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A Girl Like Us
Succession meets Saltburn in a crackling locked-room thriller of inconceivable wealth, unchecked power, and the secrets poised to bring a powerful family down
It's 2004 and former reality TV star and party girl Maya Miller has just married the most eligible bachelor on the planet: Colin Sterling, of the globally famous Sterling family whose history of aristocratic titles and land holdings rival a British royal and whose media empire is comparable to the Murdochs. To some, Maya represents the American dream. To others, a gold digger. But when Colin's cousin Arianna, the heiress to the family's immense fortune, is found murdered, Maya is thrust into the spotlight: first as she is revealed to be the next heiress to the fortune, and then as the prime suspect.
Swiftly, the entire Sterling family goes into lockdown at Silver House, the family's ancestral estate in the English countryside. They're told it's for their own safety—but Maya becomes convinced that it's not to keep threats out, but to keep secrets in. Now, she has no choice but to find and expose the truth hidden within the Sterling family, and why Arianna, a girl she had never met, chose her to take her place. But Maya has secrets of her own. And she knows that in order to survive the Sterlings, she'll have to beat them at their own game.
It's 2004 and former reality TV star and party girl Maya Miller has just married the most eligible bachelor on the planet: Colin Sterling, of the globally famous Sterling family whose history of aristocratic titles and land holdings rival a British royal and whose media empire is comparable to the Murdochs. To some, Maya represents the American dream. To others, a gold digger. But when Colin's cousin Arianna, the heiress to the family's immense fortune, is found murdered, Maya is thrust into the spotlight: first as she is revealed to be the next heiress to the fortune, and then as the prime suspect.
Swiftly, the entire Sterling family goes into lockdown at Silver House, the family's ancestral estate in the English countryside. They're told it's for their own safety—but Maya becomes convinced that it's not to keep threats out, but to keep secrets in. Now, she has no choice but to find and expose the truth hidden within the Sterling family, and why Arianna, a girl she had never met, chose her to take her place. But Maya has secrets of her own. And she knows that in order to survive the Sterlings, she'll have to beat them at their own game.
426 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 11, 2025
251 people are currently reading
62775 people want to read
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February 28, 2025
Well, The Inheritance Games meets Succession (though not much like Saltburn, in my opinion, because I found the Sterlings greedy and ruthless but not as eccentric, bohemian, or creepy as the Cattons in Saltburn) with psychological thriller elements blended into several well-executed, smart twists that will burn your last standing gray cells!
I didn't expect to love this perfectly scheming, web-of-lies, twisty dysfunctional family saga, but I did! And I didn't expect to connect with the main character, Maya Miller, who is the gambler's thief daughter and an ex-reality show star who gained fame by being a menace and presumed gold digger. She seduces Colin Sterling, the most eligible bachelor, becomes his wife, gives him a baby girl, and finds herself in the center of Manhattan's socialite scene. Raised by a conman after being abandoned by her mother, and making ends meet by cleaning rich people's houses, she finally catches her golden ticket! Atta girl!
But her dreamy Manhattan life changes when they return from their honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta. They find out Colin’s cousin Arianna, the heiress of the family, has been murdered. As per family protocol, the entire clan must gather in lockdown at Silver House, the family’s ancestral estate in the English countryside, giving off gothic house vibes with secret tunnels, dusty corridors, and disturbing family portraits.
Initially, meeting the entire ruthless family is challenging for Maya, who already lost her first rodeo with Aunt Helen, who made her sign a prenup with well-assessed bullying. But meeting the monsters may be the easiest challenge she has to face! When the lawyer arrives to read the will, they find out Arianna left everything she had to Maya. She’s the new heiress! But how? She didn’t know Arianna existed until a few hours ago. Why would that problematic, infamous party girl, who spent a great deal of time in an asylum, raised under the shadow of a paranoid, control-freak father until she rebelled, leave everything to her?
We catch snippets of Arianna’s past life through her diary, helping us realize there are more sinister things going on around the Sterlings, who can go to any lengths to get what they desire.
Unfortunately, Maya has no alibi for her whereabouts during Arianna’s murder, which turns her into a prime suspect. If she comes clean about whom she met, she could lose everything she’s worked for, and the revelation may crack the last forming bonds of the Sterlings.
Maya must find her way to clear her name and find the murderer before becoming the next victim. She’s smart and resilient enough not to go down without a fight. Let the inheritance games begin.
Overall, this is a fascinating, riveting, twisty, unputdownable, and irresistible thriller that I highly enjoyed. Reading this book has put Anna Sophia McLoughlin on my radar, and I look forward to reading more of her works in the near future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing this riveting thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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I didn't expect to love this perfectly scheming, web-of-lies, twisty dysfunctional family saga, but I did! And I didn't expect to connect with the main character, Maya Miller, who is the gambler's thief daughter and an ex-reality show star who gained fame by being a menace and presumed gold digger. She seduces Colin Sterling, the most eligible bachelor, becomes his wife, gives him a baby girl, and finds herself in the center of Manhattan's socialite scene. Raised by a conman after being abandoned by her mother, and making ends meet by cleaning rich people's houses, she finally catches her golden ticket! Atta girl!
But her dreamy Manhattan life changes when they return from their honeymoon in Puerto Vallarta. They find out Colin’s cousin Arianna, the heiress of the family, has been murdered. As per family protocol, the entire clan must gather in lockdown at Silver House, the family’s ancestral estate in the English countryside, giving off gothic house vibes with secret tunnels, dusty corridors, and disturbing family portraits.
