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The Other Me
Who is Lolly, really? And who is the man who claims to love her? What happens when they drop their carefully constructed masks and allow their real selves to be seen?
Chillingly intriguing, Joy Watson’s debut novel paints a portrait of a woman who will do anything to escape the damage of her past, refusing to accept that she can’t have it all, no matter what the price. The moral ambiguities and shifting revelations of The Other Me create an ingenious page-turner that will draw you in and confound you at every turn.
Chillingly intriguing, Joy Watson’s debut novel paints a portrait of a woman who will do anything to escape the damage of her past, refusing to accept that she can’t have it all, no matter what the price. The moral ambiguities and shifting revelations of The Other Me create an ingenious page-turner that will draw you in and confound you at every turn.
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First published March 26, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 24, 2022
What a riveting read. I was hooked to Lolly’s story and finished the book in a day! I could not help feeling sad after finishing the book- as I wanted to take in more of Lolly and her character. Written brilliantly and in an accessible way!
June 9, 2022
Watson has absolutely knocked it out of the park with this one. Lolly is a detestable character but in the best possible way. Watson really nailed the "I hate them so much but I can't put it down".
The Other Me is an exploration of a woman's decent or possible even acceptance of her inner evil. I enjoyed that there was no cause or justification for her nature, she simply was. I find ,especially with female characters, there's a want to justify her evil.
The characterisation is brilliant and I found that the side characters had an insane amount of depth even though we were only seeing them through the lense of Lolly's hate-them/love-them mentality.
The novel is quick paced and keeps the reader hooked. I am so happy to have been one of the supposed five readers. This novel is nothing short of a hit ! I can't wait to see what Watson has in store for us next!
The Other Me is an exploration of a woman's decent or possible even acceptance of her inner evil. I enjoyed that there was no cause or justification for her nature, she simply was. I find ,especially with female characters, there's a want to justify her evil.
The characterisation is brilliant and I found that the side characters had an insane amount of depth even though we were only seeing them through the lense of Lolly's hate-them/love-them mentality.
The novel is quick paced and keeps the reader hooked. I am so happy to have been one of the supposed five readers. This novel is nothing short of a hit ! I can't wait to see what Watson has in store for us next!
April 25, 2022
Not even the jaws of life could pull me away this book. An exciting page turner of note! Awesome read
May 29, 2022
This has been one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I have literally finished it in one day. Captivating, dark, funny but also sad, very sad. I can not get Lolly out of my mind.
September 22, 2022
Since I've met the author of The Other Me, the title alone stroked an interest, and the more I kept seeing the book popup in my Instagram Feeds and the author speaking about her book, I told myself I need to get this book. This title didn't leave my mind until I purchased my copy at the Open Book festival, my excitedness to dig into the story. When I first Open the book and read the prologue, I knew I wanted to finish this book.
This book got me so drawn into it that Lolly's story as it gave us a bit on her background. I didn't want to put the book down, enjoying the fragments of this new venture Lolly was definitely taking me on.
The beginning of her life was hard at most times with alot of anguish, her upbringing of being raised by a single mother, no father and a Ouma that most of us can relate to if you grew up on the Cape Flats, that sense of familiarity. However hard her childhood was. What shocked me was the dead of her beloved brother, the sole purpose of her existence was to protect him only to have gone through that lost. I think my heart broke for her in that moment, prior to losing her gran.
Her new life in Newlands was a new chapter for her. She kept her walls up not wanting to get to close to the adopted mother. In some ways she let herself liking Sue, but also at an extent she's willing too. Taking on a new persona and changing into the new Lolly. I think alot of us have that in us. "The Other Me", it may not be as vocal as Lolly's other side. Dealing with mental health issues can be the cause of the other sides.
Having these walls up not getting close to people or allowing people to not get to know You. I think at times Lolly's character were about the fight and not flight. Instead of being honest she creates the entire scene in her mind. She sounds believable at times. Her relationship with Sedick were in the start gentle and new but eventually his mask also started to be unmask by abusing her emotionally and at times physically. Putting his sister before his wife. He has all the markings of a narcissist.
There has been many surprises throughout the story. Lolly's ways of manipulation and how she actually are the cause of most of her pain, but there's a vulnerability about her. You cannot rid yourself of her by saying she's all these things Sedick is calling her. I completely loved her character there was always a new thing she'd end up doing. Her life aim was just to be loved for who she was.
I couldn't like Sedick at all, especially his ego and how he became abusive towards a woman he wants claim to love. I also wondered why dud he change the moment he heard she was in fact not born a Higgins, he turned a whole 360' degrees and started cheating.
The last part of the book her ending up falling for the woman who basically were the woman her husband cheated on her with and her falling for her. Wow, I could truly see these characters in front of me acting all these scenes out. It was hard to read at times, but there were some comedic scenes of Lolly. How many woman haven't been where Lolly has found herself in these chapters. She did deserve to be loved.
Her death was tragic, I was hoping that she wouldn't go that route to end her life. But it was where she's lost almost everyone that was important to her.
Well done to Joy Watson for writing such a believable story that's relatable and tapping into topics most are afraid to speak about or mentioned... Looking forward to the next one.
This book got me so drawn into it that Lolly's story as it gave us a bit on her background. I didn't want to put the book down, enjoying the fragments of this new venture Lolly was definitely taking me on.
The beginning of her life was hard at most times with alot of anguish, her upbringing of being raised by a single mother, no father and a Ouma that most of us can relate to if you grew up on the Cape Flats, that sense of familiarity. However hard her childhood was. What shocked me was the dead of her beloved brother, the sole purpose of her existence was to protect him only to have gone through that lost. I think my heart broke for her in that moment, prior to losing her gran.
Her new life in Newlands was a new chapter for her. She kept her walls up not wanting to get to close to the adopted mother. In some ways she let herself liking Sue, but also at an extent she's willing too. Taking on a new persona and changing into the new Lolly. I think alot of us have that in us. "The Other Me", it may not be as vocal as Lolly's other side. Dealing with mental health issues can be the cause of the other sides.
Having these walls up not getting close to people or allowing people to not get to know You. I think at times Lolly's character were about the fight and not flight. Instead of being honest she creates the entire scene in her mind. She sounds believable at times. Her relationship with Sedick were in the start gentle and new but eventually his mask also started to be unmask by abusing her emotionally and at times physically. Putting his sister before his wife. He has all the markings of a narcissist.
There has been many surprises throughout the story. Lolly's ways of manipulation and how she actually are the cause of most of her pain, but there's a vulnerability about her. You cannot rid yourself of her by saying she's all these things Sedick is calling her. I completely loved her character there was always a new thing she'd end up doing. Her life aim was just to be loved for who she was.
I couldn't like Sedick at all, especially his ego and how he became abusive towards a woman he wants claim to love. I also wondered why dud he change the moment he heard she was in fact not born a Higgins, he turned a whole 360' degrees and started cheating.
The last part of the book her ending up falling for the woman who basically were the woman her husband cheated on her with and her falling for her. Wow, I could truly see these characters in front of me acting all these scenes out. It was hard to read at times, but there were some comedic scenes of Lolly. How many woman haven't been where Lolly has found herself in these chapters. She did deserve to be loved.
Her death was tragic, I was hoping that she wouldn't go that route to end her life. But it was where she's lost almost everyone that was important to her.
Well done to Joy Watson for writing such a believable story that's relatable and tapping into topics most are afraid to speak about or mentioned... Looking forward to the next one.
September 14, 2022
Truth be told we all have another side. In Watson’s debut novel she uses the main character, Lolly, to deal with childhood trauma, displacement, loneliness, ambition and a society where men hold the power and women are mostly excluded from it.
Lolly is born in Grassy Park into a world with a mother who is almost always absent and a philandering father. She decides to take things into her own hands but makes a terrible mistake.
This light-skinned girl is adopted by Sue and her family who live in Newlands.
Dealing with the loss of loved ones, Lolly steels herself to not make friends or share her life. But when she does she is a very good friend until the other Lolly steps in and then all hell breaks loose.
She deserves better, doesn’t she? After all, nothing that goes wrong in Lolly’s life is her fault. Or is it? And if it might be she will shut it out.
Misguided and self-destructive, she meets Sedick while studying at UCT.
He is studying chemical engineering and she is majoring in economics.
With zero interest in falling in love, he surprisingly fulfils her standards and is drop-dead gorgeous.
He is also clever and ambitious with dreams of one day living in Constantia.
Sedick offers her a sense of safety and belonging and an amazing mind-blowing sex life.
They marry, move into a flat in Rondebosch and live the high life with weekends away while keeping up with fashions and trends.
Having shed her coloured upbringing, Lolly meets his parents and sister.
They are the archetypal Cape Flats family living by a code of close ties. Lolly plays along and discovers that she is pregnant. But is she?
The Other Me is fast-paced, lively and with convincing characters who come, go and come again at Lolly’s bidding.
It will have you mesmerised and wanting more; to see the next mess she gets into and more importantly, how she gets out of it.
Lolly is resourceful, funny and captivating but also vulnerable, lonely and rejects violence.
Laugh at her, squeal and squirm, Lolly is a detestable character but in the best possible way.
It’s a delightful binge-worthy read.
As for the divisive ending, it’s perfect. I can’t wait to see what Watson has in store for us next.
Watson is a feminist researcher specialising in analysing public policy and service delivery.
Lolly is born in Grassy Park into a world with a mother who is almost always absent and a philandering father. She decides to take things into her own hands but makes a terrible mistake.
This light-skinned girl is adopted by Sue and her family who live in Newlands.
Dealing with the loss of loved ones, Lolly steels herself to not make friends or share her life. But when she does she is a very good friend until the other Lolly steps in and then all hell breaks loose.
She deserves better, doesn’t she? After all, nothing that goes wrong in Lolly’s life is her fault. Or is it? And if it might be she will shut it out.
Misguided and self-destructive, she meets Sedick while studying at UCT.
He is studying chemical engineering and she is majoring in economics.
With zero interest in falling in love, he surprisingly fulfils her standards and is drop-dead gorgeous.
He is also clever and ambitious with dreams of one day living in Constantia.
Sedick offers her a sense of safety and belonging and an amazing mind-blowing sex life.
They marry, move into a flat in Rondebosch and live the high life with weekends away while keeping up with fashions and trends.
Having shed her coloured upbringing, Lolly meets his parents and sister.
They are the archetypal Cape Flats family living by a code of close ties. Lolly plays along and discovers that she is pregnant. But is she?
The Other Me is fast-paced, lively and with convincing characters who come, go and come again at Lolly’s bidding.
It will have you mesmerised and wanting more; to see the next mess she gets into and more importantly, how she gets out of it.
Lolly is resourceful, funny and captivating but also vulnerable, lonely and rejects violence.
Laugh at her, squeal and squirm, Lolly is a detestable character but in the best possible way.
It’s a delightful binge-worthy read.
As for the divisive ending, it’s perfect. I can’t wait to see what Watson has in store for us next.
Watson is a feminist researcher specialising in analysing public policy and service delivery.
June 3, 2022
Lolly is born into a world where the odds are stacked against her. She doesn’t know her father and her mother is almost as absent. When the two people she dares to love are no longer there, little Lolly steels herself against forming attachments that might cause more pain. She deserves better, doesn’t she? After all, nothing that goes wrong in Lolly’s life is her fault, is it? And if it might be, she’ll shut it out. Future relationships, she determines, should be developed for reasons practical and ambitious only. But enter Sedick. He meets her standards. He’s good-looking, materialistic, a go-getter and smart. Lolly’s not mad about his family but Sedick offers her a sense of belonging and makes her feel safe—until he doesn’t.
In Joy Watson’s debut novel, The Other Me, the protagonist and narrator, Lolly is misguided, tragic and self-destructive. She’s also funny, resourceful and as captivating as a daredevil at a circus. But can her resolve to rise above circumstance and fortify herself against being vulnerable protect her from loneliness, rejection and violence?
Set chiefly in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, The Other Me is a lively, fast-paced story with a cast of convincing characters who come, go and come again at Lolly’s bidding. The book deals with several themes, including childhood trauma, displacement, loneliness, ambition and patriarchy. While Lolly is the star of her universe, she’s not the only character whose light twinkles and wanes. Watson skilfully shows that there’s another me in almost all of us and, when the end came, it seemed to me that Lolly might’ve been as surprised by the outcome as I was.
If you’re a fan of domestic noir/psychological thrillers like The Push (Ashley Audrain), The Silent Patient (Alex Michaelides), Sharp Objects (Gillian Flynn) and The Wife Upstairs (Rachel Hawkins), you’ll enjoy The Other Me.
In Joy Watson’s debut novel, The Other Me, the protagonist and narrator, Lolly is misguided, tragic and self-destructive. She’s also funny, resourceful and as captivating as a daredevil at a circus. But can her resolve to rise above circumstance and fortify herself against being vulnerable protect her from loneliness, rejection and violence?
Set chiefly in Cape Town’s southern suburbs, The Other Me is a lively, fast-paced story with a cast of convincing characters who come, go and come again at Lolly’s bidding. The book deals with several themes, including childhood trauma, displacement, loneliness, ambition and patriarchy. While Lolly is the star of her universe, she’s not the only character whose light twinkles and wanes. Watson skilfully shows that there’s another me in almost all of us and, when the end came, it seemed to me that Lolly might’ve been as surprised by the outcome as I was.
If you’re a fan of domestic noir/psychological thrillers like The Push (Ashley Audrain), The Silent Patient (Alex Michaelides), Sharp Objects (Gillian Flynn) and The Wife Upstairs (Rachel Hawkins), you’ll enjoy The Other Me.
July 13, 2022
Lolly is many things. A lover, a fighter, a perfectionist, a fierce advocate for what she wants out of life, a narcissist. Or is that last one actually Other Lolly? It's her alter ego who does bad stuff, not her. Not really. Can she blame her? Other Lolly is just looking out for her. After all, Lolly has suffered great trauma and tragedy.
The Other Me looks at the binaries between bullies and victims, and what makes a person good or bad. It questions these two broad categories that define us as humans. Does a person who has done bad things deserve to be treated badly? And can people who do good things excuse their sometimes bad behaviour because of the good?
Ultimately, everyone is capable of being good or bad, of frequently fluctuating between the two and through the vast range of other categories of behaviour that make up either - or both.
Told solely from Lolly’s perspective, the book delves into politics, race, relationships, family dynamics, and emotional manipulation in many forms.
This was a consuming read, at times completely gut-wrenching, sickening, aggravating, heartwarming (and indeed breaking), and laugh-out-loud funny.
What I really love about it is that I finished it days ago and I am still thinking about it, which is one of my favourite characteristics in any book.
There’s some harrowing content. I don’t tend to offer trigger warnings as often I find them to just be spoilers, but I’d advise doing a bit of research before you dive in if you’re concerned. Or drop me a message and I’ll gladly elaborate.
I had the pleasure of reading this with a group of South African bookstagrammers, sharing insights and feelings about the book and its characters. It was also wonderful to meet Joy Watson and discover that she isn’t even the tiniest bit like Lolly, so don’t ask her how much of herself in the character. Lolly is purely made up.
The Other Me looks at the binaries between bullies and victims, and what makes a person good or bad. It questions these two broad categories that define us as humans. Does a person who has done bad things deserve to be treated badly? And can people who do good things excuse their sometimes bad behaviour because of the good?
Ultimately, everyone is capable of being good or bad, of frequently fluctuating between the two and through the vast range of other categories of behaviour that make up either - or both.
Told solely from Lolly’s perspective, the book delves into politics, race, relationships, family dynamics, and emotional manipulation in many forms.
This was a consuming read, at times completely gut-wrenching, sickening, aggravating, heartwarming (and indeed breaking), and laugh-out-loud funny.
What I really love about it is that I finished it days ago and I am still thinking about it, which is one of my favourite characteristics in any book.
There’s some harrowing content. I don’t tend to offer trigger warnings as often I find them to just be spoilers, but I’d advise doing a bit of research before you dive in if you’re concerned. Or drop me a message and I’ll gladly elaborate.
I had the pleasure of reading this with a group of South African bookstagrammers, sharing insights and feelings about the book and its characters. It was also wonderful to meet Joy Watson and discover that she isn’t even the tiniest bit like Lolly, so don’t ask her how much of herself in the character. Lolly is purely made up.
July 22, 2022
I really enjoyed this novel and found it hard to put down. As readers we rarely get a chance to see the thinking of an evil protagonist… or is she? Lolly is manipulative, for sure, but I’d define her as a vulnerable rather than malignant narcissist. It’s hard to feel sorry for her as she’s so self-destructive, but equally hard not to feel drawn into her way of thinking even if one recognizes it for what it is.
I also like how the author played with our expectations towards women in general (natural mothers and all that jazz) or more specifically, abused women. Food for thought, for sure.
I also like how the author played with our expectations towards women in general (natural mothers and all that jazz) or more specifically, abused women. Food for thought, for sure.
January 14, 2023
I am getting great enjoyment from reading South African authors at the moment, and Joy Watson's debut novel is find and a half.
I read this in what would be a day of I put last night and this afternoon together in consecutive hours. I haven't done that in many years and many books.
Lolly had me hooked from the beginning as she told her story. In the end, she did the only thing she could. (You'll have to read it. 😁)
Funny - I laughed out loud on page 11 - until I didn't. Sad. Dark.
Great read.
I read this in what would be a day of I put last night and this afternoon together in consecutive hours. I haven't done that in many years and many books.
Lolly had me hooked from the beginning as she told her story. In the end, she did the only thing she could. (You'll have to read it. 😁)
Funny - I laughed out loud on page 11 - until I didn't. Sad. Dark.
Great read.
July 6, 2023
A real page turner. One of those books that you have to finish and make vague excuses to avoid commitment, life, work etc to finish the book.
Lolly is deeply complex character and while there is something decidedly evil always lurking beneath her facade you can’t help feeling for her and being angry at everyone who has let her down. She is a product of her life. This will stay with me for a while.
I look forward to more books from Joy Watson.
Lolly is deeply complex character and while there is something decidedly evil always lurking beneath her facade you can’t help feeling for her and being angry at everyone who has let her down. She is a product of her life. This will stay with me for a while.
I look forward to more books from Joy Watson.
August 21, 2022
Look up ‘unputdownable’ in the dictionary and you’ll see the cover of this book as the first entry. The main character Lolly is one flawed cookie, but so intriguing and engaging (and all her actions make sense to me - but then again, I know I’m one flawed cookie too). I will happily bet that nobody will put this book down to finish on some other day - you’ll want to know what will happen next…
September 22, 2022
An excellent read and certainly a page turner. It's weird to find yourself slightly rooting for the protagonist despite her dark side. There were a few elements of the storyline I felt were a bit simplistic but perhaps thats because we only truly saw one perspective. The author also explored some pertinent themes in the book - hidden pasts/identities, family dynamics and domestic abuse, etc.
July 22, 2022
Excellent read..gripping, relatable, we alll have to face and work with and through our shadows and egos. Highly recommended.
August 17, 2022
With strong characters, proper writing skills and a story that kills, you can't go wrong with this book! Definitely a must-read for locals, curious foreigners, and any fans of plot twists!
June 21, 2024
What happens when trauma goes uncared for?
The Other Me by @joy_ann_watson follows Lolly growing up in the Cape Flats with her brother and mother. The family stays in a Wendy house in a relative’s garden, and Lolly recalls taking care of her brother while her mother is out drinking at night and sleeping during the day.
When her brother and mother both tragically pass away, Lolly is adopted by Sue Higgins, a white woman in Constantia, and taken in with her husband and own daughter.
But can one truly escape the past?
This debut is a gripping page-turner. Lolly manipulates everyone around her and in many ways pulls the reader in too.
Lolly is a master manipulator and you want to be mad at her for the horrible things she does, yet you feel some sympathy for her because she is a child, who has largely been shaped by her childhood trauma and had to grow up to quickly.
Watson skilfully and masterful, using her unreliable protagonist, reflects on trauma, passing, mental illness, love across the “colour line” and religious line and unlikeable female characters.
As I finished the book, I kept thinking to myself, I hope this is fiction because Lolly is a wild card. Lolly will stay with you long after the read the book.
The Other Me by @joy_ann_watson follows Lolly growing up in the Cape Flats with her brother and mother. The family stays in a Wendy house in a relative’s garden, and Lolly recalls taking care of her brother while her mother is out drinking at night and sleeping during the day.
When her brother and mother both tragically pass away, Lolly is adopted by Sue Higgins, a white woman in Constantia, and taken in with her husband and own daughter.
But can one truly escape the past?
This debut is a gripping page-turner. Lolly manipulates everyone around her and in many ways pulls the reader in too.
Lolly is a master manipulator and you want to be mad at her for the horrible things she does, yet you feel some sympathy for her because she is a child, who has largely been shaped by her childhood trauma and had to grow up to quickly.
Watson skilfully and masterful, using her unreliable protagonist, reflects on trauma, passing, mental illness, love across the “colour line” and religious line and unlikeable female characters.
As I finished the book, I kept thinking to myself, I hope this is fiction because Lolly is a wild card. Lolly will stay with you long after the read the book.
January 15, 2025
Writing this at 02:45am because it was just that good (and my last cup of coffee was a bit too late). “Genre-defying” is how I’d define it and when I thought it might drop the ball in the final chapters, it bounced fight up tied it in the perfect Lolly-shaped bow🥹
February 24, 2023
Good enough to keep me reading to the end, for no other reason than to see how it was going to end. But not quite good enough for me to say I enjoyed the book.
May 15, 2025
Wickedly clever, written with great humor and a story line that demands your full attention from the first page to the last.
May 29, 2022
Review of The Other Me by Joy Watson
I absolutely swallowed up Joy Watson's debut novel 'The Other Me'! If you haven't heard of it yet (or have heard of it but were unsure), this is your sign to take leave from work and binge it.
Fans of Lisa Taddeo, Ottessa Moshfegh, Carmen Maria Machado will be happy here in Lolly's world.
It's the kind of book where it can be both escapist but also sucks you in to the messy sociopathic world that is Cape Town...oops, I meant Lolly (but also maybe Cape Town).
In many ways, (not sure I should admit to this), The Other Lolly made the other Ronel feel affirmed. The novel forces us to see women as main characters in the world with agency and with flaws. There's also a searing commentary on the double standards in the fabric of heterosexual marriages and how the world receives them.
I love me a effed-up woman in fiction because she makes me feel validated. And what's more effed up than faking a pregnancy? Domestic violence? No thank you, a man who hits his wife we can understand. He had his reasons. But a woman using her reproductive promise as a weapon in her marriage? Unthinkable. What a crazy bitch.
It turns the crazy ex trope on its head and says 'what if the crazy is a woman scorned and what if the woman scorned has some very very good reasons'. As for the divisive ending, for me it was perfect. An entirely realistic look at what happens when we don't take women's mental illnesses seriously and turn them into character flaws.
I feel like we need a discussion group akin to the one we had for The Push because I have many thoughts about The Other Me and I'm not sure if I need a book club or a psychiatrist.
I absolutely swallowed up Joy Watson's debut novel 'The Other Me'! If you haven't heard of it yet (or have heard of it but were unsure), this is your sign to take leave from work and binge it.
Fans of Lisa Taddeo, Ottessa Moshfegh, Carmen Maria Machado will be happy here in Lolly's world.
It's the kind of book where it can be both escapist but also sucks you in to the messy sociopathic world that is Cape Town...oops, I meant Lolly (but also maybe Cape Town).
In many ways, (not sure I should admit to this), The Other Lolly made the other Ronel feel affirmed. The novel forces us to see women as main characters in the world with agency and with flaws. There's also a searing commentary on the double standards in the fabric of heterosexual marriages and how the world receives them.
I love me a effed-up woman in fiction because she makes me feel validated. And what's more effed up than faking a pregnancy? Domestic violence? No thank you, a man who hits his wife we can understand. He had his reasons. But a woman using her reproductive promise as a weapon in her marriage? Unthinkable. What a crazy bitch.
It turns the crazy ex trope on its head and says 'what if the crazy is a woman scorned and what if the woman scorned has some very very good reasons'. As for the divisive ending, for me it was perfect. An entirely realistic look at what happens when we don't take women's mental illnesses seriously and turn them into character flaws.
I feel like we need a discussion group akin to the one we had for The Push because I have many thoughts about The Other Me and I'm not sure if I need a book club or a psychiatrist.
April 9, 2025
I read this book more than a year ago and I'm still thinking about it.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews