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Добро момиче, лошо момиче
Майката на Ани е серийна убийца. 15-годишното момиче е било подложено на тормоз почти през целия си живот. Сега, за първи път, то е свободно. Кошмарите обаче продължават да преследват Ани. Ще стане ли тя като майка си? Може ли да се освободи от нея, може ли да се пребори с гените, с дълбоката травма, със спомените и с мисълта за телата на убитите деца, които сякаш все още се крият в мазето. След като Ани предава майка си на правосъдието и заживява в семейството на своя психолог, тя е изправена пред трудната задача да избере каква ще бъде през остатъка от живота си – добро момиче или лошо момиче. Тормозът, на който е подложена от съученичките си в новото училище, обаче изобще не ѝ помага. Не ѝ помагат и мрачните тайни, които не смее да сподели с никого.
„Добро момиче, лошо момиче” е дебютният роман на британската писателка Али Ланд. В нея тя изследва теми като психопатията, домашното насилие, агресията при тийнейджърите, както и нефункционалното съвременно семейство. Преведена на повече от 20 езика, тази книга е едно невероятно пътуване в дебрите на човешкото съзнание.
„Оригинален и завладяващ… Сензационен дебют.”
- Клеър Макинтош
„Новият „Момичето от влака”, който пък беше новият „Не казвай сбогом”. Този психотрилър ще бъде нещо голямо. ”
- „Космополитън”
„Добро момиче, лошо момиче” е дебютният роман на британската писателка Али Ланд. В нея тя изследва теми като психопатията, домашното насилие, агресията при тийнейджърите, както и нефункционалното съвременно семейство. Преведена на повече от 20 езика, тази книга е едно невероятно пътуване в дебрите на човешкото съзнание.
„Оригинален и завладяващ… Сензационен дебют.”
- Клеър Макинтош
„Новият „Момичето от влака”, който пък беше новият „Не казвай сбогом”. Този психотрилър ще бъде нещо голямо. ”
- „Космополитън”
304 pages, Paperback
First published January 12, 2017
1440 people are currently reading
39566 people want to read
About the author
Ali Land
5 books941 followersAfter graduating from university with a degree in Mental Health, Ali Land spent a decade working as a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Nurse in both hospitals and schools in the UK and Australia. Ali is now a full-time writer and lives in West London.
Follow Ali on Twitter @byAliLand
Follow Ali on Twitter @byAliLand
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 4,867 reviews
February 7, 2017
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
Extraordinary. Controversial. Explosive.
Those were the words that I first heard used to describe this debut novel by Ali Land. Many were saying that this book was going to be one of the more controversial novels released in 2017.
I knew I just had to read it. I wanted to know if what they said was true.
It was!
First of all I LOVED the cover of this book. Gold and black with gold raised lettering....Gorgeous!
I was pulled in from the first sentence:
"Forgive me when I tell you it was me"
The book opens as Annie is talking to a detective who can't believe what he's hearing. When she pulls out the stained dungarees so small, the teddy Bear covered with blotches of blood. She tells us that she could have brought more, her mother never knew she kept them. The detective makes a call telling someone to come quickly, his supervisor. He's unsure if she's telling the truth. She repeats her story again and again.
She tells them everything.....
Well almost everything.
They send her home and tell her to act normal, that they're going to come that night. She's terrified they won't come but also terrified that they will...
They do come.
Her mother says nothing as she's dragged from her room. She faces Annie, staring. When no one's looking Annie nods at her mother.
New name. New family.
Shiny.
New.
Me.
After her mother was arrested, Annie (now known as Milly) didn't speak for three days. It appeared she was in shock. But now, she is getting a fresh start. She thinks that she should feel lucky but she's scared. Scared of finding out who she might be and scared of everyone else finding out too.
Her new foster family. Her foster dad, Mike is a psychologist, an expert in trauma. Saskia, her foster-mother just wants to make her feel at home. The Newmonts look like a fantastic family and are they very welcoming.....
Well most of them are. Right away Milly realizes that the daughter, Phoebe does NOT want Milly around.
****Possibly some minor spoilers****
Soon there will be a trial and Milly will have to speak of the horrible things her mother has done. She counts the days until the trial begins. Mike will be working with her both to help her and to help her get ready for testifying.
Milly has ongoing conversations with her mother inside her head which gives us insight into the toxic environment Annie/Milly grew up in. Her mother "training" her since an early age.
"Beautiful, pure things make me feel ugly. Tarnished. I remember asking you when I was three, maybe four, where I came from. I waited for you to sweep me up, rub our noses together in an Eskimo kiss and reply, you came for me, you belong with me, I love you. But you didn't respond, you walked out of the kitchen left me standing there alone"
It's not long before Milly starts noticing other things about The Newmonts. She begins to see the cracks in the "perfect" family. School becomes another kind of hell for Milly. Mostly due to Phoebe and a few other mean girls. The one saving grace is Miss Kemp. Miss Kemp is a guidance teacher who's very kind and helps Milly get into therapy. Outside of school Milly has one friend, Morgan. Morgan also has secrets. Life is definitely not easy for her either. Thankfully nobody knows Milly's story. They only know the story that is made up. But Milly is terrified that someone will find out and then what? What will they think? What will they do?
The terrorizing at school starts to get worse. But Milly won't tell anyone. I was a bit frustrated with how everyone in Milly's life seemed oblivious to what was happening.
With everything going on, It feels like it's just a matter of time before Milly explodes.
What will happen when Milly has finally had enough?
Wow....This really was quite a book. A chilling read. In my opinion a really well-written psychological thriller. An engrossing, disturbing plot with many well-developed yet flawed characters. There were times that I thought the believability envelope was being pushed a bit far, but I was totally wrapped up in the story and able to overlook most of it.
Honestly, I understand this book may not be for everyone. Some things may be triggering for some people. The subject matter is dark and went a bit deeper than I expected. At the same time I didn't feel like the author overdid it with descriptions of what happened and I appreciated that.
This is a book that will definitely have people talking!
I think this is a very good debut novel and I am already looking forward to reading more from Ali Land.
Thank you, Michael Joseph Ltd and Ali Land for providing an advanced copy of this book for me to read in exchange for my honest review.
November 13, 2017
Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land is a 2017 Penguin Books publication.
Disturbing- Completely shocking!
It takes a lot to well and truly wreak havoc with my psyche, to really give me a case of the shivers, and leave me feeling unsettled.
This book took me down that path, and I won’t forget it anytime soon.
The story is told through the eyes of fifteen- year old Milly, who has just turned her own mother, a serial killer, over to the authorities.
Summarily, Milly is placed in foster care, in what appears to be an ideal household, with her foster father, Mike, doubling as her therapist.
Yet, the household is far from stable. Mike and his wife have a teenage daughter of their own, named Phoebe, who, unaware of Milly's past, is jealous of the time her father spends with Milly. Phoebe decides to punish Milly by making her already difficult life, absolutely miserable.
As Milly awaits her mother’s trial, where she is set to testify in person, despite her age, she sits through therapy sessions with Mike, befriends another girl, a fellow outcast named Morgan, and endured horrific bullying from Phoebe and her minions, all the while struggling with the side of her that favors her mother’s tendencies.
‘But the hearts of small children are delicate organs. A cruel beginning in this world can twist them into curious shapes.’
Carson McCullers (1917-1967)
The question then arises- Will good win the battle over Milly’s dark proclivities or will she eventually give herself over them?
Right way, I knew this journey was headed down a dark, twisted path. I read with increasing trepidation, as Milly’s harrowing story unfolds. Milly’s mother, a female serial killer, whose voice is always running in Milly’s mind, planting seeds of doubt, is absolutely chilling.
The secondary characters are well written, each contributing to Milly’s increasing anxiety, tempting her, misunderstanding her complexities and vastly underestimating the extent of her damaged character.
As promised, this is a very controversial novel, one that really set my teeth on edge, and made my stomach churn with apprehension, really making me squirm.
As a debut novelist, the author went with ‘write what you know’ as she is a mental health professional, herself. Her expertise was put to good use, and was without a doubt a monumental advantage in portraying the psychology behind Milly’s unbearable angst.
Overall, I think this novel is one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. It might not be for everyone, but upon much reflection, I think the story is more troubling that it appears on the surface, which is weighty enough, but it also opens up a plethora of questions and endless ‘what if’ scenarios, that kept my brain buzzing deep into the night.
Allegory and symbolisms abound with frequent, sly, and carefully orchestrated references to ‘Lord of the Flies’ and ‘Peter Pan’, which I will leave for you to draw your own conclusions.
This is an outstanding debut novel. I highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, especially. This one will mess with your mind and conscience, all at once, and I promise, despite all the comparisons to the ‘girl’ books, this one is unlike anything you’ve encountered, blowing all the coattail riders in this category right out of the water.
The only thing left to say is – Read this book!
Disturbing- Completely shocking!
It takes a lot to well and truly wreak havoc with my psyche, to really give me a case of the shivers, and leave me feeling unsettled.
This book took me down that path, and I won’t forget it anytime soon.
The story is told through the eyes of fifteen- year old Milly, who has just turned her own mother, a serial killer, over to the authorities.
Summarily, Milly is placed in foster care, in what appears to be an ideal household, with her foster father, Mike, doubling as her therapist.
Yet, the household is far from stable. Mike and his wife have a teenage daughter of their own, named Phoebe, who, unaware of Milly's past, is jealous of the time her father spends with Milly. Phoebe decides to punish Milly by making her already difficult life, absolutely miserable.
As Milly awaits her mother’s trial, where she is set to testify in person, despite her age, she sits through therapy sessions with Mike, befriends another girl, a fellow outcast named Morgan, and endured horrific bullying from Phoebe and her minions, all the while struggling with the side of her that favors her mother’s tendencies.
‘But the hearts of small children are delicate organs. A cruel beginning in this world can twist them into curious shapes.’
Carson McCullers (1917-1967)
The question then arises- Will good win the battle over Milly’s dark proclivities or will she eventually give herself over them?
Right way, I knew this journey was headed down a dark, twisted path. I read with increasing trepidation, as Milly’s harrowing story unfolds. Milly’s mother, a female serial killer, whose voice is always running in Milly’s mind, planting seeds of doubt, is absolutely chilling.
The secondary characters are well written, each contributing to Milly’s increasing anxiety, tempting her, misunderstanding her complexities and vastly underestimating the extent of her damaged character.
As promised, this is a very controversial novel, one that really set my teeth on edge, and made my stomach churn with apprehension, really making me squirm.