Initially, meeting the entire ruthless family is challenging for Maya, who already lost her first rodeo with Aunt Helen, who made her sign a prenup with well-assessed bullying. But meeting the monsters may be the easiest challenge she has to face! When the lawyer arrives to read the will, they find out Arianna left everything she had to Maya. She’s the new heiress! But how? She didn’t know Arianna existed until a few hours ago. Why would that problematic, infamous party girl, who spent a great deal of time in an asylum, raised under the shadow of a paranoid, control-freak father until she rebelled, leave everything to her?
We catch snippets of Arianna’s past life through her diary, helping us realize there are more sinister things going on around the Sterlings, who can go to any lengths to get what they desire.
Unfortunately, Maya has no alibi for her whereabouts during Arianna’s murder, which turns her into a prime suspect. If she comes clean about whom she met, she could lose everything she’s worked for, and the revelation may crack the last forming bonds of the Sterlings.
Maya must find her way to clear her name and find the murderer before becoming the next victim. She’s smart and resilient enough not to go down without a fight. Let the inheritance games begin.
Overall, this is a fascinating, riveting, twisty, unputdownable, and irresistible thriller that I highly enjoyed. Reading this book has put Anna Sophia McLoughlin on my radar, and I look forward to reading more of her works in the near future.
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for sharing this riveting thriller’s digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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March 7, 2025
Packed to the gills with rich people behaving badly, long-buried secrets, and epic twists and turns, A Girl Like Us had my attention from the very first word. And let me tell you, this family was the secret sauce in what was a killer story. Dysfunctional in the extreme, they were cold, calculating, and cunning in the best possible way. All except for Colin—who had my heart right from the start—and Maya, of course. Well, maybe she had just a few of those traits. Morally gray and with a love for winning at all costs, she was the perfect addition to this ruthless pack of wolves, which made the plot come alive right before my oh so riveted eyes.
As for that plot, I adoringly ate most of it up one heaping spoonful at a time. So much so, in fact, that I finished this 400+ page stunner in just under twenty-four hours. With twist after twist shifting the storyline in first one direction and then another, the conclusion was 100% unguessable for this thriller lover. That’s not to say, though, that I didn’t see through many of those stunning reveals. It didn’t, however, ruin the book for me even the slightest. After all, with ever-present foreboding, complex group dynamics, and a pace that soared higher and higher, I wouldn’t have wanted to actually be there with the Sterlings, but I absolutely loved being a fly on the wall.
The only tiny hiccup that stood out to me other than my ability to see through the twists was the need to suspend all disbelief. You see, while I’m sure there are families out there that could rival this obscenely wealthy, vile clan, the events took coincidence a step too far more than once. That being said, I still found it utterly addictive and I sped through this psychological thriller in no time at all.
Ultimately, by the end of Ms. McLoughlin’s stellar debut, I was undeniably floored. With well-plotted dual POVs, realistic characters, and a deliciously unhinged storyline that kept me in the palm of its hand, it gave me a Stone Cold Fox meets Succession feel with a bit of Kaira Rouda thrown in. The best piece of all, though? That was the locked room thriller premise. Claustrophobic, creepy, and undeniably chilling, Silver House gets my applause for a dynamite setting laced with an atmospheric vibe. So run—don’t walk—to grab your copy today. A sure fire win for this newbie author, you don’t want to miss out on a minute with the Sterlings. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
It's 2004 and former reality TV star and party girl Maya Miller has just married the most eligible bachelor on the planet: Colin Sterling, of the globally famous Sterling family whose history of aristocratic titles and land holdings rival a British royal and whose media empire is comparable to the Murdochs. To some, Maya represents the American dream. To others, a gold digger. But when Colin's cousin Arianna, the heiress to the family's immense fortune, is found murdered, Maya is thrust into the spotlight: first as she is revealed to be the next heiress to the fortune, and then as the prime suspect.
Swiftly, the entire Sterling family goes into lockdown at Silver House, the family's ancestral estate in the English countryside. They're told it's for their own safety―but Maya becomes convinced that it's not to keep threats out, but to keep secrets in. Now, she has no choice but to find and expose the truth hidden within the Sterling family, and why Arianna, a girl she had never met, chose her to take her place. But Maya has secrets of her own. And she knows that in order to survive the Sterlings, she'll have to beat them at their own game.
Thank you to Anna Sophia McLoughlin, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 11, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, psychiatric commitment, drugging, mention of: alcoholism, mental illness
As for that plot, I adoringly ate most of it up one heaping spoonful at a time. So much so, in fact, that I finished this 400+ page stunner in just under twenty-four hours. With twist after twist shifting the storyline in first one direction and then another, the conclusion was 100% unguessable for this thriller lover. That’s not to say, though, that I didn’t see through many of those stunning reveals. It didn’t, however, ruin the book for me even the slightest. After all, with ever-present foreboding, complex group dynamics, and a pace that soared higher and higher, I wouldn’t have wanted to actually be there with the Sterlings, but I absolutely loved being a fly on the wall.
The only tiny hiccup that stood out to me other than my ability to see through the twists was the need to suspend all disbelief. You see, while I’m sure there are families out there that could rival this obscenely wealthy, vile clan, the events took coincidence a step too far more than once. That being said, I still found it utterly addictive and I sped through this psychological thriller in no time at all.
Ultimately, by the end of Ms. McLoughlin’s stellar debut, I was undeniably floored. With well-plotted dual POVs, realistic characters, and a deliciously unhinged storyline that kept me in the palm of its hand, it gave me a Stone Cold Fox meets Succession feel with a bit of Kaira Rouda thrown in. The best piece of all, though? That was the locked room thriller premise. Claustrophobic, creepy, and undeniably chilling, Silver House gets my applause for a dynamite setting laced with an atmospheric vibe. So run—don’t walk—to grab your copy today. A sure fire win for this newbie author, you don’t want to miss out on a minute with the Sterlings. Rating of 4.5 stars.
SYNOPSIS:
It's 2004 and former reality TV star and party girl Maya Miller has just married the most eligible bachelor on the planet: Colin Sterling, of the globally famous Sterling family whose history of aristocratic titles and land holdings rival a British royal and whose media empire is comparable to the Murdochs. To some, Maya represents the American dream. To others, a gold digger. But when Colin's cousin Arianna, the heiress to the family's immense fortune, is found murdered, Maya is thrust into the spotlight: first as she is revealed to be the next heiress to the fortune, and then as the prime suspect.
Swiftly, the entire Sterling family goes into lockdown at Silver House, the family's ancestral estate in the English countryside. They're told it's for their own safety―but Maya becomes convinced that it's not to keep threats out, but to keep secrets in. Now, she has no choice but to find and expose the truth hidden within the Sterling family, and why Arianna, a girl she had never met, chose her to take her place. But Maya has secrets of her own. And she knows that in order to survive the Sterlings, she'll have to beat them at their own game.
Thank you to Anna Sophia McLoughlin, Sourcebooks Landmark, and NetGalley for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: February 11, 2025
Content warning: infidelity, psychiatric commitment, drugging, mention of: alcoholism, mental illness
March 17, 2025
4.5 stars! 🌟 Huge thanks to RBmedia | Recorded Books for the ALC through NetGalley! 💌
Okay, rich people behaving badly + a locked-room thriller + a morally gray MC?? SIGN ME UP. This book had all the drama and tension I crave, and I devoured it like the drama-loving gremlin I am. 🍿
Maya Miller—a former reality TV star turned Sterling wife—thought she was stepping into a life of luxury. Instead, she walked straight into a murder, a fortune she never asked for, and a family who would rather see her six feet under than at the top of their empire. Listen, I LIVE for a cutthroat, backstabbing, scandal-ridden family, and the Sterlings? A+ in dysfunction, 10/10 in being absolutely unhinged. 💀
This story had twists on twists—some I saw coming, some that slapped me in the face. Was it over the top? Absolutely. Did I care? Not even a little. The pacing was solid, the tension kept climbing, and that eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere at Silver House? CHILLING. I would have been OUT of there at the first sign of danger, but Maya? She was built different. 🔥
And let me take a sec to shout out Allyson Morgan’s narration—she KILLED IT. Her performance made Maya feel so real, adding layers to her character that made me even more obsessed. Audiobook lovers, this is the way to go! 🎧
The only tiny hiccup? Some moments required suspension of disbelief, but honestly? When a book is this addictive, I’m more than happy to look the other way. 😉
Final verdict: Drama? ✅ Twists? ✅ A morally gray heroine playing a dangerous game? ✅✅✅ If you love messy, toxic rich people and an MC who knows how to survive among wolves, this one’s for you. ✨
Okay, rich people behaving badly + a locked-room thriller + a morally gray MC?? SIGN ME UP. This book had all the drama and tension I crave, and I devoured it like the drama-loving gremlin I am. 🍿
Maya Miller—a former reality TV star turned Sterling wife—thought she was stepping into a life of luxury. Instead, she walked straight into a murder, a fortune she never asked for, and a family who would rather see her six feet under than at the top of their empire. Listen, I LIVE for a cutthroat, backstabbing, scandal-ridden family, and the Sterlings? A+ in dysfunction, 10/10 in being absolutely unhinged. 💀
This story had twists on twists—some I saw coming, some that slapped me in the face. Was it over the top? Absolutely. Did I care? Not even a little. The pacing was solid, the tension kept climbing, and that eerie, claustrophobic atmosphere at Silver House? CHILLING. I would have been OUT of there at the first sign of danger, but Maya? She was built different. 🔥
And let me take a sec to shout out Allyson Morgan’s narration—she KILLED IT. Her performance made Maya feel so real, adding layers to her character that made me even more obsessed. Audiobook lovers, this is the way to go! 🎧
The only tiny hiccup? Some moments required suspension of disbelief, but honestly? When a book is this addictive, I’m more than happy to look the other way. 😉
Final verdict: Drama? ✅ Twists? ✅ A morally gray heroine playing a dangerous game? ✅✅✅ If you love messy, toxic rich people and an MC who knows how to survive among wolves, this one’s for you. ✨
February 11, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Update (2/11/2025): Happy publishing day to A Girl Like Us!
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To start, I swear I like books. A lot of my recent ratings might say otherwise, but I DO enjoy reading. This rating cannot be any more awkward for me considering I also entered a Goodreads giveaway to potentially win a physical copy of the book before I remembered I got an eARC from NetGalley. Reading the synopsis of the book, what's not to love? Succession meets Saltburn? A murder in a high-up, wealthy family that's too big and rich to touch? A girl--Maya "Miss Mayhem" Miller, former reality TV star-turned-sudden heiress of the entire Sterling fortune--tries to find out what really happened to the murdered heiress whom she's never met before? All of those things seemed right up my alley, yet I felt like there was much left to be desired.
I feel like absolutely nothing and everything happened at the same time while reading this. This was honestly a drag to get through and finish. The pacing felt off at times. A lot of the book felt like a repeat of the same events: Maya going around trying to find out more about Arianna, the recently-dead heiress, Maya getting caught by one of her in-laws, her in-laws shame her and making shady comments about how she'll nEvEr Be a StErLiNg and how she didn't grow up in wealth, Maya going off to look for more clues around the house, rinse and repeat. The writing also felt somewhat choppy at times but this is a debut novel so I'll give the author some grace on that.
I felt like the last 25-30% of the story was when things started to pick up and feel like a thriller. There were lots of twists and turns in the last third or so of the story, but I did see a lot of the plot twists coming ahead of time which affected my enjoyment of the book overall. Sure, the book did keep me on the edge of my seat--as a thriller should--but it was mainly because the characters made me so uncomfortable and not because of the plot.
Everyone in the story is unlikeable to some extent, except for Becca, Maya's infant daughter. The Sterlings made me uncomfortable with their weird rituals and traditions and the way they treated Maya like the scum of the earth. (The pickaxe you see on the front cover? There's a reason behind that, and all I'll say is that it's some nasty, nasty work.) I can see where the Succession vibes come in with the family trying to fight over the inheritance and trying to get Maya to give it back to them, but based on what I know about Saltburn it doesn't really feel that way to me. Even Maya was unlikeable. I found myself rooting for her to get to the bottom of the mystery towards the end, but once we started learning more about her past and her history with some of the Sterling family members, I immediately knocked out 2 stars from my rating.
I think part of the reason why I didn't like any of the characters was because there were so many to keep track of, and none were prominently featured and in the spotlight except for Marcus, Gigi, Julian, and Helen. Even Colin, Maya's husband, felt more like a side character than a main one, and he's MAYA'S HUSBAND! His cousin, little sister, aunt, and uncle were more featured in the story, and because of that, a lot of the characters fell flat and felt one-dimensional. I wish there was some sort of family tree in the beginning of the story to keep track of who's who. I was almost tempted to do it myself at some points.
Also, I think it's worth mentioning that the ending felt very...abrupt. I remember reading the very last chapter and the next thing I knew, it's the epilogue and it's set a week or two into the future? I wanted to find out more about what happened immediately after that chapter ended because way too much happened in the last couple of chapters to just not finish the story and round out the plot. It didn't feel complete.
The 2 aspects I gave 2 stars to this book for are the upper-class/top 1% of the 1% vibes and the chapters we got to see from Arianna's POV. I love a good story that takes place in an uber-wealthy family and we get a peek into their lives and what sort of drama they're trying to stir up, but I enjoyed hearing from Arianna's diary entries and what her life was like before the main story starts. I wish we had more chapters from her POV because it was so interesting to read. The gaslighting and brainwashing she had from her family was starting to gaslight ME, to be quite honest.
Overall, if you're not a big thriller reader I feel like you might enjoy this one more than me because you probably wouldn't be able to guess where the plot is going. I've read my fair share of thrillers so a lot of the plot and tropes felt predictable. I enjoyed the upper-class/luxury vibes the Sterlings gave and Arianna's POV and that was pretty much it.
2 stars
--
Trigger warnings: death of family members, murder, arson, infidelity/cheating, neglectful parents, incarceration, institutionalization, thievery/robbery, alcoholism/alcohol consumption, sexual content (it's nothing too descriptive but it's just enough for you to know it's happening)
Update (2/11/2025): Happy publishing day to A Girl Like Us!
—
”You’re the kind of beautiful where people don’t take you seriously. But that doesn't mean that you can't take yourself seriously. When people are distracted by the pretty they can miss what you're capable of.”
· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·· · ─ ·𖥸· ─ · ·
To start, I swear I like books. A lot of my recent ratings might say otherwise, but I DO enjoy reading. This rating cannot be any more awkward for me considering I also entered a Goodreads giveaway to potentially win a physical copy of the book before I remembered I got an eARC from NetGalley. Reading the synopsis of the book, what's not to love? Succession meets Saltburn? A murder in a high-up, wealthy family that's too big and rich to touch? A girl--Maya "Miss Mayhem" Miller, former reality TV star-turned-sudden heiress of the entire Sterling fortune--tries to find out what really happened to the murdered heiress whom she's never met before? All of those things seemed right up my alley, yet I felt like there was much left to be desired.
I feel like absolutely nothing and everything happened at the same time while reading this. This was honestly a drag to get through and finish. The pacing felt off at times. A lot of the book felt like a repeat of the same events: Maya going around trying to find out more about Arianna, the recently-dead heiress, Maya getting caught by one of her in-laws, her in-laws shame her and making shady comments about how she'll nEvEr Be a StErLiNg and how she didn't grow up in wealth, Maya going off to look for more clues around the house, rinse and repeat. The writing also felt somewhat choppy at times but this is a debut novel so I'll give the author some grace on that.
I felt like the last 25-30% of the story was when things started to pick up and feel like a thriller. There were lots of twists and turns in the last third or so of the story, but I did see a lot of the plot twists coming ahead of time which affected my enjoyment of the book overall. Sure, the book did keep me on the edge of my seat--as a thriller should--but it was mainly because the characters made me so uncomfortable and not because of the plot.
Everyone in the story is unlikeable to some extent, except for Becca, Maya's infant daughter. The Sterlings made me uncomfortable with their weird rituals and traditions and the way they treated Maya like the scum of the earth. (The pickaxe you see on the front cover? There's a reason behind that, and all I'll say is that it's some nasty, nasty work.) I can see where the Succession vibes come in with the family trying to fight over the inheritance and trying to get Maya to give it back to them, but based on what I know about Saltburn it doesn't really feel that way to me. Even Maya was unlikeable. I found myself rooting for her to get to the bottom of the mystery towards the end, but once we started learning more about her past and her history with some of the Sterling family members, I immediately knocked out 2 stars from my rating.
I think part of the reason why I didn't like any of the characters was because there were so many to keep track of, and none were prominently featured and in the spotlight except for Marcus, Gigi, Julian, and Helen. Even Colin, Maya's husband, felt more like a side character than a main one, and he's MAYA'S HUSBAND! His cousin, little sister, aunt, and uncle were more featured in the story, and because of that, a lot of the characters fell flat and felt one-dimensional. I wish there was some sort of family tree in the beginning of the story to keep track of who's who. I was almost tempted to do it myself at some points.
Also, I think it's worth mentioning that the ending felt very...abrupt. I remember reading the very last chapter and the next thing I knew, it's the epilogue and it's set a week or two into the future? I wanted to find out more about what happened immediately after that chapter ended because way too much happened in the last couple of chapters to just not finish the story and round out the plot. It didn't feel complete.
