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The Girl I Used to Be
Stella is a teacher in a secondary school in the village of West Compton, North Yorkshire. She and her partner Wade appear to have the perfect life, but after receiving a series of threatening letters, her life takes a sinister turn.
Stella is forced to examine her past to find out who is behind the letters. All evidence points to a man with whom she had a one-night stand.
Deciding to confront him, Stella soon discovers he is not the one responsible and must delve deeper into her past.
After a visit to her estranged alcoholic mother, Stella is forced to look even closer to home.
Meanwhile, the threats escalate.
But who is behind the campaign of hate and why?
Stella is about to find out...
Stella is forced to examine her past to find out who is behind the letters. All evidence points to a man with whom she had a one-night stand.
Deciding to confront him, Stella soon discovers he is not the one responsible and must delve deeper into her past.
After a visit to her estranged alcoholic mother, Stella is forced to look even closer to home.
Meanwhile, the threats escalate.
But who is behind the campaign of hate and why?
Stella is about to find out...
282 pages, Paperback
First published July 6, 2020
230 people are currently reading
344 people want to read
About the author
J.A. Baker
24 books338 followersJ. A. Baker was born and brought up in the North East of England.
When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.
When she's not writing and thinking up new and inventive ways of killing off her fictional characters, or looking after her young grandchildren, she can be found pottering around her garden with her madcap dog, Theo or in a coffee shop eating cake with her long suffering husband.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
June 29, 2020
Now, this is a read you wont forget
On ruminating on what to write in this review I have decided to say nothing on the plot as there are many things to discover in this book and just the wrong word could give the whole thing away, that would be a crime as the reader needs to experience the whole book and feel the wide range of emotions it brings
Enough to say ‘the past is often someones present’ 😵
So, what shall I say? Well, the book is clever, taut, emotive ( I know I’ve said that twice ), involving, vivid, upsetting at times, real, believable, detailed and involving
The writing is so descriptive its amazing, each sentence caused a new image in my mind and this coupled with the writing style gave a fab reader experience
It is character driven, you will empathise, dislike, be wary of, hate, symapthise and feel solidarity with various ones and also feel shock at some of them, whilst shudderingly remembering some traits in people you have had the misfortune to meet
I really didn’t want to put this book down unless I really had to and wanted, needed to know the outcome
Which was electrifying
A powerful, awesome read
10/10
5 Stars
On ruminating on what to write in this review I have decided to say nothing on the plot as there are many things to discover in this book and just the wrong word could give the whole thing away, that would be a crime as the reader needs to experience the whole book and feel the wide range of emotions it brings
Enough to say ‘the past is often someones present’ 😵
So, what shall I say? Well, the book is clever, taut, emotive ( I know I’ve said that twice ), involving, vivid, upsetting at times, real, believable, detailed and involving
The writing is so descriptive its amazing, each sentence caused a new image in my mind and this coupled with the writing style gave a fab reader experience
It is character driven, you will empathise, dislike, be wary of, hate, symapthise and feel solidarity with various ones and also feel shock at some of them, whilst shudderingly remembering some traits in people you have had the misfortune to meet
I really didn’t want to put this book down unless I really had to and wanted, needed to know the outcome
Which was electrifying
A powerful, awesome read
10/10
5 Stars
December 26, 2025
3⭐
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ October 7, 2023
Publisher ~ Boldwood Books
Est Page Count ~ 282 (p+ 38 chapters)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 57 minutes
Narrator ~ Emily Wheaton
POV ~ single 1st, present tense & single 3rd
Featuring ~ 2019 & 1999 timelines, childhood bullying, child abuse, references to sexual abuse of a minor, suicide references, infidelity
Previously titled The Girl I Used to Be. I always wonder if the content changed or just the title.
Stella is being targeted by an unknown person. Cruel notes are left at her door, her car and home are vandalized and there's more to come. Is the man she cheated on her partner with to blame? Or maybe it’s somehow connected to her past?
The 1999 chapters are told by a 'she' in the 3rd and consists mostly of bullying. The bullying was pretty hard to read at times. Some of the things done were despicable, making the reader sympathize.
Overall, this was pretty slow paced. I'm pleased to say my guess was incorrect, so yay for that, however the big hoorah seemed quite implausible..
✔️ed another old one off the list!
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference.