As a debut novelist, the author went with ‘write what you know’ as she is a mental health professional, herself. Her expertise was put to good use, and was without a doubt a monumental advantage in portraying the psychology behind Milly’s unbearable angst.
Overall, I think this novel is one of the best psychological thrillers I’ve read this year. It might not be for everyone, but upon much reflection, I think the story is more troubling that it appears on the surface, which is weighty enough, but it also opens up a plethora of questions and endless ‘what if’ scenarios, that kept my brain buzzing deep into the night.
Allegory and symbolisms abound with frequent, sly, and carefully orchestrated references to ‘Lord of the Flies’ and ‘Peter Pan’, which I will leave for you to draw your own conclusions.
This is an outstanding debut novel. I highly recommend it to fans of psychological thrillers, especially. This one will mess with your mind and conscience, all at once, and I promise, despite all the comparisons to the ‘girl’ books, this one is unlike anything you’ve encountered, blowing all the coattail riders in this category right out of the water.
The only thing left to say is – Read this book!
October 1, 2017
An intensely creepy novel about a young teenage girl Milly, who was unfortunate enough to grow up with a sadistic mother. Now in foster care, she is doing her best to fit in and enjoy what family life is supposed to be like....normal. If indeed there truly is such a thing.
Told from Milly’s POV the dialogue is mainly in her head. Short, one-two word sentences. At times it’s difficult to follow and more than a little distracting.
I am going to be in the minority on this one. This book just didn’t work for me. I wish I could pin-point why, but I find myself struggling with specifics. A majority of the book felt like a drawn-out episode of mean girls. The bullying was almost too much. Was it the child abuse, the dysfunctional families...? Well it’s not like I don’t read these themes in books...because I consistently do. There was just something about this book I found unsettling.
The ending was predictable and somewhat disappointing.
I know most everyone loved this book, I just wasn’t one of them.
A wonderful traveling sister reading experience (as always) with Brenda, Norma and Lindsay!
For our full traveling sister review please visit Norma and Brenda's fantastic book blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
Told from Milly’s POV the dialogue is mainly in her head. Short, one-two word sentences. At times it’s difficult to follow and more than a little distracting.
I am going to be in the minority on this one. This book just didn’t work for me. I wish I could pin-point why, but I find myself struggling with specifics. A majority of the book felt like a drawn-out episode of mean girls. The bullying was almost too much. Was it the child abuse, the dysfunctional families...? Well it’s not like I don’t read these themes in books...because I consistently do. There was just something about this book I found unsettling.
The ending was predictable and somewhat disappointing.
I know most everyone loved this book, I just wasn’t one of them.
A wonderful traveling sister reading experience (as always) with Brenda, Norma and Lindsay!
For our full traveling sister review please visit Norma and Brenda's fantastic book blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereadi...
May 7, 2018
*Thank you to Netgalley & Penguin UK Michael Joseph for my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review*
Annie's mother is a serial killer - that in itself is shocking enough, but what multiplies the horror of these murders is that the victims were all young children.
Annie too, has suffered terribly at the hands of her mother, but at the age of fifteen, she decides to inform the police of her mother's crimes. The fact is, she was unable to help any of the children, and the last murder was just too much for Annie to bear, because she was very close to the victim.
Annie is sent to live with a foster family and her name is changed to Milly. If Milly thinks her life will change for the better then she hasn't bargained for Phoebe, the teenage daughter of the family, who hates Milly on sight.
As her mother's trial gets ever nearer, Milly is given preparation for the questioning that she will face in court. Sleep continues to evade her as her mother invades her dreams turning them into nightmares, and even during waking hours she senses her presence all around her.
The author gets right into the psyche of this psychologically damaged girl, and the dialogue would suddenly change from fairly normal matters to Milly airing thoughts that would stop you in your tracks and chill to the bone. Milly knows she has 'good and bad' inside her, but she'd rather be good unless someone feeds the wolf within!
There were times when I felt I couldn't read any further - I was anxious about any intimate details of the murders being revealed. Thankfully, the author spared us the majority of what happened to these children. As you can imagine though, the subject matter makes for a harrowing read. That said, it was an excellent story, really well written, and the characters were unforgettable. Would definitely recommend.
Annie's mother is a serial killer - that in itself is shocking enough, but what multiplies the horror of these murders is that the victims were all young children.
Annie too, has suffered terribly at the hands of her mother, but at the age of fifteen, she decides to inform the police of her mother's crimes. The fact is, she was unable to help any of the children, and the last murder was just too much for Annie to bear, because she was very close to the victim.
Annie is sent to live with a foster family and her name is changed to Milly. If Milly thinks her life will change for the better then she hasn't bargained for Phoebe, the teenage daughter of the family, who hates Milly on sight.
As her mother's trial gets ever nearer, Milly is given preparation for the questioning that she will face in court. Sleep continues to evade her as her mother invades her dreams turning them into nightmares, and even during waking hours she senses her presence all around her.
The author gets right into the psyche of this psychologically damaged girl, and the dialogue would suddenly change from fairly normal matters to Milly airing thoughts that would stop you in your tracks and chill to the bone. Milly knows she has 'good and bad' inside her, but she'd rather be good unless someone feeds the wolf within!
There were times when I felt I couldn't read any further - I was anxious about any intimate details of the murders being revealed. Thankfully, the author spared us the majority of what happened to these children. As you can imagine though, the subject matter makes for a harrowing read. That said, it was an excellent story, really well written, and the characters were unforgettable. Would definitely recommend.
December 30, 2016
This is a chilling debut novel that does not flinch in the picture it paints of the traumatic consequences of a monstrous childhood for fifteen year old Millie. Millie used to be the abused daughter, Annie, of a serial killer mother whose victims were children. We never meet the mother although her presence is writ large throughout. It was Annie that reported her to the police after she felt her mother had gone too far and needed to be stopped. Annie becomes Millie, and is fostered into the care of Mike, a trained therapist and his wife, Saskia. Millie wants that new start in her life but is it really possible for this to materialise?
Phoebe is the fifteen year old daughter of Mike and Saskia. She is resentful of Millie and takes against her in a major way. At the same school as Phoebe, Millie's life is made difficult and she is bullied. It soon becomes apparent that the foster family is dysfunctional in its own way and Mike may not be as altruistic as first thought. On top of everything, a psychologically damaged Millie is under pressure as she is being prepared for the court case. The case is getting intense media coverage where her mother is referred to as 'The Peter Pan Killer'. Millie is having nightmares and sleepless nights. She has feelings of guilt as to her role in her mother's actions. She invites sympathy and compassion but then terrifies the hell out of you. It is not so easy to leave her old life behind. The burdens of her past and trying to keep it all secret is a lot to ask anyone to handle. Most adults would struggle to cope with the particulars of Millie's life. She wants to be good, but is it a feasible possibility?
This is a tough read to be in the head space of Millie and all that she is going through with such intensity. We are given an in depth, and complex character that feels truly authentic. Millie is a compelling character that keeps the reader gripped. There is tension and suspense in the story. A highly recommended read for those who like disturbing and unsettling psychological thrillers. Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
Phoebe is the fifteen year old daughter of Mike and Saskia. She is resentful of Millie and takes against her in a major way. At the same school as Phoebe, Millie's life is made difficult and she is bullied. It soon becomes apparent that the foster family is dysfunctional in its own way and Mike may not be as altruistic as first thought. On top of everything, a psychologically damaged Millie is under pressure as she is being prepared for the court case. The case is getting intense media coverage where her mother is referred to as 'The Peter Pan Killer'. Millie is having nightmares and sleepless nights. She has feelings of guilt as to her role in her mother's actions. She invites sympathy and compassion but then terrifies the hell out of you. It is not so easy to leave her old life behind. The burdens of her past and trying to keep it all secret is a lot to ask anyone to handle. Most adults would struggle to cope with the particulars of Millie's life. She wants to be good, but is it a feasible possibility?
This is a tough read to be in the head space of Millie and all that she is going through with such intensity. We are given an in depth, and complex character that feels truly authentic. Millie is a compelling character that keeps the reader gripped. There is tension and suspense in the story. A highly recommended read for those who like disturbing and unsettling psychological thrillers. Thanks to Penguin Michael Joseph for an ARC.
August 23, 2017
Good Me, Bad Me is one f*cked up character study of the daughter of a serial killer.
15 year old Annie, daughter of the notorious “Peter Pan” serial killer is struggling with the darkness inside her. For the majority of her childhood, she witnessed her mother kidnap and murder children. Annie was forced to participate in her mother’s sick and twisted games. She also was subjected to years of physical, mental, and sexual abuse.
When finally turns her mother into the police, Annie is given the opportunity to start over and create a new identity. She is taken in by a foster family and assumes the identity of “Milly.” Milly strives to be good, but she constantly hears her mother’s voice urging her to do bad things. Milly can’t let go of her mother and she is acutely aware that her mother was grooming her to be just like herself. What choice will she make? Will she revert back to Annie or embrace Milly?
Told through Milly’s voice, little snippets of her relationship with her mother are revealed throughout. These parts are the hardest to read--at times, I had to put the book down and just walk away as the dark, brutal images got under my skin.
Good Me, Bad Me is not for everyone. There isn’t much action, as the majority of the book the reader is in Milly’s head learning about what she is thinking and feeling vs.what she did with her mom and what her mom did to her. Since I tend to like books with twisted and disturbing characters and stories, this one worked for me!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
15 year old Annie, daughter of the notorious “Peter Pan” serial killer is struggling with the darkness inside her. For the majority of her childhood, she witnessed her mother kidnap and murder children. Annie was forced to participate in her mother’s sick and twisted games. She also was subjected to years of physical, mental, and sexual abuse.
When finally turns her mother into the police, Annie is given the opportunity to start over and create a new identity. She is taken in by a foster family and assumes the identity of “Milly.” Milly strives to be good, but she constantly hears her mother’s voice urging her to do bad things. Milly can’t let go of her mother and she is acutely aware that her mother was grooming her to be just like herself. What choice will she make? Will she revert back to Annie or embrace Milly?
Told through Milly’s voice, little snippets of her relationship with her mother are revealed throughout. These parts are the hardest to read--at times, I had to put the book down and just walk away as the dark, brutal images got under my skin.
Good Me, Bad Me is not for everyone. There isn’t much action, as the majority of the book the reader is in Milly’s head learning about what she is thinking and feeling vs.what she did with her mom and what her mom did to her. Since I tend to like books with twisted and disturbing characters and stories, this one worked for me!
I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
December 12, 2017
3.5 Stars.* (rounded up)
Creepy to the Max.
