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The Other Me
“Who hasn't wondered what alternate versions of their lives might look like?...As relatable as it is suspenseful cleverly exploring adulthood, identity, and shifting realities.”—Margarita Montimore, USA Today bestselling author of Oona Out of OrderAn inventive page-turner about the choices we make and the ones made for us. One minute Kelly’s a free-spirited artist in Chicago going to her best friend’s art show. The next, she opens a door and mysteriously emerges in her Michigan hometown. Suddenly her life is She's got twelve years of the wrong memories in her head and she's married to Eric, a man she barely knew in high school. Racing to get back to her old life, Kelly's search leads only to more questions. In this life, she loves Eric and wants to trust him, but everything she discovers about him—including a connection to a mysterious tech startup—tells her she shouldn't. And strange things keep happening. The tattoos she had when she was an artist briefly reappear on her skin, she remembers fights with Eric that he says never happened, and her relationships with loved ones both new and familiar seem to change without warning. But the closer Kelly gets to putting the pieces together, the more her reality seems to shift. And if she can't figure out what happened on her birthday, the next change could cost her everything...
352 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 10, 2021
149 people are currently reading
25678 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Zachrich Jeng
2 books247 followersSarah Zachrich Jeng grew up in Michigan and always had a flair for the morbid and mysterious (for her dad’s thirty-fifth birthday, she wrote a story entitled “The Man Who Died at 35”). She had a brief career as an aspiring rock star before she came to her senses and went back to school to become a web developer. Sarah lives in Florida with her family and two extremely hyper rescue dogs.
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January 3, 2024
The Other Me is a book about two paths diverging. One day, Kelly is eking out a living in Chicago, living her dream of being an artist. Upon her birthday, Kelly feels a bit sick and walks into the bathroom only to come out of the bathroom into a surprise party in another state and another life. Who is this person? Who is this Kelly who never left her small town in Michigan? What is going on and what will unfold? Will Kelly want her old life back? Can she get her old life back?
This is a really impressive debut novel by Jeng, and my feelings for this book are all over the place. First, I am incredibly biased because I hail from Michigan and loved all of the references to the great Mitten State. The main character, Kelly, was relatable: She had two lives, one where she never left her small town and one where she moved to the big city. The plot itself was pretty unique especially toward the end. That being said, there were a few things that I just couldn't over look. This book was evenly paced, and it should be cut in about half. The second half of the book was the better part. There were also way too many characters, too many brothers and sisters and cousins. However, in my opinion, these last two points really boil down to how good of an editor the author has, if you can find an editor who isn't afraid to give out honest review notes.
Overall, an extremely impressive debut novel by Jeng although it is unevenly paced.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion!
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
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This is a really impressive debut novel by Jeng, and my feelings for this book are all over the place. First, I am incredibly biased because I hail from Michigan and loved all of the references to the great Mitten State. The main character, Kelly, was relatable: She had two lives, one where she never left her small town and one where she moved to the big city. The plot itself was pretty unique especially toward the end. That being said, there were a few things that I just couldn't over look. This book was evenly paced, and it should be cut in about half. The second half of the book was the better part. There were also way too many characters, too many brothers and sisters and cousins. However, in my opinion, these last two points really boil down to how good of an editor the author has, if you can find an editor who isn't afraid to give out honest review notes.
Overall, an extremely impressive debut novel by Jeng although it is unevenly paced.
*Thanks, NetGalley, for a free copy of this book in exchange for my fair and honest opinion!
2024 Reading Schedule
Jan Middlemarch
Feb The Grapes of Wrath
Mar Oliver Twist
Apr Madame Bovary
May A Clockwork Orange
Jun Possession
Jul The Folk of the Faraway Tree Collection
Aug Crime and Punishment
Sep Heart of Darkness
Oct Moby-Dick
Nov Far From the Madding Crowd
Dec A Tale of Two Cities
Connect With Me!
Blog Twitter BookTube Facebook Insta
March 1, 2024
The Other Me by Sarah Zachrich Jeng
Twenty nine year old Kelly's life is not perfect. She's a poor, struggling artist whose work doesn't sell, while her wealthy best friend's art career is thriving. Still, Kelly loves her life in Chicago, it's her life, built on her choices, and she'd not giving up on making it as an artist.
She's at her best friend's art show, when she walks through a door and POOF! That life is gone. Now she is graphic artist Kelly, who never took that scholarship to art school, who never met her best friend, who's art supplies have been left untouched for years, who is married to Eric, a high school nerd she'd barely knew in her other life.
Her tattoos are gone, she has conflicting memories of the exact same points of time, and Eric acts suspicious, distracted, nervous, and weird. She remembers nervous and weird Eric from her high school days but now she has memories of being attracted to him. Her memories of this life are there but they don't seem real, not as real as the life she thought she'd been living in Chicago. This life might be nice, Eric might be nice (although he makes her uncomfortable), but how can she tell anyone about this shocking change without them thinking she is crazy?
As Kelly searches for answers, even this new reality starts changing. Can she "fix" this? She knows time is running out because the old life is feeling even farther away and that's the life she doesn't want to lose. What does Eric have to do with this, how did he become the center of her life?
I was fascinated with this dilemma. We may not like everything about our lives but to have those lives erased for something "better", a better that someone else seems to choose for us, may not be what is best. I do think that the new life had way too many people cluttering up the story. We didn't need to meet so many of Eric's family members because they did nothing to move the story along, IMO.
Publication August 10, 2021
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.
Twenty nine year old Kelly's life is not perfect. She's a poor, struggling artist whose work doesn't sell, while her wealthy best friend's art career is thriving. Still, Kelly loves her life in Chicago, it's her life, built on her choices, and she'd not giving up on making it as an artist.
She's at her best friend's art show, when she walks through a door and POOF! That life is gone. Now she is graphic artist Kelly, who never took that scholarship to art school, who never met her best friend, who's art supplies have been left untouched for years, who is married to Eric, a high school nerd she'd barely knew in her other life.
Her tattoos are gone, she has conflicting memories of the exact same points of time, and Eric acts suspicious, distracted, nervous, and weird. She remembers nervous and weird Eric from her high school days but now she has memories of being attracted to him. Her memories of this life are there but they don't seem real, not as real as the life she thought she'd been living in Chicago. This life might be nice, Eric might be nice (although he makes her uncomfortable), but how can she tell anyone about this shocking change without them thinking she is crazy?
As Kelly searches for answers, even this new reality starts changing. Can she "fix" this? She knows time is running out because the old life is feeling even farther away and that's the life she doesn't want to lose. What does Eric have to do with this, how did he become the center of her life?
I was fascinated with this dilemma. We may not like everything about our lives but to have those lives erased for something "better", a better that someone else seems to choose for us, may not be what is best. I do think that the new life had way too many people cluttering up the story. We didn't need to meet so many of Eric's family members because they did nothing to move the story along, IMO.
Publication August 10, 2021
Thank you to Berkley and NetGalley for this ARC.
September 27, 2021
Another brain cell fryer, nerve bender, mind number Sliding Doors meets Fringe with Russian Doll vibes kind of sci-fi without science premise! Hell yeah! Bring it on!
