What do you think?
Rate this book
The Outsiders Sequence #2
The Other
“Very effective... a nearly perfect, claustrophobic novella.” —The Wall Street Journal on the first book in the series, The Extra
It's not a sequel. It's next in the sequence...
A couple on an outdoor retreat meet their doppelgangers on a hiking trail and are soon tested on how well they truly know each other.
The Other is the second book in the Outsiders Sequence series. This edition features a special preview of The Spare, the third and final book in the Outsiders Sequence.
It's not a sequel. It's next in the sequence...
A couple on an outdoor retreat meet their doppelgangers on a hiking trail and are soon tested on how well they truly know each other.
The Other is the second book in the Outsiders Sequence series. This edition features a special preview of The Spare, the third and final book in the Outsiders Sequence.
135 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 9, 2026
About the author
Annie Neugebauer
63 books210 followersAnnie is a novelist, blogger, nationally award-winning poet, and two-time Bram Stoker Award-nominated short story author. She is the author of The Outsiders Sequence (The Extra, The Other, and The Spare) and You Have to Let Them Bleed. You can visit her at www.AnnieNeugebauer.com.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews
May 19, 2026
This is the second book in The Outsiders Sequence, a series of three standalone novellas. The Other by Annie Neugebauer is a psychological horror story, and honestly it starts off feeling pretty normal… which is probably your first mistake.
The plot follows a group of people who go on a hiking trip out in a remote, isolated area. At first it’s all just nature and walking and that “this is nice but also I’d like Wi-Fi” kind of vibe. Then they come across these “doubles” of themselves out in the woods. And yeah… that’s where everything stops being fun.
Because these aren’t like fun mirror-image twins or anything. They’re wrong. Not in a loud monster way, more like a “why does that look like me but also absolutely not me” kind of way. And once that happens, the whole hiking trip basically falls apart into panic, confusion, and nobody trusting anyone anymore (including themselves, which is always a great sign).
What I liked is how quickly the normal situation turns into chaos without it feeling rushed. It’s not full-on action horror—it’s more like dread just slowly creeping in until you realise everyone is basically one bad decision away from completely losing it. The forest setting makes it worse too, because there’s nowhere to go and no way to pretend everything’s fine.
The characters felt really believable as well. Nobody suddenly becomes a horror movie genius. They react like actual people, which means there’s denial, arguments, panic, and at least one “this must have a logical explanation” moment that aged very badly very quickly.
Annie Neugebauer’s writing is really simple but effective. She doesn’t over-explain anything, which is good because honestly I don’t think an explanation would make this situation better anyway. The less you know, the worse it feels, which is kind of the point.
And the ending… yeah. It doesn’t neatly wrap anything up. It just kind of leaves you sitting there like, “okay… so I’m going to be thinking about that for the next three days.” It’s creepy in a quiet way rather than a big dramatic way, which somehow sticks more.
Overall, I actually really enjoyed it. It’s short, tense, and just deeply uncomfortable in a slow-burn way. I’m really excited for the next book in the series, The Spare, due out next April, even though I feel like it’s probably also going to ruin my peace of mind in some new and creative way.
Thank you NetGalley, Shortwave Publishing, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: June 9th 2026
The plot follows a group of people who go on a hiking trip out in a remote, isolated area. At first it’s all just nature and walking and that “this is nice but also I’d like Wi-Fi” kind of vibe. Then they come across these “doubles” of themselves out in the woods. And yeah… that’s where everything stops being fun.
Because these aren’t like fun mirror-image twins or anything. They’re wrong. Not in a loud monster way, more like a “why does that look like me but also absolutely not me” kind of way. And once that happens, the whole hiking trip basically falls apart into panic, confusion, and nobody trusting anyone anymore (including themselves, which is always a great sign).
What I liked is how quickly the normal situation turns into chaos without it feeling rushed. It’s not full-on action horror—it’s more like dread just slowly creeping in until you realise everyone is basically one bad decision away from completely losing it. The forest setting makes it worse too, because there’s nowhere to go and no way to pretend everything’s fine.
The characters felt really believable as well. Nobody suddenly becomes a horror movie genius. They react like actual people, which means there’s denial, arguments, panic, and at least one “this must have a logical explanation” moment that aged very badly very quickly.
Annie Neugebauer’s writing is really simple but effective. She doesn’t over-explain anything, which is good because honestly I don’t think an explanation would make this situation better anyway. The less you know, the worse it feels, which is kind of the point.
And the ending… yeah. It doesn’t neatly wrap anything up. It just kind of leaves you sitting there like, “okay… so I’m going to be thinking about that for the next three days.” It’s creepy in a quiet way rather than a big dramatic way, which somehow sticks more.
Overall, I actually really enjoyed it. It’s short, tense, and just deeply uncomfortable in a slow-burn way. I’m really excited for the next book in the series, The Spare, due out next April, even though I feel like it’s probably also going to ruin my peace of mind in some new and creative way.
Thank you NetGalley, Shortwave Publishing, and the author for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Publishing date: June 9th 2026
June 9, 2026
Held in the same universe and possibly the same woods as The Extra, The Other brings us another creepy tale involving camping and hiking. I would probably not read this if I were going to do either of those things. Which I don’t, so I’m all clear to read this one.
Elise and Logan are making their way to a perfect out of the way camping spot. It is so out of the way that it takes three days to get there, and not many people know about it, so they’re hoping they have it to themselves as they try to repair their marriage. Unfortunately for them, they run into others. And not just anyone but their doppelgängers! Things turn weird, and then they get WEIRD! I was not prepared for that ending.