Milly is not just your ordinary foster girl. She wants to be of course, but it’s just not possible you see - her mother is a killer. And not just any killer, she is the Peter Pan Serial Killer. And Milly turned her in. Now Milly is going to have to testify against her own mother in order to put her away for good.
All Milly wanted was to fit in somewhere but soon she realizes that foster care isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. The idyllic hopes she had for the “perfect” family are anything but. Her new foster sister Phoebe despises her and calls her “dog face” and is intent on making Milly’s life miserable. Milly’s foster dad Mike is also a psychologist and he’s been helping her cope with her ordeal. Yet Milly feels extremely guilty and is frightened. Frightened of letting anyone know her thoughts or know what actually happened during her time with her mother.
“Good Me Bad Me” was a creepy and captivating character study of Milly, in addition to being a psychological thriller. Though it was obvious to me how it would end - almost from the start, I found the novel entertaining and was glued to it from the beginning. The character of Milly was fascinating and I couldn’t help but be completely riveted by her. This is a novel that I enjoyed but can’t quite say that I loved. Perhaps because I found it somewhat predictable, perhaps because it just missing a little something, I’m not quite sure. On the whole, I think “Good Me Bad Me” is an impressive debut by Ali Land and I look forward to seeing what comes out with next.
Published on Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter and Instagram on 12.12.17.
Creepy to the Max.
Milly is not just your ordinary foster girl. She wants to be of course, but it’s just not possible you see - her mother is a killer. And not just any killer, she is the Peter Pan Serial Killer. And Milly turned her in. Now Milly is going to have to testify against her own mother in order to put her away for good.
All Milly wanted was to fit in somewhere but soon she realizes that foster care isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. The idyllic hopes she had for the “perfect” family are anything but. Her new foster sister Phoebe despises her and calls her “dog face” and is intent on making Milly’s life miserable. Milly’s foster dad Mike is also a psychologist and he’s been helping her cope with her ordeal. Yet Milly feels extremely guilty and is frightened. Frightened of letting anyone know her thoughts or know what actually happened during her time with her mother.
“Good Me Bad Me” was a creepy and captivating character study of Milly, in addition to being a psychological thriller. Though it was obvious to me how it would end - almost from the start, I found the novel entertaining and was glued to it from the beginning. The character of Milly was fascinating and I couldn’t help but be completely riveted by her. This is a novel that I enjoyed but can’t quite say that I loved. Perhaps because I found it somewhat predictable, perhaps because it just missing a little something, I’m not quite sure. On the whole, I think “Good Me Bad Me” is an impressive debut by Ali Land and I look forward to seeing what comes out with next.
Published on Goodreads, Amazon, Twitter and Instagram on 12.12.17.
March 11, 2025
This book is soooooo upsetting and dark.
A teenage girl turns her mother in for the murder of 9 toddlers, aged 3-6. The story follows our MC as she navigates life in a foster home, deals with intense bullying, struggles to cope with her trauma, and prepares for her mother’s trial.
Yeah, this was a lot. It’s not a fast paced thriller or anything like that, more of a character study into the mind of a deeply traumatized girl. It’s not like so graphic and in your face, but honestly it was more disturbing just imagining some of the things that happened or filling in the blanks.
"The brain of a psychopath is different from most.
I've weighed up my chances. Eighty percent genetics, twenty percent environment. Me. One hundred percent fucked."
“I believed in god back then. Instead, I got you.”
A teenage girl turns her mother in for the murder of 9 toddlers, aged 3-6. The story follows our MC as she navigates life in a foster home, deals with intense bullying, struggles to cope with her trauma, and prepares for her mother’s trial.
Yeah, this was a lot. It’s not a fast paced thriller or anything like that, more of a character study into the mind of a deeply traumatized girl. It’s not like so graphic and in your face, but honestly it was more disturbing just imagining some of the things that happened or filling in the blanks.
"The brain of a psychopath is different from most.
I've weighed up my chances. Eighty percent genetics, twenty percent environment. Me. One hundred percent fucked."
“I believed in god back then. Instead, I got you.”
January 25, 2025
5 Spectacular Stars for the audiobook version! The narrator, Imogen Church was absolutely brilliant! The story itself - 4 stars!
Traveling Sisters Read with Brenda, Norma, Lindsay & Kaceey
Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land is a disturbing, chilling, and a suspenseful psychological thriller novel with an intriguing and unsettling storyline that is a slightly different take on the life of a serial killer because she is a female.
Norma was listening to this one and while we were discussing this book it left the rest of us slightly confused with her take on it and we had to stop and ask Norma if she was listening to the same book as we were reading. That was quite the conversation as it had us all rolling on the floor laughing. Listening to this versus reading really seemed to give Norma a different experience than the rest of us who were reading it.
Ali Land delivers a twisted and uniquely written read here which brilliantly delves into our main character’s mind as we really got into Milly’s internal struggles that she had with the good me and bad me persona and the voice she hears of her mother in her head. We could really feel her struggling not to give in to the darker side as the voice of her mother in her head pushes her to that darker side. Asking ourselves the question, is she good or is she bad?
While Norma was listening to this story and was lost in the unstable mind of Milly and her thoughts the rest of us were overwhelmed with the constant bullying from the mean girls which left us feeling exhausted and really sad at how mean they really were. There is a lot going on within this story and many topics touched on here that for us overshadowed the creepiness and distracted us from the struggles going on in Milly’s mind. For the Twisted Sister Norma it was a very different experience as she really got into the minds of the characters as the narrator of the audiobook was absolutely brilliant and really showed how creepy and disturbing these characters really were.
Towards the end of the book Norma and Kaceey were feeling a sense of creepy dread leaving Kaceey feeling like she didn’t want to finish and Norma a sense of foreboding that didn’t sit well and was scared to finish. For Lindsay and Brenda they were unable to feel any creepiness or dread as they were so overwhelmed by the mean girls and everything this story touched on which was pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. All of this not helping with Kaceey’s unsettling sense of dread. Some of it felt out of place or just didn’t fit well into the story.
For our Twisted Sister, Norma this book definitely worked for her and she was satisfied with the ending but for the rest of us not so much. The ending left us underwhelmed and unsatisfied. We all still highly recommend this book and feel listening to this one would be the better choice as we did feel like we were missing out on an experience that Norma had that we didn’t.
Traveling Sisters Read with Brenda, Norma, Lindsay & Kaceey
Good Me, Bad Me by Ali Land is a disturbing, chilling, and a suspenseful psychological thriller novel with an intriguing and unsettling storyline that is a slightly different take on the life of a serial killer because she is a female.
Norma was listening to this one and while we were discussing this book it left the rest of us slightly confused with her take on it and we had to stop and ask Norma if she was listening to the same book as we were reading. That was quite the conversation as it had us all rolling on the floor laughing. Listening to this versus reading really seemed to give Norma a different experience than the rest of us who were reading it.
Ali Land delivers a twisted and uniquely written read here which brilliantly delves into our main character’s mind as we really got into Milly’s internal struggles that she had with the good me and bad me persona and the voice she hears of her mother in her head. We could really feel her struggling not to give in to the darker side as the voice of her mother in her head pushes her to that darker side. Asking ourselves the question, is she good or is she bad?
While Norma was listening to this story and was lost in the unstable mind of Milly and her thoughts the rest of us were overwhelmed with the constant bullying from the mean girls which left us feeling exhausted and really sad at how mean they really were. There is a lot going on within this story and many topics touched on here that for us overshadowed the creepiness and distracted us from the struggles going on in Milly’s mind. For the Twisted Sister Norma it was a very different experience as she really got into the minds of the characters as the narrator of the audiobook was absolutely brilliant and really showed how creepy and disturbing these characters really were.
Towards the end of the book Norma and Kaceey were feeling a sense of creepy dread leaving Kaceey feeling like she didn’t want to finish and Norma a sense of foreboding that didn’t sit well and was scared to finish. For Lindsay and Brenda they were unable to feel any creepiness or dread as they were so overwhelmed by the mean girls and everything this story touched on which was pretty much everything but the kitchen sink. All of this not helping with Kaceey’s unsettling sense of dread. Some of it felt out of place or just didn’t fit well into the story.
For our Twisted Sister, Norma this book definitely worked for her and she was satisfied with the ending but for the rest of us not so much. The ending left us underwhelmed and unsatisfied. We all still highly recommend this book and feel listening to this one would be the better choice as we did feel like we were missing out on an experience that Norma had that we didn’t.
May 17, 2021
This is predicted to be one of the big books of 2017 which it very well may be. I tend to take these predictions now and publicity hype with a pinch of salt as really it can't be predicted. I do think regardless it will be a popular book and a great one for book clubs due to the great discussion that could be generated!
This is the story of a young woman, her mother is a serial killer and as a child she was witness to things no child should ever be subjected to. She is a scarred woman, you don't come out of that unscathed. When her mother is put in prison she is taken in by a foster family who also have a teenage daughter the same age.
This is one of those plots where you find yourself second guessing yourself as you read and make predictions of where the book is going only to change your mind a few chapters later. It's very engaging, the writing is tight and the pace is gripping. If you love to get into the headspace of dark, damaged and complex characters you will really enjoy this book.
The story really ramps up in parts and the reveals and twists are quite exceptional. I was absolutely gob-smacked by the end of the book with where the author took it. I didn't see it coming. Speechless. I enjoyed the characters in the book very much and felt like I had found a good escapist novel where I was in the book, forget the real world whilst reading. With some great dark moments I enjoyed this very much.
This would make a fantastic movie and I bet it will be. It's just one of those books you can picture on the big screen. With some unexpected moments I really recommend Good Me, Bad Me to other readers who like this style of book and especially if you have a book club. 4.5 stars from me!
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
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This is the story of a young woman, her mother is a serial killer and as a child she was witness to things no child should ever be subjected to. She is a scarred woman, you don't come out of that unscathed. When her mother is put in prison she is taken in by a foster family who also have a teenage daughter the same age.
This is one of those plots where you find yourself second guessing yourself as you read and make predictions of where the book is going only to change your mind a few chapters later. It's very engaging, the writing is tight and the pace is gripping. If you love to get into the headspace of dark, damaged and complex characters you will really enjoy this book.
The story really ramps up in parts and the reveals and twists are quite exceptional. I was absolutely gob-smacked by the end of the book with where the author took it. I didn't see it coming. Speechless. I enjoyed the characters in the book very much and felt like I had found a good escapist novel where I was in the book, forget the real world whilst reading. With some great dark moments I enjoyed this very much.
