#ATBR2019 REVIEW: An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen @stmartinspress @greerkh @sarahpekkanen
An Anonymous Girl
by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
Thanks so much to St. Martin's Press for these review copies! Jessica and I are huge fans of these authors and this book just launches them into autobuy authors for us. See what we thought below!
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publish Date: January 8, 2019
Hardcover
384 Pages
Standalone
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Seeking women ages 18–32 to participate in a study on ethics and morality. Generous compensation. Anonymity guaranteed.
When Jessica Farris signs up for a psychology study conducted by the mysterious Dr. Shields, she thinks all she’ll have to do is answer a few questions, collect her money, and leave. But as the questions grow more and more intense and invasive and the sessions become outings where Jess is told what to wear and how to act, she begins to feel as though Dr. Shields may know what she’s thinking…and what she’s hiding. As Jess’s paranoia grows, it becomes clear that she can no longer trust what in her life is real, and what is one of Dr. Shields’ manipulative experiments. Caught in a web of deceit and jealousy, Jess quickly learns that some obsessions can be deadly.
My Review:
Coming off the hype and love (most) everyone had for The Wife Between Us, going into this book, I was a little hesitant. Sometimes that first book that just WOWS you ruins it for the next one. Well, ladies and gentlemen, let me tell you, Greer and Sarah have done it AGAIN. It's hard to believe that there are two people writing a book when it comes across as cohesively as they manage to make it.
As someone who loves "scientific" testing and the psychology of people, the plot is original, intriguing and a study I would have been happy to join (well, not anymore after reading this book but... 😉). A morality study?? I find this even MORE intriguing because of the generality of what morality can mean to any number of people. Different lifestyles, religious loyalties, family upbringing.. I mean, there are millions of things that can determine what someone considers to be moral or not and while the "standard" could be the same across the board, the little blips can be drastically different from person to person. BUT ANYWAYS...
Go into this blind. While some parts are completely implausible (or ARE they?!), this was an absolute fun ride to be on. Jessica is quite the character and I'm surprised she was so easily a target. Dr. Shields... well, isn't she just the intelligent manipulator? As usual, the authors bring about some twists and when everything starts to come together, it becomes a matter of who to trust in this puzzle. I did feel that the ending was a little bit toooooo easy considering everything leading up to it. However, once again I was pulled in, strapped down and read it in two sittings. BAM.
Easily addictive, you'll be hard pressed to put this one down once you pick it up. Give me more, ladies!!
★★★★
Jessica's Review:
What can I say without spoiling anything?? Last year I read THE WIFE BETWEEN US and could not put it down. Each part of that novel had a new revelation that gave you an audible, "What the actual f*** just happened?". I can't even explain how excited I was to receive an early copy of their follow up, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL. Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen are an incredible writing duo. Their writing is seamless and flows together flawlessly. There are times when multiple authors co-author a book that it can feel choppy or inconsistent, but not with these lades!
We have Jessica, a make up artist living in New York. On a job she overhears a voicemail for her client, an NYU student, about a psychological study she is going to participate in for generous compensation. Jessica takes the risk and goes in the student's place the next morning. She is Subject 52 and is issued questions through a laptop - the topic? Morality, and she is instructed to be completely honest with Dr. Shields.
I don't want to say anything more. Going into this knowing less is key! The main characters are just conniving, manipulative, and you don't know who you can trust. The short chapters made this a fast one to fly through - but with the growing suspense and the need to know what will happen next is more than enough to make you binge! Just like THE WIFE BETWEEN US, I would highly recommend AN ANONYMOUS GIRL to those looking for an expertly woven cat and mouse thriller. Well developed characters, deception, cold and calculated steps, and all with the theme of morality. Will the trust really set you free?
5/5 stars
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