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The Woman I've Become
Not yet published
Expected 1 Nov 26Decades after a girl escaped a serial killer’s lair, the secrets of the past return to haunt her in a twisted novel of psychological suspense from USA Today bestselling author Debra Webb.
Twenty years ago, Julia Belmont escaped a serial killer’s captivity, but her best friend disappeared forever. Rebuilding her life from the trauma, Julia is now a psychologist married to a wealthy mayoral candidate, and mother to a beautiful six-year-old girl, Olivia. All is good. Until a heartless reporter resurrects the darkest chapter of her past.
The wild accusations go viral, and Julia retreats with Olivia and her assistant to an isolated lake house in Connecticut, where strange events begin to occur and threatening emails flood her inbox. As friends and enemies emerge from the shadows, Julia finds it hard to force away her memories, and harder still to face the terrible lies hidden in them.
One thing is No one has a clue what Julia did to stay alive.
Twenty years ago, Julia Belmont escaped a serial killer’s captivity, but her best friend disappeared forever. Rebuilding her life from the trauma, Julia is now a psychologist married to a wealthy mayoral candidate, and mother to a beautiful six-year-old girl, Olivia. All is good. Until a heartless reporter resurrects the darkest chapter of her past.
The wild accusations go viral, and Julia retreats with Olivia and her assistant to an isolated lake house in Connecticut, where strange events begin to occur and threatening emails flood her inbox. As friends and enemies emerge from the shadows, Julia finds it hard to force away her memories, and harder still to face the terrible lies hidden in them.
One thing is No one has a clue what Julia did to stay alive.
336 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 1, 2026
About the author
Debra Webb
579 books2,562 followersDEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 180 novels, including reader favorites the Finley O'Sullivan and Devlin & Falco series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity. Recently Debra was awarded the distinguished Centennial Award for having achieved publication of her 100th novel.
With more than ten million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.
With more than ten million books in print in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm. She spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
October 10, 2026
The book turns into train wreck about 75% in. Then I had a hard time keeping track of who everyone actually is. I am surprised I finished it.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This was my first book by this author, and it definitely won’t be my last! Although, I’ve been told this one is completely different from her other books, so fingers crossed she writes more like this because I really enjoyed it!
I predicted the twists and the reasons behind them VERY early on, but that didn’t take away from my need to finally have the answers on the page. I loved the slow burn of getting our 1,000+ questions answered little by little, with just enough revealed to keep me reading but it never felt annoying waiting.
I also loved the mix between past and present and POV's. And mostly the whole plot of our FMC being held captive and trying to escape is one of my favorite tropes, so I was definitely invested in this one!
I predicted the twists and the reasons behind them VERY early on, but that didn’t take away from my need to finally have the answers on the page. I loved the slow burn of getting our 1,000+ questions answered little by little, with just enough revealed to keep me reading but it never felt annoying waiting.
I also loved the mix between past and present and POV's. And mostly the whole plot of our FMC being held captive and trying to escape is one of my favorite tropes, so I was definitely invested in this one!
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
⭐️⭐️⭐️.25
Let me start this off by saying, I don’t typically read thrillers. However, I’ve been wanting to get into them more, especially for spooky season, so I was really excited to give this one a try.
Overall, I did enjoy it. I really liked the premise and I liked where the story was heading. There were quite a few parts that felt a little slow to me, but for the most part I stayed interested and wanted to know how everything was going to come together.
The biggest thing that didn’t work for me was the twist at the end.. It just felt a little too unbelievable for me and I really wish it had gone in a different direction. I think I would have liked the book a lot more if the ending had played out differently.
Even though this one wasn’t a perfect read for me, it definitely made me want to try more thrillers, so I’m excited to start reading more in this genre!
Thank you to Amazon Publishing for sending me an ARC of The Woman I’ve Become! (Releases on October 6th, 2026)✨
Let me start this off by saying, I don’t typically read thrillers. However, I’ve been wanting to get into them more, especially for spooky season, so I was really excited to give this one a try.
Overall, I did enjoy it. I really liked the premise and I liked where the story was heading. There were quite a few parts that felt a little slow to me, but for the most part I stayed interested and wanted to know how everything was going to come together.
The biggest thing that didn’t work for me was the twist at the end.. It just felt a little too unbelievable for me and I really wish it had gone in a different direction. I think I would have liked the book a lot more if the ending had played out differently.
Even though this one wasn’t a perfect read for me, it definitely made me want to try more thrillers, so I’m excited to start reading more in this genre!
Thank you to Amazon Publishing for sending me an ARC of The Woman I’ve Become! (Releases on October 6th, 2026)✨
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
On publication day:
I'm about halfway through this 336-page psychological thriller and am thoroughly enjoying it. Author Debra Webb has created quite a mystery for readers to solve. It's certainly living up to the "blurb" and the reviews contained in the promotional materials. For those who appreciate content warnings, there is some graphic sex. I won't say anymore because, as the publisher's editor writes, "the less you know going in, the better."
More later.
On publication day + 1:
It's a day later and I've finished. The whole of the tale is complex and, at times, strains credulity. But if you can suspend your disbelief and just go with it, you may be quite entertained.
I'm about halfway through this 336-page psychological thriller and am thoroughly enjoying it. Author Debra Webb has created quite a mystery for readers to solve. It's certainly living up to the "blurb" and the reviews contained in the promotional materials. For those who appreciate content warnings, there is some graphic sex. I won't say anymore because, as the publisher's editor writes, "the less you know going in, the better."
More later.
On publication day + 1:
It's a day later and I've finished. The whole of the tale is complex and, at times, strains credulity. But if you can suspend your disbelief and just go with it, you may be quite entertained.
Review of advance copy
This was my 2nd of my two free selections from Amazon Kindle First Reads for Oct. I chose it because I remembered I read something else by this author. I should have checked, though, because yes, I did read something a few years ago, but it was really, really bad, and unfortunately, this one was even worse. This one RIDICULOUS. Every page the main character kept talking about her enemies and those who hated her, was so mysterious, gave the vibes of a 2nd grader chanting "I know a secret and you don't" over and over, and it quickly grew tedious to the reader. Then the actual "secret" seemed so unrealistic and just plain dumb.
This was the second in a row for me that coincidentally seemed to want to give a female character a free pass for any bad decisions and bad behavior simply because she was a foster child. And also the second where that former foster child slept with the boyfriend of her best friend or twin sister just to prove to the sister/friend what a loser the boyfriend is. Who does that? And in both books one character tried to play off as being the other, but at least in the first one the two girls were twins. And what a coincidence that I would read all this twice in a row in two different books.
Plus the author came across as crude and unpolished, even immature, in the characters' dialogue and attitudes. I am sorry I wasted my time and lost some brain cells with this one.
This was the second in a row for me that coincidentally seemed to want to give a female character a free pass for any bad decisions and bad behavior simply because she was a foster child. And also the second where that former foster child slept with the boyfriend of her best friend or twin sister just to prove to the sister/friend what a loser the boyfriend is. Who does that? And in both books one character tried to play off as being the other, but at least in the first one the two girls were twins. And what a coincidence that I would read all this twice in a row in two different books.
Plus the author came across as crude and unpolished, even immature, in the characters' dialogue and attitudes. I am sorry I wasted my time and lost some brain cells with this one.
October 8, 2026
2.5 ⭐️ this flopped hard for me merp
October 8, 2026
Very Confusing Story
Very confusing story, hard to follow. None of the characters are likable, except the child, Olivia. Not worth the read.
Very confusing story, hard to follow. None of the characters are likable, except the child, Olivia. Not worth the read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Finished reading: October 22nd 2026
"The eventuality I have dreaded all these years has been set in motion, and I must be ready to face the consequences of my decisions and actions. "
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Thomas & Mercer in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
REVIEW
WARNING: it's another unpopular opinion!!
Oh boy, I definitely didn't expect this to happen. It's true that my previous experience with Debra Webb's writing wasn't exactly a positive one this year, but I did enjoy the books I read before that so I hoped the previous book was simply an outlier. After my experience with The Woman I've Become, I'm starting to wonder if I should just leave Debra Webb's books be for now... This newest story ended up being a hard miss for me, and it's honestly a miracle I even made it to the final page.
So, The Woman I've become. On paper, this book should have been a perfect fit for me, because I do love a good thriller with a serial killer angle. Add an isolated setting, and I fully expected to have an excellent time reading this story... But the whole experience ended up being both underwhelming and extremely frustrating instead. The premise had SO much potential, and it is such a shame the execution simply didn't work for me. This plot is SO far from credible that I found it impossible to actually try and suspend my disbelief. I don't always mind an over the top plot if it still delivers on an entertainment level, but sadly this just wasn't the case here.
Why would I say that? First of all, the whole vaguely hinting at secrets and twists without revealing anything for a long time REALLY started to get on my nerves. Especially since the hints were repeated over and over again, and it mainly just made me want to throw my kindle at the wall instead of adding suspense to the plot. On top of this, the main character basically ignores every single red flag being thrown at her, and instead makes stupid and unbelievable decision after the other. Only a couple examples that show the stupidity of our main character...
On top of the stupid decisions, the characters in play are just extremely hard to like. This basically ment that I couldn't care less about what happened to any of them... And the fact that the flashbacks sounded extremely juvenile didn't really help either. Also, that supposedly big twist? I saw it coming from a mile away, and this really put a damper on things. The flashback chapters were made even worse by the appearance of a romance subplot that even included sexy scenes, which I'm never a fan of in the first place (and they were made even worse by the fact that the female character is still a minor).
All in all there were a lot of elements that made it impossible to enjoy my time with The Woman I've Become, and I'm honestly still surprised I actually read until the end. Probably because I already had too many recent DNF as it is... Either way, The Woman I've Become unfortunately ended up being a total fail for me, and I might just shelve this author altogether for now.
October 2, 2026
Disappointing
One of the things I look for in a good read is the flow of the story. Even when there are timeline differences or surprising turns, I want there to be a flow. This story just seems to be events or thought put down without having connectors so there was a good flow. I had to go back and read sections over and over again to try to understand what was going on. I never felt that events nor conversations truly made sense. Just sentences on a page. Disappointing at best.
One of the things I look for in a good read is the flow of the story. Even when there are timeline differences or surprising turns, I want there to be a flow. This story just seems to be events or thought put down without having connectors so there was a good flow. I had to go back and read sections over and over again to try to understand what was going on. I never felt that events nor conversations truly made sense. Just sentences on a page. Disappointing at best.
October 14, 2026
An agonizing read. I'm not one to give up on a book but, with this one, I kept checking progress on my kindle and almost quit several times. The plot follows two "best friends" from high school and constantly switches from 20 Years Ago to Now. One of them has adopted the other's identity and fortune, living the good life. The story is hard to follow because the author refers to both as "Julia" and "she (italicized)". Each of them is concerned about what will happen if "she" ever shows up. That's the extent of the plot.
October 10, 2026
Twists are Not Credible
I enjoy twists and turns in a good story. But they need to be credible. Nothing in the not very good story is credible. Tough read
I enjoy twists and turns in a good story. But they need to be credible. Nothing in the not very good story is credible. Tough read
October 3, 2026
One of the silliest and unbelievable things I’ve read in years. Don’t waste your time.
September 2, 2026
This is definitely a dark, twisted thriller that will keep you guessing. Told in dual timelines spanning 20 years, it follows Julia’s life. She survived a serial killer and a horrific car accident that nearly took her life. Her six-year-old daughter is her world, and she’ll do anything to protect her, even if it means keeping the darkest part of her past hidden. That is, until someone challenges her beliefs. If you’re looking for a twisted thriller that will keep you guessing about whose story you want to believe, this is the book for you.
June 10, 2026
I’ve been reading this author for a very long time and I have to say this story was totally different from anything else I’ve read by her. Just when you get a hint of what’s going on nope.
The past has come back to haunt the wife of an up and coming politician. This one was so twisty tale going pack and forth from the past to the present.
The ending was a shocker that was not even on my radar.
The past has come back to haunt the wife of an up and coming politician. This one was so twisty tale going pack and forth from the past to the present.
The ending was a shocker that was not even on my radar.
October 25, 2026
This book was so slow for me. I’m surprised I finished it. I guess I kept hoping it would get better but halfway through I just wanted to be done with it. I had a hard time keeping track of who was who and there seemed to be so much internal dialogue that was just boring and drawn out. Also, I would not consider this a thriller by any means.
Review of advance copy received from Goodreads Giveaways
The story is all about Julia and Wendy, two friends who honestly deserve each other. One is worse than the other. They are both devious and manipulative. The things they did to each other were horrifying. The story goes back and forth from the present to the past. The present was very repetitive. The past, at least, we found some things out. But the story does string you along for quite some time. Something big happened but you are way into the book before you find out what that was.
Then it gets totally confusing and really pretty unbelievable. It was hard to keep track of who was Julia and who was Wendy. I struggled to finish at this point. But I did keep with it and in the end you are still left hanging. What was up with Rick? That was never fully explained.
Then it gets totally confusing and really pretty unbelievable. It was hard to keep track of who was Julia and who was Wendy. I struggled to finish at this point. But I did keep with it and in the end you are still left hanging. What was up with Rick? That was never fully explained.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Publishing November 1
Told in then and now timelines, we get glimpses of Julia's former captivity along with the life she's since made with her aspiring politician husband and young daughter.
Recovering from injuries caused by a recent car accident, Julia is at the mercy of caregivers when she learns that Wendy, a friend also abducted when they were young, might have also survived her captivity.
If you're a regular reader of thrillers, the twists feel a bit unbelievable, and a few of the timeline and character elements felt too loose.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Told in then and now timelines, we get glimpses of Julia's former captivity along with the life she's since made with her aspiring politician husband and young daughter.
Recovering from injuries caused by a recent car accident, Julia is at the mercy of caregivers when she learns that Wendy, a friend also abducted when they were young, might have also survived her captivity.
If you're a regular reader of thrillers, the twists feel a bit unbelievable, and a few of the timeline and character elements felt too loose.
Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
July 3, 2026Thank you to Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for gifting me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Dark, twisty, with no "perfect" victims and a large network of evil men. This book just wasn't my cup of tea. I (unfortunately) guessed the twists and since I already wasn't enjoying the book, it made finishing the story a chore. Chore sounds harsh but a couple of the twists were completely unbelievable and we stay in one setting way too long when there is a much more interesting B story that should have been followed. With some tweaks, this could've been great, but if thrillers are your main genre you may have the same experience I did.
Dark, twisty, with no "perfect" victims and a large network of evil men. This book just wasn't my cup of tea. I (unfortunately) guessed the twists and since I already wasn't enjoying the book, it made finishing the story a chore. Chore sounds harsh but a couple of the twists were completely unbelievable and we stay in one setting way too long when there is a much more interesting B story that should have been followed. With some tweaks, this could've been great, but if thrillers are your main genre you may have the same experience I did.
October 5, 2026
Psychological Thriller
I truly enjoyed reading this. The twists and turns in the story had me hooked and surprised. While the story is fictional, the topic of human slavery happening in today’s world is very real. Humanity has a dark side that can’t be ignored.
I truly enjoyed reading this. The twists and turns in the story had me hooked and surprised. While the story is fictional, the topic of human slavery happening in today’s world is very real. Humanity has a dark side that can’t be ignored.
October 18, 2026
Absolutely riveting thriller
This had numerous twists and turns, making it hard to anticipate where the story was going to next. Excellent book that you won't want to put down.
This had numerous twists and turns, making it hard to anticipate where the story was going to next. Excellent book that you won't want to put down.
October 9, 2026
I read about 75% of this book and simply couldn’t finish it-the pace, the convoluted narrative, the manner in which the story was told-none of it appealed to me. I hope it does you.
October 12, 2026
Honestly, the premise of this book was cool and I wish the execution was better. Sometimes with a thriller, less is more. The plot of the book was extremely convoluted. It seemed like there were a lot of twists just for the shock factor to the point where honestly it was preposterous. I also found the tone of the writing to be rather juvenile (not just the flashbacks).
October 4, 2026
This book had potential. In fact a lot of the story worked and was enjoyable. The main twist could be seen a mile away but was still enjoyable.
Then the author went too far and added another twist...and another...until it was a mess. It all became laughable.
Then the author went too far and added another twist...and another...until it was a mess. It all became laughable.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book took me way too long to finish. And honestly, the only reason I managed to get through it was because it was an advanced reader copy that I specifically requested because I normally love this author, and the premise sounded so good. Unfortunately, this book just missed the mark for me in almost every possible way.
To begin with, the plot was all over the place. And I'm not just talking about the parts that took place in the past, detailing what Julia and her friend Wendy went through after they were taken. The present-day storyline made just as little sense to me.
For starters, after the first time I was drugged, that person would have been out of my life immediately. I don't care how much I supposedly needed their help. You're not getting the chance to do it again. Then there was the whole situation with the cell phone. Julia ia supposedly in a situation where she's deathly concerned about her safety, yet she goes upstairs to sleep while not only leaving her cell phone downstairs, but also without knowing whether or not it needed to be charged. I'm sorry, but if things are THAT dire, wouldn't you keep your phone on you at all times? And maybe have something nearby to defend yourself with? It doesn't have to be some elaborate weapon. There's an entire butcher's block sitting in the kitchen. Grab a knife and take it upstairs. And then there's Julia's daughter, Olivia. I could not for the life of me understand why Julia would willingly walk into the situation at the lake house with her young daughter in tow. If you genuinely believe that someone from your past is coming after you, why would you go into that situation without a plan? And more importantly, why would you bring the one person you claim to love more than anything along for the ride? I'm sorry, but I need my characters to have at least a tiny bit of common sense.
Sadly, the more this book went on, the more disappointed I became. A lot of the plot was just downright unbelievable. We're expected to believe that certain things happened over the years without anyone noticing. And even if someone did notice something, apparently nobody else thought it might be worth looking into a little more closely? Then we have the entire revenge scheme. Except even the people carrying out said revenge scheme admit that they don't really have a plan for how they're going to accomplish what they want to accomplish. Well, that's reassuring. Nothing says “I've carefully plotted my revenge” quite like "Wait, what do you mean getting my hands on the money that was promised to me isn't going to be that easy?"
And can we please talk about the constant 'I know something, but I'm not going to tell you yet' narrative? Because good lord, that got old quickly. Either give us the information and let us figure out what it means, or shut the heck up about it until you're ready to reveal it. But repeatedly reminding me that a character knows something while deliberately withholding it just felt like a cheap way to manufacture suspense.
Then we get to the ending. Or should I say the lack thereof? Sure, we find out who did it. But we don't really find out the why. That's kind of an important detail when you've spent an entire book building toward a mystery. Instead, we're given lines like: “I suppose the answer will reveal itself one day", or “I suppose we'll never know what set that particular finale in motion”, or my personal favorite: “It’s always nice when the enemy gives you advance warning that he sees you. May the best liar win.”
Seriously? You're going to end the book on a cliffhanger like that after putting your readers through all of the aforementioned malarkey? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for leaving a few questions unanswered when it works for the story. But this felt less like a satisfying cliffhanger and more like the author simply stopped writing.
Overall, this just did not read like the same author I've enjoyed in the past. The premise was good enough to make me request the ARC, and there were certainly pieces here that could have made for a really compelling story. Unfortunately, the execution never lived up to that potential for me. However, I'm not writing the author off just yet because I have enjoyed their work before. I'm just hoping that the next book I pick up is much more in line with what I've come to expect from them.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
To begin with, the plot was all over the place. And I'm not just talking about the parts that took place in the past, detailing what Julia and her friend Wendy went through after they were taken. The present-day storyline made just as little sense to me.
For starters, after the first time I was drugged, that person would have been out of my life immediately. I don't care how much I supposedly needed their help. You're not getting the chance to do it again. Then there was the whole situation with the cell phone. Julia ia supposedly in a situation where she's deathly concerned about her safety, yet she goes upstairs to sleep while not only leaving her cell phone downstairs, but also without knowing whether or not it needed to be charged. I'm sorry, but if things are THAT dire, wouldn't you keep your phone on you at all times? And maybe have something nearby to defend yourself with? It doesn't have to be some elaborate weapon. There's an entire butcher's block sitting in the kitchen. Grab a knife and take it upstairs. And then there's Julia's daughter, Olivia. I could not for the life of me understand why Julia would willingly walk into the situation at the lake house with her young daughter in tow. If you genuinely believe that someone from your past is coming after you, why would you go into that situation without a plan? And more importantly, why would you bring the one person you claim to love more than anything along for the ride? I'm sorry, but I need my characters to have at least a tiny bit of common sense.
Sadly, the more this book went on, the more disappointed I became. A lot of the plot was just downright unbelievable. We're expected to believe that certain things happened over the years without anyone noticing. And even if someone did notice something, apparently nobody else thought it might be worth looking into a little more closely? Then we have the entire revenge scheme. Except even the people carrying out said revenge scheme admit that they don't really have a plan for how they're going to accomplish what they want to accomplish. Well, that's reassuring. Nothing says “I've carefully plotted my revenge” quite like "Wait, what do you mean getting my hands on the money that was promised to me isn't going to be that easy?"
And can we please talk about the constant 'I know something, but I'm not going to tell you yet' narrative? Because good lord, that got old quickly. Either give us the information and let us figure out what it means, or shut the heck up about it until you're ready to reveal it. But repeatedly reminding me that a character knows something while deliberately withholding it just felt like a cheap way to manufacture suspense.
Then we get to the ending. Or should I say the lack thereof? Sure, we find out who did it. But we don't really find out the why. That's kind of an important detail when you've spent an entire book building toward a mystery. Instead, we're given lines like: “I suppose the answer will reveal itself one day", or “I suppose we'll never know what set that particular finale in motion”, or my personal favorite: “It’s always nice when the enemy gives you advance warning that he sees you. May the best liar win.”
Seriously? You're going to end the book on a cliffhanger like that after putting your readers through all of the aforementioned malarkey? Don't get me wrong, I'm all for leaving a few questions unanswered when it works for the story. But this felt less like a satisfying cliffhanger and more like the author simply stopped writing.
Overall, this just did not read like the same author I've enjoyed in the past. The premise was good enough to make me request the ARC, and there were certainly pieces here that could have made for a really compelling story. Unfortunately, the execution never lived up to that potential for me. However, I'm not writing the author off just yet because I have enjoyed their work before. I'm just hoping that the next book I pick up is much more in line with what I've come to expect from them.
DISCLAIMER: I received a complimentary copy of this novel from the publisher. This has not affected my review in any way. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are 100% my own.
Review of advance copy
She was taken and given to a man with dark sexual proclivities. She survived and married a man who wanted to run the mayoral race. Before he ran Julia told her survival story to the Times which opened old wounds alerting her friend of the danger that was coming. candidate for the political mayoral position.
…
Julia dated an older man when she was seventeen. A dangerous man who her parents wouldn’t approve of. Even her friend Wendy warned her he was bad news. Julia was in love and no warnings were going to keep her away from him.
…
The Woman I’ve Become is a thriller about a woman who escaped after being abducted. Her story was never told and now she’s willing to tell it. Debra Webb tells a story about a woman named Julia who was traumatized by her abductor and even after years of trying to move forward she found herself facing the past during a pivotal time in her husbands life. In order to understand Julia the reader follows both her past from twenty years ago and her present with her six year old daughter who has been her reason to live.
…
The twist is spectacular I hadn’t expected it nor this type of storyline. It’s definitely a first time for this type of situation to happen this way. I appreciate Debra Webb leaving out the dark details about these men’s proclivities upon women in the sex trade business.
…
Eventhough, there was plenty of activity and moving parts I still wasn’t buzzing with excitement. The finale was good Webb answered all those questions closing the door on the past. Was I satisfied? Not really. There were too many liars and greedy characters creating an atmosphere of mistrust which didn’t satisfy.
…
Julia dated an older man when she was seventeen. A dangerous man who her parents wouldn’t approve of. Even her friend Wendy warned her he was bad news. Julia was in love and no warnings were going to keep her away from him.
…
The Woman I’ve Become is a thriller about a woman who escaped after being abducted. Her story was never told and now she’s willing to tell it. Debra Webb tells a story about a woman named Julia who was traumatized by her abductor and even after years of trying to move forward she found herself facing the past during a pivotal time in her husbands life. In order to understand Julia the reader follows both her past from twenty years ago and her present with her six year old daughter who has been her reason to live.
…
The twist is spectacular I hadn’t expected it nor this type of storyline. It’s definitely a first time for this type of situation to happen this way. I appreciate Debra Webb leaving out the dark details about these men’s proclivities upon women in the sex trade business.
…
Eventhough, there was plenty of activity and moving parts I still wasn’t buzzing with excitement. The finale was good Webb answered all those questions closing the door on the past. Was I satisfied? Not really. There were too many liars and greedy characters creating an atmosphere of mistrust which didn’t satisfy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
3.5 rounded to 4 ⭐️
Decades after a girl escapees a serial killers lair, the secrets of the past return to haunt her.
Twenty years ago, Julia Belmont escaped a serial killers before she became another of his victims. However, her best friend Wendy disappeared forever. Rebuilding her life from this trauma, Julia is now a psychologist, is married to a wealthy mayoral candidate and is mother to a six year old girl, Olivia. Her life is good. Until a reporter resurrects the darkest chapter of her past.
As the wild accusations go viral, Julia retreats to her isolated lake house in Connecticut with Olivia and her assistant. However, strange event begin to occur and threatening emails flood her inbox. As friends - and enemies - appear from the shadows, Julia finds it hard to force away her memories, but finds it even more difficult to keep the lies she has told hidden. One thing is true: No one has a clue what Julia had to do to stay alive.
Told across dual timelines, the book looks at Julia’s two lives - present day and twenty years ago. This is a standalone triller that is dark, tense and fast moving psychological story told from the POV of Julia. There is enough twists to keep the story moving quickly without losing sense of the plot and elements of danger, betrayal and motives. A very unexpected ending!!
With thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Debra Webb for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Decades after a girl escapees a serial killers lair, the secrets of the past return to haunt her.
Twenty years ago, Julia Belmont escaped a serial killers before she became another of his victims. However, her best friend Wendy disappeared forever. Rebuilding her life from this trauma, Julia is now a psychologist, is married to a wealthy mayoral candidate and is mother to a six year old girl, Olivia. Her life is good. Until a reporter resurrects the darkest chapter of her past.
As the wild accusations go viral, Julia retreats to her isolated lake house in Connecticut with Olivia and her assistant. However, strange event begin to occur and threatening emails flood her inbox. As friends - and enemies - appear from the shadows, Julia finds it hard to force away her memories, but finds it even more difficult to keep the lies she has told hidden. One thing is true: No one has a clue what Julia had to do to stay alive.
Told across dual timelines, the book looks at Julia’s two lives - present day and twenty years ago. This is a standalone triller that is dark, tense and fast moving psychological story told from the POV of Julia. There is enough twists to keep the story moving quickly without losing sense of the plot and elements of danger, betrayal and motives. A very unexpected ending!!
With thanks to NetGalley, Thomas & Mercer and Debra Webb for the ARC of this book in return for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐4.5-star review:
A huge thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this ARC! It's been a while since a mystery thriller completely captivated me, and this one did from the very first page. The clever cat-and-mouse game at the core of the story is what keeps everything moving, and Webb handles it with such confidence that I couldn’t put it down. The writing is smooth and engaging; subtle enough to keep you hooked without you even realizing how much time has slipped by. Even during the tense final moments, when secrets are revealing themselves fast, I still had to see how it all turned out. That's no easy feat! I did guess some of the twists early on, but honestly, that didn't matter much. What truly kept me hooked was understanding the motivations behind the characters and their choices, which shows the book excels at developing its characters. Julia is a protagonist you’ll genuinely enjoy spending time with: complex, guarded, and carrying secrets that gradually change how you see her story. The gentle reveal of her past is done with real thoughtfulness. If you love psychological suspense, I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try.
A huge thank you to Thomas & Mercer and Netgalley for this ARC! It's been a while since a mystery thriller completely captivated me, and this one did from the very first page. The clever cat-and-mouse game at the core of the story is what keeps everything moving, and Webb handles it with such confidence that I couldn’t put it down. The writing is smooth and engaging; subtle enough to keep you hooked without you even realizing how much time has slipped by. Even during the tense final moments, when secrets are revealing themselves fast, I still had to see how it all turned out. That's no easy feat! I did guess some of the twists early on, but honestly, that didn't matter much. What truly kept me hooked was understanding the motivations behind the characters and their choices, which shows the book excels at developing its characters. Julia is a protagonist you’ll genuinely enjoy spending time with: complex, guarded, and carrying secrets that gradually change how you see her story. The gentle reveal of her past is done with real thoughtfulness. If you love psychological suspense, I wholeheartedly recommend giving it a try.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
THE WOMAN I’VE BECOME, written by Deborah Webb, is standalone featuring a psychological and suspenseful mystery. Julia Beaumont is married to Phillip, a New York mayoral candidate. The New York Times runs a story about Julia‘s abduction 20 years ago and what she might know about a serial killer of the time. The story is told through two timelines, present day and 20 years ago.
Deborah Webb‘s writing, while at times long-winded, is engaging and entices me to read on. I care about the characters and want to know what happens to them. I get a good sense of these people and what they care about. It makes sense that the plot is told through two timelines. I always want to know what happens next. I am not sure how I feel about the ending. I look forward to reading future books written by Deborah Webb. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for the chance to review an advance reader copy of THE WOMAN I’VE BECOME.
Deborah Webb‘s writing, while at times long-winded, is engaging and entices me to read on. I care about the characters and want to know what happens to them. I get a good sense of these people and what they care about. It makes sense that the plot is told through two timelines. I always want to know what happens next. I am not sure how I feel about the ending. I look forward to reading future books written by Deborah Webb. Thank you, Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley, for the chance to review an advance reader copy of THE WOMAN I’VE BECOME.
September 10, 2026
5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. 😳😳😳😳 Debra Webb is a new author for me but as soon as I finish writing this review, I will be looking up all her other books. I really don’t even know what to write because this one has twists that I never would have thought of. The only negative I will say about this book is that at times I felt like Julia was very repetitive and I just wanted it to move a little quicker. But once the main twist was revealed I was hooked and couldn’t put it down! I do admit that I had to re-read a chapter or two because I was a tad bit confused at one point but once I caught on to what was actually happening it was a total shock and I couldn’t wait to see how the rest of the story would unfold. And let me just say that the ending was also great!
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. And an added “thank you” for introducing this new wonderful author to me.
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. And an added “thank you” for introducing this new wonderful author to me.
October 19, 2026
Survival of the Fittest
I find it a breath of fresh air when the narrator/ protagonist is someone who knows exactly what’s going on, even if she’s not letting the reader in on it. Julia is someone with a plethora of problems, and she’s dead set on dealing with all of them. When her morbid past comes knocking on her door, she’ll deal with that too.
I like how the author flips between past and present perspectives. The pov switch that she employed also gave the obligatory twist a good payoff.
As for the characters themselves, “morally grey” doesn’t quite cover it. Everyone in the novel has a reason for being who are and doing what they do, but even with that in mind their actions are, shall we say… horrific? Crazy? Inherently self-serving? Julia herself is no saint, or even a good person, but she is go-getter in the ways that matter.
The ending was satisfying, and I can say almost everybody got what they deserved. So as happy of an ending as anyone can expect.
I find it a breath of fresh air when the narrator/ protagonist is someone who knows exactly what’s going on, even if she’s not letting the reader in on it. Julia is someone with a plethora of problems, and she’s dead set on dealing with all of them. When her morbid past comes knocking on her door, she’ll deal with that too.
I like how the author flips between past and present perspectives. The pov switch that she employed also gave the obligatory twist a good payoff.
As for the characters themselves, “morally grey” doesn’t quite cover it. Everyone in the novel has a reason for being who are and doing what they do, but even with that in mind their actions are, shall we say… horrific? Crazy? Inherently self-serving? Julia herself is no saint, or even a good person, but she is go-getter in the ways that matter.
The ending was satisfying, and I can say almost everybody got what they deserved. So as happy of an ending as anyone can expect.
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