I Become Her is a psychological suspense novel that starts with a bang—an idyllic honeymoon gone wrong, a suspicious husband, and a mysterious fall overboard. From there, it spirals into familiar territory: secrets, paranoia, and the slow unraveling of a relationship that clearly has more going on beneath the surface.

To be honest, this one didn’t fully land for me. I found myself skimming large parts of the book, mostly because I just couldn’t connect with Imogen. She’s at the center of the story, but I never found her compelling enough to carry the tension or stakes the plot was reaching for. The story does have its suspenseful moments, especially toward the end, but it felt like it took a while to get there. There’s also the typical “is he or isn’t he evil?” thread, and—spoiler—it’s pretty clear from early on where that’s going. While that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker (especially if you read a lot of thrillers), it didn’t leave much to be surprised by.

One thing I will say: the writing itself is solid, and I can see why this author has a loyal following. But overall, I Become Her felt like a familiar story without much new to say. If you’re looking for something twisty to fill an afternoon, it might work—but don’t expect to be deeply moved or blown away by originality.

Rating: 2.5/5 (rounded up)

4.5/5 wow! it has been a while since a book really had me guessing the whole way and STILL surprised me at so many turns!

okay so this was kinda hard to follow at first, BUT once you got used to the different pov’s it was good!

this is the definition of a psycho thriller. we follow Imogen and Lev, who have been married for less than 2 weeks when Imogen is overtaken by this fear of his infidelity. after a kinda tough argument, Lev ends up overboard and Imogen is stressing (girl
real) but when he’s found ALIVE hours later is when she really starts stressing.
They end up back home, Lev doesn’t remember much and they start over basically. Imogen is still real suspicious about Lev and does some digging and GIRL DOES SHE FIND STUFF.

listen i LOVE an unreliable narrator in thrillers, i eat that up and we had that AND a not great husband? omg say less. this was pretty fast paced, which i loved.

honestly? felt kind of bamboozled cause i didn’t figure out the twist as soon as usual. but the twist? I THREW MY KINDLE DOWN AND STARED OFF FOR A MINUTE CAUSE HELLO????

This was my first Joe Hart book and honestly? i’m obsessed. Thank you to Netgalley for this opportunity!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC!!

This was my first time reading Joe Hart, so I wasn’t sure what to expect—but I was pleasantly surprised! This fast-paced, suspenseful read kept me guessing the entire way through, constantly questioning what was really going on. Everything came together brilliantly in the end, and I found the conclusion to be incredibly clever.

Thank you, Netgalley, for an advanced digital copy of I Become Her by Joe Hart in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are entirely my own.

Oh my, I Become Her had me turning pages at a ridiculous rate. I absolutely loved everything about this book. From the writing style to the layered characters, but especially the mystery aspect of it all.

Told from more than one POV, this book keeps you guessing the whole way through. It ticks all the boxes when it comes to psychological thrillers: paranoia, deception, twists and turns, a sense of urgency, and my favourite, unreliable narration.

The pacing was spot on. Chapter length was just right, with some very short but cryptic ones that added to the overall sense of mystery and unease.

Towards the end, the pace picked up so much that my heart felt like it was going to leap right out of my mouth and walk away.

Our main character, Imogen, tugged at my heart. I thought the way her struggles with mental health were written was outstanding. As someone who has dealt with her fair share of it, I genuinely felt the author tapped brilliantly into the emotions and mental darkness that come with panic attacks and anxiety. Honestly, hats off. Imogen's character gripped me from the very start. Her authenticity and relatability really stood out for me and immediately pulled me in. I was totally invested in her journey. Her internal monologue added so much depth and suspense to the plot.

Imogen's husband, Lev, who she suspects isn’t quite what he seems, is also written so well that I found myself second-guessing everything I read about him. He comes across as a morally grey character, and at one point I thought, hmmm... maybe Imogen’s paranoia is getting out of hand.

I Become Her really messed with my head, in the best way possible. This was my first time reading Joe Hart’s work, but it definitely won’t be the last.

If you love psychological thrillers that tick all the boxes and leave you wanting more, then please give this one a go. You won’t regret it.

Imogen and Lev just got married and are on their honeymoon and the least you could say is that they’re not off to a great start. Imogen thinks he’s already cheating on her and well at some point she may have pushed him off a boat (sings : he had it coming). He survives and doesn’t remember anything (or does he?) and they try to go back to their lives but she still doesn’t trust him.