Genre ~ psychological fiction
Setting ~ England
Publication date ~ October 7, 2023
Publisher ~ Boldwood Books
Est Page Count ~ 282 (p+ 38 chapters)
Audio length ~ 8 hours 57 minutes
Narrator ~ Emily Wheaton
POV ~ single 1st, present tense & single 3rd
Featuring ~ 2019 & 1999 timelines, childhood bullying, child abuse, references to sexual abuse of a minor, suicide references, infidelity
Previously titled The Girl I Used to Be. I always wonder if the content changed or just the title.
Stella is being targeted by an unknown person. Cruel notes are left at her door, her car and home are vandalized and there's more to come. Is the man she cheated on her partner with to blame? Or maybe it’s somehow connected to her past?
The 1999 chapters are told by a 'she' in the 3rd and consists mostly of bullying. The bullying was pretty hard to read at times. Some of the things done were despicable, making the reader sympathize.
Overall, this was pretty slow paced. I'm pleased to say my guess was incorrect, so yay for that, however the big hoorah seemed quite implausible..
✔️ed another old one off the list!
Narration notes:
I did not listen to this one, but am just giving the above info for reference.
July 6, 2020
Despite the clever plot twist, I did not truly connect with Baker’s narrative. Although it was quite enjoyable, I found the revelations too obvious and the final scenes too far-fetched to allow me to fully immerse myself into the story. It was, overall, an average thriller.
The narrative hops around time frames a fair amount, but Baker helpfully indicates this at the chapter openings. There appear to be two or three narrators and this is only made clear in the closing quarter of the novel. Focusing on the protagonist, Stella is portrayed as an emotionally vulnerable woman. Having had a one-night stand several months previous, and apparently escaped her boyfriend from finding out, Stella is suddenly plagued by threatening letters. Enlisting the help of her fellow teacher-friend, Stella believes that her one-night boyfriend must be behind this. But when she discovers the truth and the letters continue to arrive, Stella reluctantly has to share this weight with Wade, her boyfriend.
I appreciated the scenes set in the school. I felt Baker vividly recreates a teacher’s lifestyle and could relate to many of Stella’s working emotions. I relished in witnessing her tackling her different classes and enjoyed the literary references. I felt like I was back in the classroom myself! However, the final scenes seemed rather ridiculous and I found it difficult to believe that the perpetrator succeeds as much as they do, considering the circumstances.
The different narrations added to the depth of the story yet, once I had realised the ambiguities, found I lost interest in the book. Instead, I was left feeling that the story was being prolonged and was desperate to see its inevitable conclusion, as suggested by the Prologue. This was disappointing and I don’t think my predictions being correct (for once!) was necessarily the entire cause of my dissatisfaction. I think the pace throughout the story was rather slow and gradually built up a simmering tension. However, I felt that Stella was never really in a real sense of danger, even at the climax, and believed there would always be a satisfying resolution. This lessened my enjoyment: I do enjoy a suspenseful thriller that packs a “punch” but, for me, Baker does not quite hit the target.
I truly believed in Stella and sympathised with her stresses and emotions. Yet, it does feel that she becomes the victim through her own actions and I wished she had shown more backbone, like her friend, Astrid. I could imagine Stella “simpering” too often and had hoped there would be more substance and fight – particularly when she felt her perpetrator was getting closer.
This was an alright read but it did not blow me away. The premise suggests a lot of suspense but I could not find this in the pages. Making this more disappointing, the ending was the final determiner for me; although I had found the plot twist a clever device, it was not enough to alter my average opinion.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The narrative hops around time frames a fair amount, but Baker helpfully indicates this at the chapter openings. There appear to be two or three narrators and this is only made clear in the closing quarter of the novel. Focusing on the protagonist, Stella is portrayed as an emotionally vulnerable woman. Having had a one-night stand several months previous, and apparently escaped her boyfriend from finding out, Stella is suddenly plagued by threatening letters. Enlisting the help of her fellow teacher-friend, Stella believes that her one-night boyfriend must be behind this. But when she discovers the truth and the letters continue to arrive, Stella reluctantly has to share this weight with Wade, her boyfriend.
I appreciated the scenes set in the school. I felt Baker vividly recreates a teacher’s lifestyle and could relate to many of Stella’s working emotions. I relished in witnessing her tackling her different classes and enjoyed the literary references. I felt like I was back in the classroom myself! However, the final scenes seemed rather ridiculous and I found it difficult to believe that the perpetrator succeeds as much as they do, considering the circumstances.