This would make a fantastic movie and I bet it will be. It's just one of those books you can picture on the big screen. With some unexpected moments I really recommend Good Me, Bad Me to other readers who like this style of book and especially if you have a book club. 4.5 stars from me!
Thanks for reading my review! For more of my book reviews, plenty of awesome books to win, author interviews and features come over to join me for book fun at: https://www.facebook.com/BookloverCat...
To follow me on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/promotethatbook
To enquire about joining my reviewers team: http://goo.gl/forms/GWMOvlofZg
Finally to enquire about my book publicity services: http://goo.gl/forms/eVwa2HFKnK
October 3, 2017
3.5 stars.
This was a suspenseful, unsettling and creepy story revolving around the daughter of a serial killer. I was glad I had Norma, Brenda and Kaceey to read along with me as I was a little hesitant when starting this uncomfortable and alarming story.
This book ended up being very different than what I expected. The creepy and disturbing parts of this story are handled extremely well and are done in a way that didn't give too much detail (which I was very thankful for).
The way the story was told was a bit of a turn-off for me. The short and broken sentences provided the effect of being in the mind of Milly, the teenage daughter of a serial killer, yet this narration ended up becoming overkill and annoying after a while. I also have to mention that the "mean girl" scenarios throughout the novel were over-the-top. I don't enjoy reading about high school girl bullies and this book had a lot of that.
To find our full Traveling Sister Read review, please visit Brenda and Norma's fabulous blog at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
This was a suspenseful, unsettling and creepy story revolving around the daughter of a serial killer. I was glad I had Norma, Brenda and Kaceey to read along with me as I was a little hesitant when starting this uncomfortable and alarming story.
This book ended up being very different than what I expected. The creepy and disturbing parts of this story are handled extremely well and are done in a way that didn't give too much detail (which I was very thankful for).
The way the story was told was a bit of a turn-off for me. The short and broken sentences provided the effect of being in the mind of Milly, the teenage daughter of a serial killer, yet this narration ended up becoming overkill and annoying after a while. I also have to mention that the "mean girl" scenarios throughout the novel were over-the-top. I don't enjoy reading about high school girl bullies and this book had a lot of that.
To find our full Traveling Sister Read review, please visit Brenda and Norma's fabulous blog at:
https://twogirlslostinacouleereading....
August 25, 2017
4.5 disturbing stars!
What an impressive debut by Ali Land. So, I have to confess my first draw to this book was
NEW NAME. NEW FAMILY. SHINY. NEW. ME.
Of course this perked my interest because my social work/therapist side is peeking it's head out. I definitely thought I had this story played out BUT boy was I wrong. That will teach me ;)
Ok.. but seriously this book was epic.
The book opens with our main character Annie. She is the daughter of a famous serial killer whom happens to be her mother. Right away, we are taken into a glimpse of the physical, sexual and emotional abuse that Annie experienced as a child.
Amazingly, Annie turns her mother into the police. Of course Annie is taken into the foster care system and is now living under the new identify of "Milly" with her foster family.
Milly starts her new life with this family and wants to be "normal"....but she is struggling with a darkness inside of her that constantly brings her back to flashbacks of her life as Annie.
Milly/Annie can't let go of her mother and is struggling to move past her trauma. The dark and dysfunctional relationship of Annie and her mother unfolds throughout the novel giving us a better picture of what truly happened to Annie.
The question is WHO is the daughter of the famous Peter Pan killer? Does she follow in Peter Pan's footsteps or can she embrace her "normal" life of Milly?
This is a psychological thriller to cancel your Friday/Saturday night plans for. Curl up with popcorn and snuggle up with this bad boy.
I did call the ending BUT doesn't mean that I didn't LOVE this. Put this on your TBR! Such a fantastic and dark debut novel. I will be looking forward to more from Ali Land.
What an impressive debut by Ali Land. So, I have to confess my first draw to this book was
NEW NAME. NEW FAMILY. SHINY. NEW. ME.
Of course this perked my interest because my social work/therapist side is peeking it's head out. I definitely thought I had this story played out BUT boy was I wrong. That will teach me ;)
Ok.. but seriously this book was epic.
The book opens with our main character Annie. She is the daughter of a famous serial killer whom happens to be her mother. Right away, we are taken into a glimpse of the physical, sexual and emotional abuse that Annie experienced as a child.
Amazingly, Annie turns her mother into the police. Of course Annie is taken into the foster care system and is now living under the new identify of "Milly" with her foster family.
Milly starts her new life with this family and wants to be "normal"....but she is struggling with a darkness inside of her that constantly brings her back to flashbacks of her life as Annie.
Milly/Annie can't let go of her mother and is struggling to move past her trauma. The dark and dysfunctional relationship of Annie and her mother unfolds throughout the novel giving us a better picture of what truly happened to Annie.
The question is WHO is the daughter of the famous Peter Pan killer? Does she follow in Peter Pan's footsteps or can she embrace her "normal" life of Milly?
This is a psychological thriller to cancel your Friday/Saturday night plans for. Curl up with popcorn and snuggle up with this bad boy.
I did call the ending BUT doesn't mean that I didn't LOVE this. Put this on your TBR! Such a fantastic and dark debut novel. I will be looking forward to more from Ali Land.
October 11, 2017
3.5 From the beginning I felt a great deal of sympathy for Milly. This young teen, who had so much to forget, had already been through so much, witnessed something beyond terrible, who now just wanted to be normal, and in a home where people cared about her in a healthy way. A therapist household sounds ideal but there was more going on here, making this a less than healthy environment for a troubled young girl.
After a spate of so called psychological thrillers that I found mundane or the same as every other I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I liked this one. Definitely hooked me, turning the pages, one of the better ones out there Imho. Not that there werent things in it that irked me,but they were things that could happen and do every day in real life. Mistakes made by those professional enough to know better. People with ulterior motives, taking advantage of those they shouldn't. All in all this one hung together pretty well. Suspenseful, without all the blood and gore, just plain, solid, good writing to create the atmosphere.
The ending not unexpected, could see this coming from what came before, but this worked for me too.
Couldn't really see it ending any other way.
ARC from Netgalley.
After a spate of so called psychological thrillers that I found mundane or the same as every other I was pleasantly surprised to find how much I liked this one. Definitely hooked me, turning the pages, one of the better ones out there Imho. Not that there werent things in it that irked me,but they were things that could happen and do every day in real life. Mistakes made by those professional enough to know better. People with ulterior motives, taking advantage of those they shouldn't. All in all this one hung together pretty well. Suspenseful, without all the blood and gore, just plain, solid, good writing to create the atmosphere.
The ending not unexpected, could see this coming from what came before, but this worked for me too.
Couldn't really see it ending any other way.
ARC from Netgalley.
August 28, 2017
The very first sentence of the blurb reads: "Milly's mother is a serial killer." WHAAAT? That's not a phrase you read every day! I knew right then I wanted to read this debut novel by Ali Land. This book does not disappoint! Start reading on a Saturday afternoon and you might as well cancel any plans you had for going out, 'cause you ain't going' nowhere!
A psychological study, this book is more of a brain-teaser than a chilling cliff-hanger type story. And I'm okay with that. I love to climb inside a head and poke around. I'd much rather read a disturbed person's musings than read about any horrific killing scene they may have engaged in.
The story is told solely through Milly's eyes and consists mostly of internal thoughts over dialogue or action. Still, it reads at a fast clip, and the first-person narrative is so very effective here. You are never sure if Milly is a reliable narrator, especially because she straight up admits she struggles with being good and bad. And like most humans, she presents her good side to the world, so is she showing the reader only her good side?? Just when you think you've got Milly figured out, NOOOOO. You're wrong! I love it!!!!
As far as the ick factor of a female child molester/killer, there are a few disturbing flashback moments, but I stress MOMENTS, not full on chapters. The foundation of this story is built on Milly starting her shiny new life at the age of 15, having just turned in her mother for the atrocious crimes.
I was really on track to give GOOD ME BAD ME a five star rating on Goodreads. But, somewhere about 1/2 way through, it starts to feel a tiny bit draggy. Still worthy of 4.25 stars in my humble opinion!
I think the problem lies in the plot structure. There isn't a classic murder puzzle to solve and some of the situations felt implausible. For instance, I could never figure out how Milly's mom was able to continue killing without getting caught. For heaven's sake, the bodies are all in the basement (not a spoiler). Wasn't anyone investigating these missing children?
I'm also wary of what I call the "coincidence factor". Too many coincidences in the plot for my liking. For example, Milly's foster father is also her psychiatrist. He has a daughter the same age as Milly. The daughter just happens to be a mean girl, etc.
There is a major plot twist at the end of the book that you may see coming. Milly also frequently "talks" to her estranged mother and sometimes it was confusing to me as a reader. All minor issues, I still highly recommend the book.
Ali Land is a talented, skillful writer with a background in child mental health. She obviously knows of what she writes! She is a master creator of characters. Absolutely flawless in that department.
I usually prefer character driven novels over plot driven ones. OBSESSION, by Amanda Robson, is one of my favorite new character driven novels. But, after reading GOOD ME BAD ME, I realize I do like a bit more plot and action in a novel.
Ali Land's sentences are concise, no commas needed. (LIFE GOALZ). The pace of the writing is on point and completely effortless. A joy to read. I'm really looking forward to this young writer's future career! This will be a Fall must-read when it publishes on September 5, 2017.
Many thanks to the wonderful folks at Flatiron Books for sending me an advance copy. This review reflects my true opinion.
Read all of my twistalicious book, film and podcast reviews at www.booksbejeweled.com
A psychological study, this book is more of a brain-teaser than a chilling cliff-hanger type story. And I'm okay with that. I love to climb inside a head and poke around. I'd much rather read a disturbed person's musings than read about any horrific killing scene they may have engaged in.
The story is told solely through Milly's eyes and consists mostly of internal thoughts over dialogue or action. Still, it reads at a fast clip, and the first-person narrative is so very effective here. You are never sure if Milly is a reliable narrator, especially because she straight up admits she struggles with being good and bad. And like most humans, she presents her good side to the world, so is she showing the reader only her good side?? Just when you think you've got Milly figured out, NOOOOO. You're wrong! I love it!!!!
As far as the ick factor of a female child molester/killer, there are a few disturbing flashback moments, but I stress MOMENTS, not full on chapters. The foundation of this story is built on Milly starting her shiny new life at the age of 15, having just turned in her mother for the atrocious crimes.
I was really on track to give GOOD ME BAD ME a five star rating on Goodreads. But, somewhere about 1/2 way through, it starts to feel a tiny bit draggy. Still worthy of 4.25 stars in my humble opinion!
