. They have only been married a short time, but Imogen is starting to become suspicious of Lev. An accident ensues.

While Imogen is trying to navigate through her life she starts to look into lev's background, only discover his ex-girlfriend, whom he never mentioned before, has gone missing.

This was told from two POV's Imogen's and Sierra's. I can't say too much about the story without spoilers (because I feel saying anything else would spoil it) so just take my word for it, this is a really good read and I urge you to read it. This kept me reading trying to figure out the connection between to the two women.

Thank you to the author, publisher and Net Galley for providing an ARC of this title in exchange for my review.

I believe this was my first book by Joe Hart. Based on reviews for their other books, I had high hopes for this book, but I had a really hard time getting into the story. I would have given up, but I wanted to be able to write this review. The middle of the book was very slow and felt unrelated to the rest of the book.

I would try others by the author, but this one wasn't for me.

3 stars.

I found this book to be an enjoyable read. The story kept me engaged from start to finish and had some moments that really stood out. Overall, it offered an entertaining reading experience.

Imogen and Lev Carmichael are on their honeymoon cruise in the Mediterranean when during a lunch date she gets up to use the restroom and on her way back to the table she witnesses Lev being a little too touchy with the waitress. Imogene becomes obsessed with finding out who the waitress is and whether her new husband is cheating on her. After confronting Lev on the balcony of their room on the cruise ship, Lev falls overboard. Lev is found alive, but he is suffering from post-traumatic amnesia. Lev and Imogene return home to begin their married life together. Imogene continues to be obsessed with finding out if Lev is cheating on her.

The first paragraph of I BECOME HER gave me goosebumps and I immediately knew I was not going to be able to put my Kindle down! I settled in with a glass of wine and ignored everything around me. While reading Imogen’s chapters, I had to keep checking that they weren’t written by a woman. The way Hart got deep into the mind of her character is nothing short of perfection. Her insecurities, her fears and her obsessions felt very real. There are chapters from the POV of a character named Sierra. We know she is running from someone and when it is revealed who she is, my mind was blown. Hart’s writing is immersive, and the chapters flow at a perfect pace. There were some good twists towards the end and the ending was truly shocking.