Imagine 29 years old self attending a gallery opening/ birthday party, you move to the bathroom to put a distance from the noisy crowd, you just push the door and ta ta da daaa! Nope, you didn’t catch somebody in the act! Actually you didn’t even reach to the restrooms! You open the door of another alternative universe! It’s freaking crazy, right? This is how Kelly’s story starts. At least she didn’t find herself at the restroom like Russian Doll’s Nadia Vulvokov to live the same night over and over again.
Instead of that she finds herself at another version of her life, married with a guy named Eric she barely knew from high school ( they became history project partners but that’s all! They never see each other after high school, at least that was the story for Kelly’s life who were pursuing her dreams to achieve something great in arts in Chicago )
But interestingly she has recorded memories about her new life which comes into her mind as she sees new versions of people in her inner circle. Actually both her old and new life memories start merging which makes things more complicated for her.
The mystery of the book kept me reading and questioning, brain storming about what might be the big secret about new timeline of Kelly is living.
The story’s progression was slow burn and till I reach to the half of the story, I lost my focus a little, found the development a little flat but thankfully things get changed after the second half. Surprising conclusion of the story was a little foreseeable. I was expecting something more original and it didn’t answer my entire questions but it was still okay. At least it didn’t give us something illogical and not satisfying enough to complete the entire puzzle.
I liked the unique idea and the way of mystery’s execution. Kelly is also relatable character.
I hate the guts of Eric as you may imagine, who earned his throne at my most dislikable and perfectly punchable human waste characters. At some parts I wished Kelly should have left his not so sorry a*s and moved on her life freely.
Overall: I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 mysterious, mind numbing, intriguing, hooking stars! I liked the promising storyline even though the final was a little mediocre! It was still one of the most interesting reads kept my attention intact and pushed me to finish it in one sit.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
Imagine 29 years old self attending a gallery opening/ birthday party, you move to the bathroom to put a distance from the noisy crowd, you just push the door and ta ta da daaa! Nope, you didn’t catch somebody in the act! Actually you didn’t even reach to the restrooms! You open the door of another alternative universe! It’s freaking crazy, right? This is how Kelly’s story starts. At least she didn’t find herself at the restroom like Russian Doll’s Nadia Vulvokov to live the same night over and over again.
Instead of that she finds herself at another version of her life, married with a guy named Eric she barely knew from high school ( they became history project partners but that’s all! They never see each other after high school, at least that was the story for Kelly’s life who were pursuing her dreams to achieve something great in arts in Chicago )
But interestingly she has recorded memories about her new life which comes into her mind as she sees new versions of people in her inner circle. Actually both her old and new life memories start merging which makes things more complicated for her.
The mystery of the book kept me reading and questioning, brain storming about what might be the big secret about new timeline of Kelly is living.
The story’s progression was slow burn and till I reach to the half of the story, I lost my focus a little, found the development a little flat but thankfully things get changed after the second half. Surprising conclusion of the story was a little foreseeable. I was expecting something more original and it didn’t answer my entire questions but it was still okay. At least it didn’t give us something illogical and not satisfying enough to complete the entire puzzle.
I liked the unique idea and the way of mystery’s execution. Kelly is also relatable character.
I hate the guts of Eric as you may imagine, who earned his throne at my most dislikable and perfectly punchable human waste characters. At some parts I wished Kelly should have left his not so sorry a*s and moved on her life freely.
Overall: I’m rounding up 3.5 stars to 4 mysterious, mind numbing, intriguing, hooking stars! I liked the promising storyline even though the final was a little mediocre! It was still one of the most interesting reads kept my attention intact and pushed me to finish it in one sit.
Special thanks to NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest opinions.
August 10, 2021
Wholly original, IMMEDIATELY intriguing and captivating!
Chicago Kelly is a single Artist in Chicago-living her life-long dream of becoming an Artist. She lives a Vegetarian lifestyle, has an arm full of tattoos, two roommates and a cat named Meeks.🐱
On the night of her 29th birthday, she attends her best friend’s art show, enters the bathroom and suddenly becomes...
Michigan Kelly, a married woman who gave up her dreams of becoming an Artist, to marry Eric, a guy she barely knew in high school, who now works for a start up tech company named GNNI, (Genie)-Your Wish Is Our Command.
There isn’t a tattoo or a painting in sight-but they have a smart house with a fridge that tells her when her water filters need changing and her mustard has expired, and they enjoy huge grilled steaks on the weekend while their dog Bear, runs around the yard...🐶
Ahh!! Life is good!!
According to Eric...
But, Kelly remembers her Chicago life.
And, sometimes sees a flash of her tattoos in the mirror...
How did she get here? More importantly, how can she get back there??
This book reads like a CONTEMPORARY story of a couple who each wanted something different from life-Told over 12 DAYS and 12 YEARS.
I wondered if Kelly was real or AI.
Was this a parallel universe, time travel, or something else entirely? I kept flipping the pages-eager to find out!!
In a year where I have struggled to find books to capture my attention from page one and hold it through the final reveals, I am thrilled that this book found its way to me-as it has definitely been one of my most enjoyable reads this year!!
And no animals were harmed in the making of this book! 🐶🐱
I cannot wait to see what DEBUT AUTHOR Sarah Zachrich Jeng dreams up for us next!
Thank You to Elisha at Berkley for sending me a widget for this book, which I probably would’ve missed out on if she hadn’t!
I received a gifted copy through NetGalley and it was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
NOW AVAILABLE!
Chicago Kelly is a single Artist in Chicago-living her life-long dream of becoming an Artist. She lives a Vegetarian lifestyle, has an arm full of tattoos, two roommates and a cat named Meeks.🐱
On the night of her 29th birthday, she attends her best friend’s art show, enters the bathroom and suddenly becomes...
Michigan Kelly, a married woman who gave up her dreams of becoming an Artist, to marry Eric, a guy she barely knew in high school, who now works for a start up tech company named GNNI, (Genie)-Your Wish Is Our Command.
There isn’t a tattoo or a painting in sight-but they have a smart house with a fridge that tells her when her water filters need changing and her mustard has expired, and they enjoy huge grilled steaks on the weekend while their dog Bear, runs around the yard...🐶
Ahh!! Life is good!!
According to Eric...
But, Kelly remembers her Chicago life.
And, sometimes sees a flash of her tattoos in the mirror...
How did she get here? More importantly, how can she get back there??
This book reads like a CONTEMPORARY story of a couple who each wanted something different from life-Told over 12 DAYS and 12 YEARS.
I wondered if Kelly was real or AI.
Was this a parallel universe, time travel, or something else entirely? I kept flipping the pages-eager to find out!!
In a year where I have struggled to find books to capture my attention from page one and hold it through the final reveals, I am thrilled that this book found its way to me-as it has definitely been one of my most enjoyable reads this year!!
And no animals were harmed in the making of this book! 🐶🐱
I cannot wait to see what DEBUT AUTHOR Sarah Zachrich Jeng dreams up for us next!
Thank You to Elisha at Berkley for sending me a widget for this book, which I probably would’ve missed out on if she hadn’t!
