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Are You Sara?
Dynamic women with complicated lives take center stage in this twisty mystery about a rideshare mix-up which results in murder. Lalli is a fresh voice in the thriller genre and a writer to watch! --Wendy Walker, internationally bestselling author of Don't Look For Me
Two women named Sara each get into a rideshare. . . but only one makes it home alive. Which Sara was the real target?
Law student Saraswati "Sara" Bhaduri holds down two jobs in order to make her way through school, but it's still a struggle. She's had to do things to pay the bills that most people wouldn't expect from "a nice Indian girl." It seems like an ordinary busy Tuesday night at the local dive bar until her boss demands Sara deal with a drunk girl in the bathroom.
The two become fast friends. Why? Because they both have the same name. And despite their different circumstances, the two connect. When they both order rideshares home, they tumble in the back of the cars and head out into the night.
But when Sara awakes in her rideshare, she finds she's on the wrong side of town--the rich side--and she she and Sarah took the wrong cars home.
With no money, Sara walks back to her apartment on the shady side of town only to discover police lights flashing and a body crumpled on her Sarah.
Was Sarah Ellis or Sara Bhaduri the target? And why would anyone want either of them dead?
In this smart, twisty novel about ambition, wealth, and dangerous longing, the layers are peeled back on two young women desperate to break out of the expectations placed on them, with devastating results.
Two women named Sara each get into a rideshare. . . but only one makes it home alive. Which Sara was the real target?
Law student Saraswati "Sara" Bhaduri holds down two jobs in order to make her way through school, but it's still a struggle. She's had to do things to pay the bills that most people wouldn't expect from "a nice Indian girl." It seems like an ordinary busy Tuesday night at the local dive bar until her boss demands Sara deal with a drunk girl in the bathroom.
The two become fast friends. Why? Because they both have the same name. And despite their different circumstances, the two connect. When they both order rideshares home, they tumble in the back of the cars and head out into the night.
But when Sara awakes in her rideshare, she finds she's on the wrong side of town--the rich side--and she she and Sarah took the wrong cars home.
With no money, Sara walks back to her apartment on the shady side of town only to discover police lights flashing and a body crumpled on her Sarah.
Was Sarah Ellis or Sara Bhaduri the target? And why would anyone want either of them dead?
In this smart, twisty novel about ambition, wealth, and dangerous longing, the layers are peeled back on two young women desperate to break out of the expectations placed on them, with devastating results.
384 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 9, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 636 reviews
August 10, 2022
When Sarah Ellis passes out in the bathroom at a local dive bar near her University, bartender Saraswati “Sara” Bhaduri is sent into the restroom by the owner to “deal with” her. They share a joint, and some small talk, before Sara helps Sarah out the back door, where their rideshares are waiting.
“Are you Sara?” the driver confirms…
It’s only when our protagonist, Saraswati, awakens in the backseat of the car upon reaching its destination that she realizes that she must’ve gotten into the wrong rideshare, as she doesn’t live in the affluent neighborhood where she has just arrived.
But, when she makes it back to her own apartment, she is greeted by flashing police lights and a crumpled, dead body on her doorstep-the other Sarah.
Was Sarah or Sara, the intended Victim?
The Police make assumptions based on the fact that one had a reputation for being a bit wild, and the other was a “good Indian girl” and a Law student, working two jobs while studying -the dutiful daughter of immigrants who embraced the American Dream….
Of course-not all is what it seems.
Told from alternating timelines-the first is the POV of the surviving Sara, who becomes convinced that she was meant to be the target, because of things she became involved in, to gain money for tuition-and the second being the backstory of our Victim, Sarah, beginning three years ago until the fateful night of the Murder.
Unfortunately, I loved the title and premise more than the execution of the story.
Our Victim Sarah’s chapters definitely read like YA, which I have outgrown, and our protagonist Sara, got involved in a risky “lifestyle” which didn’t interest me, and seemed like it would be implausible to maintain as a student in her final year of Law School.
Neither woman was particularly likable, either.
However, the story will keep you guessing until the end about who the intended target was, so there is that!
Available Now!
Thank You to William Morrow & Company for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!
July 9, 2023
4.5 STARS
Thank you to William Morrow Books for providing a physical copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Are You Sara? was awesome! I would liken it to a Harlan Coben novel, but written by a badass Punjabi/Bengali female! A woman meets her demise after accidentally swapping rideshares with a woman of the same name: Sara(h). Told in alternating timelines, we follow Sarah in the months leading to her death and Sara in the wake of the investigation. I was entirely immersed in the story and felt that it was so easy to place myself in each of their shoes. When Sara got caught up in some shit, I found myself thinking how the same thing might have happened to me, which was very scary! The ending and reveal of Sarah’s killer were a bit too predictable for me, but the fact of the matter is this: I simply could not put this book down. With elements of #MeToo, it really made me think! I would definitely anticipate some mixed reviews floating around for this one, but overall I really enjoyed it.
While this may appear to be a debut novel, it’s not! S.C. Lalli writes romance novels under her full name, Sonya Lalli. I’ll definitely be checking them out.
Thank you to William Morrow Books for providing a physical copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Are You Sara? was awesome! I would liken it to a Harlan Coben novel, but written by a badass Punjabi/Bengali female! A woman meets her demise after accidentally swapping rideshares with a woman of the same name: Sara(h). Told in alternating timelines, we follow Sarah in the months leading to her death and Sara in the wake of the investigation. I was entirely immersed in the story and felt that it was so easy to place myself in each of their shoes. When Sara got caught up in some shit, I found myself thinking how the same thing might have happened to me, which was very scary! The ending and reveal of Sarah’s killer were a bit too predictable for me, but the fact of the matter is this: I simply could not put this book down. With elements of #MeToo, it really made me think! I would definitely anticipate some mixed reviews floating around for this one, but overall I really enjoyed it.
While this may appear to be a debut novel, it’s not! S.C. Lalli writes romance novels under her full name, Sonya Lalli. I’ll definitely be checking them out.
July 27, 2022
I had high hopes for this book. The premise was so exciting however the more I read, the more disappointed I got. Told in alternating chapters, you get a glimpse into the lives of both the characters. I also didn’t like the whole Jason angle. I was bored until the end.
One alcohol infused night, two Sarahs, one without an “H”, meet by chance and hit it off because they have the same name. They part ways each getting into a rideshare. One of them won’t live to see morning.
Who killed her and did they kill the right Sarah?
Are you Sarah? is available August 9, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow & Company for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
One alcohol infused night, two Sarahs, one without an “H”, meet by chance and hit it off because they have the same name. They part ways each getting into a rideshare. One of them won’t live to see morning.
Who killed her and did they kill the right Sarah?
Are you Sarah? is available August 9, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and William Morrow & Company for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
August 7, 2024
Law student Saraswati “Sara” Bhaduri holds down two jobs in order to make her way through school, but it’s still a struggle. She’s had to do things to pay the bills that most people wouldn’t expect from “a nice Indian girl.” It seems like an ordinary busy Tuesday night at the local dive bar until her boss demands Sara deal with a drunk girl in the bathroom.
The two become fast friends. Why? Because they both have the same name. And despite their different circumstances, the two connect. When they both order rideshares home, they tumble in the back of the cars and head out into the night.
But when Sara awakes in her rideshare, she finds she's on the wrong side of town—the rich side—and she realizes: she and Sarah took the wrong cars home. With no money, Sara walks back to her apartment on the shady side of town only to discover police lights flashing and a body crumpled on her doorstep: Sarah. Was Sarah Ellis or Sara Bhaduri the target? And why would anyone want either of them dead?
From the very start, Are You Sara? was one heck of a suspenseful ride that I simply didn’t want to end. Told from the alternating POVs of both Sara Bhaduri and Sarah Ellis, I was blown away with how genuine and true-to-life each were. On top of that, both resonated with their own personality in a way that many authors strive for but just can’t manage to pull off. Somehow, however, S.C. Lalli masterfully created two stunning characters that will keep me thinking for days to come. Quite frankly, Sara ranks up there as one of my favorites (along with Brianna Labuskes’s sociopath, Dr. Gretchen White) and I’m crossing my fingers that we’re blessed with a follow-up for her.
A close second to the narrators characterization was the truly shocking twist that I never saw coming. Turning the story on its head magically, everything easily slotted into place without feeling even a teeny bit forced, which was a master stroke to be sure. Add on to that the altogether epic conclusion that shifted what could have been a rather big let down into a righteous “let women roar” ending instead. I refuse to say anything further on the matter because you simply must read this book yourself.
All said and done, I found the multiple timelines somehow tied together beautifully within the dark, compelling plot (which was just a tad bit twisted) and I completely lost track of time reading. On a side note, I think that the topics at play here would make this novel perfect for book clubs, surely sparking some enlightening conversations. Ultimately, I found the entire thing addictive, unputdownable, wholly original, and I highly recommend reading it! Rating of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: stalking, drugging another person without their consent, underage sex trafficking, blackmail, strangulation
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
The two become fast friends. Why? Because they both have the same name. And despite their different circumstances, the two connect. When they both order rideshares home, they tumble in the back of the cars and head out into the night.
But when Sara awakes in her rideshare, she finds she's on the wrong side of town—the rich side—and she realizes: she and Sarah took the wrong cars home. With no money, Sara walks back to her apartment on the shady side of town only to discover police lights flashing and a body crumpled on her doorstep: Sarah. Was Sarah Ellis or Sara Bhaduri the target? And why would anyone want either of them dead?
From the very start, Are You Sara? was one heck of a suspenseful ride that I simply didn’t want to end. Told from the alternating POVs of both Sara Bhaduri and Sarah Ellis, I was blown away with how genuine and true-to-life each were. On top of that, both resonated with their own personality in a way that many authors strive for but just can’t manage to pull off. Somehow, however, S.C. Lalli masterfully created two stunning characters that will keep me thinking for days to come. Quite frankly, Sara ranks up there as one of my favorites (along with Brianna Labuskes’s sociopath, Dr. Gretchen White) and I’m crossing my fingers that we’re blessed with a follow-up for her.
A close second to the narrators characterization was the truly shocking twist that I never saw coming. Turning the story on its head magically, everything easily slotted into place without feeling even a teeny bit forced, which was a master stroke to be sure. Add on to that the altogether epic conclusion that shifted what could have been a rather big let down into a righteous “let women roar” ending instead. I refuse to say anything further on the matter because you simply must read this book yourself.
All said and done, I found the multiple timelines somehow tied together beautifully within the dark, compelling plot (which was just a tad bit twisted) and I completely lost track of time reading. On a side note, I think that the topics at play here would make this novel perfect for book clubs, surely sparking some enlightening conversations. Ultimately, I found the entire thing addictive, unputdownable, wholly original, and I highly recommend reading it! Rating of 5 stars.
Trigger warning: stalking, drugging another person without their consent, underage sex trafficking, blackmail, strangulation
*Synopsis provided by the publisher.
October 10, 2022
3.5/5
Are You Sara? by S.C. Lalli had a very strong start, and overall, it was a book I was really into. I loved that it began with murder because frankly, those are my favorite types of books, and I really enjoyed the switches between Saraswati “Sara” Bhaduri and Sarah Ellis' viewpoints. The characters aren't likable, but that didn't stop me from finishing the book in one sitting. I loved the way Lalli's writing pulled the reader in, and I was anxious to learn which Sara(h) had been the real target of the murder. I think the biggest thing that really deterred me from loving the book was Sara and how one minute she was making incredibly stupid decisions, and the next she was trying to be some sort of hero.
This was actually a really dark read at its core, and I ended up being quite surprised at where the story went. One especially great thing about Are You Sara? was the audiobook which is narrated by Shiromi Arserio & Kristen Sieh. I thought they did an excellent job with their respective characters and really got across both of their personalities. Even though I wasn't a huge fan of Sara, I did enjoy watching her try to figure out if she had been the target of the murder, and the twists were great if not a little sad as well. It also helped that this was a true thriller unlike the last couple of books I have read recently and there was plenty going on to keep me interested. This is also a great book to use as a discussion read for a book club and believe me when I say it will give you plenty to talk about!
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
Are You Sara? by S.C. Lalli had a very strong start, and overall, it was a book I was really into. I loved that it began with murder because frankly, those are my favorite types of books, and I really enjoyed the switches between Saraswati “Sara” Bhaduri and Sarah Ellis' viewpoints. The characters aren't likable, but that didn't stop me from finishing the book in one sitting. I loved the way Lalli's writing pulled the reader in, and I was anxious to learn which Sara(h) had been the real target of the murder. I think the biggest thing that really deterred me from loving the book was Sara and how one minute she was making incredibly stupid decisions, and the next she was trying to be some sort of hero.
This was actually a really dark read at its core, and I ended up being quite surprised at where the story went. One especially great thing about Are You Sara? was the audiobook which is narrated by Shiromi Arserio & Kristen Sieh. I thought they did an excellent job with their respective characters and really got across both of their personalities. Even though I wasn't a huge fan of Sara, I did enjoy watching her try to figure out if she had been the target of the murder, and the twists were great if not a little sad as well. It also helped that this was a true thriller unlike the last couple of books I have read recently and there was plenty going on to keep me interested. This is also a great book to use as a discussion read for a book club and believe me when I say it will give you plenty to talk about!
Thank you to the publishers for my complimentary listening and reader copies of this book. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
June 16, 2022
This is almost a 5 star read for me, i got hooked right from the start. The main character is smart, daring, desperate and intriguing. The story involves multiple storylines for her and a look at the past of the woman with her same name who was killed. We get lead down the path and while I guessed the killer, I didn't guess the way the book turned out. While I could identify with her, her choices were still surprising and showed her true grit. I am glad the author didn't go for the easy ending
August 24, 2022
This book was bad. Really bad. The meat of the story didn't even end up important. This book was so bad that I can't even organize my thoughts in an effective way to give a bullet point list to explain it, which is something I'm usually able to do when I don't like a book. I put the audiobook on 2x (wish I could have gone faster, but that was the maximum) just to get it over with. It's amazing to me, too, just how unrelated the title of the book ends up being to the actual story. The actual story being something that I'm not even that sure could be called a story. Instead, it was just a bunch of random details that were put side by side and something was supposed to be made of it. This is one that I saw pop up on booktube...and man, do I wish I hadn't let the title stick in my head when I saw it available on Libby. Just no.
August 13, 2022
A mix up of two girls with the same name (Sara & Sarah) getting into the wrong Rideshare outside a bar, one completely drunk and the other one out of it from a couple puffs of a joint.
Degenerate is the word that comes to mind about this book as there is not one single decent person to like even a little bit. Both Sara and Sarah are unlikable and seem to make really bad decisions leading them into a world of misery.
The people are horrible, the things they do are horrible but I read to the end because I wanted to know who killed the girl. There is not one but two twists at the end, both raising my eyebrows.
Degenerate is the word that comes to mind about this book as there is not one single decent person to like even a little bit. Both Sara and Sarah are unlikable and seem to make really bad decisions leading them into a world of misery.
The people are horrible, the things they do are horrible but I read to the end because I wanted to know who killed the girl. There is not one but two twists at the end, both raising my eyebrows.
November 5, 2022
Are You Sara was a nice break from domestic thrillers, it had a great start and it kept me guessing. The middle dragged abit as Lalli tried to build up the suspense. I found it repetitive at times and I was impatient to know which direction the story would go.
It took me by surprise when things started to be clearer and the ending was dramatic and unexpected. Maybe Lalli was trying to prepare it for a sequel.
Some more work needed to be done on the characters, I felt that I didn't get to know them enough. Overall, there were flaws but it was still a good book to pick up.
It took me by surprise when things started to be clearer and the ending was dramatic and unexpected. Maybe Lalli was trying to prepare it for a sequel.
Some more work needed to be done on the characters, I felt that I didn't get to know them enough. Overall, there were flaws but it was still a good book to pick up.
August 8, 2022
Leaving a bar one night, two women, Sara and Sarah, each use an app to request a rideshare. Only one makes it home alive. Was it a case of wrong place, wrong time? Which Sara was the killer’s real target? The main Sara is daring, defiant, and determined to find the killer.
ARE YOU SARA? by S. C. Lalli is a twisting whodunit. The plot-driven story is told from two alternating timelines, that of the surviving Sara and the backstory of the victim, Sarah. The author spins a dark, suspenseful tale, and the complex characters and excellent storyline structure will have readers guessing until the end. This book is an engrossing tale about the risks of ambition and the dangerous side of desire.
This book grabbed me at the start and was hard to put down. I could have read it in one day, but my spouse has the aggravating habit of wanting to eat every day. Publication day is August 9, 2022. Thank you to author S. C. Lalli and William Morrow Publisher.
ARE YOU SARA? by S. C. Lalli is a twisting whodunit. The plot-driven story is told from two alternating timelines, that of the surviving Sara and the backstory of the victim, Sarah. The author spins a dark, suspenseful tale, and the complex characters and excellent storyline structure will have readers guessing until the end. This book is an engrossing tale about the risks of ambition and the dangerous side of desire.
This book grabbed me at the start and was hard to put down. I could have read it in one day, but my spouse has the aggravating habit of wanting to eat every day. Publication day is August 9, 2022. Thank you to author S. C. Lalli and William Morrow Publisher.
August 23, 2022
Listened to this in a day, an interesting story that will make you think twice about getting an Uber
February 13, 2025
Loved this! It’s quite the page turner and super well written. I appreciated the fact that plot threads and red herrings alike are followed through on. Too many times I read a mystery thriller where important plot points get forgotten and unaddressed! I loved joining the main character on her journey to get answers. She’s deeply complex and memorable. I rooted for her so hard, grimaced at her sometimes bad decision making and then after kept cheering her on. I could easily see this book as a mini series especially because of how vividly it’s written. I could picture every detail. Also that plot twist though! I gasped. I’ve tried my best to be intentionally vague because this is definitely a book that is best read not knowing too much and just joining along for a wild ride! Highly recommend.
Funny how, for men, whatever they do is right until there’s indisputable evidence that forces us to say they are wrong. Funny.
Funny how, for men, whatever they do is right until there’s indisputable evidence that forces us to say they are wrong. Funny.
November 24, 2022
"𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝘀𝘄𝗮𝘁𝗶 𝗕𝗵𝗮𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝗜 𝗴𝗼 𝗯𝘆 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮." 𝗜 𝘀𝗵𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗦𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗵. "𝗪𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗻𝗼 𝗛."
The moment I read this synopsis I was intrigued, mostly because I've never read anything like this and the mistaken identity immediately caught my attention. Two Sarah's meet, they part ways but then one of them is found dead. Which Sara was the target and why? Is it an employee who seeks revenge or an ex-boyfriend that can't deal with rejection?
This book was exactly what I wanted in a thriller. It was a quick read and it felt as if I flew through the chapters, I just couldn't put the book down. I don't want to go into too much detail, but it's easy to get into the story and follow the dual POV. I was in the mood for a book that keeps me on the edge of my seat and makes me wonder what happens next and this was it. Are You Sara? has twists and turns will keep you guessing as one clue after the next is revealed.
• 60% thriller and 40% mystery
• Gripping plot line
• Plot twist that literally made me gasp
• Unpredictable and easy to get into the story
• Dual timeline and dual POV
• Mistaken identity
Many thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
The moment I read this synopsis I was intrigued, mostly because I've never read anything like this and the mistaken identity immediately caught my attention. Two Sarah's meet, they part ways but then one of them is found dead. Which Sara was the target and why? Is it an employee who seeks revenge or an ex-boyfriend that can't deal with rejection?
This book was exactly what I wanted in a thriller. It was a quick read and it felt as if I flew through the chapters, I just couldn't put the book down. I don't want to go into too much detail, but it's easy to get into the story and follow the dual POV. I was in the mood for a book that keeps me on the edge of my seat and makes me wonder what happens next and this was it. Are You Sara? has twists and turns will keep you guessing as one clue after the next is revealed.
• 60% thriller and 40% mystery
• Gripping plot line
• Plot twist that literally made me gasp
• Unpredictable and easy to get into the story
• Dual timeline and dual POV
• Mistaken identity
Many thanks to Jonathan Ball Publishers for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
March 14, 2023
This was an interesting set up, but the execution was pretty poor and I was bored by the end.
January 8, 2023
I see quiet thrillers don't get as much love as they deserve. I really liked this book--the premise, most of the pacing, disliked the main character but liked how authentic she was. I also appreciated the twist.
This is a novel about violence against women, but because it's delivered through the perspective of a very flawed and power-hungry character it doesn't feel preachy. Our surviving Sara is a cut-throat, and there are obvious hints that she is on her way to becoming a villain herself. Still, that doesn't excuse the violence she experiences. The Sarah who is killed is also unlikable--the spoiled daughter of rich white people, she is slowly learning to deal with not getting everything she wanted; she too doesn't deserve what happens to her. I liked that the novel refused to give us a black and white situation. I liked the brief discussion of intersectional discrimination (gender and race). I liked the acknowledgement that power corrupts, regardless of gender and race. There were only a couple of stumbles in the book (). But overall, I believe this novel doesn't get as much love as it deserves.
This is a novel about violence against women, but because it's delivered through the perspective of a very flawed and power-hungry character it doesn't feel preachy. Our surviving Sara is a cut-throat, and there are obvious hints that she is on her way to becoming a villain herself. Still, that doesn't excuse the violence she experiences. The Sarah who is killed is also unlikable--the spoiled daughter of rich white people, she is slowly learning to deal with not getting everything she wanted; she too doesn't deserve what happens to her. I liked that the novel refused to give us a black and white situation. I liked the brief discussion of intersectional discrimination (gender and race). I liked the acknowledgement that power corrupts, regardless of gender and race. There were only a couple of stumbles in the book (). But overall, I believe this novel doesn't get as much love as it deserves.
May 1, 2023
This was an original plot of two girls with the same name both getting into Ubers and one getting murdered. The story goes back in time to reveal the backstory of how they came to be and why one was murdered.
This was an ok read for me. There were parts I really liked and parts that were confusing. It was difficult at times to keep track of all the characters.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, William Morrow and S. C. Lalli for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
This was an ok read for me. There were parts I really liked and parts that were confusing. It was difficult at times to keep track of all the characters.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, William Morrow and S. C. Lalli for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
August 9, 2022
ARE YOU SARA? has such a unique plot — two women named Sara(h) accidentally get in the wrong rideshares, and one of them ends up dead.
Saraswati Bhaduri works two jobs to pay her way through law school. After a night working at the bar, she wakes up in her rideshare on the rich side of town, and realizes she got in the car meant for the other Sarah. When she makes her way home, Sarah Ellis is dead on her doorstep. Was Sara Bhaduri or Sarah Ellis the target?
This is an easy story to binge in a couple sittings, and here’s why ⬇️
🚘 short chapters
🚘 alternating timelines
🚘 unique plot
🚘 plenty of suspense
🚘 kept me guessing
I loved that both Sara(h)s came from very different backgrounds. Lalli’s writing is dark and threw twists at just the right times. I enjoyed the chapters about Sarah Ellis’s life in the days, months, and years leading up to her death. The pacing was great and the story kept me engaged the whole time. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a quick thriller!
Saraswati Bhaduri works two jobs to pay her way through law school. After a night working at the bar, she wakes up in her rideshare on the rich side of town, and realizes she got in the car meant for the other Sarah. When she makes her way home, Sarah Ellis is dead on her doorstep. Was Sara Bhaduri or Sarah Ellis the target?
This is an easy story to binge in a couple sittings, and here’s why ⬇️
🚘 short chapters
🚘 alternating timelines
🚘 unique plot
🚘 plenty of suspense
🚘 kept me guessing
I loved that both Sara(h)s came from very different backgrounds. Lalli’s writing is dark and threw twists at just the right times. I enjoyed the chapters about Sarah Ellis’s life in the days, months, and years leading up to her death. The pacing was great and the story kept me engaged the whole time. Definitely recommend if you’re looking for a quick thriller!
October 14, 2022
Not sure how I feel about this book....
I didn't expect the novel to go the way it did but I'm not sure if that was a good thing.
Sara and Sarah accidentally got into the wrong ride going home. One of the girls ended up dead. The big question now is: Did they get the wrong girl?
As always with these mystery and thriller genre, nothing is what it seems.
I like the twists at the end, but not sure if it was enough to carry the book.
Overall, not bad but also not a must.
I didn't expect the novel to go the way it did but I'm not sure if that was a good thing.
Sara and Sarah accidentally got into the wrong ride going home. One of the girls ended up dead. The big question now is: Did they get the wrong girl?
As always with these mystery and thriller genre, nothing is what it seems.
I like the twists at the end, but not sure if it was enough to carry the book.
Overall, not bad but also not a must.
June 3, 2022
Thank you so much to NetGallery and Harper Collins Canada for the ARC of this novel.
The premise and synopsis of this book was really good! And the beginning was so amazing and totally hooked me.
Synopsis:
Despite a scholarship, law student Saraswati “Sara” Bhaduri holds down two jobs in order to make her way through school, but it’s still a struggle. She’s had to do things to pay the bills that most people wouldn’t expect “a nice Indian girl” to do. Sara is working at the campus bar one seemingly ordinary Tuesday night when her boss demands that she deal with a drunk girl in the bathroom.
The two women become fast friends. Why? Because they have the same name. And despite their different circumstances, they connect. At the end of the evening, each orders a rideshare home. They tumble into the back of their respective cars and head out into the night.
But sometime later, Sara wakes up in the car to find she’s on the wrong side of town—the rich side—and realizes that she and Sarah Ellis took the wrong cars home. With no money, Sara walks back to her apartment on the shady side of town only to see police lights flashing, illuminating a body crumpled on her doorstep: Sarah. But was the target Sarah Ellis or Sara Bhaduri? And why would anyone want either of them dead?
This book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t find it suspenseful or thrilling at all.
The main character Sara, I didn’t like at all. She is supposed to be 27 and in her final year of law school, but she came across as immature, snobby and like she has a chip on her shoulder. It also seemed like a lot of the story had nothing to do with the mystery of the ride share - which was super disappointing. This was just not a book for me 😞
The premise and synopsis of this book was really good! And the beginning was so amazing and totally hooked me.
Synopsis:
Despite a scholarship, law student Saraswati “Sara” Bhaduri holds down two jobs in order to make her way through school, but it’s still a struggle. She’s had to do things to pay the bills that most people wouldn’t expect “a nice Indian girl” to do. Sara is working at the campus bar one seemingly ordinary Tuesday night when her boss demands that she deal with a drunk girl in the bathroom.
The two women become fast friends. Why? Because they have the same name. And despite their different circumstances, they connect. At the end of the evening, each orders a rideshare home. They tumble into the back of their respective cars and head out into the night.
But sometime later, Sara wakes up in the car to find she’s on the wrong side of town—the rich side—and realizes that she and Sarah Ellis took the wrong cars home. With no money, Sara walks back to her apartment on the shady side of town only to see police lights flashing, illuminating a body crumpled on her doorstep: Sarah. But was the target Sarah Ellis or Sara Bhaduri? And why would anyone want either of them dead?
This book just wasn’t for me. I didn’t find it suspenseful or thrilling at all.
The main character Sara, I didn’t like at all. She is supposed to be 27 and in her final year of law school, but she came across as immature, snobby and like she has a chip on her shoulder. It also seemed like a lot of the story had nothing to do with the mystery of the ride share - which was super disappointing. This was just not a book for me 😞
September 22, 2023
3.25 stars
What a crazy ride! A dark and twisted downward spiral into the lives of Sara and Sarah. When 20 year old Sarah is found strangled to death after taking the Uber that was meant for 28 year old Sara, it becomes a game of cat and mouse to figure out who killed Sarah and why?
Sara is in her final year of law school. She barely has enough money to cover living expenses, let alone tuition. While working at a campus bar, she helps a young woman who is found passed out drunk in the bathroom. When the two women learn they share the same name, they strike up conversation while waiting for their respective ubers. Unfortunately, they each mistakenly take the Uber that was meant for the other. Sara becomes worried that she is the intended victim and decides to confront her past actions that may have resulted in Sarah's murder.
This book had a lot of tense moments and was incredibly suspenseful. I was keen to get to the end to know what happened. However, some of the plot elements were unrealistic and way over the top. It was difficult to conceptualize and understand the MC's decisions in those moments. But all in all, this was a thriller that kept me intrigued and peaked my interest all the way through.
What a crazy ride! A dark and twisted downward spiral into the lives of Sara and Sarah. When 20 year old Sarah is found strangled to death after taking the Uber that was meant for 28 year old Sara, it becomes a game of cat and mouse to figure out who killed Sarah and why?
Sara is in her final year of law school. She barely has enough money to cover living expenses, let alone tuition. While working at a campus bar, she helps a young woman who is found passed out drunk in the bathroom. When the two women learn they share the same name, they strike up conversation while waiting for their respective ubers. Unfortunately, they each mistakenly take the Uber that was meant for the other. Sara becomes worried that she is the intended victim and decides to confront her past actions that may have resulted in Sarah's murder.
This book had a lot of tense moments and was incredibly suspenseful. I was keen to get to the end to know what happened. However, some of the plot elements were unrealistic and way over the top. It was difficult to conceptualize and understand the MC's decisions in those moments. But all in all, this was a thriller that kept me intrigued and peaked my interest all the way through.
September 10, 2022
I had been quite excited to read this book as the storyline had sounded intriguing of a potential mistaken identity of two Sara’s... It reminded me of the whole Terminator scene when the bad guys are trying to track down Sarah Connor and end up with the wrong one first. The book though didn't turn out this way and it led me to a bit of disappointment as went through a completely different storyline that made me feel like the whole Sara being dead was overshadowed by the whole Jason storyline. The book begins with our two Sara/Sarah's meeting at a bar and getting into the wrong rideshares and ending up at each other's houses. The one who went to the Hillmont address ends up murdered and the other Sarah who went to Windermere ends up feeling guilty and scared as she believes she was the "real target". We then jump between the different Sara's lives and how they ended up where they are now. We have the Dead Sara and her relationship with Tommy and the creep Nathan who always wanted her but couldn't and then Alive Sara who is in her third year at Law School and under the thumb of Jason - a powerful lawyer and trying to get away from him. Overall, the book was great romantic suspense and I believe that if I hadn't had an expectation built up in my mind, I would have enjoyed it more than I did.
December 22, 2022
Quite possibly the worst book I read this year. The premise was intriguing, and that is my only positive comment I can make. There was no cohesion in the plotting and the majority of the story had nothing to do with the initial premise. As a psychologist, I am sensitive to the author's ability to create characters that think and behave realistically and consistently. I look for at least the main characters to be empathetic even if not likable, as well as to be motivated in ways that make sense. I skipped through many passages because frankly they were boring. Only reason I kept going was to discover if there was an interesting plot twist. Yes, there were actually two "reveals", but they were neither believable nor interesting. Seriously, don't waste precious hours of your life on this one, there are too many books worth reading instead.
October 19, 2023
I don’t even know. This felt like it was two separate books that somehow managed to be in the same book. I was loving the first 100 pages of this book, it’s exactly the premise and it’s really intriguing. Then the next 200 pages of this book happened and it was an absolute train wreck. Like it didn’t even make sense to the story why was it even in this book? Horrible.
October 16, 2022
Thanks to Scene of the Crime for an advanced copy of Are you Sara? This book started out very intriguing for me but as it went on it started to fizzle out and I kind of lost interest in it. I appreciate the copy to read and i would for sure pick up something else from this author in the future.
July 18, 2022
I received an ARC of,Are you Sara? by S.C. Lalli. Which Sara was supposed to die, Sara or Sarah? What a gripping novel, it left me guessing til the end. I did care for the language though.
August 5, 2022
Thanks to the author, William Morrow Publishers, and Goodreads for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is a mystery and starts off with a bang. The murder takes place early in the book. There are two timelines. The book moves along at a good pace and is a fast read. This is the first mystery written by this author and it is well done. 4 🌟
This book is a mystery and starts off with a bang. The murder takes place early in the book. There are two timelines. The book moves along at a good pace and is a fast read. This is the first mystery written by this author and it is well done. 4 🌟
June 6, 2024
This story had a great deal of promise. Two university students, both named Sara(h), meet by chance at a bar, each ordering a ride to head home at the end of the night. Unknowingly, they each get in the other’s car…. And one ends up dead. The surviving Sara is a bright young woman, who makes many bad mistakes.
The story alternates between the lives of the Sara’s prior to the murder, raising all the potential suspects, and after for surviving Sara, trying to solve the mystery of who was the intended target and why…. And who was the murderer. While it holds your interest for a while, it soon takes a turn where bright Sara makes a lot of poor decisions, and although many of those seem unlikely or lacking in reality, I kept thinking that maybe she was just acting young and stupid. But neither Sara nor any of the characters that either of them had, or did interact with were very likable.
Even though some of the events seemed removed from any realm of truth, I’d tell myself how often you’d come across a news piece or documentary where fact was stranger than fiction.
The story continued and I kept shaking my head. While the story was lacking in many ways it does take you until the very end to find out the intended victim and the murderer’s identity. Once all wrapped up, there seems to be another unexpected twist…. So I suppose there was all that.
Anyway… nothing special and soon to be forgotten, so barely 3 stars is more than sufficient.
The story alternates between the lives of the Sara’s prior to the murder, raising all the potential suspects, and after for surviving Sara, trying to solve the mystery of who was the intended target and why…. And who was the murderer. While it holds your interest for a while, it soon takes a turn where bright Sara makes a lot of poor decisions, and although many of those seem unlikely or lacking in reality, I kept thinking that maybe she was just acting young and stupid. But neither Sara nor any of the characters that either of them had, or did interact with were very likable.
Even though some of the events seemed removed from any realm of truth, I’d tell myself how often you’d come across a news piece or documentary where fact was stranger than fiction.
The story continued and I kept shaking my head. While the story was lacking in many ways it does take you until the very end to find out the intended victim and the murderer’s identity. Once all wrapped up, there seems to be another unexpected twist…. So I suppose there was all that.
Anyway… nothing special and soon to be forgotten, so barely 3 stars is more than sufficient.
July 28, 2022
“𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆 𝒅𝒓𝒊𝒗𝒆𝒓. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒆𝒙-𝒃𝒐𝒚𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅. 𝑨 𝒓𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒐𝒎 𝒂𝒕𝒕𝒂𝒄𝒌. 𝑰𝒕 𝒂𝒍𝒍 𝒔𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒕𝒐𝒐 𝒆𝒂𝒔𝒚, 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕𝒇𝒐𝒓𝒘𝒂𝒓𝒅 𝒃𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒍𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒂𝒏𝒚𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒊𝒏 𝒍𝒂𝒘 𝒔𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍, 𝒊𝒕’𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒓𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏𝒔 𝒖𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒂𝒓𝒆𝒏’𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒄𝒐𝒎𝒑𝒍𝒊𝒄𝒂𝒕𝒆𝒅. 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒎𝒐𝒔𝒕 𝒐𝒃𝒗𝒊𝒐𝒖𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒔𝒘𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒖𝒔𝒖𝒂𝒍𝒍𝒚 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒉𝒕 𝒐𝒏𝒆.”
Are You Sara? has a super interesting premise: two girls, both named Sara/Sarah with similar appearances, get into Rideshares meant for the other; one ends up dead, but is it a case of mistaken identity?
From the opening line of “𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎,” the story takes off and doesn’t really let up - it is a roller coaster of not-always-connected events, as Sara tries to figure out what happened to Ellis (the other Sarah). As a woman of colour in law school, Sara deals with many different issues, such as class (her sister Tina should be a shoo-in for Yale med school, but struggles due to her low-income background), code-switching, discrimination, and familial expectations/traditions (especially with Ajay). Much of what Sara questions is mixed with the feeling of being paranoid, confused or overtired, and how much is the truth. There is one descriptive scene in the law library basement that reminded me of my undergrad library basement (they all seem to be deserted and creepy!). Sara sometimes is frustrating; she acts rashly without always thinking things through, can be immature, yet quite manipulative. She is ruthless however and works hard to get what she wants, even if it means not being likeable. The story also touches on the shadier side of the legal system, and the misogyny women face.
Are You Sara? is an overall easy to read mystery about doing what we have to do for the life we want, and taking control. It was a good first suspense novel from S.C. Lalli. Thank you to Harper Collins Canada and NetGalley for the ARC!
Are You Sara? has a super interesting premise: two girls, both named Sara/Sarah with similar appearances, get into Rideshares meant for the other; one ends up dead, but is it a case of mistaken identity?
From the opening line of “𝑻𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆’𝒔 𝒂 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒃𝒂𝒕𝒉𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒎,” the story takes off and doesn’t really let up - it is a roller coaster of not-always-connected events, as Sara tries to figure out what happened to Ellis (the other Sarah). As a woman of colour in law school, Sara deals with many different issues, such as class (her sister Tina should be a shoo-in for Yale med school, but struggles due to her low-income background), code-switching, discrimination, and familial expectations/traditions (especially with Ajay). Much of what Sara questions is mixed with the feeling of being paranoid, confused or overtired, and how much is the truth. There is one descriptive scene in the law library basement that reminded me of my undergrad library basement (they all seem to be deserted and creepy!). Sara sometimes is frustrating; she acts rashly without always thinking things through, can be immature, yet quite manipulative. She is ruthless however and works hard to get what she wants, even if it means not being likeable. The story also touches on the shadier side of the legal system, and the misogyny women face.
Are You Sara? is an overall easy to read mystery about doing what we have to do for the life we want, and taking control. It was a good first suspense novel from S.C. Lalli. Thank you to Harper Collins Canada and NetGalley for the ARC!
August 1, 2022
S.C. Lalli takes a break from writing romance and women's fiction (as Sonya Lalli), to bring us a suspense novel in Are You Sara?
I thought Lalli's premise was great, opening the door for any number of paths...
Two women each call for a rideshare home. The hook? They're both named Sara and they each get into the wrong vehicle. The leading character Sara ends up in a rich neighborhood and has to walk back home. When she finally makes it to her own home, there are flashing blue lights everywhere - and a dead girl named Sarah. Which one of them was the intended victim?
Sara sets out to answer that question for herself and Sarah. Each of the women have a voice. Sarah's starts almost three years ago as a series of journal entries. Her tone is younger and focuses on her relationships. Sara is an older law student, who also works two part time jobs - as a bartender and baby sitter. She's also held a job in the past that really stretched incredulity for this reader. Yes, I'm being a bit obtuse, but I don't want to provide spoilers. As the details of the side gig are revealed, I found it difficult to reconcile that skill set with the student who pulls pints. This was probably the biggest hurdle for me. I didn't like Sara and never became invested in her. There's a fairly larger number of supporting characters that were easy to dislike as well.
That initial premise got lost in a myriad of sub plots. Too many in my opinion. That being said, the book did hold my attention to the final pages as I wanted to know how things ended. Lalli gives us a few gotchas in the end that were appreciated.
I thought Lalli's premise was great, opening the door for any number of paths...
Two women each call for a rideshare home. The hook? They're both named Sara and they each get into the wrong vehicle. The leading character Sara ends up in a rich neighborhood and has to walk back home. When she finally makes it to her own home, there are flashing blue lights everywhere - and a dead girl named Sarah. Which one of them was the intended victim?
Sara sets out to answer that question for herself and Sarah. Each of the women have a voice. Sarah's starts almost three years ago as a series of journal entries. Her tone is younger and focuses on her relationships. Sara is an older law student, who also works two part time jobs - as a bartender and baby sitter. She's also held a job in the past that really stretched incredulity for this reader. Yes, I'm being a bit obtuse, but I don't want to provide spoilers. As the details of the side gig are revealed, I found it difficult to reconcile that skill set with the student who pulls pints. This was probably the biggest hurdle for me. I didn't like Sara and never became invested in her. There's a fairly larger number of supporting characters that were easy to dislike as well.
That initial premise got lost in a myriad of sub plots. Too many in my opinion. That being said, the book did hold my attention to the final pages as I wanted to know how things ended. Lalli gives us a few gotchas in the end that were appreciated.
July 11, 2022
It has been a long time since I’ve read a 300+ page book in one day! This one hooked me right from the start and I couldn’t stop reading. There were several possible guilty people and I really enjoyed trying to figure it out. This is a great thriller, with some very realistic scenes. I encourage you to pick this one up when it releases in August!
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