Review I should have written a lifetime ago: Just Like the Other Girls by Claire Douglas #Books #Thriller @MichaelJBooks

GIFTED / Today I decided to post my review for a book that came out some time ago. I was lucky enough to receive a Netgalley widget for this book, but as some of you already know, I was in a bad place and too occupied with motherhood to keep up with my blog.

I enjoyed reading Just Like the Other Girls, as it was a buddy read with my friend Amanda from Chocolate Pages, who came to the rescue when it comes to clearing that Netgalley shelf of mine.

The novel came out on August 6th 2020 and it has 394 pages. Thank you to Penguin UK – Michael Joseph for providing me a copy.

About the book:

FROM GOODREADS /

CARER/COMPANION WANTED FOR ELDERLY LADY
* YOUNG FEMALE PREFERRED * COMPETITIVE SALARY *
* ROOM AND BOARD INCLUDED *

Una Richardson’s heart is broken after the death of her mother. Seeking a place to heal, she responds to an advertisement and steps into the rich, comforting world of Elspeth McKenzie.

But Elspeth’s home is not as safe as it seems.

Kathryn, her cold and bitter daughter, resents Una’s presence. But more disturbing is the realization that two girls had lived here before. Two girls who ended up dead.

Why won’t the McKenzies talk about them? What other secrets are locked inside this house? As the walls close in around her, Una starts to fear that she will end up just like the other girls . . .

Review:

Just Like the Other Girls was a wild ride I took with my friend Amanda (in other words, we buddy read it), and guys, it was a thrilling enjoyment.

If you keep up with my reading, you would know that reading club and buddy reads with my friends are my number one priority for months now, and let me tell you, I can’t recall when was the latast time we read such a good, discussion caller of a novel.

The writing pulled me in immediately, with action and mystery that urged me to read one more page, and all the characters that were suspicious.
This is one of the books where everyone can be a bad guy and you don’t know their motives at all, and as a result, you don’t even know how many bad guys are there at all.
Is it all the work of a one person, or do two/more work together?? That is a mystery!

Because of all of the above, we finished the book in 5 days instead of 8 that was originally planned.

I also want to applause the author for her courage to take turn that was brave and definitely unique, and so unpredictable.
If you read the book, you know what I’m talking about, if you didn’t, I don’t want to spoil you.
But because of that “thing” that happened, that lead to “part 2” I was sure I was reading a 5stars worth book.

However, after I finished the book, and mystery was solved (in a satisfying way) I looked back at italic parts of the book and I felt played out. Fooled.
It was like the author made up some parts of it just to lead us the wrong way, and they don’t make sense.
I was so angry I even wanted to give it 3,5 stars.
Actually, I still am angry and I still am debating whether to give it 4 or 3,5 stars.
This whole situation reminded me that Douglas did the very same thing in her previous novel When She Vanished, and I felt the same.

I decided that I will read another book by her some other time and if italics make me mad again, I will just give up on her work.
Her books are good, but I just don’t like being mislead if it’s not done in an intelligent way.

However, I do recommend this book because it is really good.