The 2 aspects I gave 2 stars to this book for are the upper-class/top 1% of the 1% vibes and the chapters we got to see from Arianna's POV. I love a good story that takes place in an uber-wealthy family and we get a peek into their lives and what sort of drama they're trying to stir up, but I enjoyed hearing from Arianna's diary entries and what her life was like before the main story starts. I wish we had more chapters from her POV because it was so interesting to read. The gaslighting and brainwashing she had from her family was starting to gaslight ME, to be quite honest.
Overall, if you're not a big thriller reader I feel like you might enjoy this one more than me because you probably wouldn't be able to guess where the plot is going. I've read my fair share of thrillers so a lot of the plot and tropes felt predictable. I enjoyed the upper-class/luxury vibes the Sterlings gave and Arianna's POV and that was pretty much it.
2 stars
--
Trigger warnings: death of family members, murder, arson, infidelity/cheating, neglectful parents, incarceration, institutionalization, thievery/robbery, alcoholism/alcohol consumption, sexual content (it's nothing too descriptive but it's just enough for you to know it's happening)
April 7, 2025
Rich people behaving badly and I am here for it! So many secrets and so many lies make this one twisted ride. The characters are greedy, ruthless, and nefarious. The story is a bit over the top in all of the best ways. The plot will pull you in and make you obsessed. Family drama combined with deception and wealth is an addictive combination. The narration brings the story to life adding elements of intensity and intrigue. Thank you, NetGalley and RB Media for my audiobook.
November 19, 2024
Former reality TV star Maya Miller is newly married to Colin, a scion of the ultra-posh Sterling family, when major news draws them back to the family’s estate. Colin’s cousin Arianna, heir to the bulk of the family’s fortune, has died…and she’s left her riches to Maya. No one is more confused than Maya, who’s never met the heiress. Now she’s being accused not only of gold digging, but of murder. She must uncover the family’s secrets to solve the mystery before she lands in hot water—but the skeletons in this family’s closet are beyond what she could imagine.
This was an overall enjoyable read with a heightened, soap opera style plot. Some of the twists require a bit of suspension of disbelief, but I do feel like the author does a good job of making them somewhat plausible. Maya is a morally grey yet likeable main character, and I had a lot of fun watching her battle against the villainous Sterlings.
If you’re into the high drama and big twists of Freida McFadden’s thrillers, I think you’ll like this one as well.
This was an overall enjoyable read with a heightened, soap opera style plot. Some of the twists require a bit of suspension of disbelief, but I do feel like the author does a good job of making them somewhat plausible. Maya is a morally grey yet likeable main character, and I had a lot of fun watching her battle against the villainous Sterlings.
If you’re into the high drama and big twists of Freida McFadden’s thrillers, I think you’ll like this one as well.
February 10, 2025
'Maya's been around long enough to know that gentility is mostly a smokescreen for power grabs and treasure hoarding'.
Maya Miller grew up with trouble, lucky to have made it through high school, she managed to find prominence, popularity, and parties after landing a party on a reality tv series. Her real coup, however, was landing, and marrying, star bachelor Colin Sterling, from a multi-million dollar media dynasty. Maya may have married Colin but she had a long way to go to be a part of his grand family, who are so quick to label her 'them' instead of one of 'us'. That is, until Colin's cousin Arianna is found dead. Arianna, wasn't just a cousin, she was the heiress to the Sterling fortune. The funny thing is, is that although Maya had never met Colin's cousin, she's discovered that she's just inherited everything. Whereas once Maya was disregarded as a nobody, she's now become the prime target, but Maya has secrets of her own and she can be just as clever and underhanded to be a worthy opponent in this game of deceit.
This story is told in alternating POVs, between Maya and Arianna. Slowly a web of deception and lies is revealed, with plenty of twists along the way. I enjoyed this story, which does give off the Succession vibes it claims to, however, I did find it spinning its wheels at times. A good read for people who enjoy twisty mysteries.
'Maya is a different species...A nobody from nowhere...A little thief who learned early that if you want something, you just have to take it...'.
Maya Miller grew up with trouble, lucky to have made it through high school, she managed to find prominence, popularity, and parties after landing a party on a reality tv series. Her real coup, however, was landing, and marrying, star bachelor Colin Sterling, from a multi-million dollar media dynasty. Maya may have married Colin but she had a long way to go to be a part of his grand family, who are so quick to label her 'them' instead of one of 'us'. That is, until Colin's cousin Arianna is found dead. Arianna, wasn't just a cousin, she was the heiress to the Sterling fortune. The funny thing is, is that although Maya had never met Colin's cousin, she's discovered that she's just inherited everything. Whereas once Maya was disregarded as a nobody, she's now become the prime target, but Maya has secrets of her own and she can be just as clever and underhanded to be a worthy opponent in this game of deceit.
This story is told in alternating POVs, between Maya and Arianna. Slowly a web of deception and lies is revealed, with plenty of twists along the way. I enjoyed this story, which does give off the Succession vibes it claims to, however, I did find it spinning its wheels at times. A good read for people who enjoy twisty mysteries.
'Maya is a different species...A nobody from nowhere...A little thief who learned early that if you want something, you just have to take it...'.
February 2, 2025
Overall the story was good. I love a good "rich people problems" story and this one has some super interesting characters that were fun to get to know. Unfortunately the characters weren't used to their full potential and 99% of the story was predictable so it ruined the "mystery/thriller" genre tag that comes with it.
Former reality tv bad girl marries the richest and most eligible bachelor on the market. On the flight home from their honeymoon, there is news the current heiress was found dead and the entire family is being sequestered at the family home in England during the investigation. Who did it? Who inherits the family fortune next? How deep do the secrets go?
Former reality tv bad girl marries the richest and most eligible bachelor on the market. On the flight home from their honeymoon, there is news the current heiress was found dead and the entire family is being sequestered at the family home in England during the investigation. Who did it? Who inherits the family fortune next? How deep do the secrets go?
September 30, 2024
It's always exciting for me to discover new authors, and I'm pretty sure this is the author's debut novel. When I say I was completely engrossed in this book, I mean I could not put it down.
"A Girl Like Us" is a captivating tale that unfolds with surprising twists, intricate deception, and a rich cast of characters. The story revolves around a compelling protagonist confronting personal obstacles in her quest for truth, ensuring a truly unforgettable reading experience. Although the narrative may initially seem slow to some, I was hooked and eager to unravel its complexities from the very first page. The expertly crafted plot twists and the seamless transition between past and present timelines were particularly enthralling. This novel delves deep into profound themes such as complex family dynamics, the essence of trust, the impact of trauma, and the journey toward healing. I guarantee you will not be able to put this down. Given the cliffhanger at the end of the last chapter, I did want a little more closure from the epilogue, but overall, I don't have much else to critique. Well done!
I'm looking forward to exploring more books by this author. This is a solid 4-star story—so good!
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is set for February 11, 2025. If you enjoy thrillers and mysteries, this one is for you! Be sure to add this one to your TBRs.
"A Girl Like Us" is a captivating tale that unfolds with surprising twists, intricate deception, and a rich cast of characters. The story revolves around a compelling protagonist confronting personal obstacles in her quest for truth, ensuring a truly unforgettable reading experience. Although the narrative may initially seem slow to some, I was hooked and eager to unravel its complexities from the very first page. The expertly crafted plot twists and the seamless transition between past and present timelines were particularly enthralling. This novel delves deep into profound themes such as complex family dynamics, the essence of trust, the impact of trauma, and the journey toward healing. I guarantee you will not be able to put this down. Given the cliffhanger at the end of the last chapter, I did want a little more closure from the epilogue, but overall, I don't have much else to critique. Well done!
I'm looking forward to exploring more books by this author. This is a solid 4-star story—so good!
Thank you to the publisher, Sourcebooks, for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review. The publication date is set for February 11, 2025. If you enjoy thrillers and mysteries, this one is for you! Be sure to add this one to your TBRs.
April 15, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for this ARC
It was a little too slow to be thrilling and a little too uninteresting for me to care.
At this point, we get so many stories about horrible rich people that I don't care anymore. We know they suck, but why should I give a fuck about the particular rich family story you made up? If they suck in the same way as every other one. Either give us a protagonist to actually root for, or make the rich assholes weir enough to keep reading until they're taken out. Make them vampires or cannibals for all I car, but mean, bitchy and egotistical is not enough, cause we've read it all before.
It was a little too slow to be thrilling and a little too uninteresting for me to care.
At this point, we get so many stories about horrible rich people that I don't care anymore. We know they suck, but why should I give a fuck about the particular rich family story you made up? If they suck in the same way as every other one. Either give us a protagonist to actually root for, or make the rich assholes weir enough to keep reading until they're taken out. Make them vampires or cannibals for all I car, but mean, bitchy and egotistical is not enough, cause we've read it all before.
March 12, 2025
Rich people behaving VERY badly and a rags to riches were the main themes in this mystery. Maya was a complicated but relatable character and I like the dual perspectives between her and Arianna. While at times the story veered into the unlikely, I was definitely invested in finding out how this would end. Looking forward to reading more from this writer.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for this ARC.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBMedia for this ARC.
July 26, 2024
Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of A Girl Like Us.
Honestly, I really dragged myself through this book. I’m not sure if it’s just a case of it not being a book for me or if it just doesn’t hit the way it’s meant to.
I didn’t find any of the characters likeable and the twists fell flat every time. It felt like not much happened to really push the story forward the majority of the time as well.
The premise is interesting and the setting had a lot of potential but it just didn’t feel like there was enough pay off.
Writing style is good but just wish it gave me a bit more!
Honestly, I really dragged myself through this book. I’m not sure if it’s just a case of it not being a book for me or if it just doesn’t hit the way it’s meant to.
I didn’t find any of the characters likeable and the twists fell flat every time. It felt like not much happened to really push the story forward the majority of the time as well.
The premise is interesting and the setting had a lot of potential but it just didn’t feel like there was enough pay off.
Writing style is good but just wish it gave me a bit more!
December 11, 2024
This story was enjoyable overall. I enjoyed exploring the inner workings of a wealthy family and watching Maya adjust to her new role after marrying into it. I liked the flashback chapters from Arianna that provided insight into her downward spiral. The mystery was engaging and took an unexpected turn that kept me intrigued. Although the conclusion wrapped everything up nicely, the ending felt drawn out and the story could have had better pacing. If you’re a fan of the ‘rich people problems’ trope, then I would recommend!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
January 12, 2025
3.5 rounded up for this one. While I found aspects of the book very intriguing, there were parts that moved slowly and I found difficult to get through. The beginning hooked me, the middle nearly lost me, and the end wrapped up pretty nicely.
Reality star Maya has married into a notorious & wealthy family. When one of the family members(the heir no less)is killed, everyone is summoned to their estate. Maya being newly married in is nervous to meet everyone, but curious about what’s going on. When the will is read and Maya has somehow become the beneficiary, tensions become even more high.
Overall I would recommend the read.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
Reality star Maya has married into a notorious & wealthy family. When one of the family members(the heir no less)is killed, everyone is summoned to their estate. Maya being newly married in is nervous to meet everyone, but curious about what’s going on. When the will is read and Maya has somehow become the beneficiary, tensions become even more high.
Overall I would recommend the read.