I love an unhinged woman especially when she’s actually right to be a little off balance (ok a lot). You could say she’s very unlucky, she has the worst entourage I swear and she tends to not listen to her instincts enough, thinking it’s just her anxiety talking. I also love evil characters who are just evil, and that’s exactly what the evil one is. No redeeming qualities of any kind and that’s the way I sometimes love it. This makes it a really fun read, I do worry about the mariage of people who write domestic thrillers though 😂

Oh man, that ending!! This has quickly become my favorite book of the year. Good plot, likable and dislikable characters and the right type of ending. Made for excellent read that I couldn’t put down.

Everything i live in a fast paced thriller! Fabulous suspense about a married couple an brilliant characterization. An unputdownable read!

💔 “It’s easier to believe you’re a good person. Incapable of certain acts. But we all have an ugly place deep inside that we’re aware of…” 🖤

⚠️ STOP WHAT YOU’RE DOING ⚠️ This thriller just rewired my BRAIN and then laughed at me for trusting anything. I am not okay. I repeat: I AM NOT OKAY. 😵‍💫

Imogen has only been married to Lev for ten days (yes, TEN). They’re supposed to be living their dreamy honeymoon life on a cruise—but instead? Imogen suspects him of cheating. One heated confrontation later, Lev ends up in the sea (!!!), and when he’s found HOURS later, alive and memory-wiped, I had whiplash.

They go home. They try to move on. But girl, that nagging feeling? That intuition? It doesn’t let up. Imogen starts digging. Starts asking questions. And what she finds?? A woman from Lev’s past. A woman who's been missing for years. 🤯

Every single page of this book felt like a gasp, a tight chest, a creeping dread that crawled up my spine and stayed there. And the way the story slowly disarms you and makes you question EVERYTHING?? I LIVED FOR IT.

👰‍♀️ Unstable wife or cheating husband?
🧠 Repressed memories or a dangerous lie?
😱 Truth or manipulation?

Told from alternating POVs (which I ADORE when done right—and this? Was perfection), this book had me in a chokehold. And THEN… THEN… we get to that line—the one that inspired the title—and I swear to you, I dropped the book and SCREAMED. HOW did I not see it coming?!? HOW?! 😭

This author is already on my auto-buy list, but this one? This one cemented it. The mastery of tension. The searing portrayal of complex women. The unsettling realism of buried trauma and all the darkness we hide from ourselves. It’s not just a twisty thriller—it’s an excavation of the human psyche. And it hits hard. 💥

✨Unputdownable.
✨Clever.
✨Unnerving.
✨Deliciously dark.

You know that ugly place inside? This book opens the door and makes you look. And it’s brilliant. 💀

This is a great thriller. It has MANY twists and turns that will leave you shocked.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this arc in exchange for an honest review!

this is a heart-stopping psychological thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Imogen Carmichael's seemingly perfect marriage unravels when her husband Lev falls overboard during their honeymoon, losing his memory in the process. As Imogen uncovers unsettling secrets about Lev’s past, she is forced to confront the terrifying possibility that the man she married is hiding dark truths—and that her own safety may be at risk.

Imogen and Lev Carmichael's honeymoon cruise turns into a nightmare when Imogen suspects Lev of infidelity. When Lev falls overboard and loses his memory, Imogen is torn between her fears of his memories returning and her suspicions of his fidelity. As they return home and uncover secrets from Lev's past, Imogen begins to question the man she thought she knew and must decide how far she is willing to go to uncover the truth.

I was absolutely thrilled to dive into this book! As a newcomer to this author and their unique writing style, I was eager to see what all the fuss was about. This book turned out to be a slow burn, with moments of intensity that kept me on the edge of my seat. Overall, it was a delightful and suspenseful read.

The main character, Imogen, was a slow-burning revelation, gradually unfolding alongside her husband Lev. As I turned the pages, I found myself becoming more and more invested in her story. I was dying to know what actually happened and who on earth Sierra was! I couldn't help but cheer Imogen on as she fought to reclaim her life.

The setting was simply breathtaking - having lived near Seattle for four years, I can attest to the wild beauty of nature in that area. The ending was both unexpected and satisfying, leaving me feeling like I was right there witnessing it all unfold before my eyes.

If you're a fan of suspenseful page-turners, enjoy playing detective, or simply love a story with a strong female lead, then this book is a must-read! It's a quick and perfect summer read that will keep you hooked until the very last page.

Thank you, Thomas & Mercer, for the digital ARC copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Imogen thought she knew her husband. When she suspects him of cheating, she goes out of her way to try to find the truth and what she finds will be enough to make her run.

The Thriller Book Lovers the Pulse team were all abuzz when we heard Joe Hart had another gem coming out! This dark psychological thriller had me flying through the pages, it was so so good. With all the twists I kept shaking my head thinking "what now!" only to be whipped around in a direction I didn't even think of. So riveting. Grab the popcorn, put your feet up and enjoy the ride!

