This is what Avery Jones tells herself as the man she has finally allowed into her heart walks away from her on the cobblestone streets outside of Pike Place Market.
She has spent her life proving she doesn't need anyone. Armed with fiery red hair, a razor-sharp wit, and relentless ambition, she's quickly becoming a force in the corporate world. But when Nicholas Porter, a Clark Kent lookalike with undeniable charm, comes to work at her marketing agency, her carefully curated life flips on its axis.
Nicholas has a dimpled smile that is simply too good to be true. But with enough of a nudge from her slightly problematic, shopaholic best friend and coworker, Lacy, Avery decides to raise her white flag. She surrenders to Nicholas's relentless pursuit, diving in headfirst.
But after a month of bliss, things take a dark turn.
Monday morning arrives, and Nicholas comes to work, but something has changed. He has no interest in Avery—as if they never happened in the first place.
But they did, didn't they?
Torn between protecting her heart and needing answers, Avery leans on the encouragement of her father, the unwavering support of her best friend, and her own instincts about the man she was just beginning to fall for. As she searches for the truth behind Nicholas's sudden change, she uncovers something that may cost her far more than a broken heart.
This book would be perfect for fans of Freida McFadden!
At only 230 pages, it was a perfect quick read for me to indulge in between heavier genres. The plot moved fast and kept you intrigued of wanting to find out what was happening and where our characters would go. The writing style was easy to follow but still complex enough to add some uniqueness to it and I consider that a well done for a new author in my opinion! While some things were predictable, as a reader, I was so worried about the “WHO?”, I forgot about the “WHY?” 😳 !!!
Only thing I would say is the storyline or dialogue felt rushed or lacked substance in a few parts but not enough to really keep you from enjoying the overall read.
I’d recommend this book and I’ll totally read more of Carly’s books as she writes them! ✨❤️
Wow! This was such a ride! One minute I thought I was reading a romance and then when the turn happens you are already gripped and like wait….. thriller!! This was so good and such a fast paced easy read! Nicolas Porter is the sexy intern that started working under Avery at a marketing firm. Instant connection that must Avery wants to be kept secret in the office. While there romance starts off super sweet, one day it’s like a light switch is hit and Nicolas starts acting strange and distant. Go on this wild ride while Avery tries to get down to the bottom of what Nicolas is hiding and why he is acting the way he is. Such a fun roller coaster and a book you can easily devour in one sitting!
I loved this book. Honestly- this book was one of those books that I couldn’t put down! I love a good romance mystery.
“I prefer the company of my own home, the familiarity of my warm fireplace, and the escape of a good book.” ME CODED. & maybe that’s why I ate this book up so much bc the FMC was such a boss yet an introvert.
“But eventually, you have to realize you can either let it beat you or you can beat it.” THISSSSS RIGHT HERE IS A BAR!! & can I add how much I loved her dad and Kate, they sound like they were made for each other. He is such a girl dad & you can tell by reading this.
Carly did such a good job at creating a story that feels emotionally engaging while still keeping the mystery and tension moving at a really good pace. (In the beginning I was like WOAH— Nicholas is kinda overly clingy and cheesy but he did a 180 & sold me) The book really makes you think about how much of our lives are shaped by our choices and how sometimes the version of ourselves we think we want isn’t necessarily the version we actually need.
The characters were another huge highlight for me. I became invested in what they were experiencing, and I appreciated that they felt like actual people rather than simply existing to move the plot forward. Their emotions, relationships, mistakes, and decisions made the story feel personal, and there were definitely moments where I found myself thinking about what I would do if I were in their position.
& THE TWIST! The twist she through in there was one that I noted in my head before I had all my information and when I started to see it unraveling I was like “YUPPP I knew it!” But it was better than I expected it to be too! It wasn’t too obvious!
Carly Wilson created a story that made me think about who we are, who we could have been, and whether the life we imagine for ourselves is always the life that would actually make us happy.
If you enjoy books that make you question the choices that shape our lives while giving you an engaging story and characters to become invested in, definitely add The Version of You to your TBR right now!
Thank you to the Carly Wilson & the publisher for the opportunity to read an ARC.
This book was a short and easy story, but exceeded the development of a plot and a detailed narrative. This story had so many descriptive scenes and a plot that was a mix of romance and thriller!
In this book we meet Avery who is a hardworking, ambitious, and driven woman who has had a rough relationship with her mother who suffers from alcoholism. Her father was a workaholic to make ends meet. With Avery’s lonesome in childhood it caused her to be a very independent and strong woman.
Lacy is Avery’s best friend was my favorite character. Lacy is a spunky, girly, confident woman. Lacy and Avery work together and have been best friends for years.
Nicholas is this charming, attractive, and nerdy guy who loves Star-Wars. Nicholas is a new intern at the Juniper & Slate office, Avery is his new boss.
With Nicholas and Avery working close together , feelings start to develop between the two of them. Their banter between each other was like no other!
There is a huge twist that takes place that had me on the edge of my seat!! I really hope there is a second book to this series! I can’t wait to find out what happens and to see where Nicholas and Avery end up!
Thank you Carly Wilson for letting me read the ARC version! I can’t wait to see your future with writing, this was amazing!! 🥰
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
now let’s start off, I really enjoyed this book. I’ve never read a romance / thriller / mystery vibe. Honestly didn’t even know that was a thing. I actually LOVED that it was set like NOW? It felt like I made a new friend and I asked her about her life and she was just filling me in on some crazy shit over coffee 🤪
I had lots of theories and when I look back at them I had bits & pieces of them right just not the full story. I still did not see the big twist/reveal coming because I never thought of the “why”. Also a few things were brought up and never acknowledged again ? Like why the lights went out? But I mean could’ve just been a fluke & meant literally nothing. I’ve had the power go out at my house and not my neighbors sooo maybe she just got unlucky idk.
This did feel a bit rushed but nothing wrong with short & sweet in my opinion. We got all the necessary info and the ending was a good set up for if she decided to write another book or just leave you on your toes forever.
Her writing is seriously so incredible! When she asked me to Arc read A Version of You I was so excited to read more of her work!
This one was much different than her very first book and I truly could never decide which one I like more!
A Version of You is about our FMC Avery Jones! A strong independent woman who has never in her life “needed” a man!
That is until Nicholas Porter the new hire at her marketing agency walks in. Nicholas is just as equally infatuated if not more than Avery!
After some time of getting to know one another dating Nicholas is like heaven! Or so she thinks … untill the unexpected occurs…
Seriously so drawn in to this entire story!! Definitely mark your calendars because A Version of You releases September 8th and you are gonna want to read this one!
(Also go check out her socials to get a peek of the cover that her amazing mother created 😍) much love Carly<3
I received an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) of A Version of You by Carly Wilson.
The story follows Avery, who begins dating a new intern at work named Nicholas. At first, everything seems to be going well, but before long his behavior becomes confusing and he suddenly cuts off all contact with her. Feeling like something doesn’t add up, Avery starts searching for answers. The deeper she digs, the more unexpected secrets she uncovers.
Overall, I enjoyed the book. It was engaging and kept me wanting to read just one more chapter so I could get to the ending. There were a few inconsistencies in the story that pulled me out of it at times, but I’m hoping those will be fixed before the official release.
If you enjoy thrillers with plenty of twists, this one is worth adding to your reading list.
This was my first ever ARC (advanced reader copy) of a book!!!! I really enjoyed the character development and found myself connecting with the emotions throughout the book. Carly Wilson did a wonderful job creating moments that felt authentic and relatable, making it easy to become immersed in the story. While there were a few places where I wanted the pacing to move a little quicker, I still found myself eager to keep reading and see how everything unfolded with the suspenseful twist! The themes and emotional depth were what truly made this book shine for me.
This book has a really cool concept! I think it’s a unique blend of romance and thriller that I have never really seen before, which was fun. It was easy to fly through.
That being said, there were a few parts that fell flat for me.
Firstly, I wanted to get more of Avery’s personality, back story and character traits in the beginning/middle of the story. She felt pretty flat and when she did share about her past, it was info dumpy.
Secondly, I wanted to see some more bread crumbs leading readers to the twist. It is shocking and effective as a twist, but truly comes out of nowhere. Nothing feels off or slightly weird. The one thing that did feel creepy to me was when Avery experienced a strange power outage. I was like “ooo is there some sort of spooky element that’s about to happen?” But the power outage is never addressed. It doesn’t have any relation to the killer or the killers motive. I wanted it to have relevance.
Thirdly, looping in Avery’s Dad didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me. The killer’s revenge seemed rushed and missing a lot of details. Plus, Avery’s relationship with her Dad wasn’t super developed in my opinion so it didn’t really up the stakes that much.
Finally,the relationship and romance felt entirely too rushed for me. They barely knew each other and somehow were so in love by the end of the book.
I think the book has strong potential and I would really like to see Carly grow as a writer. I hope I get the chance to read more of her work. I am extremely grateful to have received an early copy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Wow where do I start. I had the pleasure of reading the ARC copy of this book and let’s just say I was pleased. I liked the way the book mixed romance and mystery so well. The pacing was a little slow at the beginning but then picked up and kept me the rest of the book. I’m definitely stuck on the ending of the book trying to figure out where he was ifykyk. This books will definitely be recommended to others!
The storyline overall was good — I love the mix of thriller & romance. However, I think there’s too much going on for such a short book. It was hard to actually believe the relationship between Avery & Nick because the majority of the book spans over just a month. I think the repeat of Avery’s mom and her troubles was more than enough. I really liked the twist, I think it just came too early in the plot. Overall, this book has a ton of potential and I did enjoy it!
I received A Version of You by Carly Wilson as an ARC copy!
This book was so fast paced! I really enjoyed it. Avery and Lacy are best friends who work at an office together then along comes Nicholas… new guy from Ohio who’s the new intern in the office. Nicholas is interested in Avery but she doesn’t want to give him the time of day… until she does!
I didn’t expect the twists 🙈
This was a great palette cleanser and the cover art looks awesome ☺️💙
I received an ARC copy of A Version of You & it is my first time reading an ARC copy of a book. This was also the first Thriller I have ever read & let me tell you, it was phenomenal!!! I absolutely love the way Carly writes & how I truly felt like I was in the story. I didn’t see the plot twists coming at all & the ending was a 10/10!!! I cannot wait for everyone to read this book!
Thank you so much for an ARC for A Version of You! This book was a fast paced suspense novel. The character development was very thorough and I loved the elements of the Midwest/Michigan, as the author is from MI. Ultimately, I found the plot twist a little bit anti-climactic, as I’m not a fan of the “evil twin“ trope.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Thank you to the author for an ARC of this book! I really liked the romance and the elements of suspense in the book. I wish we had more time getting to know Avery and Nicholas. I felt like this book was a little bit rushed, another hundred pages so we could really get some more backstory would’ve been fantastic. I would definitely read more by this author!
I got an ARC of this book from the author and I devoured it in two days!! I didn’t expect the twists and could not put it down. I loved it sooo much. What a fun quick read!!
This book was a slow burn at the beginning, then the twist came. Kind of reminded me of a “Lifetime” movie. Liked the cliff hanger at the end. Fast read.
3.5 ⭐️ Wow!! I enjoyed this a lot!! The ending was surprising to me and I really enjoyed the general premise!!
I will say that though this book is a fast-paced suspense novel, the beginning felt a bit dragged, and it felt as though there was too much description sometimes. Some characters also didn’t have the connection I would have liked, and would like to see more of.
However—I think this book is supposed to be a standalone but I am petitioning for a second one because I would definitely read it 🤓
i read the ARC version and I am obsessed!! i finished in two days and would highly reccomend for a fast paced easy read, but very interesting. love the plot and the twists!!
I was immediately hooked by the beginning. I loved reading about Avery and her personality compared to her friend Lacy and her personality, as well as Avery’s background with her family, and how that leads her into a tentative friendship/ relationship with Nicholas.
A Version of You shows that not all friendships are perfect. Avery and Lacy’s friendship was good for the most part, but there are some things that Avery finds frustrating with Lacy, and that is so relatable.
As of tentatively getting to know a handsome man who started working at a marketing agency and is now working under our FMC, I’d be the opposite of how Avery is. So it’s interesting to see other girls’ perspectives — and how it might be harder for people to give into immediate reactions to attractive people because of past experience with parent’s failed relationships.
I devoured this book in a whole day and I was obsessed with it. Normally I’m a romance girly — this book does have some romance in it, but it’s not the whole plot — but I seriously loved it!
Congrats and thank you to Carly! Second book being published soon — that’s awesome! And thank you for trusting me with the ARC copy of your book!
This was my first Arc and my first time reading Carly’s work! And let me say I was not disappointed!
This book was very fast paced with just over 200 pages and incorporates both romance and some mystery/thriller, which are my two favorite book genres to read so this was perfect for me. I loved the girl boss energy and as a Michigan girly I loved all the fun Michigan details, I never really see Michigan portrayed in books. The first half of the book builds out some fun romance between the FMC and the new intern and all of a sudden there’s a huge shift and you’re left wondering, what is going on with Nicholas?! I caught on to the twist just a little bit, but not entirely which is exactly how I like my thrillers! The ending was definitely a surprise! I could definitely see a sequel in the future.
Some people may say they wish there were more details or a longer story, but sometimes you need a quick easy fun read and that’s exactly what this is!
So grateful to have had the opportunity to read this before it’s officially out and I look forward to Carly’s future work!
I really enjoyed A Version Of You! I received an ARC of the book and was not disappointed!!
Avery, the FMC, was super relatable and loved getting to view the story from her POV! Avery is an independent, strong, intelligent businesswoman, in her late twenties who doesn’t really seem up to dating, until Nicholas comes along and uproots her plans! Nicholas is a sweet, blunt man who says exactly what he’s thinking and goes after what he wants. He’s kind, honest and charismatic! Total catch and love the type of MMC he is!!
Overall I’m super pleased with how the story was written, and the ending was definitely intense! I’m a huge fan of romance suspense so this was right up my alley! This was a low spice romance which is a great palette cleanser and was such an easy read! I’m hoping for a sequel, and would love to get to see Lacy as a FMC!! ;)
Thank you to Carly for trusting me as one of her ARC readers!! 🩷
I received this as an ARC and let me tell you this book had me from the beginning. I could not put it down wanting to know more and all I will tell you is if you don’t want to one more chapter yourself into not sleeping then start this early in the day say you can finish it in one setting. I’m telling you I enjoyed it that much. It was giving Romcom Thriller. I was so intrigued that I’m kinda mad now that I read it so fast because I need more. Like I need a second book like yesterday!
If you are looking for a good book that is less than 250 pages that is going to give you everything you need and some go ahead and pick this up. It’s giving old school Sunday Lifetime movies but with a modern twist. I ate this book up. 10/10 recommend. Yes I will be purchasing the physical when it is available.
Will edit post later once it is publicly released in physical formats too! Because I have so many thoughts but not giving any spoilers
Thank you to the author for the ARC 💗 This low spice thriller was a great pallette cleanser for me as someone who almost exclusively reads super spicy contemporary or dark romance! I really enjoyed the suspense and also emotional aspects to this read. It was a quick, easy read that will have you gripped from the start 👌 I loved the friendship between Avery and Lacy which showed that even the closest of friends can go through bumps in the road. Also, that ending 🤯 Carly what are you doing to us! Brief blurb - Avery and new intern Nicholas get close during what starts off to be a delicious workplace romance. But after a month or so, things are not what they seem and Nicholas changes dramatically ghosting Avery in the process. She senses something is wrong though and sets off on her own detective mission to find out the truth.
This book completely surprised me in the best way! The romance was beautifully written, and I found myself so invested in the characters and their journey. Just when I thought I knew where the story was headed, there was a twist that I never saw coming, and it made the book even better.
One of my favorite parts was the character development. I also absolutely loved the friend group. They brought so much heart, humor, and support to the story, and they were just as enjoyable to read as the main characters.
The ending was incredibly satisfying because it wasn’t rushed. The author took the time to wrap everything up in a way that felt natural and earned, which I really appreciated.
If you enjoy romance with meaningful character growth, an unexpected twist, lovable side characters, and a well-paced ending, I definitely recommend picking this one up!
*ARC Review* A Version of You was a quick, easy read that was simple to follow and kept the focus where it mattered most: the romance. I appreciated that the story didn’t get bogged down with unnecessary details about the main character’s work life, allowing more room for the relationship and character dynamics to develop.
Although the characters are in their late twenties, the writing style felt more geared toward a YA audience to me. That wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, but it did make the characters and overall tone feel a little younger than their ages suggested.
Overall, this was an enjoyable, straightforward romance and a promising debut. I’ll definitely be interested to see how Carly Wilson’s writing develops and grows as she continues to write and publish more books. I think there’s a lot of potential here, and I’m curious to see what comes next!
CARLY!!!! GIRL!!!! I don’t know what you put in this book, but OH MY GOSH, I read this in under 24 hours because I was OBSESSED!!!!
Nicholas reminded me so much of my boyfriend. I was smiling, laughing, giggling as I read about his Star Wars addiction and the conversations he would have with Avery. By the time I hit 30%, I was hooked.
The way this book was written was truly like no other. The zingers, one liners, conversations about family and friendships, the stars and constellations. It was so beautifully written.
I cannot thank you enough, Carly Wilson, for allowing me to be an ARC on this book. I don’t think five stars is enough. I will think about this book constantly. I truly love everything about it!