I think the problem lies in the plot structure. There isn't a classic murder puzzle to solve and some of the situations felt implausible. For instance, I could never figure out how Milly's mom was able to continue killing without getting caught. For heaven's sake, the bodies are all in the basement (not a spoiler). Wasn't anyone investigating these missing children?
I'm also wary of what I call the "coincidence factor". Too many coincidences in the plot for my liking. For example, Milly's foster father is also her psychiatrist. He has a daughter the same age as Milly. The daughter just happens to be a mean girl, etc.
There is a major plot twist at the end of the book that you may see coming. Milly also frequently "talks" to her estranged mother and sometimes it was confusing to me as a reader. All minor issues, I still highly recommend the book.
Ali Land is a talented, skillful writer with a background in child mental health. She obviously knows of what she writes! She is a master creator of characters. Absolutely flawless in that department.
I usually prefer character driven novels over plot driven ones. OBSESSION, by Amanda Robson, is one of my favorite new character driven novels. But, after reading GOOD ME BAD ME, I realize I do like a bit more plot and action in a novel.
Ali Land's sentences are concise, no commas needed. (LIFE GOALZ). The pace of the writing is on point and completely effortless. A joy to read. I'm really looking forward to this young writer's future career! This will be a Fall must-read when it publishes on September 5, 2017.
Many thanks to the wonderful folks at Flatiron Books for sending me an advance copy. This review reflects my true opinion.
Read all of my twistalicious book, film and podcast reviews at www.booksbejeweled.com
April 9, 2017
A Gripping psychological thriller, dark, shocking but utterly compelling.
New Name. New Family. Shiny New Me
Annie's mother is a Serial Killer, The only way Annie can make it strop is to hand her into the police.But out of sight is not out of mind. The secrets of her past wont let her sleep even with a new family and a new Name Milly
I was a little nervous starting this one as I was afraid that the author would be too graphic about the murders and I really didn't want to go down that road but thankfully the reader is spared any gruesome details and the book is an extremely clever and well written Psychological thriller. This is a genre I had basically given up on in 2016 and delighted to say this is the second really well thought out thriller that I have read this year.
I devoured this one and think I read it in two days as it was so compelling and I loved the psychological aspect of this novel. Great characters, dark and disturbing plot with great twists and turns to keep the reader interested.
I listened to this one on audio and also had a hard copy of it which I had forgotten that I ordered, the audio was excellent and works really well for this book in ways I can't explain without giving away important elements of the story.
I recommend this one for lovers of dark and twisted Psychological thrillers.
New Name. New Family. Shiny New Me
Annie's mother is a Serial Killer, The only way Annie can make it strop is to hand her into the police.But out of sight is not out of mind. The secrets of her past wont let her sleep even with a new family and a new Name Milly
I was a little nervous starting this one as I was afraid that the author would be too graphic about the murders and I really didn't want to go down that road but thankfully the reader is spared any gruesome details and the book is an extremely clever and well written Psychological thriller. This is a genre I had basically given up on in 2016 and delighted to say this is the second really well thought out thriller that I have read this year.
I devoured this one and think I read it in two days as it was so compelling and I loved the psychological aspect of this novel. Great characters, dark and disturbing plot with great twists and turns to keep the reader interested.
I listened to this one on audio and also had a hard copy of it which I had forgotten that I ordered, the audio was excellent and works really well for this book in ways I can't explain without giving away important elements of the story.
I recommend this one for lovers of dark and twisted Psychological thrillers.
October 2, 2017
Good Me, Bad Me is the debut novel by Ali Land which has found a following of admirers here on Goodreads. However, I am not one of them. Let me explain why.
I will say that Land is a good writer. The book was written clearly, the characters' personalities were well defined albeit stereotypical.
My concern with the book was multi-layered. First, I couldn't find anyone to like. I literally despised all of the characters in the book, including the so-called victim who wasn't just a victim but was also complicit. There was a psychologist/foster parent who should have had his license revoked. He was ignorant and useless as a man, father, husband and psychologist. His wife...there are no words. Really. Was she just an alcoholic or was she battered or merely useless? Who knows? She was so terrible a human that you wished she didn't exist. The victim's real mother was a monster who passed on these traits through her abuse and more and then there was the foster sister who was the stereotypical bully with bully friends. No redeeming qualities for any of them.
Which brings me to my second concern: because of my intense dislike for all involved, when the climatic deed happened I was actually glad as I'm sure many of you were or even will be! But wait! What does that say about us?? What type of humans are we that we read this crap and allow ourselves to become so hardened to travesty? And if it's just a story, only fiction, then how do we explain the lack of compassion that is growing everyday as more people read this crap and watch this?
Normally when I read crime, horror, police procedurals, etc., there are things to be learned, lessons to be gained, a morality within. This book had none of it. There was no Good Me. Everyone and everything was bad. Very bad. I do not recommend this book but you will find many others who do.
I will say that Land is a good writer. The book was written clearly, the characters' personalities were well defined albeit stereotypical.
My concern with the book was multi-layered. First, I couldn't find anyone to like. I literally despised all of the characters in the book, including the so-called victim who wasn't just a victim but was also complicit. There was a psychologist/foster parent who should have had his license revoked. He was ignorant and useless as a man, father, husband and psychologist. His wife...there are no words. Really. Was she just an alcoholic or was she battered or merely useless? Who knows? She was so terrible a human that you wished she didn't exist. The victim's real mother was a monster who passed on these traits through her abuse and more and then there was the foster sister who was the stereotypical bully with bully friends. No redeeming qualities for any of them.
Which brings me to my second concern: because of my intense dislike for all involved, when the climatic deed happened I was actually glad as I'm sure many of you were or even will be! But wait! What does that say about us?? What type of humans are we that we read this crap and allow ourselves to become so hardened to travesty? And if it's just a story, only fiction, then how do we explain the lack of compassion that is growing everyday as more people read this crap and watch this?
Normally when I read crime, horror, police procedurals, etc., there are things to be learned, lessons to be gained, a morality within. This book had none of it. There was no Good Me. Everyone and everything was bad. Very bad. I do not recommend this book but you will find many others who do.
October 6, 2017
Dark. Chilling. Atmospheric. WOW. This book.. it sunk its claws into me and didn't let go..not even when the book was over. I feel that this book will stay with me for a while and that I will have a book hangover from this. This is a book that generated a lot of hype and because of that I was a little hesitant going into it. I was hoping it would live up to all of its "pizzazz" if you will, and it did!
In the beginning we meet Milly, who used to be called Annie. We also find out that her mother was arrested for killing children, 9 children..and Annie was the one who put her away. As a result of this arrest, Milly (formerly known as Annie) moves in with a foster family to prepare for the upcoming trial and to attempt a new life without her Mom.
Milly's development throughout the book was very intriguing. It was as though she was at war with herself; struggling with her good side and her bad side. She feels strongly about not ending up like her Mom and we see this thought process throughout the book.
I think the first half of the book was a little slower than the second half, hence the 4 star review. However, the second half more than made up for the first half. I felt as if I was on a roller coaster of the best kind. Up, down, and around. You just never know what is going to happen. I really, really enjoyed this book and I am anxious to see what the author will write next.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publishers.
In the beginning we meet Milly, who used to be called Annie. We also find out that her mother was arrested for killing children, 9 children..and Annie was the one who put her away. As a result of this arrest, Milly (formerly known as Annie) moves in with a foster family to prepare for the upcoming trial and to attempt a new life without her Mom.
Milly's development throughout the book was very intriguing. It was as though she was at war with herself; struggling with her good side and her bad side. She feels strongly about not ending up like her Mom and we see this thought process throughout the book.
I think the first half of the book was a little slower than the second half, hence the 4 star review. However, the second half more than made up for the first half. I felt as if I was on a roller coaster of the best kind. Up, down, and around. You just never know what is going to happen. I really, really enjoyed this book and I am anxious to see what the author will write next.
I received this book in exchange for an honest review from the publishers.
September 10, 2017
All the thrilling stars to Good Me, Bad Me! My favorite psychological thriller of 2017 (so far)!
Not a single page was boring. Tension built throughout. The clever storyline was completely original. Perfectly written (I loved the how dialogue was done). Milly, the daughter of a serial killer, was a masterfully drawn, complex character. Land's writing takes you right inside Milly's innermost thoughts, almost reading like a journal.
I keep holding myself back in writing this review because I don't want to give anything away. It's all too good! I will say that I kept expecting gruesome, gory details to be revealed (hello, serial killer book?!), but Ali Land has a skilled way of writing that is spine-chilling without going there. And I was in awe of that. Run, don't walk, to pick this one up. I promise you won't regret it!
Thanks to Ali Land and Flatiron books, I received a complimentary ARC. The above thoughts are my own.
Not a single page was boring. Tension built throughout. The clever storyline was completely original. Perfectly written (I loved the how dialogue was done). Milly, the daughter of a serial killer, was a masterfully drawn, complex character. Land's writing takes you right inside Milly's innermost thoughts, almost reading like a journal.
I keep holding myself back in writing this review because I don't want to give anything away. It's all too good! I will say that I kept expecting gruesome, gory details to be revealed (hello, serial killer book?!), but Ali Land has a skilled way of writing that is spine-chilling without going there. And I was in awe of that. Run, don't walk, to pick this one up. I promise you won't regret it!
Thanks to Ali Land and Flatiron books, I received a complimentary ARC. The above thoughts are my own.
August 7, 2016
I had previously read good reviews for this book from Goodread friends so when I was offered the opportunity to read it I felt I couldn't refuse.
This is the debut novel by Ali Land that is due to be released in January 2017 and I am sure that it will be one of the books of the year. This excellent psychological thriller will be a big success and I know we will hear a lot more from this author.
The story is based around Annie who has changed her name to Milly and is now living a new life with a new family after her mother goes on trial for murdering young children. All the newspapers are covering her mother's story and Milly is desperate not to be like her mother and be good, but she is the daughter of a murderess. As her mother's trial looms, the secrets of her past won't let Annie sleep, even with a new foster family and her new name Milly she is struggling to conform. Can she realise the fresh start she wants and be good or is her serial killer mother going to make her bad.
This book is full of suspense and Ali Land who has quite a different style of writing succeeds in gripping the reader and encourages them to read just one more chapter again and again.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
This is the debut novel by Ali Land that is due to be released in January 2017 and I am sure that it will be one of the books of the year. This excellent psychological thriller will be a big success and I know we will hear a lot more from this author.
The story is based around Annie who has changed her name to Milly and is now living a new life with a new family after her mother goes on trial for murdering young children. All the newspapers are covering her mother's story and Milly is desperate not to be like her mother and be good, but she is the daughter of a murderess. As her mother's trial looms, the secrets of her past won't let Annie sleep, even with a new foster family and her new name Milly she is struggling to conform. Can she realise the fresh start she wants and be good or is her serial killer mother going to make her bad.
This book is full of suspense and Ali Land who has quite a different style of writing succeeds in gripping the reader and encourages them to read just one more chapter again and again.
I would like to thank Net Galley and Penguin UK for supplying a copy of this novel in exchange for a honest review.
February 7, 2017
Unfortunately, I feel completely confused by my experience of this book, as my experience seems to have been somewhat different from most other reviewers. It is described as:
SET TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY, CONTROVERSIAL AND EXPLOSIVE DEBUTS OF 2017 - for fans of quality psychological suspense and reading group fiction: once you read this book you'll want to talk about it.
Well, I definitely want to talk about it, but perhaps not for the right reasons. Okay, so I will allow ‘controversial’, although the things going on in my mind were more controversial than the words I was reading. However, I grew up on Clive Barker, so that may be the reason. I completely missed the psychological suspense. I felt that I had worked out the story and outcome very early on, it didn’t really give me much more as it progressed, and at no point did I feel tense. I love psychological thrillers, but to me this just didn’t really feel like one. It felt more like a dark Young Adult coming of age novel, but even then, not to the degree of something like the fabulous Girls on Fire, by Robin Wasserman, so I am struggling to place this book into a genre in my own mind.
A teenage girl with a very troubled past reports her mum to the police for the terrible things she has done, and is fostered by her psychologist. Is that even allowed? I would have thought you would be placed in temporary foster care and provided with a separate psychologist. With doctor patient confidentiality, I just can’t get my head around a teenage girl opening up to her psychologist who also happens to be her foster dad. Perhaps this is perfectly acceptable practice, I don’t claim to be an expert in this matter, but did personally find it a little hard to find this situation believable.
I struggled with the style of writing too at first. That’s when I started thinking, Oh no, this is young adult fiction, not the controversial adult psychological suspense I was hoping for. I did get used to the writing style eventually, and the last 30% of the book was more interesting, despite being predictable, so I did still enjoy reading it, even if there were no real surprises.
I honestly feel like I read a completely different book to most people. Based on the number of reviews spelling Milly as Millie, I really am wondering if there are two versions of this book out there. Are we part of an experiment, and some of us read about the Milly I experienced, and others read about a completely different character called Millie? If so, I’d like to read the other version please.
I’ve found this review difficult to write, and have been trying to avoid it, but I wouldn’t be true to myself as a reviewer, if I wasn’t honest about how I felt about this book. I’ve been going back and forth between 2 and 3 stars. I’ve decided it just scrapes 3 stars, as I was able to read the book to the end, and I wouldn’t say I didn’t enjoy it at all, it just wasn’t what I was expecting and turned out not to be the book for me.
Message to the author: If you are reading my review, and I have upset you in any way with my comments, I am really sorry, it was not my intention. I know that writing a book is a very personal thing to a writer, and any negative reviews can be heart breaking, so I do genuinely wish you good luck with this book, and encourage you to focus on the many positive reviews you have received, rather than dwelling on my ramblings.
SET TO BE ONE OF THE MOST EXTRAORDINARY, CONTROVERSIAL AND EXPLOSIVE DEBUTS OF 2017 - for fans of quality psychological suspense and reading group fiction: once you read this book you'll want to talk about it.
Well, I definitely want to talk about it, but perhaps not for the right reasons. Okay, so I will allow ‘controversial’, although the things going on in my mind were more controversial than the words I was reading. However, I grew up on Clive Barker, so that may be the reason. I completely missed the psychological suspense. I felt that I had worked out the story and outcome very early on, it didn’t really give me much more as it progressed, and at no point did I feel tense. I love psychological thrillers, but to me this just didn’t really feel like one. It felt more like a dark Young Adult coming of age novel, but even then, not to the degree of something like the fabulous Girls on Fire, by Robin Wasserman, so I am struggling to place this book into a genre in my own mind.
A teenage girl with a very troubled past reports her mum to the police for the terrible things she has done, and is fostered by her psychologist. Is that even allowed? I would have thought you would be placed in temporary foster care and provided with a separate psychologist. With doctor patient confidentiality, I just can’t get my head around a teenage girl opening up to her psychologist who also happens to be her foster dad. Perhaps this is perfectly acceptable practice, I don’t claim to be an expert in this matter, but did personally find it a little hard to find this situation believable.
I struggled with the style of writing too at first. That’s when I started thinking, Oh no, this is young adult fiction, not the controversial adult psychological suspense I was hoping for. I did get used to the writing style eventually, and the last 30% of the book was more interesting, despite being predictable, so I did still enjoy reading it, even if there were no real surprises.
I honestly feel like I read a completely different book to most people. Based on the number of reviews spelling Milly as Millie, I really am wondering if there are two versions of this book out there. Are we part of an experiment, and some of us read about the Milly I experienced, and others read about a completely different character called Millie? If so, I’d like to read the other version please.
I’ve found this review difficult to write, and have been trying to avoid it, but I wouldn’t be true to myself as a reviewer, if I wasn’t honest about how I felt about this book. I’ve been going back and forth between 2 and 3 stars. I’ve decided it just scrapes 3 stars, as I was able to read the book to the end, and I wouldn’t say I didn’t enjoy it at all, it just wasn’t what I was expecting and turned out not to be the book for me.
Message to the author: If you are reading my review, and I have upset you in any way with my comments, I am really sorry, it was not my intention. I know that writing a book is a very personal thing to a writer, and any negative reviews can be heart breaking, so I do genuinely wish you good luck with this book, and encourage you to focus on the many positive reviews you have received, rather than dwelling on my ramblings.
Read
October 29, 2017I received the ARC of Good Me Bad Me from Flatiron Books and Author, Ali Land for an honest review.
Though I finished this book before its publication on September 5, 2017, I just couldn’t decide how to sum up it up without spoilers while relating my enjoyment of this book.
Billed as a psychological suspense novel, it is that. A slow burn, one that may reveal its outcome before books end but one that is still darn good. Why is it darn good if you know what is happening? The ability of Ali Land in structuring this plot, her character of Annie/Millie, one person split in two personalities, and our conception or perception of what constitutes good or bad, good or evil, a bad seed kept me turning the pages. This book has remained in my head long after finishing.
I’m hoping Ms. Land kept this quote by Carson McCullers, 1917-1967 in the finished product as it certainly provided the first hook:
But the hearts of small children are delicate organs. A cruel beginning in this world can twist them into curious shapes.”
If that didn't quite do it, this early passage certainly grabbed me:
Up eight. Up another four. The door on the right.
The playground.
That’s what she called it.
Where the games were evil, and there was only ever one winner.
When it wasn’t my turn, she made me watch.
A peephole in the wall.
Asked me afterwards. What did you see, Annie?
What did you see?
Ali Land holds a degree in Mental Health and her prior career as a nurse in this field contributes to her understanding of the subject she presents in this compelling debut.
Though I finished this book before its publication on September 5, 2017, I just couldn’t decide how to sum up it up without spoilers while relating my enjoyment of this book.
Billed as a psychological suspense novel, it is that. A slow burn, one that may reveal its outcome before books end but one that is still darn good. Why is it darn good if you know what is happening? The ability of Ali Land in structuring this plot, her character of Annie/Millie, one person split in two personalities, and our conception or perception of what constitutes good or bad, good or evil, a bad seed kept me turning the pages. This book has remained in my head long after finishing.
I’m hoping Ms. Land kept this quote by Carson McCullers, 1917-1967 in the finished product as it certainly provided the first hook:
But the hearts of small children are delicate organs. A cruel beginning in this world can twist them into curious shapes.”
If that didn't quite do it, this early passage certainly grabbed me:
Up eight. Up another four. The door on the right.
The playground.
That’s what she called it.
Where the games were evil, and there was only ever one winner.
When it wasn’t my turn, she made me watch.
A peephole in the wall.
Asked me afterwards. What did you see, Annie?
What did you see?
Ali Land holds a degree in Mental Health and her prior career as a nurse in this field contributes to her understanding of the subject she presents in this compelling debut.
September 11, 2017
Good Me Bad Me was an excellent thriller that I found hard to put down. I liked the character Milly even though it was sometimes difficult to know if she was telling the truth. I felt a lot of sympathy for her not only with her upbringing but also with the school bullies and the fact that she felt that she was so alone. I will definitely be looking out for more books from Ali Land. I would like to thank NetGalley and Penguin UK - Michael Joseph for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.
April 29, 2018
So where are all the heebie-jeebies?
It’s a thriller, so bring ‘em on! The creepier the story the better. Make me shake and shiver!
Sorry to say that for me, this story gave off only minor heebie jeebs—no shrieks or goosebumps here. True, my heebie-jeebie meter might be on the fritz; most people thought the book was plenty creepy. Whatever the reason, I didn’t shudder.
Not many teenagers have a mom who’s a serial killer. Milly does. She’s 15, and she has just turned her evil mother over to the police. Mommy dearest liked to kidnap kids and kill them. She also abused Milly. The story is basically about Milly trying to figure out whether she is like her mom. It’s also about her trying to fit in, trying to pass for normal. She’s in a foster home with a psychologist father; a stand-offish, absent mom; and a bratty, probably psychopathic daughter named Phoebe (who is Milly’s age). In her head, Milly talks to her murderous psycho mother, and it’s clear that although mom scares the shit out of her, Milly also loves her.
Joy Jar
-Excellent character study.
-Felt like I was inside Milly’s head.
-First-person narrative.
-Unreliable narrator.
-Writing style.
-Slightly invested in outcome.
-No gory details of mom’s handiwork.
Complaint Board
-No big heebie-jeebies.
-Not enough action related to Milly’s story.
-Not enough suspense.
-Unlikeable characters.
-Over-the-top mean-girl behavior, and too much of it.
-Tired of YA.
-Sagged in the middle.
-The big-deal trial was anti-climactic.
-Predictable: Both the thoughts in Milly’s head and how the plot resolves.
The writing style is staccato and crisp. There are few adjectives, the word “and” isn’t used much, and verbs are the name of the game. It sets up a sort of rhythm. Weirdly, I recognized the style—a friend’s writing sounds just like this! She had had a writing instructor who forced this style down every student’s throat. She called it the Elmore Leonard style and claimed that all publishers only looked at manuscripts written in that style. It doesn’t matter. I digress. I just need to say that although that instructor made my blood boil, this style does work for me here. The lack of fluff plus the emphasis on action verbs made the sentences fun to digest, despite the fact that the plot sagged in the middle.