The different narrations added to the depth of the story yet, once I had realised the ambiguities, found I lost interest in the book. Instead, I was left feeling that the story was being prolonged and was desperate to see its inevitable conclusion, as suggested by the Prologue. This was disappointing and I don’t think my predictions being correct (for once!) was necessarily the entire cause of my dissatisfaction. I think the pace throughout the story was rather slow and gradually built up a simmering tension. However, I felt that Stella was never really in a real sense of danger, even at the climax, and believed there would always be a satisfying resolution. This lessened my enjoyment: I do enjoy a suspenseful thriller that packs a “punch” but, for me, Baker does not quite hit the target.
I truly believed in Stella and sympathised with her stresses and emotions. Yet, it does feel that she becomes the victim through her own actions and I wished she had shown more backbone, like her friend, Astrid. I could imagine Stella “simpering” too often and had hoped there would be more substance and fight – particularly when she felt her perpetrator was getting closer.
This was an alright read but it did not blow me away. The premise suggests a lot of suspense but I could not find this in the pages. Making this more disappointing, the ending was the final determiner for me; although I had found the plot twist a clever device, it was not enough to alter my average opinion.
With thanks to Bloodhound books for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
September 24, 2023
Can you ever escape the past? Stella and her partner Wade appear to have the perfect life. They have a lovely home and Stella loves her job as a teacher in a local secondary school. But when Stella starts to receive a series of threatening letters, her life takes a sinister turn. Determined to see who is behind the threats, Stella is forced to examine her own dark past. And all the evidence points to a man with whom she has a one-night stand. A man Wade knows nothing about. Deciding to confront him, Stella discovers the man knows nothing about the letters, forcing her to look even closer to home and a secret she thought would stay hidden.
This story pays particular attention to bullies and the changes it can bring on the bully and the people who have been bullied. Filled with twists, suspense, and a great pace, I was guessing all the way through. This is a thought-provoking read. The story is told from Stella and an unknown voice's perspectives. This was quite confusing as both characters had similar backgrounds and they both had alcoholic parents. I was pulled into this book after reading a couple of chapters.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BildwoodBooks and the author #JAButler for my ARC of #TheQuietOne in exchange for an honest review.
This story pays particular attention to bullies and the changes it can bring on the bully and the people who have been bullied. Filled with twists, suspense, and a great pace, I was guessing all the way through. This is a thought-provoking read. The story is told from Stella and an unknown voice's perspectives. This was quite confusing as both characters had similar backgrounds and they both had alcoholic parents. I was pulled into this book after reading a couple of chapters.
I would like to thank #NetGalley #BildwoodBooks and the author #JAButler for my ARC of #TheQuietOne in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2020
An average mystery with a fairly spineless protagonist.
Stella, a high school teacher, with a mixed past conducts herself as a victim of circumstance. I found this a loathsome quality in her character. Making mountains of mole hills and being a whinging woman are my least favourite characters.
The plot - largely predictable and the twist was interesting but did not play out realistically. I was happy to be done.
Stella, a high school teacher, with a mixed past conducts herself as a victim of circumstance. I found this a loathsome quality in her character. Making mountains of mole hills and being a whinging woman are my least favourite characters.
The plot - largely predictable and the twist was interesting but did not play out realistically. I was happy to be done.
July 6, 2020
This story touched me deeply. It is one of those books that stays with you for quite a while after reading it. The story is full of tension and extremely emotional. This book resonates with me and I’m sure I won’t be alone in having gone through some of what went on in this story. Beautifully and sensitively written by the author, this book deserves more than 5 stars.
July 1, 2020
I was completely hooked from start to finish with this intriguing psychological thriller. A clever plot which had me guessing throughout, I guessed wrong several times! Stella, a secondary school teacher starts receiving threatening letters and the search to discover who is sending them is nerve wracking. The chapters are set between the past and present day. I could not put this book down until I finished it. This book in invokes a whole range of emotions. . Highly recommend this thrilling read .
September 10, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to review this book!
This book caught my attention from the cover alone!! I was drawn in from the first chapter. It’s an intriguing story that has a very unexpected twist which I found to be quite clever.
Stella is being targeted by someone and we take a look back into her life and childhood to see who the culprit could be. This book focuses on bullying and the overall message is quite compelling. Can we escape from our past? Will our childhood follow us for years to come or can we create a new life for ourselves despite the pain that wants to consume us?
This book caught my attention from the cover alone!! I was drawn in from the first chapter. It’s an intriguing story that has a very unexpected twist which I found to be quite clever.