I received a gifted copy through NetGalley and it was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
NOW AVAILABLE!
November 16, 2022
"And now I know why the prospect of being ordinary scared me so much: not because it's unpleasant, but because it's so easy."
Have you ever wondered what your life would look like if you had made a different choice, even if just a small one? Would you still have the same people in your life, or would you have journeyed down a different path altogether? These are some of the questions addressed in Jeng's debut novel, The Other Me.
Please note, this one does have an "other natural" explanation to it; I know it seems obvious from the synopsis, but I wouldn't want someone to get the wrong impression in thinking this would be a purely psychological gambit and have a realistic ending to resolve the plot.
Kelly is living her best life by her 29th birthday. She's pursued her passion in becoming an artist, and is currently a single, childless (by choice) woman who is supported by loving friends, and escaped the small town she grew up in. So why is it that, when walking through the door of the bathroom at her best friend's gallery showing, she ends up walking into another life? One where she never left Michigan, married a man that she went to high school with, and settled for a career she isn't passionate about?
As you can imagine, there's quite a bit of suspense surrounding many mysteries in this novel. Why and how did Kelly end up in this alternate life? How can she find her way back to her old life without alerting suspicion to her friends and family without them thinking she's mentally unstable? And why is her husband acting so strangely?
I love how we get to learn things as the main character does, and how memories play a large role in this book. I don't want to say too much, but this was a unique mystery to puzzle out. I did see where it was going fairly early on, but this didn't dampen my enjoyment at all. Well written, engaging, and particularly thought provoking about technology that doesn't seem all that futuristic in today's age, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing our review copies.
Have you ever wondered what your life would look like if you had made a different choice, even if just a small one? Would you still have the same people in your life, or would you have journeyed down a different path altogether? These are some of the questions addressed in Jeng's debut novel, The Other Me.
Please note, this one does have an "other natural" explanation to it; I know it seems obvious from the synopsis, but I wouldn't want someone to get the wrong impression in thinking this would be a purely psychological gambit and have a realistic ending to resolve the plot.
Kelly is living her best life by her 29th birthday. She's pursued her passion in becoming an artist, and is currently a single, childless (by choice) woman who is supported by loving friends, and escaped the small town she grew up in. So why is it that, when walking through the door of the bathroom at her best friend's gallery showing, she ends up walking into another life? One where she never left Michigan, married a man that she went to high school with, and settled for a career she isn't passionate about?
As you can imagine, there's quite a bit of suspense surrounding many mysteries in this novel. Why and how did Kelly end up in this alternate life? How can she find her way back to her old life without alerting suspicion to her friends and family without them thinking she's mentally unstable? And why is her husband acting so strangely?
I love how we get to learn things as the main character does, and how memories play a large role in this book. I don't want to say too much, but this was a unique mystery to puzzle out. I did see where it was going fairly early on, but this didn't dampen my enjoyment at all. Well written, engaging, and particularly thought provoking about technology that doesn't seem all that futuristic in today's age, do yourself a favor and pick this one up.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing our review copies.
July 4, 2021
A bit of a grower, but definitely not a shower.
Kelly is a 29-year old artist living in Chicago. She’s at her best friend’s art show. During the night, she opens a door that turns into…
Kelly is a 29-year old wife living in her hometown of Michigan. It’s her birthday, and while she remembers her Chicago life, it seems she is stuck in some sort of Sliding Doors-esque world where her other life might not have happened…
...or are both scenarios legitimate?
Sounds super intriguing, right?
I’ll be brief so I don’t spoil anything.
I almost DNF’d multiple times through 45%.
I unexpectedly gained a bit of interest after that.
I still didn’t like the direction it went in.
Some (all?) of the characters were so unlikable, and I had a hard time caring about them.
I had to let suspension of disbelief run rampant.
I didn’t fully understand the logic of the story when all was said and done.
I just didn’t love it, but...
Great writing from a debut author. I see promise, and I will grab her next book as soon as I can.
There have been some phenomenal ratings/reviews for this book, so please read those too.
2.5 stars
I kindly thank Berkley for a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 8/10/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
Kelly is a 29-year old artist living in Chicago. She’s at her best friend’s art show. During the night, she opens a door that turns into…
Kelly is a 29-year old wife living in her hometown of Michigan. It’s her birthday, and while she remembers her Chicago life, it seems she is stuck in some sort of Sliding Doors-esque world where her other life might not have happened…
...or are both scenarios legitimate?
Sounds super intriguing, right?
I’ll be brief so I don’t spoil anything.
I almost DNF’d multiple times through 45%.
I unexpectedly gained a bit of interest after that.
I still didn’t like the direction it went in.
Some (all?) of the characters were so unlikable, and I had a hard time caring about them.
I had to let suspension of disbelief run rampant.
I didn’t fully understand the logic of the story when all was said and done.
I just didn’t love it, but...
Great writing from a debut author. I see promise, and I will grab her next book as soon as I can.
There have been some phenomenal ratings/reviews for this book, so please read those too.
2.5 stars
I kindly thank Berkley for a widget of the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 8/10/21.
Review also posted at: https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com
October 1, 2021
For me, 2021 has been an outstanding year for debut authors!
I haven't seen The Other Me talked about as much as some other books but it's a really good sci-fi thriller that deserves to be read.
It's kinda Black Mirror meets Sliding Doors and has a strong feminist thread throughout.
There's only one narrator, Kelly, who's celebrating her 29th birthday at her best friend's art showing. She walks through a doorway in the gallery and steps into a different life. A life where she still lives in her hometown and is married to a guy she was friends with in high school.
She has duel memories of both lives and the story is about her, not only trying to find a way back to her 'original' life, but exploring herself to figure out if she even WANTS to go back.
👩🚪👩🚪👩🚪👩🚪👩🚪👩🚪
"𝘖𝘯 𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳 - 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘨𝘰, 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘯-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳-𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘊𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘤 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.... "
I've seen this in books and movies.... people naming their car. I've never, nor do I know anyone who has but I like the idea and would love to hear some of the names if any of you have done it!
I haven't seen The Other Me talked about as much as some other books but it's a really good sci-fi thriller that deserves to be read.
It's kinda Black Mirror meets Sliding Doors and has a strong feminist thread throughout.
There's only one narrator, Kelly, who's celebrating her 29th birthday at her best friend's art showing. She walks through a doorway in the gallery and steps into a different life. A life where she still lives in her hometown and is married to a guy she was friends with in high school.
She has duel memories of both lives and the story is about her, not only trying to find a way back to her 'original' life, but exploring herself to figure out if she even WANTS to go back.
👩🚪👩🚪👩🚪👩🚪👩🚪👩🚪
"𝘖𝘯 𝘢 𝘔𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘢𝘧𝘵𝘦𝘳𝘯𝘰𝘰𝘯, 𝘱𝘢𝘳𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘪𝘯 𝘮𝘺 𝘯𝘦𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘣𝘰𝘳𝘩𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘪𝘴 𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘺. 𝘐 𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘬 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘮𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘳 - 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘤𝘢𝘳 𝘐 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘪𝘯 𝘊𝘩𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘨𝘰, 𝘢 𝘵𝘦𝘯-𝘺𝘦𝘢𝘳-𝘰𝘭𝘥 𝘊𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘤 𝘯𝘢𝘮𝘦𝘥 𝘏𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘯𝘴𝘦.... "
I've seen this in books and movies.... people naming their car. I've never, nor do I know anyone who has but I like the idea and would love to hear some of the names if any of you have done it!