Thank you to the publisher for the gifted ARC
March 14, 2025
I enjoyed this book, though I do think there were some parts that I wish were stronger. I enjoyed hearing about the Sterling clan and their ruthless, terrible, greedy ways. It felt a bit like watching a reality show of some celebrity and getting to revel in their cruelty to each other. And make no mistake, this family is absolutely cruel. Most of the family has very little character development and are used more as filler characters to further the plot. The middle part spins on a bit long. We get, Arianna was a weirdo who wasn't like other girls and Maya doesn't want to be there, is uncomfortable, and is trying to learn the truth. The ending felt rushed, I wanted so much more information but instead we are given an epilogue that leaves many questions unanswered. mcLoughlin leaves the readers wanting more.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Anna Sophia mcLoughlin, and Recorded Books for my advance copy of this audiobook.
Thank you to NetGalley, the author Anna Sophia mcLoughlin, and Recorded Books for my advance copy of this audiobook.
August 13, 2024
This is one of those great novels that just keeps getting crazier with every page until the bitter end! Maya used to be on The Springs--a wildly popular reality show--and now she's married to wealthy Colin and has baby, Becca with her when they return to Colin's family estate after heiress, Arianna dies suddenly. But when it is suddenly announced that it is Maya who will be the beneficiary according to Arianna's will, everyone--including Maya--is shocked and questions WHY? And slowly the story is "leaked" to us as we see the nutty machinations of a family in crisis, who are all willing to do whatever it takes to gain--and keep--control of the estate, wealth, and popularity that only the rich can maintain.
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
December 31, 2024
Marrying into a dynasty family like the Sterlings wasn't ever on Maya's radar but she finds herself in the thick of it now. When the heiress to be turns up dead the other Sterlings circle the wagons and Maya goes to be supportive to her husband. The manor house with its round the clock luxury she and her baby could get used to but she is not prepared for the shock that alienates her from the rest of the family even more than marrying Colin did. There is just one tiny little problem - a secret that would give the family more reason to hate her and ruin her. Mean girls, backstabbing cousins, devious under the table deals and so many secrets all reminiscent of SUCCESSION. One thing is for sure - they underestimated Maya. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.
January 20, 2025
4.5
Rich people drama, with a little murder. This had me hooked! I really enjoyed this debut novel from Anna Sophia McLoughlin and I would read from her again. Maya, our main protagonist is a former reality tv star who marries into one of the richest families in the world. The family is hiding some dark secrets that Maya gets wound up in.
I thought I had a few things figured out, but there are some good twists in here that had me second guessing everyone. You can’t trust the super wealthy, they are too good at hiding things…If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller with secrets, lies, and murder then this is for you!
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
Rich people drama, with a little murder. This had me hooked! I really enjoyed this debut novel from Anna Sophia McLoughlin and I would read from her again. Maya, our main protagonist is a former reality tv star who marries into one of the richest families in the world. The family is hiding some dark secrets that Maya gets wound up in.
I thought I had a few things figured out, but there are some good twists in here that had me second guessing everyone. You can’t trust the super wealthy, they are too good at hiding things…If you are looking for a fast-paced thriller with secrets, lies, and murder then this is for you!
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark for an advanced copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.
September 2, 2024
Siri, play “mad woman” and then the entire Reputation album by Taylor Swift. “No one likes a woman who knows too much.”
I will give no further review than this.
I will give no further review than this.
September 12, 2024
I would have rather just watched succession again
January 8, 2025
A Girl Like Us by @annasophiamcloughlin gives all the early 2000s throwbacks mixed with some deep dark scandalous secrets! Make sure you check it out February!
March 31, 2025
More of a 4.5 star rating.
I loved this! It did start off a bit slow to me, but by the 20% mark, I was hooked.
I’m a sucker for locked room thrillers and this was SO good.
With tons of twists and and tension, this was one of the best slow burn thrillers I’ve read this year.
Thanks to NetGalley & publisher for this ARC.
I loved this! It did start off a bit slow to me, but by the 20% mark, I was hooked.
I’m a sucker for locked room thrillers and this was SO good.
With tons of twists and and tension, this was one of the best slow burn thrillers I’ve read this year.
Thanks to NetGalley & publisher for this ARC.
June 9, 2025
i had fun with the first 200 or so pages and then it kinda lost me. the too obvious references to remind us we were in 2004 kinda killed it for me too
March 23, 2025
4.5 stars rounded up because I can’t for the life of me figure out why this book is not rated higher on Goodreads. Wow! That was a crazy ride. A Girl Like Us had more twists and turns than anything I’ve read in a very long time. It is perfect for those who enjoy the rich folks behaving badly trope. I can’t wait to meet this author next month and read whatever she releases next.
February 6, 2025
3.5 rounded up.
"Protocol 202, Maya - it means there's been a murder."
Former reality star Maya Miller has just married into the extremely wealthy Sterling family. Her and her new husband Colin are on their way back from their honeymoon when they learn the Sterling heiress was just murdered. They immediately divert their course to London to meet up at the family estate where they'll be under constant watch until the murderer is apprehended.
A GIRL LIKE US is a debut mystery from Anna Sophia McLoughlin and oozes wealth and chaos.
This book is very much a slow (sometimes trudging) burn. As a reader, we get to learn the pasts and secrets of Maya and the Sterling family as they're all brought together under tense circumstances.
The ending goes crazy and redeemed the overall story for me a bit.
However, I think for the most part, this story was missing a lot of answers and raised even more questions that came from a rushed conclusion.
A fine debut, but one that I think will only really work for certain readers!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review - out February 11!
"Protocol 202, Maya - it means there's been a murder."
Former reality star Maya Miller has just married into the extremely wealthy Sterling family. Her and her new husband Colin are on their way back from their honeymoon when they learn the Sterling heiress was just murdered. They immediately divert their course to London to meet up at the family estate where they'll be under constant watch until the murderer is apprehended.
A GIRL LIKE US is a debut mystery from Anna Sophia McLoughlin and oozes wealth and chaos.
This book is very much a slow (sometimes trudging) burn. As a reader, we get to learn the pasts and secrets of Maya and the Sterling family as they're all brought together under tense circumstances.
The ending goes crazy and redeemed the overall story for me a bit.
However, I think for the most part, this story was missing a lot of answers and raised even more questions that came from a rushed conclusion.
A fine debut, but one that I think will only really work for certain readers!
Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review - out February 11!
January 31, 2025
A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin. Thanks to @bookmarked for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Maya, a former reality tv star has married the world’s most eligible bachelor, a Sterling. His family and the world call her a gold digger. When a Sterling cousin is found murdered, it’s revealed the fortune was left to Maya, who has never met the cousin.
The pacing with this one was a bit slow for me at parts, but when it picked up, it really picked up. If you like wealthy dysfunctional families with secrets to be revealed, give this one a try. Honestly I picked it up because I saw the main character was a reality tv character and I love that trope, but that was the past and not much in the current storyline.
“Memory is a house fire, one I shall never leave.”
A Girl Like Us comes out 2/11.
Maya, a former reality tv star has married the world’s most eligible bachelor, a Sterling. His family and the world call her a gold digger. When a Sterling cousin is found murdered, it’s revealed the fortune was left to Maya, who has never met the cousin.
The pacing with this one was a bit slow for me at parts, but when it picked up, it really picked up. If you like wealthy dysfunctional families with secrets to be revealed, give this one a try. Honestly I picked it up because I saw the main character was a reality tv character and I love that trope, but that was the past and not much in the current storyline.
“Memory is a house fire, one I shall never leave.”
A Girl Like Us comes out 2/11.
February 26, 2025
3.5 rounding down. There’s no reason at all this book should have been 400+ pages. There was so much repetition and a ridiculous amount of sheer filler. Also the twist was so achingly obvious to anyone who has ever read a thriller before. I find that thrillers that depend on family secrets work best when each member is holding their own sordid secret but in this case, they were all hiding the same one which makes for a clunky reveal.
Maya has married Colin Sterling and is now part of the esteemed family. When his cousin gets murdered, they are all diverted to the house in London under the family protocol of being locked down until the murderer is caught. Maya is thus forced to interact with her intimidating in laws which gets very strained when they realize that she inherits the fortune from the murdered cousin.
This book is oddly clunky, poorly paced and not all that surprising. It is an easy read and Maya is a fun POV to have because she is both smart and feisty. I had issues with the motives behind the crimes, it all felt like a lot of terrible actions for something that should have been simple enough to fix.
Maya has married Colin Sterling and is now part of the esteemed family. When his cousin gets murdered, they are all diverted to the house in London under the family protocol of being locked down until the murderer is caught. Maya is thus forced to interact with her intimidating in laws which gets very strained when they realize that she inherits the fortune from the murdered cousin.
This book is oddly clunky, poorly paced and not all that surprising. It is an easy read and Maya is a fun POV to have because she is both smart and feisty. I had issues with the motives behind the crimes, it all felt like a lot of terrible actions for something that should have been simple enough to fix.
March 12, 2025
Thank you NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Omg. This had SO MUCH potential.
It was an absolute rollercoaster, one minute I thought I knew it all, next I’m completely wrong.
However, the final plot twists and revelation of the murderer was outrageous. The author took this trope and completely over did it. I will give it 2.75 stars because it was good up until about 80%…
Omg. This had SO MUCH potential.
It was an absolute rollercoaster, one minute I thought I knew it all, next I’m completely wrong.
However, the final plot twists and revelation of the murderer was outrageous. The author took this trope and completely over did it. I will give it 2.75 stars because it was good up until about 80%…
March 31, 2025
I was really excited about this one, but the more I read, the harder it was to finish.
April 28, 2025
I'm still torn about my actual overall rating for A Girl Like Us by Anna Sophia McLoughlin, but what I CAN tell you is I loved it! FOMO is real as this was a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt and it paid off in the best possible way. Excessive wealth and the way these people behave, not to mention the drama that comes with it, is something I will never tire of (hello Gossip Girl!) and that was definitely a main feature of this storyline. This is full of unlikeable characters, though I couldn’t help but like Maya to a certain extent.
The audiobook for A Girl Like Us was fantastic and I loved our narrator extraordinaire Allyson Morgan. Her narration for Maya was absolutely perfect and she made the book speed by. This is actually pretty thick at 409 pages, but nothing felt wasted to me. I had no idea what to expect as far as the outcome would be and the twists were bangers. I will say I was a little confused on audio when it came down to the explanation of the twists and I did end up rewinding a few times so I could fully comprehend what was going on. There is a lot of shade thrown at poor Maya thanks to her Reality TV past, but she isn’t an innocent bystander either. I loved the ending, and this was a fantastic adult debut! (Make sure to check out the interview with the author at the end of the physical book).
(Current) Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
The audiobook for A Girl Like Us was fantastic and I loved our narrator extraordinaire Allyson Morgan. Her narration for Maya was absolutely perfect and she made the book speed by. This is actually pretty thick at 409 pages, but nothing felt wasted to me. I had no idea what to expect as far as the outcome would be and the twists were bangers. I will say I was a little confused on audio when it came down to the explanation of the twists and I did end up rewinding a few times so I could fully comprehend what was going on. There is a lot of shade thrown at poor Maya thanks to her Reality TV past, but she isn’t an innocent bystander either. I loved the ending, and this was a fantastic adult debut! (Make sure to check out the interview with the author at the end of the physical book).
(Current) Book Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐.25
Audiobook Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐💫
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