I enjoyed this book. It was fast paced and kept me guessing.

“Everything You Want Me to Be.” The title of this book gives away a lot. Eighteen-year-old Hattie Hoffman, is dead—a murder victim—almost from the getgo of this story. Hatty is willing to say and do just about anything to please the people she’s with. She is the consummate actress, and we learn from the many characters who take turn narrating this book, that she is many different people, depending on who’s she’s with.

“Everything” is a suspenseful novel. In a way, I was hooked from the beginning because the book is well written and I wanted to find out who killed Hatty and why. But for me it fell short of being a great book. For one thing, the many narrators tell their parts of the story in a jumbled fashion, not in chronological order. At times this was confusing. I had to look back to see if this episode happened before or after what I’d been reading just before.

Many authors are turning to a “before” and “now”’ form of narrative, where they skip back and forth in time, and I think it’s being overdone. But this is beyond that, in that the narrators skip around in random order. For the life of me I can’t figure out how this adds to the story. If you’re looking for another Gone Girl or Girl on a Train, this book doesn’t quite measure up.

High school senior Hattie Hoffman is good at being good. The good student, good child, good friend, good actress, etc. So when she's found brutally stabbed to death after her opening performance at her high school play, no one can believe it. The question on everyone's mind is...

Who killed Hattie Hoffman?

The story is told from three points of view—Sheriff Del Goodman, Hattie Hoffman, and the new English teacher, Peter Lund. Just like any other small town, Pine Valley has its share of secrets. The story is told from the three perspectives back and forth over the last year. Showing us everything that happened leading up to Hattie's death and the aftermath.

Local Sheriff Del Goodman is a friend of the Hoffman's so he is even more invested in finding out what happened. He finds it hard to look his good friend Bud, Hattie's father, in the face as he tries to find who is responsible for this horrific act.

Hattie felt like she spent her life playing parts, molding herself into being what everyone wanted her to be. She was tired of being what everyone else wanted her to be. Playing all those different roles can be exhausting. Whether it was pretending to be fearless to ward off an older brothers teasing when she was little to pretending to be interesting in football or the other things her friends were interested in.

Deep down she just wanted someone to like her for who she really was. She kept putting on the show waiting for her real life to begin one day.

I am going to stop there. Not because I don't have a lot of thoughts about the book, but I just feel like saying much more than I have, would lead to spoiler territory. In this case, with this book, it almost does feel like the less you know the better. I was glad I didn't know much more than this before I started reading.

I thought this was a great read...an easy and entertaining read with some great twists and turns that made it hard to put the book down. I liked having no idea what was going to happen. Then all of a sudden I was positive I knew what happened! Oh I thought I was such a smarty pants.... but I was so wrong. This novel had complex characters that were able to bring out many different feelings in me as I read.

"Everything You Want Me to Be" is a compelling psychological thriller. Surprising and suspenseful with a strong character driven plot. I really enjoyed it and I am looking forward to more from Mindy Mejia.

Thank you NetGalley, Atria Books, for providing an advanced readers copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.

About: Everything You Want Me to Be is a fiction thriller written by Mindy Mejia. It was published on 1/3/17 by Atria/Emily Bestler Books, an imprint of Simon & Schuster, 340 pages. The genres are mystery, thriller, suspense, and fiction.

My Experience: I started reading Everything You Want Me to Be on 2/23/17 and finished it on 2/27/17. This book is a great read. I enjoy the thrill and the detective work. I like that this book has diversity, even though it’s incorrectly presented. Portia Nguyen is Vietnamese, not Hmong and she’s upset that her parents made her speak Vietnamese and not Hmong. Hopefully the finished copy of this book has since been corrected. I like the organization of this book and the multiple POVs. I like the twists and turns and the suspense in the story even though at times, readers can guess who the bad guy is, the author point the blame on someone else so the readers are forced to change their minds about the killer. These twists makes the read so much more fascinating.

In this book, readers will follow the point of views of Hattie Hoffmans, a people pleaser. Everyone loves her because she tells people what they want to hear including her parents, teachers, friends, etc. She likes acting and participates in school plays. She considers herself acting or play a role when she’s among her friends and people around her. Another point of view is Sheriff Del Goodman. He investigates the gruesome murder of a high school senior and finding himself in a tough spot because the girl is the daughter of his best fishing buddy. The third point of view is an English teacher, Peter Lund. He likes to read and discuss classics. He’s from the city but moved out to the farms because his wife, Mary Beth wanted to take care of her elderly mother Elsa. The supporting characters who play a big role in this book are Portia, Tommy, Mary Beth, Mona, Bud, and Winifred. I like Winifred and her gun. She has spunk!