I’ve tried to analyze why the heebie-jeebie factor was missing. I think it’s because Milly’s thoughts are so predictable and monotonous. Don’t ask me how a daughter of a serial killer can be boring, but Milly is. Okay already, we know you are royally messed up, as any self-respecting daughter of a serial killer would be. You don’t have to beat us over the head with it. Plus the mean girls went too far, always—they quickly became stereotypes with no power to make me shiver. The heebie-jeebies couldn’t thrive in that environment.
I listed on my Complaint Board that the characters were unlikeable. I LIKE unlikeable characters if they are far out, quirky, and super smart or funny. Here, Milly is a whiny cold fish (did I actually say that about a poor kid whose mom is a serial killer???), and she seemed one-dimensional. Except for a kind dad, who is wooden (masking his kindness), and a kid who Milly befriends, everyone else in the book is horrid, especially daughter Phoebe and her gang.
Bottom line: I never rushed to pick up the book, and I was only slightly invested. I did want to find out how it all would pan out, though. This is a solid 3-star read. Check out the other reviews; most people felt the heebie-jeebies and loved the book.
May 6, 2018
This book gets a big “holy crap!” The story’s told from the POV of Milly, the abused fifteen year old daughter of a serial killer mom. Mom’s arrested after Milly tips off the cops, and in the run up to mom’s trial, Milly’s placed into foster care with Mike (Milly’s shrink), Mike’s weirdo wife, and their nightmare daughter, Phoebe.
Milly wants to be loved, and find a home, but there’s a maze of obstacles in her way – Phoebe gets the mean girls at school to bully her; she hears mom’s voice in her head, taunting her into accepting her destiny to become a serial killer herself; and Milly’s nagging suspicions that maybe she did inherit mom’s tendencies.
Milly’s an incredibly compelling character, and draws immediate sympathy; and yet every now and then, she lets a thought slip, and you know it’s only a matter of time before she snaps. And most of the time, you’re hoping she will. Great read!
Milly wants to be loved, and find a home, but there’s a maze of obstacles in her way – Phoebe gets the mean girls at school to bully her; she hears mom’s voice in her head, taunting her into accepting her destiny to become a serial killer herself; and Milly’s nagging suspicions that maybe she did inherit mom’s tendencies.
Milly’s an incredibly compelling character, and draws immediate sympathy; and yet every now and then, she lets a thought slip, and you know it’s only a matter of time before she snaps. And most of the time, you’re hoping she will. Great read!
September 22, 2017
About: Good Me Bad Me is a thriller written by Ali Land. It was recently published on 9/5/2017 by Flatiron Books, an imprint of Macmillan Publishing, paperback, 304 pages. The genres are mystery thriller, fiction, psychological, and crime. This is the author’s debut novel.
My Experience: I started reading Good Me Bad Me on 9/16/17 and finished it on 9/22/17. This book is a fantastic read! Not everyday I get to read from the point of view of the serial killer’s daughter! This thriller gives readers a new angle to explore in psychological thriller and it’s every bit as good as reading from the killer’s perspectives. This book kept me hooked from the start. I love that the main character is smart! Even when she’s being bullied in school, she quietly has a come back to make them pay. The thrill in this book gives me the chills!
This book is told in the first person point of view following Milly (aka Annie) 15 years old high school student and daughter of the notorious child serial killer. Her mom uses Annie to get close to the kids at the refuge where she works. When her mom commits her heinous crimes, Annie is forced to watch through the peephole. Her mom’s last crime shook Annie to the core because it’s someone she knows well. That’s when she decided to go to the police and turn her mom in. Annie is then placed into foster care system with a new identity. Annie now becomes Milly. Her foster dad, Mike, is a psychologist prepping Milly for her day in court to testify against her mother. Phoebe is her foster sister and one of the mean girls at the school who torment Milly. Morgan is Milly’s only friend who Milly is afraid if she reveals about who she is, whether her friend will leave. Milly’s biggest fear is to face her mom at the courthouse and to relive her horrors all over again. Despite escaping her mom and starting a new life with a new identity, the memory of her mom still follows her and torment her. Furthermore, the kids that her mom hurt and whom she watched through the peephole haunts her everywhere she goes. The courthouse testimony is one that will shock readers!
This book is very well written and interesting to read. I like having the exposure of how victims deal with life after a horrific experience. I dislike mean girls so much and it’s so sad that with Milly’s ugly past, she still have to deal with mean girls. I admire Milly taking it upon herself to defend and revenge against the mean girls. I like her calm and collective demeanor. I like her sneaky ways to get back at the mean girls. She observes and harbor their secrets for future use. She excels in school which makes Phoebe looks bad in a smart way in dealing with mean girls. I like the twist at the end. This thriller is a book readers cannot pass up and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
Pro: page turner, first person point of view, suspenseful, intense, psycho, adrenaline rush, courtroom
Con: none
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for a detailed review
My Experience: I started reading Good Me Bad Me on 9/16/17 and finished it on 9/22/17. This book is a fantastic read! Not everyday I get to read from the point of view of the serial killer’s daughter! This thriller gives readers a new angle to explore in psychological thriller and it’s every bit as good as reading from the killer’s perspectives. This book kept me hooked from the start. I love that the main character is smart! Even when she’s being bullied in school, she quietly has a come back to make them pay. The thrill in this book gives me the chills!
This book is told in the first person point of view following Milly (aka Annie) 15 years old high school student and daughter of the notorious child serial killer. Her mom uses Annie to get close to the kids at the refuge where she works. When her mom commits her heinous crimes, Annie is forced to watch through the peephole. Her mom’s last crime shook Annie to the core because it’s someone she knows well. That’s when she decided to go to the police and turn her mom in. Annie is then placed into foster care system with a new identity. Annie now becomes Milly. Her foster dad, Mike, is a psychologist prepping Milly for her day in court to testify against her mother. Phoebe is her foster sister and one of the mean girls at the school who torment Milly. Morgan is Milly’s only friend who Milly is afraid if she reveals about who she is, whether her friend will leave. Milly’s biggest fear is to face her mom at the courthouse and to relive her horrors all over again. Despite escaping her mom and starting a new life with a new identity, the memory of her mom still follows her and torment her. Furthermore, the kids that her mom hurt and whom she watched through the peephole haunts her everywhere she goes. The courthouse testimony is one that will shock readers!
This book is very well written and interesting to read. I like having the exposure of how victims deal with life after a horrific experience. I dislike mean girls so much and it’s so sad that with Milly’s ugly past, she still have to deal with mean girls. I admire Milly taking it upon herself to defend and revenge against the mean girls. I like her calm and collective demeanor. I like her sneaky ways to get back at the mean girls. She observes and harbor their secrets for future use. She excels in school which makes Phoebe looks bad in a smart way in dealing with mean girls. I like the twist at the end. This thriller is a book readers cannot pass up and I highly recommend everyone to read it!
Pro: page turner, first person point of view, suspenseful, intense, psycho, adrenaline rush, courtroom
Con: none
I rate it 5 stars!
***Disclaimer: I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and my opinions are honest.
xoxo,
Jasmine at www.howusefulitis.wordpress.com for a detailed review
October 25, 2016
OMG what a read this was. I am gasping for air right now.
To be treated very badly by a parent is unbelievable, to be with a mother who treats other kids not only bad but torments them, torments then and kills them and a 15 your old daughter being aware of this is outstandingly shocking.
When Annie informs the police of this at the tender age of only 15 you can gasp and feel her emotions.
The last victim was the one that broke the camels back for Annie, she was very close to the victim, the author made you feel the emotionally pull between Annie and the mother's last victim.
The questioning she undergoes in court is astonishingly brought home how a child brought up with overbearing, mind turning parents can have an effect on your psychological mind when she is listening out behind a screen for just the breathing sounds of her mother.
Annie's name is changed to Milly to help protect her and Milly is trying hard to not let the bad overtake the good within her, she doesn't want to be like her mother.
This is a chilling book that will not only give you goosebumps but will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
My thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via Net Galley for my early copy
To be treated very badly by a parent is unbelievable, to be with a mother who treats other kids not only bad but torments them, torments then and kills them and a 15 your old daughter being aware of this is outstandingly shocking.
When Annie informs the police of this at the tender age of only 15 you can gasp and feel her emotions.
The last victim was the one that broke the camels back for Annie, she was very close to the victim, the author made you feel the emotionally pull between Annie and the mother's last victim.
The questioning she undergoes in court is astonishingly brought home how a child brought up with overbearing, mind turning parents can have an effect on your psychological mind when she is listening out behind a screen for just the breathing sounds of her mother.
Annie's name is changed to Milly to help protect her and Milly is trying hard to not let the bad overtake the good within her, she doesn't want to be like her mother.
This is a chilling book that will not only give you goosebumps but will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck.
My thanks to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via Net Galley for my early copy
June 3, 2018
I've had a copy of "Good Me, Bad Me" for quite a while now and I haven't got around to reading it. However, I recently took it on holiday and was over the moon that it was such an enjoyable and entertaining read. Debut author Ali Land has a fantastic way of writing, with her short, clipped and concise sentences - this only goes to prove less is more!
I found the storyline - although a distressing one as a whole - totally captivating and I was hooked from the very first page until the brilliant and apt ending. I liked the way you never met Annie/Millie's psychopathic mother properly in the story and only knew of her through Millie's recollections and feelings, leaving the reader with their own ideas of her personality and to what went on in the 'playground'.
I thought the events at the school with the bullying were very true to life and realistic and though most characters were very unlikeable they were excellently portrayed.
The concept of the story told through Millie and the idea of her mother's murderous tendencies coming though in Millie was excellent and from start to finish I loved this book and never wanted to put it down. Chilling, creepy and with a growing sense of unease this book really ticks all the boxes and was utterly compelling.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this fabulously written psychological thriller and I would definitely read more by this author again!
5 stars
I found the storyline - although a distressing one as a whole - totally captivating and I was hooked from the very first page until the brilliant and apt ending. I liked the way you never met Annie/Millie's psychopathic mother properly in the story and only knew of her through Millie's recollections and feelings, leaving the reader with their own ideas of her personality and to what went on in the 'playground'.
I thought the events at the school with the bullying were very true to life and realistic and though most characters were very unlikeable they were excellently portrayed.
The concept of the story told through Millie and the idea of her mother's murderous tendencies coming though in Millie was excellent and from start to finish I loved this book and never wanted to put it down. Chilling, creepy and with a growing sense of unease this book really ticks all the boxes and was utterly compelling.
I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this fabulously written psychological thriller and I would definitely read more by this author again!
5 stars
February 5, 2019
Pedigree
Annie is a damaged 15-year-old. She is the daughter of a child serial killer and she helped the police catch her. The court case is now looming, and she must give evidence against her mother. The story is very well developed to provide a tense atmosphere with that edge of suspicion and apprehension that Annie was either more involved or will repeat what her nature may preordain. How alike is Annie to her Mother, does the apple fall far from the tree? Is she GOOD or BAD?
Annie is now living with a foster family with her name changed to Milly. She so desperately wants to fit into this new family but their daughter has no intention of making life easy for her, especially at school. The clever writing keeps us captivated waiting to see if she will retaliate and whether her appeasing words are genuine and consolatory, or a smokescreen for revenge.
This is an excellent edgy psychological thriller. The style of writing lends itself well to the sharp pacey storyline and keeps you wondering what will happen next. Yes, the story can be uncomfortable in places but thankfully it’s not graphic about the child murders and the abuse they would have suffered. The focus is more on the mindset of Milly and how those past events are shaping her thinking and actions to those around her.
I would recommend this book.
Annie is a damaged 15-year-old. She is the daughter of a child serial killer and she helped the police catch her. The court case is now looming, and she must give evidence against her mother. The story is very well developed to provide a tense atmosphere with that edge of suspicion and apprehension that Annie was either more involved or will repeat what her nature may preordain. How alike is Annie to her Mother, does the apple fall far from the tree? Is she GOOD or BAD?
Annie is now living with a foster family with her name changed to Milly. She so desperately wants to fit into this new family but their daughter has no intention of making life easy for her, especially at school. The clever writing keeps us captivated waiting to see if she will retaliate and whether her appeasing words are genuine and consolatory, or a smokescreen for revenge.
This is an excellent edgy psychological thriller. The style of writing lends itself well to the sharp pacey storyline and keeps you wondering what will happen next. Yes, the story can be uncomfortable in places but thankfully it’s not graphic about the child murders and the abuse they would have suffered. The focus is more on the mindset of Milly and how those past events are shaping her thinking and actions to those around her.
I would recommend this book.
September 2, 2017
Mostly I’m coming to terms with the things I’ve done. I did them to be good, I promise, even though they were bad.
Nature vs. Nurture…..or something in between. That’s the heart of Ali Land’s debut novel, Good Me, Bad Me. Are we doomed to repeat the sins of our parents? Can we start anew? Or is their legacy burned so deeply into our DNA that altering our fate becomes impossible?
Good Me, Bad Me is one those strange books where the beginning and end are kinda meh, but the middle is fantastic. The story opens with a brilliant premise: Teenaged Annie turns her serial killer mother in to the police. Afterwards she’s given a new identity--Milly--and is sent to live with her London psychologist, Mike Newmont, and his family. There Milly will be prepped for trial and attend school with Mike’s troubled daughter Phoebe. Mike and his wife, Saskia, are aware of Milly’s true identity. Phoebe is not. And it’s that deception that proves integral to the plot. Phoebe wages a brutal war against an innocent Milly. As their war reaches a fever pitch, Milly will discover whether she can escape her mother’s nature--adhere to her own goodness--or if blood does inevitably out.
Good Me, Bad Me is decidedly compelling. However, the writing style featured takes a bit of adjustment. Milly is our narrator, but she’s not addressing readers. Instead she’s speaking directly to her mother. Sentence structure is awkward at times with Milly describing proceedings--"shifted in his chair, he did--” like a sort of mini-Yoda. Early on, this uncomfortable style is a barrier to full immersion. Thankfully, writing improves as the story continues, but the occasional Yoda-esque statements still crop up.
While the writing is sometimes problematic, Ali Land proves herself adept at pacing. Vague hints at unnamed past deeds are scattered throughout. Like breadcrumbs. Violence is never overtly detailed, only inferred. These choices create an increasingly chilling narrative. Nothing is more frightening than the unknown and Ms. Land skillfully uses that fact to her advantage. We remain poised at the edge of our seats waiting for the figurative shoe to drop--if a shoe exists at all. Perhaps Milly is simply a traumatized girl who with the appropriate care will flourish. Or does something darker lurk beneath the surface? Does Milly’s similarity to her mother extend beyond her appearance?
Unfortunately Good Me, Bad Me’s ending doesn’t live up to its premise. While certainly disturbing, it’s hardly a surprise given aforementioned teases. The story provides enough clues that the conclusion becomes inevitable. After reading the last passage, I expected there to be more. How could that possibly be the end? It’s so telegraphed. We have this carefully executed narrative where the tension slowly ratchets up only to provide little to no pay-off? Seriously anti-climatic. I just expected….MORE.
Verdict: Good Me, Bad Me is poorly bookended, but the remainder of the story is well done. The meat is the winner in this literary sandwich. Worth a read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
Nature vs. Nurture…..or something in between. That’s the heart of Ali Land’s debut novel, Good Me, Bad Me. Are we doomed to repeat the sins of our parents? Can we start anew? Or is their legacy burned so deeply into our DNA that altering our fate becomes impossible?
Good Me, Bad Me is one those strange books where the beginning and end are kinda meh, but the middle is fantastic. The story opens with a brilliant premise: Teenaged Annie turns her serial killer mother in to the police. Afterwards she’s given a new identity--Milly--and is sent to live with her London psychologist, Mike Newmont, and his family. There Milly will be prepped for trial and attend school with Mike’s troubled daughter Phoebe. Mike and his wife, Saskia, are aware of Milly’s true identity. Phoebe is not. And it’s that deception that proves integral to the plot. Phoebe wages a brutal war against an innocent Milly. As their war reaches a fever pitch, Milly will discover whether she can escape her mother’s nature--adhere to her own goodness--or if blood does inevitably out.
Good Me, Bad Me is decidedly compelling. However, the writing style featured takes a bit of adjustment. Milly is our narrator, but she’s not addressing readers. Instead she’s speaking directly to her mother. Sentence structure is awkward at times with Milly describing proceedings--"shifted in his chair, he did--” like a sort of mini-Yoda. Early on, this uncomfortable style is a barrier to full immersion. Thankfully, writing improves as the story continues, but the occasional Yoda-esque statements still crop up.
While the writing is sometimes problematic, Ali Land proves herself adept at pacing. Vague hints at unnamed past deeds are scattered throughout. Like breadcrumbs. Violence is never overtly detailed, only inferred. These choices create an increasingly chilling narrative. Nothing is more frightening than the unknown and Ms. Land skillfully uses that fact to her advantage. We remain poised at the edge of our seats waiting for the figurative shoe to drop--if a shoe exists at all. Perhaps Milly is simply a traumatized girl who with the appropriate care will flourish. Or does something darker lurk beneath the surface? Does Milly’s similarity to her mother extend beyond her appearance?
Unfortunately Good Me, Bad Me’s ending doesn’t live up to its premise. While certainly disturbing, it’s hardly a surprise given aforementioned teases. The story provides enough clues that the conclusion becomes inevitable. After reading the last passage, I expected there to be more. How could that possibly be the end? It’s so telegraphed. We have this carefully executed narrative where the tension slowly ratchets up only to provide little to no pay-off? Seriously anti-climatic. I just expected….MORE.
Verdict: Good Me, Bad Me is poorly bookended, but the remainder of the story is well done. The meat is the winner in this literary sandwich. Worth a read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for granting me an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
February 7, 2017
Good me Bad me is about a young girl called Annie, who has to change her name to Milly once she's put into foster care, after she's told the police that her mother is a serial killer. She has experienced some unimaginable horrors herself, and while she's preparing for the trial against her mother, the author delves deep into Annie's psyche and inner dialogue, which can drastically alter from the ordinary everyday thoughts to the shocking.
The narrative is all told in the first person meaning we get to hear Annie's deepest and most darkest thoughts, like nobody else can, because she ensures they remain locked up deep inside of her.
The style of writing can be slightly unusual at times with extremely short sentences, but this is because we are reading Annie's thoughts. This can result in making it feel unnerving at times with the jagged way she thinks, but it's a clever method of constructing an unsettling atmosphere.
Good me Bad me is the debut novel by Ali Land, but I'm sure we're going to be reading much more from her in the future. Whenever I read anything that predicts a book is predicted to be the next biggest novel of the year, I tend to not raise my expectations too much. After the last few years of hearing that every new psychological thriller is the "new gone girl", I became fed up of having my hopes constantly dashed.
Now I know it's only just turned January, but I really do think this is going to be one of the big thrillers of 2017. It has everything you want from this genre. It's gripping, takes you to dark and disturbing places inside people's innermost thoughts, can get pretty twisted, is well written, keeps you guessing and hits you with some huge surprises. Parts are harrowing, particularly as we're dealing with a young teenage girl whose mother is a serial killer of young kids.
All I'll say is if you enjoy reading psychological/suspense thrillers then you have to read this book. It's another one of those books where the least you know about it, the better. I know people say that all the time, but it really is.
Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin U.K Michael Joseph for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative is all told in the first person meaning we get to hear Annie's deepest and most darkest thoughts, like nobody else can, because she ensures they remain locked up deep inside of her.
The style of writing can be slightly unusual at times with extremely short sentences, but this is because we are reading Annie's thoughts. This can result in making it feel unnerving at times with the jagged way she thinks, but it's a clever method of constructing an unsettling atmosphere.
Good me Bad me is the debut novel by Ali Land, but I'm sure we're going to be reading much more from her in the future. Whenever I read anything that predicts a book is predicted to be the next biggest novel of the year, I tend to not raise my expectations too much. After the last few years of hearing that every new psychological thriller is the "new gone girl", I became fed up of having my hopes constantly dashed.
Now I know it's only just turned January, but I really do think this is going to be one of the big thrillers of 2017. It has everything you want from this genre. It's gripping, takes you to dark and disturbing places inside people's innermost thoughts, can get pretty twisted, is well written, keeps you guessing and hits you with some huge surprises. Parts are harrowing, particularly as we're dealing with a young teenage girl whose mother is a serial killer of young kids.
All I'll say is if you enjoy reading psychological/suspense thrillers then you have to read this book. It's another one of those books where the least you know about it, the better. I know people say that all the time, but it really is.
Thank you to Net Galley and Penguin U.K Michael Joseph for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
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