I liked how this poses the question of if you really know your significant other. As with The Extra, I am left with more questions than answers. BUT the one common theme I did pick up on is the grass…
I don’t think I can wait until next summer for the third one to come out. I need it NOW!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Elise and Logan are making their way to a perfect out of the way camping spot. It is so out of the way that it takes three days to get there, and not many people know about it, so they’re hoping they have it to themselves as they try to repair their marriage. Unfortunately for them, they run into others. And not just anyone but their doppelgängers! Things turn weird, and then they get WEIRD! I was not prepared for that ending.
I liked how this poses the question of if you really know your significant other. As with The Extra, I am left with more questions than answers. BUT the one common theme I did pick up on is the grass…
I don’t think I can wait until next summer for the third one to come out. I need it NOW!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
June 13, 2026
4 ⭐️ This short novella really packs a punch! Creepy and atmospheric psychological horror at its best!
Elise and Logan are on a hiking getaway to work on their marriage and discuss their future plans. While on a remote trail they come across another couple Allison and Bryce that resemble them greatly. As hours pass they become their doubles.
This is a frightening scenario as the couple try to figure out who is their real spouse. Told in a simple straightforward manner with alternating chapters of Elise and Logan, the tension builds to the surprise and shocking ending. Part of a trilogy of stand alone novellas, I’ll be reading the first The Extra, and looking for #3 The Spare in 2027.
Thanks to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Elise and Logan are on a hiking getaway to work on their marriage and discuss their future plans. While on a remote trail they come across another couple Allison and Bryce that resemble them greatly. As hours pass they become their doubles.
This is a frightening scenario as the couple try to figure out who is their real spouse. Told in a simple straightforward manner with alternating chapters of Elise and Logan, the tension builds to the surprise and shocking ending. Part of a trilogy of stand alone novellas, I’ll be reading the first The Extra, and looking for #3 The Spare in 2027.
Thanks to NetGalley and Shortwave Publishers for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 1, 2026
concept so terrifying my fiancée and i came up with a plan for how to identify each other if we ever meet our evil doppelgängers. full rtc
June 17, 2026
The same woods of "The Extra" novella but it's early Spring.
The chapters alternating between Elise, 32 years-old and Logan, 33 years-old.
They've been together for 15 years, since high school, and decided to make this backpack trip because they don't spend enough time together anymore.
They're are drifting apart and want to discuss some big issues, like having kids, that will affect their future life.
When they arrived the parking lot was empty and they are hiking up the trail for 3 days now, and as they're reaching the campsite to pass the night they see someone ahead in the trail, introducing themselves as Bryce and Allison.
They look so much like them!
Doppelgangers!
Same type of clothes, similar colors, so strange!
Each giving them a different version of how they got there!
Why would they lie?
They agree they could all stay the night in that campsite, with enough space between the tents, but Elise feels uncomfortable, scared, unease.
So they're packing up to leave very early in the morning as silent as they can.
Logan is packing the tent and she has to answer a call of nature.
When she returns she thinks she's hallucinating, having a breakdown, because Bryce looks and talks exactly like Logan and her the same with Allison.
What is happening?
Logan knows who Elise is of course, but Allison creates a diversion and now only each one knows they are the real Elise and the real Logan!
They continue up the trail until they figure it out, both unbalanced, and second guessing everything.
Elise doesn't want to make the wrong decision and leaving Logan behind and Logan doesn't want to make the wrong one too and leave her with Bryce, and even getting hurt.
And when I'm almost 100% sure that the real Logan and the real Elise are the ones that are going out of there, I get gobsmacked by that ending!!!
And an absurd idea comes to me.
What if the real Elise was somehow, at sometime, replaced by the fake one and continued telling her side of the story as if she was the real one?
It sounds crazy, right?
I ended up with so many questions and no answers whatsoever!
Will the third novella in the sequence "The Spare" wrap it up nicely?
Will see what happens then!!
The chapters alternating between Elise, 32 years-old and Logan, 33 years-old.
They've been together for 15 years, since high school, and decided to make this backpack trip because they don't spend enough time together anymore.
They're are drifting apart and want to discuss some big issues, like having kids, that will affect their future life.
When they arrived the parking lot was empty and they are hiking up the trail for 3 days now, and as they're reaching the campsite to pass the night they see someone ahead in the trail, introducing themselves as Bryce and Allison.
They look so much like them!
Doppelgangers!
Same type of clothes, similar colors, so strange!
Each giving them a different version of how they got there!
Why would they lie?
They agree they could all stay the night in that campsite, with enough space between the tents, but Elise feels uncomfortable, scared, unease.
So they're packing up to leave very early in the morning as silent as they can.
Logan is packing the tent and she has to answer a call of nature.
When she returns she thinks she's hallucinating, having a breakdown, because Bryce looks and talks exactly like Logan and her the same with Allison.
What is happening?
Logan knows who Elise is of course, but Allison creates a diversion and now only each one knows they are the real Elise and the real Logan!
They continue up the trail until they figure it out, both unbalanced, and second guessing everything.
Elise doesn't want to make the wrong decision and leaving Logan behind and Logan doesn't want to make the wrong one too and leave her with Bryce, and even getting hurt.
And when I'm almost 100% sure that the real Logan and the real Elise are the ones that are going out of there, I get gobsmacked by that ending!!!
And an absurd idea comes to me.