Stella is being targeted by someone and we take a look back into her life and childhood to see who the culprit could be. This book focuses on bullying and the overall message is quite compelling. Can we escape from our past? Will our childhood follow us for years to come or can we create a new life for ourselves despite the pain that wants to consume us?
November 18, 2023
wow!
Another gripping story from JA Baker. What a twist to get your head round and an ending that leaves you wanting more pages!
Another gripping story from JA Baker. What a twist to get your head round and an ending that leaves you wanting more pages!
August 22, 2020
2 young girls, victims of broken homes, alcoholic mothers, abusive fathers.
Their school lives are very different however. One is the victim of the most viscious bullying, even being nearly drowned. The other is part of the gang. Although she is nothing like leader Tanya, she never steps in to help their victims either.
When both women grow up their lives have gone separate ways.
Stella is a teacher, seeing Wade, is happy until she starts receiving threatening letters through the post. It leads to her having to face up to things from her past she'd rather forget.
All through the book you arent sure which girl is which and what secrets are being kept hidden.
It shows how damaging bullying can be, and thats before the age of technology arrived. Should you feel guilty about your behaviour as part of a gang in your youth. Does being young excuse cruelty?
This book will make you ponder those questions.
A great read, and I'll be looking for more from this author.
Their school lives are very different however. One is the victim of the most viscious bullying, even being nearly drowned. The other is part of the gang. Although she is nothing like leader Tanya, she never steps in to help their victims either.
When both women grow up their lives have gone separate ways.
Stella is a teacher, seeing Wade, is happy until she starts receiving threatening letters through the post. It leads to her having to face up to things from her past she'd rather forget.
All through the book you arent sure which girl is which and what secrets are being kept hidden.
It shows how damaging bullying can be, and thats before the age of technology arrived. Should you feel guilty about your behaviour as part of a gang in your youth. Does being young excuse cruelty?
This book will make you ponder those questions.
A great read, and I'll be looking for more from this author.
July 3, 2020
This is one of those stories which grabs you from the first page and keeps you guessing right the way through.
Stella is very relatable as a character, and this leads me to feel more empathy for what she has gone through and continues to go through, now that her past seems to be catching up with her.
This books focuses on bullying and the effects it can have on people, both the bully and the bullied - it was eye-opening!
Another great read from Judith!
Stella is very relatable as a character, and this leads me to feel more empathy for what she has gone through and continues to go through, now that her past seems to be catching up with her.
This books focuses on bullying and the effects it can have on people, both the bully and the bullied - it was eye-opening!
Another great read from Judith!
August 1, 2020
Just finished this book and that last sprint to the ending was quite the rollercoaster ride! I have not read this author before and found her descriptive writing terrific. Her creative choice of words draws crystal clear pictures in your mind as you go. The twist in the story was so good that I thought I had missed something for a moment. The book has a slow build that kicks into high gear midway through and then holds you in its grip until you reach the satisfying conclusion.
September 3, 2020
Wow
At first I was confused, flitting from one character to another etc, but all of a sudden I found myself unable to put the book down, constantly guessing and also constantly holding my breath. And.....simply, wow, I wasn't expecting that, I was completely taken by surprise on several levels. This is a superb, gripping, absorbing read that is a must for psychological thriller fans.
At first I was confused, flitting from one character to another etc, but all of a sudden I found myself unable to put the book down, constantly guessing and also constantly holding my breath. And.....simply, wow, I wasn't expecting that, I was completely taken by surprise on several levels. This is a superb, gripping, absorbing read that is a must for psychological thriller fans.
July 28, 2024
Audiobook which kept me entertained on the long bus ride. Not a comfortable listening experience as it featured child abuse plus bullying. I find it hard to believe that the level of school bullying was not picked up by staff even though the student’s family was so dysfunctional that they didn’t report or do anything. The finale was somewhat implausible which was a disappointment.
October 1, 2020
A deep and twisted story.
There are many avenues to this clever written book.
I can’t put too much as I can’t give it away!
You’ll be hooked
There are many avenues to this clever written book.
I can’t put too much as I can’t give it away!
You’ll be hooked
December 5, 2020
Fantastic read
Great thriller loads of twists an turns,an it kept me trying to figure it all out right till the end,which I love ..
Great thriller loads of twists an turns,an it kept me trying to figure it all out right till the end,which I love ..
July 16, 2020
Really good book .