I still can't believe what I just read. I Become Her is, without question, the best psychological thriller I've devoured this year. I went in blind—no blurb, no expectations—and was promptly strapped into a rollercoaster I didn’t know I’d boarded. It starts with a slow climb, all eerie calm and rising tension, and then—bam—you're screaming through twist after twist, white-knuckling it to the end.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is how a thriller should be written.
If you're in a reading slump, this is the jolt you need. Yes, I smugly guessed the major twist (detective hat on and all), but it didn’t dull the thrill one bit. The writing, the pacing, the atmosphere. It all hit the mark. I Become Her checks every box on my psychological thriller wish list and then some.
And mark my words: this needs to be a movie. If the adaptation captures even half the tension of the book, I’ll be first in line, popcorn ready.
This was my first Joe Hart experience, and I’m officially hooked.
Next stop: guzzling his entire backlist.

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thanks Netgalley for the free ARC! I enjoyed this book… Interesting storyline and characters. I really think the protagonists were made for each other because I feel they both have bad intentions, so maybe if they communicated better they could’ve worked something out. I liked how everything wrapped up in the end and I would recommend this novel.

Joe Hart’s *I Become Her* is a captivating psychological thriller that explores memory, identity, and suspicion on a luxurious Mediterranean honeymoon cruise. Newlywed Imogen Carmichael spirals into chaos when she suspects her husband, Lev, of cheating, leading to a tense confrontation where Lev falls overboard. He survives but claims he remembers nothing.

As they try to rebuild their lives, Imogen becomes obsessed with Lev's mysterious past and discovers a missing woman he never mentioned. Hart builds tension with clues and red herrings, keeping readers guessing about Lev's secrets. His sharp writing and engaging pacing make this thriller a compelling read, even if some twists might feel familiar to seasoned fans.

“I Become Her” is a psychological thriller about lies, deception and survival. This is the third book I have read by this author and unfortunately I was not a fan. There were so many times that I felt like I had no idea what was going on/who someone was… then just when I felt like I understood, I got smacked with a “wait HUH?” or “Uhh… who is that LOL” and I just felt like there was not enough character or story building in some places for my ADHD brain to keep up. I also felt like it was very predictable, but that does not necessarily affect my scoring as I read a lot of thrillers and get better with predicting twists.

Overall I’d say this is more suspense thriller than anything and definitely has some good “edge of your seat” moments, especially the ending.

Read if you like:
📖 multiple POVs
🏃🏼‍♀️being on the run/fearing for your life
🤐 constant revelation of secrets and hidden pasts

Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for this digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Everyone has a secret; a side of them that is hidden, and when you find out that secret, it may lead to your downfall.

I become her by Joe Hart, is an amazing thrilling novel with mind grilling plot twist, when Imogene a beautiful young woman has been married for only ten days when she wakes up on morning in her honeymoon suite with no husband beside her, Imogen tries to retrace her steps from last night which led to the thought that, her husband would have been cheating on her.

Torn and hurt, she stays in their room waiting for him, an argument breaks in between them which leads to her pushing him down the balcony.

There is more to what is shown, especially when her husband wakes up with no knowledge of what happened to him.

This novel has mind grilling plot and twist that one will never expect. I would rate it 8/10 because I enjoyed it so much, and I thought it was a wonderful novel. If you are interested in psychological thrillers “I become her” is a good fit for you.

4⭐️ This was such a fun, twisty read — exactly the kind of book I love to get lost in!

In I Become Her, newlyweds Imogen and Lev are on their honeymoon cruise when things take a sudden dark turn. After a heated fight, Lev falls overboard — and somehow survives, but with no memory of what happened. Back home, Imogen tries to piece things together, but when she discovers secrets from Lev’s past and a missing woman connected to him, she starts to question everything about the man she married.

The writing pulled me in right away, and I found myself flying through chapters to figure out what was going on. I did start to suspect the twist partway through, but I still really enjoyed how it played out. I would’ve loved a little epilogue though!

Thank you to NetGalley for this advanced e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion!

This is a psychological suspense thriller. On the honeymoon cruise in the mediterranean, Lev falls overboard and as soon as he is found, his memories were vanished. All he remember was that Imogen is his fiancé. Truth is twisted and the book is full of secrets and twists. It kept me on edge. I couldn’t decide who was right and who wasn’t. I felt for the characters. While the woman who was missing is found dead adds another layer of mystery to the story. It was interesting to see how all of these were connected. I think the book can be best described as slow burn psychological thriller. Expect secrets, secret identity, twists, past traumas, love, betrayal and revelations.

Thanks to the Author, and Thomas & Mercer