What if the real Elise was somehow, at sometime, replaced by the fake one and continued telling her side of the story as if she was the real one?
It sounds crazy, right?
I ended up with so many questions and no answers whatsoever!
Will the third novella in the sequence "The Spare" wrap it up nicely?
Will see what happens then!!
June 9, 2026
My mind zooms abruptly out and out and out, and the forest stretches for miles in every direction, and all of it is open to itself, and anything inside it can cross into this space.
We are not alone out here.
In The Other, the second book in Annie Neugebauer’s Outsiders Sequence, we meet Elise and Logan, a couple on a camping trip as a last-ditch effort to reconnect and save their marriage. After a long day of hiking, they’re about to camp for the night when another couple approaches the camp site from the opposite direction. Elise and Logan thought they were the only people on the trail, so they’re surprised to see Bryce and Allison – but what’s even more surprising is how closely the other couple resembles them, down to the clothes they’re wearing.
By the next morning, Bryce and Allison have morphed into exact copies of Logan and Elise – true doppelgängers. What follows is a descent into fear and paranoia as Logan and Elise must figure out who is their true spouse.
The Other is sinister and surreal, disquieting and disorienting, and a thoroughly original take on the theme of how well we truly know the ones we love. It’s genuinely frightening to think about your partner being replaced by a copy – or yourself being replaced, and your partner not realizing it.
The story unfolds with perfect pacing in Logan’s and Elise’s dual POVs, and they react in exactly the ways you’d think real people would; they freak out, they refuse to accept what’s happening, they argue, they try – and fail – to find a logical explanation. It’s so tense and immersive; it really does feel like you’re inside their brains as they try to figure out what to do.
And the ending – it’s going to be divisive, but it unsettled me to my core in a way I’ll be thinking about for a long time. I’m not exactly sure what it meant, but the “WTF”-ness of it is the whole point. Where the ending of The Extra felt a bit like a cop-out, this one felt entirely fitting and deliberate in its lack of answers.
I just have one request of Annie Neugebauer, and that’s for her to PLEASE continue writing these stories even after the third book comes out next year. Something about the chaotic, disturbing nature of this world she’s created scratches my brain in the most pleasant way, and I want more! Thanks to Shortwave Publishing for the early reading opportunity.
June 10, 2026
This is the second book in a planned trilogy, but it worked as a standalone and was a pretty quick read. I thought the premise was very cool. Anything involving doubles or doppelgängers will always draw my attention.
The writing itself was where I found myself a little disappointed. The language was a bit awkward and the sentences stilted, with strange word choices throughout. I also found the thought processes of the two main characters to be somewhat exhausting. All the questions they were asking themselves absolutely made sense in this situation, but I felt like some more editing would have helped a lot.
There were decent creepy moments and I think this would make a fun horror movie. The relationship dynamics of the couple were believable. The ending didn’t need an explanation for me to be on board, but I’d be lying if I said I fully understood it.
I probably won’t read book 1 or 3, but thank you to NetGalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
The writing itself was where I found myself a little disappointed. The language was a bit awkward and the sentences stilted, with strange word choices throughout. I also found the thought processes of the two main characters to be somewhat exhausting. All the questions they were asking themselves absolutely made sense in this situation, but I felt like some more editing would have helped a lot.
There were decent creepy moments and I think this would make a fun horror movie. The relationship dynamics of the couple were believable. The ending didn’t need an explanation for me to be on board, but I’d be lying if I said I fully understood it.
I probably won’t read book 1 or 3, but thank you to NetGalley for this early copy in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.
May 8, 2026
3.5 ⭐️ rounded up (but barely)
After being together for 15 years, Elise and Logan are experiencing a rut in their marriage.
Logan wants to have children, while Elise knows that she has no desire to be a mother.
They thought that going on a camping trip would give them some quiet alone time to have some serious discussions as to whether they should stay together or not.
Although it wasn’t really planned out this way, I started reading this book the day after I finished the first one, The Extra.
I wasn’t familiar with either of them, but when I discovered the second one on NetGalley and saw how short they were, I decided to read them back-to-back.
With that being said, these are definitely standalone books.
I enjoyed The Extra more than The Other, although The Other had a SOMEWHAT more complete ending.
It still left the reader with several questions, but this didn’t end quite as abruptly as The Extra.
I felt literal tension as I was reading this.
Elise and Logan were put into an unfathomable situation and if I were ever in something similar, I would be livid, frustrated, extremely confused and questioning my own sanity, all at once.
I think that Annie Neugebauer is a great author who has a talent for writing stories that keeps the reader engaged.
I just don’t understand the endings.
If it’s a series where the books pick up where one left off, I’m okay with ambiguous endings, but these books aren’t related aside from having a camping theme where weird things happen.
It says that there will be a third in the series called The Spare, which I’m guessing will probably be released sometime in 2027.
Thanks to Shortwave Publishing and Annie Neugebauer for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley to review.
Pub Date: June 9, 2026
After being together for 15 years, Elise and Logan are experiencing a rut in their marriage.
Logan wants to have children, while Elise knows that she has no desire to be a mother.
They thought that going on a camping trip would give them some quiet alone time to have some serious discussions as to whether they should stay together or not.
Although it wasn’t really planned out this way, I started reading this book the day after I finished the first one, The Extra.
I wasn’t familiar with either of them, but when I discovered the second one on NetGalley and saw how short they were, I decided to read them back-to-back.
With that being said, these are definitely standalone books.
I enjoyed The Extra more than The Other, although The Other had a SOMEWHAT more complete ending.
It still left the reader with several questions, but this didn’t end quite as abruptly as The Extra.
I felt literal tension as I was reading this.
Elise and Logan were put into an unfathomable situation and if I were ever in something similar, I would be livid, frustrated, extremely confused and questioning my own sanity, all at once.
I think that Annie Neugebauer is a great author who has a talent for writing stories that keeps the reader engaged.
I just don’t understand the endings.
If it’s a series where the books pick up where one left off, I’m okay with ambiguous endings, but these books aren’t related aside from having a camping theme where weird things happen.
It says that there will be a third in the series called The Spare, which I’m guessing will probably be released sometime in 2027.
Thanks to Shortwave Publishing and Annie Neugebauer for providing me with an ARC via NetGalley to review.
Pub Date: June 9, 2026
June 16, 2026
When you’re going through a reading slump, a good ol’ novella is the solution. And it’s even better when it’s a creepy thriller/horror one!!
@seanpatrickhopkins and his wife @psantomasso both narrate the audiobook and they do a phenomenal job here! You can tell these two work great together! I highly recommend the audiobook.
A married couple goes on a hiking trip and they run into another couple that looks extremely familiar. But then it gets really bizarre. This is one of those books that I can’t really tell you much, especially if you have not read the first book.
Weird and creepy and I high recommend the audiobooks! You don’t have to read the first book to enjoy it, both recommend both.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
@seanpatrickhopkins and his wife @psantomasso both narrate the audiobook and they do a phenomenal job here! You can tell these two work great together! I highly recommend the audiobook.
A married couple goes on a hiking trip and they run into another couple that looks extremely familiar. But then it gets really bizarre. This is one of those books that I can’t really tell you much, especially if you have not read the first book.
Weird and creepy and I high recommend the audiobooks! You don’t have to read the first book to enjoy it, both recommend both.
4 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
May 25, 2026
Oh. My. God!!! I just read this in one day and I am shooketh!! I thought the Extra was good, but holy s**t, this one blew that one away! Annie Neugebauer is quickly becoming a new favorite author of mine. This is the story of Elise and Logan who are having marital difficulties and are on a hiking trip to discuss what’s next for them. They run into another couple and some really weird stuff starts happening. The dread, the creep, the frustration I felt reading this!! It was driving me insane, and I loved it so damn much I just couldn’t put this book down! I don’t know how she does it, but Annie has a way of making everything seem off even before the crazy things start. The things this couple discovers about each other after being put into this situation is brilliant. And then that ending!!! I was NOT prepared for that, totally insane twist and I cannot wait for The Spare next year! Thank you so much to Alan and Shortwave books for the digital arc of this incredible book. Releases on June 9, preorder this now!!
June 5, 2026
Whoa. This is a complete mind-f*ck. Like, that was unsettling and uncomfortable.
What if you and your partner met your doppelgangers? How would you know the real love of your life? How would you find the truth?
I enjoyed the first installment in the Outsider Sequence series. The thought of fakes, clones, and doppelgangers really brings a different level of fear. I hope the author writes about the origin of these doubles. What is their plan? What is their purpose?
Overall, this is a creepy read. I keep telling people not to venture or hike in unfamiliar places. You either bump into a serial killer, cannibals, or body snatchers. Lol.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.
What if you and your partner met your doppelgangers? How would you know the real love of your life? How would you find the truth?
I enjoyed the first installment in the Outsider Sequence series. The thought of fakes, clones, and doppelgangers really brings a different level of fear. I hope the author writes about the origin of these doubles. What is their plan? What is their purpose?
Overall, this is a creepy read. I keep telling people not to venture or hike in unfamiliar places. You either bump into a serial killer, cannibals, or body snatchers. Lol.
Thanks to Netgalley for the advance copy.
April 8, 2026
The Other further cements Neugebauer's gift for turning the familiar into something quietly and relentlessly terrifying. What begins as a couple's outdoor camping trip quickly curdles into a psychological mind fuck maze when they encounter their exact doubles along a hiking trail. This is an uncanny premise that the novella exploits with precision and escalating dread. Neugebauer helms the premise of ambiguity, thus blurring the boundaries between self and other, between trust and suspicion. The horror here is not loud. It is insidious. Small details become magnified, conversations take on double meanings and every interaction is now a test of intimacy and how well you know someone you love. What happens when that utter certainty is fractured? The tension builds in a way that becomes suffocating as the characters and the reader are forced to question what's real. As a follow-up to The Extra, this installment of The Outsiders Sequence feels that much more deliberate, sharpening its themes of identity and perception. Neugebauer doesn't just unsettle, she lets the unease seep in and take hold. The result is a cerebral, deeply disquieting novella that leaves you wondering just how stable your own sense of reality really is. Thank you as always to Shortwave Publishing for the gifted ARC. The Other drops June 09, 2026! Do yourself a favor and head over to Shortwaves website and preorder it, and order The Extra as well. This series is not to be missed.
April 16, 2026
First off, huge thank you to @netgalley and @shortwavebooks for the ARC!
Back in February, I read Annie Neugebauer’s novella The Extra. It was a super fun and quick read that left you wondering and questioning everything that was going on. I LOVED it! So when I found out there was a second book and that this was a SERIES!? I requested it immediately!