December 11, 2022
Enjoyed listening to this. Really good book and although it was fiction, I can see this story easily as something that could happen in real life.
November 23, 2020
This was an intense read with some shocking outcomes.
Highly recommend this, a really good psychological thriller up there with girl in the train and gone girl.
Highly recommend this, a really good psychological thriller up there with girl in the train and gone girl.
April 30, 2021
An intriguing story hard to put down.
August 24, 2021
Well written, gripping and 'unputdownable'. Loved it. Dealt well with sensitive matters also.
September 17, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
This story follows Stella and her partner Wade. Their life together seems to be going perfectly. That is until Stella starts to receive threatening letters. To try and figure out who the culprit is, Stella has to dive into her past. While her life lately with Wade has felt perfect, her past was anything but perfect. She has a hunch on who she thinks the culprit is, but it's a guy she had a one-night stand with. Wade knows nothing about this. Is he her culprit or is it someone else who is trying to make her spill her own secrets.
This story was so well written that I was pulled into it from the beginning. It is full of suspense and shocking twists. The reader is on the outs of who the culprit is up until the ending, and I will say I kept second guessing myself on who I thought it was. The plot was so good that it provokes the reader to try and solve the mystery, while giving the eerie feeling of do we truly know those in our lives? The Quiet One is thought-provoking, engaging, and thrilling. I would highly recommend this read.
This story follows Stella and her partner Wade. Their life together seems to be going perfectly. That is until Stella starts to receive threatening letters. To try and figure out who the culprit is, Stella has to dive into her past. While her life lately with Wade has felt perfect, her past was anything but perfect. She has a hunch on who she thinks the culprit is, but it's a guy she had a one-night stand with. Wade knows nothing about this. Is he her culprit or is it someone else who is trying to make her spill her own secrets.
This story was so well written that I was pulled into it from the beginning. It is full of suspense and shocking twists. The reader is on the outs of who the culprit is up until the ending, and I will say I kept second guessing myself on who I thought it was. The plot was so good that it provokes the reader to try and solve the mystery, while giving the eerie feeling of do we truly know those in our lives? The Quiet One is thought-provoking, engaging, and thrilling. I would highly recommend this read.
February 5, 2021
The motivations behind the letter writers actions are pretty weak and having to read chapter after chapter of the main characters internal monologues of what a shit person she is and how everything was her fault when no reasonable person could possibly draw that conclusion was just tedious as were the pages of her crapping on about the lessons she’s learnt despite her clearly not having taken on anything. I have no idea what the point of having her run into the Tania character was.
Zero character growth, implausible motivations and repetitive I’ve storytelling really let this book down.
Zero character growth, implausible motivations and repetitive I’ve storytelling really let this book down.
March 16, 2024
This could have been great, but the protagonist is such a wuss I can’t really connect to her at all. What a spineless little idiot. Ugh.
June 13, 2025
Holy moly what a read this is! For once I am actually at a loss for words, so this may well be my shortest review ever! The phrase less is more couldn’t be more fitting than it is when talking about this book.
Judith has crafted a story that will have you hooked right from the beginning and doesn’t let up until the final page. There is no way I can talk about the plot as I may accidentally give something away, but what I will say is, make sure you have no other things to do when starting this one as you will not be able to put it down.!
This is the first book I have read of Judith’s and let me say that it will not be my last! With a strong plot and a cast of characters that have been written perfectly, I was immediately drawn into this world that she has created and through writing that is so vivid and emotive, I felt like I was a character also experiencing the story. I was mentally exhausted when I was done and I was so invested in it which made the reading experience all the more thrilling.
The Girl I Used To Be will have you glued to its pages and have you second guessing everything! An engrossing story that will have you reading well into the early hours and is one story that will have you still thinking about it long after you finish it. Oh and one other thing make sure you have the tissues handy… It was a pleasure to read and review The Girl I Used to Be which I highly recommend.
Thank you to the publicity team at Bloodhound Books and Judith Baker for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of The Girl I Used to Be which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
Judith has crafted a story that will have you hooked right from the beginning and doesn’t let up until the final page. There is no way I can talk about the plot as I may accidentally give something away, but what I will say is, make sure you have no other things to do when starting this one as you will not be able to put it down.!
This is the first book I have read of Judith’s and let me say that it will not be my last! With a strong plot and a cast of characters that have been written perfectly, I was immediately drawn into this world that she has created and through writing that is so vivid and emotive, I felt like I was a character also experiencing the story. I was mentally exhausted when I was done and I was so invested in it which made the reading experience all the more thrilling.