I like reading this thriller. The reading is interesting because I get to read the happenings leading up to the girl being killed and the investigations after she was killed. I like following Sheriff Del’s thoughts. I like the honest truth about the waiting time of DNA test in reality vs TV. I like his banter with Jake, Del’s chief deputy. It’s interesting how acting can be twisted into manipulation. I don’t enjoy much of the curses because if it seems too farfetched for Del or Peter or Hattie, then of course it’s farfetched for the readers too. Overall, this book is still a great read and I highly recommend it.

Pro: twists, suspense, mystery, detective work, thriller, manipulation, diversity, romance, some humor, fast paced, page turner

Con: curse

I rate it 4.5 stars!

***Disclaimer: Many thanks to the author Mindy Mejia, publisher Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review. Please be assured that my opinions are honest.

xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com

Good, well-written book. I enjoyed it, but I don't think I would want to read another one like it. Not original enough.

I don't read a lot of adult books any more, but I loved the premise of this one. And I'm so happy I requested it.

I loved that it was three POVs. I was completely wary of that when I started it, but it was a fantastic way to tell the story. I loved Hattie, the sheriff, and the teacher for various reasons and being in each of their heads was a unique experience. Each one sounded different and more importantly, felt different.

As for the plot, there's not much I can say without spoilers. It was twisty and delicious and kept me guessing until the very last page. I'm already looking forward to a reread.

**Huge thanks to Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for providing the arc free of charge**

He's not an evil man. Evil is simple. It's a child's explanation for why people do bad things. The truth is always more complicated and worth pursuing. Shakespeare pursued the truth in Macbeth. Of course, he threw in the witches and the bloodbaths to boost ratings"...But the underlying theme is desire. What happened to him-what could happen to any of us? --If we pursue our darkest desires? What do lose of ourselves when we cross that line? What does it cost those around us? He took what he wanted, regardless of the consequences, regardless of society's conventions of the mental anguish, or even of his own life. This is what makes Macbeth so timeless.

I. Loved. This. Book. It takes a circumstance and a desire that any of us can say, "I could never do that." It can be very dangerous to even go there. What you think you could never do in a weak moment becomes our folly. Could the situation been stopped? Maybe when we are at a strong place, but many of us are destroyed in weakness and by our temptations.

The narration is done by three key players. Hattie, Del and Peter. Hattie a High School student who is found murdered. Del the sheriff of Pine Valley, Minnesota who has known Hattie all of her life and his best friend is her father. Peter a High School teacher learning to adapt to life in Pine Valley from Minneapolis whose world has changed. His wife is now caring for her invalid mother.

You are brought in the current case with Del as he investigates Hattie's last day. He discovers a young girl that he did not know. Who struggled with who she was and what she became.

Hattie loved acting and studied people She became what everyone expected of her and thru a web site, she meant someone who got her and where her troubles began.

Peter loved his wife and wanted the relationship back from when they first fell in love. Peter supported his wife in the move back to her family and supported caring for his mother in law. The move isolated both of them that they found that they did not know each other at all. Knowing what is wrong and right and living with your guilt. He is guilt ridden character.

A character driven plot all the way through, you are caught up with each of these characters. A study of desires that undo us and those around us. It was not a celebration but a sad state of being undone by them.

A Special Thank you to Atria Books and Netgalley for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.

Hattie Hoffman was found murdered after the opening night of a school play she held a major role in. In addition to her performances on stage, many parts of Hattie's real life are all an act - best friend, girlfriend, student, actress, daughter... Who is the true Hattie Hoffman? It's difficult for Hattie herself to answer this question.

The events leading to Hattie's death and the identity of her killer are told in alternating views (Hattie; Peter, a teacher at her high school; and Del, the sheriff investigating her death) between the past and present. There aren't many options as to who Hattie's killer could be, but I thought I had it figured out and was wrong.

This book wasn't just about finding out who killed Hattie, it also dove into the complex world of a teenage girl, the pain of loss, difficult decisions, and dealing with the results of our actions.

Should this title be compared to Gone Girl? Nah, but it was still a good read.

Great book! Loved it! I think it would have crossover appeal to YA readers.

A fast read with a clean, bright style. One of the best thrillers I have read in a long time. I liked how this book had a point and a purpose and delivered it with ease. This book was gripping, intense, and unforgettable. Better than Gone Girl and The Girl on the Train. I could not put this book down.

A well-formulated read that had me turning pages. Meija does a great job of shifting suspicion throughout the story, keeping the reader on her/his toes until the end.

Though I have no doubt that this will sell well, I found no likeable characters in it that I will miss. It seemed fairly predictable and left me with a loathing feeling. Sorry!

Keeping secrets is not always a good thing. Lying to others in order to use them so that everything goes your way can be deadly.

This haunting story of secrets, love, manipulation, and murder is told from three points of view—Del, the small-town sheriff; Peter, the English teach caught in a marriage that is crumbling; and Hattie, the high school senior whose actions are inching her closer to death every moment.

These three characters are developed so well that you understand just what each one is going through. You truly get why the wrongs seem so right to them, you get why they do what they do, and your heart breaks when the inevitable happens.

Life in a small town is not the life that Hattie feels destined for. She sees a bright future ahead in New York City, a city of lights, opportunity, and action. She sees love with a man that she should not be involved with. Little does she realize the effects her plans of escape will have on her and on others.

Hattie’s confused and tormented thoughts are revealed through her own eyes as well as in her actions and the many parts she plays just to please others. But she no longer wants to fool people. She wants to live her life as she was meant to.

Finding her murderer is the focus of this small-town sheriff. So many times I thought I had figured out just who did it. I never did get it right, at least not until this person’s identity was revealed. This is one of those books that will stay with you long after you have finished it.

My Review: 5/5

When Hattie is found murdered, the whole town becomes involved. From the beginning we also are living in the small town, trying to solve the crime along with Del (the lead sheriff on the case).

I love murder mysteries, especially when the setting is a small town and twists are on every page. This one kept me guessing until the very end...a VERY good thing! When the book ended, I was stunned.

This book deals with so much more than the actual murder though. The author takes us back in time to learn just who Hattie is. And, honestly, we don't really find out who she is until the very end. She is an an actress who takes on different rolls, on stage and off. She can literally become someone different to everyone she meets. Is this a good thing...or bad?

This book really got me to thinking about the high school years, and even younger. There is so much pressure put on those age groups, would it be easier to just mold yourself to be someone different in every circumstance?

While parts of the book are creepy (with the English teacher), it is thought provoking and wonderfully written. It didn't give me the "ewwww" feeling I though I would have, but more of an insight into the complicated composure of a girl.

I loved this book. Not only is the story complex, told by different point of views (my favorite), it is gripping and one I could not put down.

***Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my copy in exchange for an unbiased and honest review.

Everything You Want Me to Be is definitely a page turner. The plot, set in rural Minnesota, alternates between a murder investigation and the victim's story. Hattie is just weeks from graduating high school when her body is found in an abandoned barn. Mejia's characters are interesting and the plot is unpredictable. This book is a must read for fans of one of my favorite genres- the creepy girl book.

I was hoping for a fast-paced thriller, and this book was a little slow for me. That said, I thought I had it figured out, and the ending surprised me (though I don't like who ended up being the killer). Overall, this was a solid thriller.

4.2 - very addicting, and there were surprises that I didn't see coming; well-written and engaging; highly recommended

I quite enjoyed this twisty mystery told from three points of view. One of those POVs belongs to Hattie, the victim of a brutal murder. Hattie’s death broke my heart… but so did her life. Because Hattie lives her life trying to please everyone – trying to be everything for everybody; and by doing so, she’s lost herself. So who is Hattie really? Does anyone know? Does she? And who killed her before she had a chance to find out? This is a fast, easy read; and though you may discover the answer along the way, you’ll still enjoy the ride.

EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE by Mindy Mejia has certainly be receiving some stellar reviews. It received a starred review from Booklist along with accolades and Best of lists from People Magazine, The Wall Street Journal, BookBub, and Bustle. I was extremely excited to read this novel because it sounded like a book I'd enjoy... and I'm happy to say that I did like this one quite a bit.

EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE tells the story of Hattie Hoffman, a teenage girl who lives in a small town in Minnesota. Hattie is nearing graduation and she can't wait to leave her hometown for New York City and Broadway. Hattie has always been an actress (and quite an impressive one at that), but she feels trapped because she's always been playing parts -- the ambitious student, the attentive daughter, the doting girlfriend, and so on.

On the opening night of her high school play (which she, of course, stars in!), Hattie is found dead in a barn. The local sheriff Del Goodman, a close Hoffman family friend, is determined to find her killer; however, it's not as cut and dry as he hoped. The most obvious suspect is Hattie's married, high school English teacher with whom she has been having an affair. But as Goodman digs into the investigation, he uncovers more and more secrets... and more and more questions.

Hattie is far from the teenager that the local folks thought they knew and loved. She is an extremely complex teen who had her sights set on something more... and her ambitions just might be the reason she ended up dead.

EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE is a very readable thriller. I enjoyed the characters and story, and I thought the mystery was well constructed. I admit that I didn't like Hattie at all (I don't think I was supposed to!), but that didn't change my opinion of the novel. She wasn't a very nice girl; and as the novel progressed, she became more and more manipulative. I also didn't exactly like her love interest, a married high school teacher -- yuck!, but I found him much more human... and maybe even forgivable because he did have guilt and remorse. Hattie, on the other hand, was all about Hattie.

I did liked the sheriff, Del Goodman, though. He was a good man (no pun intended), and he really wanted to get to the bottom of Hattie's death so her parents could have some closure. As he learned the truth about Hattie's last few months of her life, he was kind of between a rock and a hard place because of his closeness to the family. He also had some complexity because of his past; however, I feel as if the author could have developed him a bit more. Maybe that's because I actually liked him and wasn't fond of the other main characters.

I found EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE to be a true page-turner, and I definitely appreciated the twists and turns! One thing I felt made this novel special was how the author decided to tell the story. The story was told in alternating chapters by Hattie, Goodman and the teacher; and as a result, the reader gets an inside view into all of their characters. The book also had flashbacks to events during Hattie's senior year, so we can see how her murder and the events surrounding it occurred.

I did appreciate the murder mystery aspect of the story, and it definitely kept me guessing. There were a few twists and turns, and I have to say that I thought the culprit was somebody else entirely. I'm not sure that all readers will be surprised, but I liked that I was.

Overall, EVERYTHING YOU WANT ME TO BE is a strong suspense novel with some interesting characters. Highly recommended to fans of literary suspense.

Rating: 4.5/5 Penguins

Quick Reasons: this is a haunting merry-go-round of mystery; I LOVELOVELOVE all the different viewpoints we're treated to; the plot is deliciously dramatic and angsty; I honestly didn't see that ending coming; this was a treat of a read!

Huge thanks to Mindy Mejia, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and Netgalley for granting me free digital access to this title in exchange for an honest review! This in no way altered my read of or opinions on this book.


---"You say you're just acting, but you're fracturing yourself into a thousand pieces, and every time I see another piece, you're gone again. You turn into someone else, a crowd of someone elses, and it makes me wonder if there's any such thing as Hattie Hoffman.---


This was SUCH a delicious dramatic, angsty treat to read, penguins! So let's start with that--the plot. The plot for this is action-packed, laced through with tension, and unbelievably mysterious all at once. For someone who often figures out the ending long before the halfway mark....this book caught me up in a whirlwind of visceral emotions and total surprise. From page one, I was drawn in--to Hattie's story, to the wonderful lure of the unknown. This book was an exciting, captivating journey!

The characters are wholly realistic, believably flawed, and so complex you'll feel as if they're in the same room with you instead of written down on a page. I really enjoyed that we were given several different viewpoints to fight through and learn from--and that the plot is not necessarily linear, but written in a series of present times and back-flashes. This helped to both bring the entire story together, and keep the mystery at a high par. I also really enjoyed how Mindy Mejia handled each of these perspectives; it's clear, from the beginning, that she knew where she wanted this story to take readers...and she knew EXACTLY how to get us there without giving the important details away too soon.


---Go to New York...

Although it was my handwriting, the words were hers, whispered in the air all around me, breathing in the land rushing past, and they filled my chest with a buoyant kind of pain, a lover's keepsake that I would carry for the rest of my life, guiding me toward an impossible atonement.

...Know that I loved you.---


This is the type of book you pick up expecting to read only a few chapters of at a time...and instead find yourself devouring. The pacing was spot-on, the tension was high and heart-pounding, and the characters all played their roles and brought readers closer to the answer without actually spoiling the journey. There were several moments I thought I knew EXACTLY where this story was headed...only to turn around and be proven totally wrong, and I love books (and authors) who manage to do that.

Overall, this was a treat to read from start to finish! The characters and plot were believable, the action was full of drama and angst, and I absolutely adored the multiple perspectives we were given insight to. I recommend this to lovers of murder mysteries, star-crossed lovers, and flawed but endearing personalities. If you like gritty stories with a ton of twists, you should pick this one up! As for me, I cannot WAIT to see what Mindy Mejia writes next!