May 30, 2021
3.5 STARS
A birthday party, a time lapse, a door opening into another life.
One minute Kelly is partying in Chicago and the next she is in Michigan. She had only stepped from one room into another. Her head is pounding, her memories fuzzy, her emotions disconnected. She begins to question what is real. Her memories aren't matching up with reality.
I would have enjoyed more of the Sci-Fi angle with more focus on the tech company (Genie) and some of its world building aspects. This part intrigued me. It also could have filled in a few open plot holes.
This was still an intriguing, slow-burn mystery. A house of mirrors. Speculative fiction with some sliding door vibes.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT on 8-10-21
A birthday party, a time lapse, a door opening into another life.
One minute Kelly is partying in Chicago and the next she is in Michigan. She had only stepped from one room into another. Her head is pounding, her memories fuzzy, her emotions disconnected. She begins to question what is real. Her memories aren't matching up with reality.
I would have enjoyed more of the Sci-Fi angle with more focus on the tech company (Genie) and some of its world building aspects. This part intrigued me. It also could have filled in a few open plot holes.
This was still an intriguing, slow-burn mystery. A house of mirrors. Speculative fiction with some sliding door vibes.
Thanks to NG and the publisher for my review copy. OUT on 8-10-21
October 17, 2021
Haven’t we all at one time or another pondered what our lives might have been like had we made different choices when we were younger? And what if you were given the opportunity to actually live that life?
But, what if YOU weren’t the one to make that decision!
Kelly is living the life of a struggling artist in Chicago. She suddenly finds herself attending a party in Michigan with her husband. Problem is, Kelly has absolutely no recollection of being married. For that matter, any part of this life🤷🏻♀️.
Will Kelly remain here in this life? Can she get the answers to reveal how exactly she wound up here in the first place?
This was a cleverly developed thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. I have to admit I got just a bit lost on the sci-fi part of it. My brain has a bit of difficulty thinking outside the box and this one stretched my abilities to the limit!🤪
This was a debut from a very talented new author. Now on my radar and looking forward to more!
A buddy read with Susanne
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss and Berkley Publishing.
But, what if YOU weren’t the one to make that decision!
Kelly is living the life of a struggling artist in Chicago. She suddenly finds herself attending a party in Michigan with her husband. Problem is, Kelly has absolutely no recollection of being married. For that matter, any part of this life🤷🏻♀️.
Will Kelly remain here in this life? Can she get the answers to reveal how exactly she wound up here in the first place?
This was a cleverly developed thriller that I thoroughly enjoyed. I have to admit I got just a bit lost on the sci-fi part of it. My brain has a bit of difficulty thinking outside the box and this one stretched my abilities to the limit!🤪
This was a debut from a very talented new author. Now on my radar and looking forward to more!
A buddy read with Susanne
Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...
Thank you to NetGalley, Edelweiss and Berkley Publishing.
September 18, 2023
3.5 stars, rounded up
Inventive story for sure, a little confusing in the middle but with a decent ending.
This is a tale of Kelly, a single artist in Chicago attending her best friend's art exhibition. She begins to feel dizzy and when she walks through a door, she is entering a surprise birthday party in her Michigan hometown--complete with her husband Eric. She remembers her life in Chicago with intimate detail, but she also remembers her present life as a homemaker/freelance graphic designer in Michigan. What happened to her?
I loved the puzzle of this tale, and although I knew there was no way it had a logical explanation, I still went with it because it was so intriguing. When all is said and done, the big picture wasn't as great as I was hoping, but in the end I really liked how everything wrapped up. The beginning was a bit slow while Kelly was trying to figure out what was going on and it dragged for a while. Then it picked up and I got more interested again. The reason for her split time memories was kind of convoluted and even though I got the gist of the story, I felt like it could have been more focused. As it is, there are too many people manipulating the situation so I got a bit lost.
Overall though, this is a very creative story that is worth reading. I love a unique premise and this one certainly delivers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
Inventive story for sure, a little confusing in the middle but with a decent ending.
This is a tale of Kelly, a single artist in Chicago attending her best friend's art exhibition. She begins to feel dizzy and when she walks through a door, she is entering a surprise birthday party in her Michigan hometown--complete with her husband Eric. She remembers her life in Chicago with intimate detail, but she also remembers her present life as a homemaker/freelance graphic designer in Michigan. What happened to her?
I loved the puzzle of this tale, and although I knew there was no way it had a logical explanation, I still went with it because it was so intriguing. When all is said and done, the big picture wasn't as great as I was hoping, but in the end I really liked how everything wrapped up. The beginning was a bit slow while Kelly was trying to figure out what was going on and it dragged for a while. Then it picked up and I got more interested again. The reason for her split time memories was kind of convoluted and even though I got the gist of the story, I felt like it could have been more focused. As it is, there are too many people manipulating the situation so I got a bit lost.
Overall though, this is a very creative story that is worth reading. I love a unique premise and this one certainly delivers.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
December 9, 2021
"The Other Me" by Sarah Zachrich Jeng is an entertaining and creative debut novel!
Two different lives. The one she lived. The one she never knew was there. Until now!
In the blink of an eye, Kelly goes from leading a single life as a struggling artist in Chicago to living a married life in the small town in Michigan where she grew up. She walks through a door and into a completely different life. How is that possible?
Oddly though, she has memories of this Michigan life. She's married to Eric, someone she knew in high school but just barely. She has memories of dating him, attending and graduating from the same college, and starting a life together 12 years ago. How can she have memories of a life she never lived?
Her memories of her Chicago life remain with her, too. She remembers going to art school on a scholarship, settling in Chicago's art world, living with roommates, she even remembers where she was and what she was doing before walking through a door and into a different life.
Kelly is convinced she needs to go back to Chicago for a view of the single life she remembers. Will it give her the answers she's looking for? Would anyone believe her if she told them her story and who can she trust enough to tell it to?
This compelling story is told entirely in the first-person voice of Kelly. A bit of a slow burn in the first half with the details necessary for character building and the deep backstories. It moves along quickly in the latter half and allows the reader to enjoy how the details come together.
I read the ARC along with listening to the audiobook which I love to do. The audiobook is narrated by Nicole Zanzarella who does an amazing performance with the protagonist's heart wrenching narrative. Her gender voicing skills are right on, as well!
As a reader who begs to be entertained rather than just satisfied, this one did all of that! Sci-Fi allows me to suspend belief and embrace the possibilities and creativity of the author. This is exactly how I enjoy time-travel written, with a bit of suspense and lots of detail! I will definitely be looking to see what this author comes up with next!
4.5 stars rounded up for the author's creativity!
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley for a widget of this ARC through NetGalley. It has been my pleasure to give my honest and voluntary review. This book is now available.
Two different lives. The one she lived. The one she never knew was there. Until now!
In the blink of an eye, Kelly goes from leading a single life as a struggling artist in Chicago to living a married life in the small town in Michigan where she grew up. She walks through a door and into a completely different life. How is that possible?
Oddly though, she has memories of this Michigan life. She's married to Eric, someone she knew in high school but just barely. She has memories of dating him, attending and graduating from the same college, and starting a life together 12 years ago. How can she have memories of a life she never lived?
Her memories of her Chicago life remain with her, too. She remembers going to art school on a scholarship, settling in Chicago's art world, living with roommates, she even remembers where she was and what she was doing before walking through a door and into a different life.
Kelly is convinced she needs to go back to Chicago for a view of the single life she remembers. Will it give her the answers she's looking for? Would anyone believe her if she told them her story and who can she trust enough to tell it to?
This compelling story is told entirely in the first-person voice of Kelly. A bit of a slow burn in the first half with the details necessary for character building and the deep backstories. It moves along quickly in the latter half and allows the reader to enjoy how the details come together.
I read the ARC along with listening to the audiobook which I love to do. The audiobook is narrated by Nicole Zanzarella who does an amazing performance with the protagonist's heart wrenching narrative. Her gender voicing skills are right on, as well!
As a reader who begs to be entertained rather than just satisfied, this one did all of that! Sci-Fi allows me to suspend belief and embrace the possibilities and creativity of the author. This is exactly how I enjoy time-travel written, with a bit of suspense and lots of detail! I will definitely be looking to see what this author comes up with next!
4.5 stars rounded up for the author's creativity!
Thank you to Elisha at Berkley for a widget of this ARC through NetGalley. It has been my pleasure to give my honest and voluntary review. This book is now available.
July 31, 2021
The Other Me by Sarah Zachrich Jeng is a science fiction thriller. This one brings to mind things like Tom Hank’s in Big or Freaky Friday where characters wake up in a different bodies but this thriller is a woman finding herself in a completely different reality.
Kelly is celebrating her birthday at a friend’s art gallery opening when she begins to feel strange. Kelly heads to the ladies room at the gallery but as she passes through the doorway she finds she stepped into a restaurant in her hometown where her whole family is gathered to celebrate her birthday with her.
Some of the people around Kelly she hasn’t seen in years seeing that Kelly had left for art school right after she graduated. Then there is Eric who now seems to think he is Kelly’s husband. Eric had been in high school with Kelly but they hadn’t been more than friends. As Kelly takes in her new surroundings she finds she now has memories of two different lives and can’t figure out how she landed in this new reality.
So I admit I’m a sucker for this type of story where a protagonist finds their life completely turned upside down whether it’s a wish to be “big” or another occurrence like we find here. The fact that our protagonist here had no wish for her life to change kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to discover how and why it had happened and taking in all of the changes around her as she discovered them. The ending to this one was rather thought provoking too after spending time in Kelly’s shoes during the story. I was rather surprised to learn that this had been a debut novel for the author so I will definitely be on the look out for more from her in the future after completely enjoying this first.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
Kelly is celebrating her birthday at a friend’s art gallery opening when she begins to feel strange. Kelly heads to the ladies room at the gallery but as she passes through the doorway she finds she stepped into a restaurant in her hometown where her whole family is gathered to celebrate her birthday with her.
Some of the people around Kelly she hasn’t seen in years seeing that Kelly had left for art school right after she graduated. Then there is Eric who now seems to think he is Kelly’s husband. Eric had been in high school with Kelly but they hadn’t been more than friends. As Kelly takes in her new surroundings she finds she now has memories of two different lives and can’t figure out how she landed in this new reality.
So I admit I’m a sucker for this type of story where a protagonist finds their life completely turned upside down whether it’s a wish to be “big” or another occurrence like we find here. The fact that our protagonist here had no wish for her life to change kept me on the edge of my seat waiting to discover how and why it had happened and taking in all of the changes around her as she discovered them. The ending to this one was rather thought provoking too after spending time in Kelly’s shoes during the story. I was rather surprised to learn that this had been a debut novel for the author so I will definitely be on the look out for more from her in the future after completely enjoying this first.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
February 15, 2023
I think this will be a good book for others, but the "big twist" wasn't really what I was hoping for.
Actual rating: 3.5/5
Plot: The mystery was done pretty well, and while some parts of it were predictable, there were other twists that genuinely took me by surprise. The desire to find out what happened was really what kept me turning pages. However, at the end I was still a little confused by how Kelly ended up living two lives.
Characters: I really wanted to know about artist-in-Chicago Kelly more than married-in-a-small-town-Kelly. I very much disliked Eric, and even at the beginning his relationship with Kelly was unhealthy. I think that was the point, though, so in that sense he was well written.
Overall: The big reveal wasn't bad exactly, just not what I was looking for. I think this would be a good book if you are more about the journey than the destination.
Content warnings:manipulation, toxic relationship, murder, inappropriate minor/adult relationship: there ends up being a relationship between a high schooler and, essentially, much older adult (you’ll understand why I say “essentially” after reading). I don’t think it was romanticized, but it still gave me the creeps, just as a heads-up to other readers.
Click here for the full review on my blog!
*ARC received in exchange for honest review
Actual rating: 3.5/5
Plot: The mystery was done pretty well, and while some parts of it were predictable, there were other twists that genuinely took me by surprise. The desire to find out what happened was really what kept me turning pages. However, at the end I was still a little confused by how Kelly ended up living two lives.
Characters: I really wanted to know about artist-in-Chicago Kelly more than married-in-a-small-town-Kelly. I very much disliked Eric, and even at the beginning his relationship with Kelly was unhealthy. I think that was the point, though, so in that sense he was well written.
Overall: The big reveal wasn't bad exactly, just not what I was looking for. I think this would be a good book if you are more about the journey than the destination.
Content warnings:manipulation, toxic relationship, murder, inappropriate minor/adult relationship: there ends up being a relationship between a high schooler and, essentially, much older adult (you’ll understand why I say “essentially” after reading). I don’t think it was romanticized, but it still gave me the creeps, just as a heads-up to other readers.
Click here for the full review on my blog!
*ARC received in exchange for honest review
October 17, 2021
Review to be posted to blog: books-are-a-girls-best-friend.com
My Head has Not Stopped Spinning. In this case, that’s a Good Thing.
One minute Kelly is a 29-year-old struggling artist, living in Chicago. striving to be successful in her career.
The next, Kelly busts through a bathroom door and is back in her hometown, in her family's favorite restaurant, married to a guy from her High School named Eric, working as a graphic artist, and the life she thought she was living is gone.
What was once tangible and real, is now non-existent.
Kelly has “memories” of a life well-lived in Chicago, of friends, experiences, and of struggle, yet no matter how hard she tries she cannot get back to them. Then, of course, there is Eric, her husband. Can he be trusted?
What becomes obvious here is that time is a mysterious thing.
A truly captivating novel that was utterly mind-boggling.
A fun buddy read with Kaceey that kept us wholly entertained.
3.5 Stars
Thank you to Edelweiss, and Penguin Publishing for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
My Head has Not Stopped Spinning. In this case, that’s a Good Thing.
One minute Kelly is a 29-year-old struggling artist, living in Chicago. striving to be successful in her career.
The next, Kelly busts through a bathroom door and is back in her hometown, in her family's favorite restaurant, married to a guy from her High School named Eric, working as a graphic artist, and the life she thought she was living is gone.
What was once tangible and real, is now non-existent.
Kelly has “memories” of a life well-lived in Chicago, of friends, experiences, and of struggle, yet no matter how hard she tries she cannot get back to them. Then, of course, there is Eric, her husband. Can he be trusted?
What becomes obvious here is that time is a mysterious thing.
A truly captivating novel that was utterly mind-boggling.
A fun buddy read with Kaceey that kept us wholly entertained.
3.5 Stars
Thank you to Edelweiss, and Penguin Publishing for the arc.
Published on Goodreads and Twitter.
July 25, 2021
Two lives. The one you wanted. The one that wanted you.”
3.5****
Chicago Kelly is an artist with interesting body art and eccentric artistic friends. She is single and loves her life!
Celebrating her 29th birthday party with friends, she walks out of one door and BAM!!!! She is Michigan Kelly. Married to Eric, a mixture and loss of 12 years of her life. Her husband works for a mysterious tech company GNNI. Her boy art appears and fades…weirdly.
The Other Me is satisfying enough to finish but did not blow me away. An interesting slow-burn mystery that doesn’t take long to probe the guilty culprit. Sci-fi doesn't usually interest me, but this was perplexing.
Well-written and this debut author Sarah Zachrich is to watch.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this Arc in exchange for my honest opinion!
3.5****
Chicago Kelly is an artist with interesting body art and eccentric artistic friends. She is single and loves her life!
Celebrating her 29th birthday party with friends, she walks out of one door and BAM!!!! She is Michigan Kelly. Married to Eric, a mixture and loss of 12 years of her life. Her husband works for a mysterious tech company GNNI. Her boy art appears and fades…weirdly.
The Other Me is satisfying enough to finish but did not blow me away. An interesting slow-burn mystery that doesn’t take long to probe the guilty culprit. Sci-fi doesn't usually interest me, but this was perplexing.
Well-written and this debut author Sarah Zachrich is to watch.
Thank you NetGalley and Berkley Publishing Group for this Arc in exchange for my honest opinion!
June 4, 2022
Going to be brief in this one as I don’t want to ruin anything. This was really good and had a super different concept that I loved.
One minute Kelly is celebrating her birthday to then come out of the bathroom to see she is in an entirely different life that is unfamiliar to her. What the heck happened? That’s is for the reader to find out and boy was it CREEPY! Not like eerie ghost creepy but yikes omg creepy! This was such a fresh concept and I really enjoyed it! Can’t wait to read more from this author
One minute Kelly is celebrating her birthday to then come out of the bathroom to see she is in an entirely different life that is unfamiliar to her. What the heck happened? That’s is for the reader to find out and boy was it CREEPY! Not like eerie ghost creepy but yikes omg creepy! This was such a fresh concept and I really enjoyed it! Can’t wait to read more from this author
August 5, 2021
THIS BOOK WAS SO MUCH FUN! Sarah Zachrich Jeng's debut novel,
The Other Me
is one of the most bingeworthy books of the year! Completely unputdownable and juicy, this book completely got me out of my rut of reading some meh books lately. Sarah Zachrich Jeng, you've created a fan in me!
The Other Me initially takes place in Chicago, where a local artist, Kelly, is celebrating her birthday. Her friend Linnea is more successful than her, but the friendship between the two is strong. Kelly seeks to eventually get her art into a gallery someday, but right now, she is just focused on enjoying her 29th birthday. During her birthday, Kelly all of a sudden has reimagined her life. She's not a Chicago-based artist anymore, but a wife to Eric and a graphic designer by trade. She now lives in Michigan with her fellow high school classmate. What has exactly happened here? Why does she have two lives but now questions the validity of both of them? She can't seem to shake which reality is actually who she is. And when things start getting more bizarre, Kelly needs to get to the bottom of it.
Again readers, don't read too much of the synopsis. I hate when publishers flood you with more information than you need. The Other Me had some of the most bingeable writing I've read this year, I SAID WHAT I SAID. Although there are some corrupt characters at play in this book, I ultimately loved everyone. Which is weird to say when it comes to mystery / thrillers, because you usually don't get that type of characterization with the plot. I legitimately finished this in under 24 hours and it will be chalked up to Sarah Zachrich Jeng's impeccable writing. FUN, FUN, FUN. I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next. If you like Ruth Ware and Blake Crouch, The Other Me is the right book for you!
The Other Me initially takes place in Chicago, where a local artist, Kelly, is celebrating her birthday. Her friend Linnea is more successful than her, but the friendship between the two is strong. Kelly seeks to eventually get her art into a gallery someday, but right now, she is just focused on enjoying her 29th birthday. During her birthday, Kelly all of a sudden has reimagined her life. She's not a Chicago-based artist anymore, but a wife to Eric and a graphic designer by trade. She now lives in Michigan with her fellow high school classmate. What has exactly happened here? Why does she have two lives but now questions the validity of both of them? She can't seem to shake which reality is actually who she is. And when things start getting more bizarre, Kelly needs to get to the bottom of it.
Again readers, don't read too much of the synopsis. I hate when publishers flood you with more information than you need. The Other Me had some of the most bingeable writing I've read this year, I SAID WHAT I SAID. Although there are some corrupt characters at play in this book, I ultimately loved everyone. Which is weird to say when it comes to mystery / thrillers, because you usually don't get that type of characterization with the plot. I legitimately finished this in under 24 hours and it will be chalked up to Sarah Zachrich Jeng's impeccable writing. FUN, FUN, FUN. I can't wait to see what she has up her sleeve next. If you like Ruth Ware and Blake Crouch, The Other Me is the right book for you!
April 18, 2022
Have you ever wondered how different your life would turn out if you had or had not made a pivotal decision in your past? Not a wholly original idea but what is unique about The Other Me is that it examines this concept through the eyes of an impacted person who didn't ask for the change. Kelly was a happy 29 year old single artist living in Chicago one minute, then after walking through a bathroom door, she is now married content Kelly in the suburbs of Michigan.
I loved the concept and found the topics it tackled to be thought-provoking, particularly around relationships and do-overs. However, the pacing was way too slow for me. This starts with a bang as Kelly shifts from hipster to housewife in a blink of an eye. But then the author lingers on Kelly coming to grips for way too long - like 200+ pages long. I was nearly bored to tears. But then, once she finally decides to do something about it, the plot gets interesting again and the pace picks up. Leading to a solid, believable conclusion.
There were SO many interesting angles and concepts to explore from the ending that only just scratched the surface. Condense the middle and expand the last 10% and this is probably a 5-star read. The author's writing definitely shows promise!
I loved the concept and found the topics it tackled to be thought-provoking, particularly around relationships and do-overs. However, the pacing was way too slow for me. This starts with a bang as Kelly shifts from hipster to housewife in a blink of an eye. But then the author lingers on Kelly coming to grips for way too long - like 200+ pages long. I was nearly bored to tears. But then, once she finally decides to do something about it, the plot gets interesting again and the pace picks up. Leading to a solid, believable conclusion.
There were SO many interesting angles and concepts to explore from the ending that only just scratched the surface. Condense the middle and expand the last 10% and this is probably a 5-star read. The author's writing definitely shows promise!
June 4, 2021
This book has it all: Fast pace, superb writing, well-developed characters, and fascinating plot. It is the definition of a page-turner. On Kelly's 29th birthday she walks into an alternate version of her life that is completely unrecognizable. All she wants is to return to her former life, but as she starts developing memories of this current life, she has to face the possibility that that may never happen. The author does a fantastic job of bringing the reader along with Kelly as she navigates this "other" world, and keeps the pacing and tempo fast and even. This is a must read debut novel from an up and coming bright new author.
*Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC.
*Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for the ARC.
August 2, 2021
This sci-fi/thriller is a new take on the "do over." Kelly Holter steps into a restroom during a bout of nausea at her bestie's gallery show and finds herself at her own surprise birthday party in an Italian restaurant. It's like the last twelve years of her life have taken an entirely different track. She is a single Chicago artist in one life; a married part-time graphic designer living in Michigan in the other. What has happened? Why can she remember both timelines while no one else seems to? Why do glimpses of other timelines fade in and out? As Kelly investigates she discovers a tech company that is taking risks that affect people in unexpected ways. This reminded me a bit of the Blake Crouch book, Recursion. Both are quite the mindbenders. They make you think about your own past decisions and the trajectories your life has taken. If you could go back and change one thing, would you? After reading this book, I think you might think twice.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Berkley and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
December 15, 2021
What an absolutely mind-blowing, wtf-did-I-just-listen-to thriller! If you like John Marrs, you need to try this one. I’m not a science fiction fan, but I love his books and this one reminded me of them. This audiobook and was fantastic!
It’s the night of Kelly’s twenty-ninth birthday, she’s a single, struggling artist living in Chicago and she’s attending her BFF’s art show. She opens the door to the bathroom and POOF….she’s married to Eric, who she went to school with; she in Michigan, where she grew up; she never made it to art school, and never met her BFF in Chicago. But she still has the memories of her Chicago life, plus the memories of her life in Michigan.
Michigan Kelly struggles with this new life that she has been thrown into. Eric is a wonderful husband but acts odd at times. And pieces of her Chicago life start to scramble together with pieces of her Michigan life. She begins to investigate how this might have happened and how she can return to her previous life.
If time travel were possible, would you consider going back and changing anything about your life?
#theotherme #sarahzachrichjeng #coloradobookstagrammer #bookstagrammer
It’s the night of Kelly’s twenty-ninth birthday, she’s a single, struggling artist living in Chicago and she’s attending her BFF’s art show. She opens the door to the bathroom and POOF….she’s married to Eric, who she went to school with; she in Michigan, where she grew up; she never made it to art school, and never met her BFF in Chicago. But she still has the memories of her Chicago life, plus the memories of her life in Michigan.
Michigan Kelly struggles with this new life that she has been thrown into. Eric is a wonderful husband but acts odd at times. And pieces of her Chicago life start to scramble together with pieces of her Michigan life. She begins to investigate how this might have happened and how she can return to her previous life.
If time travel were possible, would you consider going back and changing anything about your life?
#theotherme #sarahzachrichjeng #coloradobookstagrammer #bookstagrammer
October 6, 2021
This was really good. I loved the pace and I was super hooked. The ending was underwhelming though. It felt like all the suspense amounted to something less exciting. It was still pretty great and well written.
4.5⭐️
‼️SPOILERS‼️
I don’t care what anyone says but Eric was a fucking psychopath. He was so obsessed with having this perfect life with Kelly and he went too far. I guess he didn’t really realize how it would affect her as well. It’s always fun to read about where people’s obsessions take them. I like that Kelly put her career first. I mean romance is always nice, but her letting her partners know that her career is just as important as theirs is really great. I always love a female character who realizes these things.
Great job Jeng!
4.5⭐️
‼️SPOILERS‼️
I don’t care what anyone says but Eric was a fucking psychopath. He was so obsessed with having this perfect life with Kelly and he went too far. I guess he didn’t really realize how it would affect her as well. It’s always fun to read about where people’s obsessions take them. I like that Kelly put her career first. I mean romance is always nice, but her letting her partners know that her career is just as important as theirs is really great. I always love a female character who realizes these things.
Great job Jeng!
December 5, 2020
I'm biased (obviously) but I think this book is pretty great. I hope you'll love it too. Thanks so much for reading and reviewing!
August 4, 2021
Fun thriller with a sci-fi twist. The Other Me reminded me of a modernized Twilight Zone episode and the memorable concept kept me wondering how it would all play out.
I like a lot of spice in my domestic thrillers because you usually know exactly what to expect when you read one. A lot of authors never dare to dabble in science fiction because it usually ends up being overcomplicated and difficult to plot an ending, so I appreciate the new take! The opening twist keeps the novel fresh and kept me engaged, and while never getting to Blake Crouch levels of scifi, the ending was satisfying.
The Other Me was an exciting new approach to thrillers that I read all night! Thank you Berkley and Netgalley
I like a lot of spice in my domestic thrillers because you usually know exactly what to expect when you read one. A lot of authors never dare to dabble in science fiction because it usually ends up being overcomplicated and difficult to plot an ending, so I appreciate the new take! The opening twist keeps the novel fresh and kept me engaged, and while never getting to Blake Crouch levels of scifi, the ending was satisfying.
The Other Me was an exciting new approach to thrillers that I read all night! Thank you Berkley and Netgalley
March 14, 2021
What a clever, beautifully written suspense book! The whole premise of time travel and being able to remember your other lives really fascinated me. The book reads so well and kept me on the edge of my seat, waiting to see what happened to Kelly's life and why she is suddenly in a parallel life than the one she was living. The twists were unexpected and the whole concept so smart and unique. It really makes you think about what you would do if you had a chance to redo your life, and if you'd even want to. Definitely recommend this book as a must read!
September 6, 2021
A resounding 5 Stars! From the first page to the last, absolutely loved this unique, completely captivating book! Review to come.
November 8, 2021
In one moment Kelly is living her best life in Chicago as an artist, celebrating her birthday. As she goes through the door of her best friend’s art show, she finds herself entering her hometown of Michigan. Here, her life is unrecognizable as she never left her hometown for Chicago to go to art school. She’s married to Eric, a guy she barely knew in high school and together they live in the suburbs.
“Everything I learned at art school about how to translate my vision into something tangible – knowledge that had become second nature – is in my brain. I can feel it, just beyond my reach. Normally it surrounds me like the air I breathe, but now when I try to grasp at it, it becomes smoke.”
She frantically tries to get back to her own life, racing against an unknown amount of time and afraid she will be stuck in this life forever. Kelly drives back to Chicago but soon realizes nothing is the same and no one recognizes her. Kelly comes to the conclusion she is not crazy and that this is really happening. Not only has her life completely altered, but her own reality begins to shift, adding onto making things a bit more complicated.
“I need to find out what happened to me. To know for sure if this is real or all in my head. And if it’s real, then I want to know who did it to me.”
This version of herself is supposedly in love with Eric so she decides to trust him and see what she can find out. Eric begins to act a little odd and nervous which only confuses Kelly more. Strange things keep happening around her too such as the past being rewritten and warping her memories, her tattoos disappearing, and everyone she meets possibly being the one who knows what happened to her.
Well written and engaging, The Other Me will surely surprise you till the end. Though this is a mystery thriller, the author adds some elements of science fiction, giving the story a refreshing twist. Recommended for fans of Blake Crouch and anyone interested in the concept of alternative lives. An enjoyable read and I will definitely be on the lookout for what this debut author comes out with next.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
“Everything I learned at art school about how to translate my vision into something tangible – knowledge that had become second nature – is in my brain. I can feel it, just beyond my reach. Normally it surrounds me like the air I breathe, but now when I try to grasp at it, it becomes smoke.”
She frantically tries to get back to her own life, racing against an unknown amount of time and afraid she will be stuck in this life forever. Kelly drives back to Chicago but soon realizes nothing is the same and no one recognizes her. Kelly comes to the conclusion she is not crazy and that this is really happening. Not only has her life completely altered, but her own reality begins to shift, adding onto making things a bit more complicated.
“I need to find out what happened to me. To know for sure if this is real or all in my head. And if it’s real, then I want to know who did it to me.”
This version of herself is supposedly in love with Eric so she decides to trust him and see what she can find out. Eric begins to act a little odd and nervous which only confuses Kelly more. Strange things keep happening around her too such as the past being rewritten and warping her memories, her tattoos disappearing, and everyone she meets possibly being the one who knows what happened to her.
Well written and engaging, The Other Me will surely surprise you till the end. Though this is a mystery thriller, the author adds some elements of science fiction, giving the story a refreshing twist. Recommended for fans of Blake Crouch and anyone interested in the concept of alternative lives. An enjoyable read and I will definitely be on the lookout for what this debut author comes out with next.
Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for a review.
February 14, 2021
I AM MIND BLOWN.
This book was so so so good! The premise was fantastic and unique (girl walks through a door and finds herself in another person's life--or, how her life would have been if she'd done something different 12 years earlier), but what I really loved was the fact that at the end of the book something supposedly magical and impossible started making perfect sense to me. Kelly is trying to solve the mystery of how tf she ended up in this different reality and of the different sets of memory she has, and every little thing that she does gives you clues about what happened, and the cues build and build and you get super excited because you're starting to piece together all the different players and all the different element and hints, and when you're 3/4 of the way through you're like "HA, I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, I HAVE SOLVED THIS MYSTER" but no friend, you have not solved sh*t. The ending is pretty mindblowing, in the best possible way! Also, inside the mystery there is this commentary about the different roles women play in their lives and the lives of their families, and about how often they're not give the possibility to choose. The prose is tight and engaging, I loved Linnea best, truly an excellent read, 13/10, will buy for my friends who love thrillers and mysteries!!
This book was so so so good! The premise was fantastic and unique (girl walks through a door and finds herself in another person's life--or, how her life would have been if she'd done something different 12 years earlier), but what I really loved was the fact that at the end of the book something supposedly magical and impossible started making perfect sense to me. Kelly is trying to solve the mystery of how tf she ended up in this different reality and of the different sets of memory she has, and every little thing that she does gives you clues about what happened, and the cues build and build and you get super excited because you're starting to piece together all the different players and all the different element and hints, and when you're 3/4 of the way through you're like "HA, I KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON HERE, I KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING, I HAVE SOLVED THIS MYSTER" but no friend, you have not solved sh*t. The ending is pretty mindblowing, in the best possible way! Also, inside the mystery there is this commentary about the different roles women play in their lives and the lives of their families, and about how often they're not give the possibility to choose. The prose is tight and engaging, I loved Linnea best, truly an excellent read, 13/10, will buy for my friends who love thrillers and mysteries!!
February 12, 2021
This book was utterly captivating. I found myself so absorbed, I literally could not put it down, and afterwards sat for a long time, just soaking in the excellence of the concept, the writing, and the storytelling. A friend had recently read it too and we exchanged excited superlatives about how much we both loved it.
The story and its setting have a mesmerisingly eerie feel which winds tighter and tighter until it becomes outright frightening. And then there are the moments where it hits you hard below the heart, leaving you stunned and breathless and certainly not able to stop reading. I could also write for hours about the layers of imagery, the depth of the messaging, and the role the reader is compelled to take in observing the story.
One of the things I loved best was that it didn't just focus on the main characters' relationship. The heroine's extended family was included, giving her situation a poignant depth and increasing the stakes of her choices.
It's hard to believe The Other Me is a debut novel, it's so masterfully done. I wish I could give it more than five stars. It's going to linger in my imagination for a very long time.
The story and its setting have a mesmerisingly eerie feel which winds tighter and tighter until it becomes outright frightening. And then there are the moments where it hits you hard below the heart, leaving you stunned and breathless and certainly not able to stop reading. I could also write for hours about the layers of imagery, the depth of the messaging, and the role the reader is compelled to take in observing the story.
One of the things I loved best was that it didn't just focus on the main characters' relationship. The heroine's extended family was included, giving her situation a poignant depth and increasing the stakes of her choices.
It's hard to believe The Other Me is a debut novel, it's so masterfully done. I wish I could give it more than five stars. It's going to linger in my imagination for a very long time.
May 12, 2021
Wow. One different and strange story. Hard to keep up towards the end.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is a cunning little number. It’s one of those slow burning, subtle drips of information story that takes you from one direction into another.
The story is strange. I will straight up admit it. But it’s also intriguing enough that you have to keep reading. Even when you think you know what’s coming as the layers start unfolding, it gets weirder. I found myself questioning what I just read.
The Other Me is definitely a very unique story that is an extremely compelling read. You keep trying to unravel the knots and you just find yourself wound up even tighter. Sometimes it is hard to know what is today and what is yesterday; what is truth and what is fiction.
I’m not going to spoil it by telling you what the story ultimately becomes, but let’s just say it could be a true story someday. You just never know! Jeng’s imagination is wild and crazy but yet quite intriguing!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-other-me...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This book is a cunning little number. It’s one of those slow burning, subtle drips of information story that takes you from one direction into another.
The story is strange. I will straight up admit it. But it’s also intriguing enough that you have to keep reading. Even when you think you know what’s coming as the layers start unfolding, it gets weirder. I found myself questioning what I just read.
The Other Me is definitely a very unique story that is an extremely compelling read. You keep trying to unravel the knots and you just find yourself wound up even tighter. Sometimes it is hard to know what is today and what is yesterday; what is truth and what is fiction.
I’m not going to spoil it by telling you what the story ultimately becomes, but let’s just say it could be a true story someday. You just never know! Jeng’s imagination is wild and crazy but yet quite intriguing!
* copy received for review consideration
* full review - https://amidlifewife.com/the-other-me...
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