Review: My Sweet Girl by Amanda Jayatissa
My Sweet Girl
by Amanda Jayatissa
Thank you so much to Berkley for this gifted book.
Publish Date: September 14, 2021
Hardcover
384 Pages
Standalone
Genre: Thriller
Paloma thought her perfect life would begin once she was adopted and made it to America, but she’s about to find out that no matter how far you run, your past always catches up to you…
Ever since she was adopted from a Sri Lankan orphanage, Paloma has had the best of everything—schools, money, and parents so perfect that she fears she'll never live up to them.
Now at thirty years old and recently cut off from her parents’ funds, she decides to sublet the second bedroom of her overpriced San Francisco apartment to Arun, who recently moved from India. Paloma has to admit, it feels good helping someone find their way in America—that is until Arun discovers Paloma's darkest secret, one that could jeopardize her own fragile place in this country.
Before Paloma can pay Arun off, she finds him face down in a pool of blood. She flees the apartment but by the time the police arrive, there's no body—and no evidence that Arun ever even existed in the first place.
Paloma is terrified this is all somehow tangled up in the desperate actions she took to escape Sri Lanka so many years ago. Did Paloma’s secret die with Arun or is she now in greater danger than ever before?
My Review:
Ok ok okkkkkkkkkkkkk, DEBUT! I love reading debut novels because most of the time, they are such a pleasant surprise and it's so nice to see authors really kick it out of the ball park. Welcome to a dual time-line shown in two different countries that starts with Paloma's roommate's death, the body disappearing and Paloma waking up on the floor by her neighbor.... again. Jayatissa, you have got my interest!
Paloma is quite the unreliable narrator! Sometimes it was so frustrating and eye rolling to be inside her head and yet at the SAME TIME, I was having so much fun looking through her lenses. Admittedly, I did feel like after the first opening scene, it got a little stagnant but then it picks right back up and welcome to Twist City! Population, WHAT?! I do think maybe ALL the twists weren't exactly necessary but honestly, who cares because the ride was just so much fun. Throw your hands up and throw caution to the wind. There's also more to the story than just the usual twisty thriller drama... so pay attention and you'll see what I mean 😉. I appreciate the author incorporating some seriousness into the levity that is Paloma (at least she was for me!).
Listen, absolutely an impressive debut. I do think it'll be a bit of a hit or miss for readers as being inside Paloma's head can either be grating and draining or a bliss of pessimistic realism that I personally enjoyed ... most of the time. 😏 Will 100% be looking for her next release.
★★★★
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