Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Release Date: January 9th, 2024
Pages: 384
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Publisher’s Synopsis:
“Evie Porter has everything a nice, Southern girl could want: a perfect, doting boyfriend, a house with a white picket fence and a garden, a fancy group of friends. The only catch: Evie Porter doesn’t exist.
The identity comes to Evie Porter. Once she’s given a name and location by her mysterious boss Mr. Smith, she learns everything there is to know about the town and the people in it. Then the target: Ryan Sumner. The last piece of the puzzle is the job.
Evie isn’t privy to Mr. Smith’s real identity, but she knows this job will be different. Ryan has gotten under her skin, and she’s starting to envision a different sort of life for herself. But Evie can’t make any mistakes–especially after what happened last time.
Because the one thing she’s worked her entire life to keep clean, the one identity she could always go back to—her real identity—just walked right into this town. Evie Porter must stay one step ahead of her past while making sure there’s still a future in front of her. The stakes couldn’t be higher–but then, Evie has always liked a challenge…”
My Review:
I think this is a case of “it’s not you, it’s me.” This book is getting rave reviews and, while I can totally understand why, something still just didn’t click right for me. I really wanted to like this one. I was hooked at the beginning, just from the writing style and the sense that not everything was what it seemed. But then when a few of the twists started, it became some tropes that are just not my favorite (heists, spies, con-artists, etc.). I also never really fully connected with the protagonist. The flash-backs were kind of a fun way to get to know the character more and see her development into where she is now, but I still failed to feel anything deeper. When Devon came in, as much as I wanted to like him, I didn’t find their co-working relationship to be fully fleshed out in a way that made it believable, it was a little too abrupt for them to go from strangers to trustworthy, illicit accomplices. I’m not sure I fully believed in Evie and Ryan’s relationship either. I think the writing style was probably my favorite part. The author has a way of crafting suspense that really keeps you engaged and wanting to read more. I would definitely read from this author again in the future. It’s just not my personal favorite type of thriller. I know I’m in the minority, and I’d definitely still recommend this book. This is a very high-stakes, plot-driven novel, so if that’s your thing then you will love it.
Disclaimers:
Huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me an early copy of this amazing story! I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Have you read this book? Planning to add it to your TBR?
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
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