The Girl I Used To Be will have you glued to its pages and have you second guessing everything! An engrossing story that will have you reading well into the early hours and is one story that will have you still thinking about it long after you finish it. Oh and one other thing make sure you have the tissues handy… It was a pleasure to read and review The Girl I Used to Be which I highly recommend.
Thank you to the publicity team at Bloodhound Books and Judith Baker for allowing me to read an advanced readers copy of The Girl I Used to Be which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.
May 9, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up.
Started well with a good premise, but disappointing execution. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was very good at creating the suspense, but it was just far too long to maintain that claustrophobic feeling and I found myself losing interest once the .
I liked the scenes of the school and the numerous red herrings, but there was a lot of unnecessary narrative between the plot actually moving that I thought slowed the story down. It seemed like the author couldn't quite decide if she wanted this to be a claustrophobic/thriller type story or a slow-burn, "pull out your toenails one at a time" type of suspense novel, so it ended up trapped somewhere in between. I ended up listening at 1.5x speed (normally only going up to 1.2x) because I felt like that tension was waning and I just wanted to get to the end.
Started well with a good premise, but disappointing execution. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was very good at creating the suspense, but it was just far too long to maintain that claustrophobic feeling and I found myself losing interest once the .
I liked the scenes of the school and the numerous red herrings, but there was a lot of unnecessary narrative between the plot actually moving that I thought slowed the story down. It seemed like the author couldn't quite decide if she wanted this to be a claustrophobic/thriller type story or a slow-burn, "pull out your toenails one at a time" type of suspense novel, so it ended up trapped somewhere in between. I ended up listening at 1.5x speed (normally only going up to 1.2x) because I felt like that tension was waning and I just wanted to get to the end.
June 29, 2020
This is a wonderful psychological thriller based in South Yorkshire around the lives of Stella and Wade who seemed to be in the perfect relationship. That is until Stella started receiving some anonymous threatening letters. She had many insecurities about things that had happened in her past and these were now coming to the fore once more.
This is a well written book that keeps you guessing as to what will happen next and s to who is causing Stella so much grief and horror. The book does tend to jump back in time a fair bit but all becomes clear as to why. Stick with the book and you will be on the edge of your seat as it progresses.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC which I've reviewed voluntarily.
This is a well written book that keeps you guessing as to what will happen next and s to who is causing Stella so much grief and horror. The book does tend to jump back in time a fair bit but all becomes clear as to why. Stick with the book and you will be on the edge of your seat as it progresses.
Thank you to Bloodhound Books for the ARC which I've reviewed voluntarily.
April 12, 2023
This story was so believable, relatable and raised some serious issues about the under privileged in our society. Sadly this is far too common and can lead to ongoing tragic outcomes going unnoticed as we move about our daily lives, I downloaded the audio version , and found the narrators voice overly posh for such a harrowing story. Every word annunciated to perfection, even the bullies, I have nothing against well spoken English, but for such a story the effect would have been far more believable if the reader just spoke like the average Jo. The 4 stars is for the story itself. Copies of this book should be handed out to to schools at a critical age during junior schools.. just a thought ..
February 15, 2021
It was impressive in how the writer used the English to describe her feelings. Her explanation was a reflective of how I imagined the novel's venue and time. What I didn't like much, it was mostly self centred, as well to much explanation, the story could be shorter.
Overall, I believe the writer highlighted how this novel is kind of semi-thriller, romantic and dramatic scenes, could be translated as per each reader's imagination.
Not sure if the covering image was the correct choice. The sequences of the novel did not shed on it.
Overall, I believe the writer highlighted how this novel is kind of semi-thriller, romantic and dramatic scenes, could be translated as per each reader's imagination.
Not sure if the covering image was the correct choice. The sequences of the novel did not shed on it.
April 24, 2023
Is it possible for a narrator to make a novel feel it was written by someone else? This wasn't like J.A. Bakers other books I've read which are incredibly good at depicting mental illness within a clever twisty mystery story. I felt relieved when the acknowledgements came up. I just couldn't enjoy this due to the short clipped sentences and monotonous whinge.
Judith Baker is one of my favourite Authors so I will be listening to every book in the future - but hope I have more enjoyable experiences than this.
Judith Baker is one of my favourite Authors so I will be listening to every book in the future - but hope I have more enjoyable experiences than this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews