I received an advance galley of this book courtesy of the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

If you have followed my reviews on my blog or Instagram for any length of time, you know that I have a knack for pegging “whodunnit” or figuring out the twist way early in a book and then spend the rest of the time waiting for it to play out. Occasionally, an author will surprise me, but it’s been a long time since an author has been able to completely blindside me. I am happy to say that Marlee BUsh (a debut author, no less) has done just that!

“When She Was Me” is a gripping psychological thriller that had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly trying to piece together what the hell was going on in the Tennessee woods where the story is set. Marlee Bush has woven a complex narrative that balances the knife edge between reality and memory, leaving the reader questioning everything and smacking them in the face during the last few pages.

The book focuses on identical twin sisters, Cassie and Lenora. The two live together in one of three cabins at an isolated campground in Tennessee. There’s a lot of mystery surrounding these two women, and that mystery permeates the story and is really what drives the narrative.

At the top of the novel, we learn that the sisters have lived in the cabin for a few years – they are hiding from something, and the seclusion of the woods suits them. Cassie is very protective of Lenora, who has agoraphobia and is also prone to sleepwalking. The owner of the campground recently passed away, and with a new owner taking over, the sisters worry that they may be evicted and forced to find a new place to live, which causes Lenora’s anxiety to worsen. Their situation takes a turn for the worse when a family of three rents one of the cabins for the weekend, and their teenage daughter goes missing – and is then found murdered – but by whom? To say much else would ruin the reading experience, and I absolutely don’t want to spoil anything because this is one that you definitely need to read!

The characters in the novel are compelling and multi-dimensional, with Cassie and Lenora standing out as particularly complex and intriguing. The bond between the twins is palpable, but an undercurrent of suppressed emotions and hidden truths adds an air of mystery to their relationship. As they grapple with the events of the past and the escalating crisis in the present, their flaws and vulnerabilities are laid bare, making them feel like real, relatable people rather than just characters on a page. I never knew who I could trust, and I absolutely loved that!

Bush does an exceptional job of painting a vivid picture of the isolated Tennessee campground where the story takes place. The setting itself becomes a character in the story, with its dense forests, eerie silence, and lurking sense of danger adding to the growing tension. The author’s attention to detail allows the reader to fully immerse themselves in the novel’s world, feeling the chill of the night air and the weight of the sisters’ shared secret pressing down on them.

One of this novel’s strengths is how Bush slowly builds the tension, ratcheting up the suspense with each passing chapter. The pacing is relentless, and the tension keeps the reader guessing and second-guessing until the very end. As I mentioned earlier, the sudden reveal at the climax of the story took me by surprise and had me smacking myself in the forehead, wondering how I’d missed it.

Overall, I found this to be a standout thriller that is not to be missed. Bush has crafted a chilling, atmospheric story that had me eagerly turning the pages. Focusing on themes of trauma, memory, and the nature of identity. The novel raises thought-provoking questions about the ways in which our past experiences shape who we are and the lengths we will go to protect the ones we love. If you’re a fan of psychological suspense and unpredictable twists, be sure to add this book to your reading list.