Just like the last book, The Other was a short read that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was an absolute mindfuck and i could feel MYSELF start to spiral 🤣 and that ending?! WHAT THE HELLY!!! WHAT IS HAPPENING. I’m sorry but I’m going to need 5-7 business days to map out every little detail so I can wrap my head around everything 😵💫
Back in February, I read Annie Neugebauer’s novella The Extra. It was a super fun and quick read that left you wondering and questioning everything that was going on. I LOVED it! So when I found out there was a second book and that this was a SERIES!? I requested it immediately!
Just like the last book, The Other was a short read that kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time. It was an absolute mindfuck and i could feel MYSELF start to spiral 🤣 and that ending?! WHAT THE HELLY!!! WHAT IS HAPPENING. I’m sorry but I’m going to need 5-7 business days to map out every little detail so I can wrap my head around everything 😵💫
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This is mindfuck, part two, and I mean that as the highest compliment. Neugebauer has such a distinct way of telling a story, one that leans fully into ambiguity and disorientation without ever losing its grip on the reader. You’re never quite sure what’s real, what’s happening, or where things are going, and somehow, that uncertainty is exactly what makes it so addictive.
I love how unapologetically strange this is. The confusion isn’t a flaw; it’s the experience. That constant sense of unease and unraveling kept me completely locked in from start to finish. More than anything, I’m excited to see this universe expanding. There’s something really compelling about the way Neugebauer builds these layered, interconnected stories, and I’m more than ready for whatever comes next. Yes, please, give me more of this beautifully chaotic, brain bending world.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Annie Neugebauer, and Shortwave Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
I love how unapologetically strange this is. The confusion isn’t a flaw; it’s the experience. That constant sense of unease and unraveling kept me completely locked in from start to finish. More than anything, I’m excited to see this universe expanding. There’s something really compelling about the way Neugebauer builds these layered, interconnected stories, and I’m more than ready for whatever comes next. Yes, please, give me more of this beautifully chaotic, brain bending world.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Annie Neugebauer, and Shortwave Publishing for the ARC. All opinions are my own.
June 18, 2026
Podobało mi się bardziej niż poprzednia, ta atmosfera i leśny klimat (jak w pierwszej)
Nie potrafię sobie wyobrazić co bym czuła na miejscu głównych bohaterów gdybym znalazła się w ich sytuacji a tym bardziej co gdyby ta druga osoba nie wybrała mnie choć miałam trochę inne pomysły na rozstrzygnięcie kto jest prawdziwy.
*Spoilerowo*
Chciałabym jednak jakiejś odpowiedzi, kim są klony, skąd pochodzą i jaki jest ich cel.
Na miejscu dwójki głównych bohaterów też chyba wolałabym ich zabić czy coś z obawy czy po mnie nie wrócą i nie wymienią.
Zawiedziona jestem niestety końcówką kiedy to od tak zostają im wyprane mózgi :/
Nie potrafię sobie wyobrazić co bym czuła na miejscu głównych bohaterów gdybym znalazła się w ich sytuacji a tym bardziej co gdyby ta druga osoba nie wybrała mnie choć miałam trochę inne pomysły na rozstrzygnięcie kto jest prawdziwy.
*Spoilerowo*
Chciałabym jednak jakiejś odpowiedzi, kim są klony, skąd pochodzą i jaki jest ich cel.
Na miejscu dwójki głównych bohaterów też chyba wolałabym ich zabić czy coś z obawy czy po mnie nie wrócą i nie wymienią.
Zawiedziona jestem niestety końcówką kiedy to od tak zostają im wyprane mózgi :/
June 10, 2026
This was so eerie in the most intriguing way. You're on a camping trip with your spouse, each dealing with your own inner yet joint turmoil, and stumble upon a nice couple you share a campsite with. All hunky dory. Until it's not. I had no idea this was part of a series, but it was great as a standalone.
April 9, 2026
Thank you to Shortwave and NetGalley for the eARC for review!
I loved Annie Neugebauer’s debut novella, THE EXTRA, last year and it was one of the surprise major hits for me last year. A novella paced with so much paranoia and dread. Loved it.
And now we are here with the second book in the sequence, THE OTHER. Taking place in the same world as THE EXTRA, it is not a sequel, but shares the same sense of paranoia and dread as its predecessor.
But then turn that paranoia up to 11 because this one hurt my brain in the best way. The premise is pretty simple - a married couple going through some bumps encounters their doppelgängers on a backpacking trip.
It is brilliantly told via alternating first person POVs from the wife and the husband as they both try to figure out who is their real spouse.
Neugebauer packs so much character and tension into such a small page count and this book MOVES. I would have finished this in one sitting if not for pesky work.
I really loved THE EXTRA but I think I loved THE OTHER even more. And also the ending was so good.
THE OTHER is a must-read psychological horror thriller that will have questioning what is real and what is the other.
THE OTHER is out on June 9th from Shortwave.
I loved Annie Neugebauer’s debut novella, THE EXTRA, last year and it was one of the surprise major hits for me last year. A novella paced with so much paranoia and dread. Loved it.
And now we are here with the second book in the sequence, THE OTHER. Taking place in the same world as THE EXTRA, it is not a sequel, but shares the same sense of paranoia and dread as its predecessor.
But then turn that paranoia up to 11 because this one hurt my brain in the best way. The premise is pretty simple - a married couple going through some bumps encounters their doppelgängers on a backpacking trip.
It is brilliantly told via alternating first person POVs from the wife and the husband as they both try to figure out who is their real spouse.
Neugebauer packs so much character and tension into such a small page count and this book MOVES. I would have finished this in one sitting if not for pesky work.
I really loved THE EXTRA but I think I loved THE OTHER even more. And also the ending was so good.
THE OTHER is a must-read psychological horror thriller that will have questioning what is real and what is the other.
THE OTHER is out on June 9th from Shortwave.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book FUCKED ME UP. But like… in a good way.
June 17, 2026
This one really messed with my head. It's deeply disorienting, but I loved it! It's a psychological horror novella, and both the writing and audiobook narration are both fantastic!
A tense, fast-paced story, this is told in the dual POV of married couple Logan and Elise, who are on a remote backpacking trip to work through their issues. They end up fighting for their survival, and frankly, their sanity, when they encounter another couple who morph into their supernatural doppelgangers, complete with perfect mimicry and memories. Soon, Elise and Logan are tested on how well they know one another to try to sort out who is who, and it's impossible to know who to trust. I thought the author did a great job using paranoia and dread to alter perspectives.
Elise and Logan are realistic characters who find themselves in a nightmare situation. Their deeply rooted marital anxieties partially fuel the book's psychological horror, and even though they are out in a mountainous area of Oklahoma, it's claustrophobic because there's nowhere for them to hide and no quick escape. It's unsettling but addictive, with an ending that twisted my thoughts up in ways that lingered long after I finished. I cannot wait to read more by this author!
Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins narrate the audiobook, bringing the story vividly to life. They tap into every nuance of the shifting emotions, including the fear, confusion, and self-doubt, in such a way that I felt the rising panic too. This is the kind of horror I like, with no gore, but my heart pounding and my thoughts racing. I could not stop listening. Both narrators do an incredible job, making this super entertaining!
A tense, fast-paced story, this is told in the dual POV of married couple Logan and Elise, who are on a remote backpacking trip to work through their issues. They end up fighting for their survival, and frankly, their sanity, when they encounter another couple who morph into their supernatural doppelgangers, complete with perfect mimicry and memories. Soon, Elise and Logan are tested on how well they know one another to try to sort out who is who, and it's impossible to know who to trust. I thought the author did a great job using paranoia and dread to alter perspectives.
Elise and Logan are realistic characters who find themselves in a nightmare situation. Their deeply rooted marital anxieties partially fuel the book's psychological horror, and even though they are out in a mountainous area of Oklahoma, it's claustrophobic because there's nowhere for them to hide and no quick escape. It's unsettling but addictive, with an ending that twisted my thoughts up in ways that lingered long after I finished. I cannot wait to read more by this author!
Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins narrate the audiobook, bringing the story vividly to life. They tap into every nuance of the shifting emotions, including the fear, confusion, and self-doubt, in such a way that I felt the rising panic too. This is the kind of horror I like, with no gore, but my heart pounding and my thoughts racing. I could not stop listening. Both narrators do an incredible job, making this super entertaining!
June 5, 2026
Ooooh this was a great novella! Thanks to both Netgalley and Shortwave Publishing for the early ARC of this novella to read and review!
Continuing in the same universe as The Extra, this novella was a completely different iteration of the Doppleganger mystery introduced previously, and I think this one was done extremely well! The author was able to convey so many different emotions (love, anger, distrust, comfort, surprise, unease) so eloquently in such a short amount of time. I loved getting the dual narrator's perspective of the couple fighting through their emotions and uncovering the truth at their own pace.
I loved (as some may not) how the author has yet to help the reader uncover why these events are going on. Why these strangers? How did they get her? What's their goal? It really adds to the suspense/mystery for me and helps to up the stakes.
The overall story progressed at a great but fast pace, while also doing a great job of relating to the reader descriptions of the environment and the goings on that more than adequately painted a picture of what was going on.
The ending, though, was wonderful! I am greatly looking forward to the 3rd installment in this series!
Continuing in the same universe as The Extra, this novella was a completely different iteration of the Doppleganger mystery introduced previously, and I think this one was done extremely well! The author was able to convey so many different emotions (love, anger, distrust, comfort, surprise, unease) so eloquently in such a short amount of time. I loved getting the dual narrator's perspective of the couple fighting through their emotions and uncovering the truth at their own pace.
I loved (as some may not) how the author has yet to help the reader uncover why these events are going on. Why these strangers? How did they get her? What's their goal? It really adds to the suspense/mystery for me and helps to up the stakes.
The overall story progressed at a great but fast pace, while also doing a great job of relating to the reader descriptions of the environment and the goings on that more than adequately painted a picture of what was going on.
The ending, though, was wonderful! I am greatly looking forward to the 3rd installment in this series!
June 15, 2026
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the woods 😈
May 12, 2026
This book MESSED with my mind in the best possible way. You know that Spider-Man meme of all the Spidermen pointing at each other? That was my brain with this book.
The Other follows a couple trying to work on their marriage with a hiking/camping trip. While finding a camp site to settle in for the night, they come across another couple that has very similar traits and appearances to them. When they wake up in the morning, everything changes.
Read this if you want your mind confused in a good way. It’s short and quick paced. Easy to read in one sitting! Definitely not one to miss!
Special thanks to @shortwavebooks for the arc! Pick this one up on June 9th!
The Other follows a couple trying to work on their marriage with a hiking/camping trip. While finding a camp site to settle in for the night, they come across another couple that has very similar traits and appearances to them. When they wake up in the morning, everything changes.
Read this if you want your mind confused in a good way. It’s short and quick paced. Easy to read in one sitting! Definitely not one to miss!
Special thanks to @shortwavebooks for the arc! Pick this one up on June 9th!
June 13, 2026
BLURB:
Elise and Logan’s camping trip to decide the future of their relationship takes a disturbing turn when they encounter Allison and Bryce, a mysterious couple who morph into their doppelgangers, causing reality and trust to unravel.
REVIEW:
I loved The Extra, so I knew I needed to read this second novella in the “Outsiders Sequence” interconnected speculative horror series. This time around, the story revolves around doppelgänger horror and reality distortion, and it’s just as unpredictable and unsettling. The audiobook is the way to go with this one (or pair it with a physical copy if you can), as it’s a duet narration, with powerhouse duo Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins delivering excellent performances that elevate the slow-building horror. And in this one, we have two unreliable protagonists in a strained relationship, which is the perfect entry point for everything that goes wrong on what would be a simple camping trip.
The story is told in dual POV, shifting between Elise and Logan. They’re both unreliable narrators, and there’s a lot of spiraling paranoia and psychological dread in their inner dialogue that will keep you questioning what you’re reading and simultaneously creeped out. They’re on a trip as a final attempt to fix their relationship, but their plans are derailed once Allison and Bryce literally appear out of nowhere. There’s a big contrast in how they react to the doppelgängers—Elise is observant and aware of inconsistencies, while Logan is accepting and dismissive, almost to the point where I wanted to shake some sense into him! Once the stakes suddenly escalate, the tension remains consistently high until the very end. Expect some risky decisions, survival tactics, and quick thinking from both Logan and Elise as they try to determine who’s real and whether they’re bringing the wrong version of each other back home with them—all very mind-boggling! Having been a couple for 15 years, they have to rely on the most intimate details as they interrogate the potential imposters, and even then there’s a layer of uncertainty.
The short chapters and atmospheric dread throughout make this an addictive read that you can easily finish in a single sitting. Once the major conflict begins—figuring out who’s who and what to do about the doppelgangers—you'll feel the unsettling horror and be second-guessing Elise's and Logan’s decisions and perceptions. And just when it feels like everything may be resolved, there’s a mind-blowing twist involving memory distortion that turns everything upside down. Like the first novella in the series, I was left with far more questions than answers and wondering, “What the heck did I just read?!?” in the best possible way! If you haven’t heard of this series and it sounds like your vibe, definitely binge both novellas back to back—they’re the perfect small dose of horror that you’ll be recommending to others afterwards!
Elise and Logan’s camping trip to decide the future of their relationship takes a disturbing turn when they encounter Allison and Bryce, a mysterious couple who morph into their doppelgangers, causing reality and trust to unravel.
REVIEW:
I loved The Extra, so I knew I needed to read this second novella in the “Outsiders Sequence” interconnected speculative horror series. This time around, the story revolves around doppelgänger horror and reality distortion, and it’s just as unpredictable and unsettling. The audiobook is the way to go with this one (or pair it with a physical copy if you can), as it’s a duet narration, with powerhouse duo Patricia Santomasso and Sean Patrick Hopkins delivering excellent performances that elevate the slow-building horror. And in this one, we have two unreliable protagonists in a strained relationship, which is the perfect entry point for everything that goes wrong on what would be a simple camping trip.
The story is told in dual POV, shifting between Elise and Logan. They’re both unreliable narrators, and there’s a lot of spiraling paranoia and psychological dread in their inner dialogue that will keep you questioning what you’re reading and simultaneously creeped out. They’re on a trip as a final attempt to fix their relationship, but their plans are derailed once Allison and Bryce literally appear out of nowhere. There’s a big contrast in how they react to the doppelgängers—Elise is observant and aware of inconsistencies, while Logan is accepting and dismissive, almost to the point where I wanted to shake some sense into him! Once the stakes suddenly escalate, the tension remains consistently high until the very end. Expect some risky decisions, survival tactics, and quick thinking from both Logan and Elise as they try to determine who’s real and whether they’re bringing the wrong version of each other back home with them—all very mind-boggling! Having been a couple for 15 years, they have to rely on the most intimate details as they interrogate the potential imposters, and even then there’s a layer of uncertainty.
The short chapters and atmospheric dread throughout make this an addictive read that you can easily finish in a single sitting. Once the major conflict begins—figuring out who’s who and what to do about the doppelgangers—you'll feel the unsettling horror and be second-guessing Elise's and Logan’s decisions and perceptions. And just when it feels like everything may be resolved, there’s a mind-blowing twist involving memory distortion that turns everything upside down. Like the first novella in the series, I was left with far more questions than answers and wondering, “What the heck did I just read?!?” in the best possible way! If you haven’t heard of this series and it sounds like your vibe, definitely binge both novellas back to back—they’re the perfect small dose of horror that you’ll be recommending to others afterwards!
June 14, 2026
⭐️ 4.25 Stars… but I might come back and change it to 5 stars because I’m sure I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
I actually loved this one even more than the first novella in the series and now I'm desperate for book #3. Unfortunately we have to wait until March 2027.
While this is technically a series The Other and The Extra can absolutely be read as standalones. The stories, characters and plots aren't connected, but they share a common thread that makes them the perfect companions to one another.
Elise and Logan are on the brink of divorce. Before deciding whether to end their 15 year marriage, they take one final hiking trip together in hopes of figuring out if there's anything left to save. But before they can have that conversation, they encounter another group of hikers. At first they seem completely normal. Then little by little things begin to change until the hikers start becoming their doppelgängers.
Just like The Extra this story leaves you questioning every decision, every interaction and every character. Even after the final page I wasn't entirely sure what the right choice was or if there even was one. I still have so many questions, yet somehow it also feels like all the answers were there.
That's what makes this novella series so unique. It's eerie, unsettling, psychologically manipulative in the best way and the kind of mind bending story that lingers long after you've finished reading.
I actually loved this one even more than the first novella in the series and now I'm desperate for book #3. Unfortunately we have to wait until March 2027.
While this is technically a series The Other and The Extra can absolutely be read as standalones. The stories, characters and plots aren't connected, but they share a common thread that makes them the perfect companions to one another.
Elise and Logan are on the brink of divorce. Before deciding whether to end their 15 year marriage, they take one final hiking trip together in hopes of figuring out if there's anything left to save. But before they can have that conversation, they encounter another group of hikers. At first they seem completely normal. Then little by little things begin to change until the hikers start becoming their doppelgängers.
Just like The Extra this story leaves you questioning every decision, every interaction and every character. Even after the final page I wasn't entirely sure what the right choice was or if there even was one. I still have so many questions, yet somehow it also feels like all the answers were there.
That's what makes this novella series so unique. It's eerie, unsettling, psychologically manipulative in the best way and the kind of mind bending story that lingers long after you've finished reading.
April 6, 2026
A huge thank you to Shortwave for sending me an ARC to review.
A couple looking to save their troubled marriage heads out on a backpacking trip only to meet a strange other couple that looks just like them. The motivations of this other couple aren’t clear, but Estelle and Logan must dredge their deep knowledge of each other to determine who’s who.
I had a BLAST with this novella. It’s so quick and so wild - I literally couldn’t stop reading and finished it in one sitting. The entire time, I kept asking myself what I would do in that same situation: how would I be able to differentiate my husband if his doppelganger were trying to convince me he was an imposter? Something so implausible was made to feel truly possible, and I found the premise terrifying.
There was also an element of the supernatural, or something beyond the couple’s world that was informing the situation, and that gave some insight without completely taking over the plot.
Overall, this novella is fast-paced (you could knock it out in an evening) and will leave you just as delightfully confused as the couple themselves. Highly recommend!!
A couple looking to save their troubled marriage heads out on a backpacking trip only to meet a strange other couple that looks just like them. The motivations of this other couple aren’t clear, but Estelle and Logan must dredge their deep knowledge of each other to determine who’s who.
I had a BLAST with this novella. It’s so quick and so wild - I literally couldn’t stop reading and finished it in one sitting. The entire time, I kept asking myself what I would do in that same situation: how would I be able to differentiate my husband if his doppelganger were trying to convince me he was an imposter? Something so implausible was made to feel truly possible, and I found the premise terrifying.
There was also an element of the supernatural, or something beyond the couple’s world that was informing the situation, and that gave some insight without completely taking over the plot.
Overall, this novella is fast-paced (you could knock it out in an evening) and will leave you just as delightfully confused as the couple themselves. Highly recommend!!
April 24, 2026
This is another mindf**k from Annie Neugebauer and the second book in her The Outsiders Sequence. This is a standalone novel though there are some things that are consistent with The Extra and act as threads connecting the books to each other. A couple goes on a camping trip and meet another couple that looks exactly like them. The original couple must recognize each other to escape this trap. The ending is something you never saw coming. If you are looking for a short read that will blow your mind and give you the creeps, this book is for you. Recommend.
June 11, 2026
3.5/5stars
Unfortunately I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first, but it was still pretty decent. I think just overall the premise wasn't as good and didn't entirely make sense which the characters were kind of self-aware about which was interesting, but the ending was great I really really loved it
Highly recommend the first book in the series and I am definitely very excited for the third and final one next year!!
Unfortunately I didn't like this one nearly as much as the first, but it was still pretty decent. I think just overall the premise wasn't as good and didn't entirely make sense which the characters were kind of self-aware about which was interesting, but the ending was great I really really loved it
Highly recommend the first book in the series and I am definitely very excited for the third and final one next year!!
June 11, 2026
Another good read in this series.
As a couple goes hiking in the woods they come across some weird symbols. Shortly after they encounter another couple who oddly has the same toques as they do. Elise slowly starts noticing similarities between her and the other woman. Things just get weirder from there. Who is who?
Love how these books kind of have an alien feel to them.
As a couple goes hiking in the woods they come across some weird symbols. Shortly after they encounter another couple who oddly has the same toques as they do. Elise slowly starts noticing similarities between her and the other woman. Things just get weirder from there. Who is who?
Love how these books kind of have an alien feel to them.
June 15, 2026
I think I liked The Other just as much as The Extra. I had the same reading experience of not wanting to put the book down, desperate to see what happened. Really effective use of dual perspectives so that the reader knows more than the characters and we see both of them filled with paranoia and trying to figure things out. The ending actually left me flabbergasted in disbelief.
May 14, 2026
This novella, the second in The Outsiders Sequence, was exactly the read I needed between hefty novels. Quick, witty, psychological/cosmic horror yumminess that sticks and moves at a great pace. I fell in love with the premise of book one (THE EXTRA) but found THE OTHER the superior of the two. This second installment presents higher stakes, more intimate characters (a sweet married couple who are on the verge of a life altering decision), and an ending that leaves the reader yelling at their book, “Don’t do it! Nothing’s what it seems!”. Read it for fun, a reliable palate cleanser.
Thanks to Shortwave Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Thanks to Shortwave Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 254 reviews