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| (Thank you to the publisher and TLC Book Tours for providing me with a copy of this book!) |
Six-year-old Helen and Ellie are identical twins, but Helen is smarter, more popular, and their mother’s favorite. Ellie, on the other hand, requires special instruction at school, is friendless, and is punished at every turn.
Until they decide to swap places–just for fun, and just for one day–and Ellie refuses to switch back. Everything of Helen’s, from her toys to her friends to her identity, now belongs to her sister. With those around her oblivious to her plight, the girl who used to be Helen loses her sense of self and withdraws into a spiral of behavioral problems, delinquency, and mental illness. In time, she’s not even sure of her memory of the switch.
Twenty-five years later, she receives a call that threatens to pull her back into her sister’s dangerous orbit. Will she take this chance to face her past?
my thoughts:
A book about twins who switch identities sounds like a fun read, right? Especially when one of the twins refuses to switch back. Yeah, she decides to retain her sister's identity from here on out - how crazy is that? Apparently so crazy that it wreaks havoc on her sister's mental state of mind for years to come. Sounds pretty awesome, eh? Well, it wasn't. No matter how many pages I read, I just could not engage with this story. In fact, I had to DNF the book. Yep, I stopped reading. The characters were beyond unlikeable. The alternating chapters were disruptive to the flow of the story. And the actual story, well, it just didn't captivate like I had hoped.
Of course, my opinion seems to be in the minority. Seems that every review I've read is raving about this psychological thriller. In fact, if you want to find out what other book bloggers are writing about Morgan's novel, here's the link to the TLC Book Tour schedule for: Beside Myself
7 comments:
Oh, what a shame! It does sound so promising based on the idea of this switch and one won't give up her new life - how intense and fascinating. I might check it out just to see as it does sound like one that would fit right up my alley!
Ha, ha! Very often it's the same with me. I hate a book that all other reviews rave about. Good for you for your honesty.
That's too bad. The premise sounded interesting. Oh well, one less book to write down on my To Read list. :) Here's hoping your next one is better.
Natalie, it was a shame. Definitely check it out - you may wind up loving it :)
techeditor, exactly! I feel like I'm always on the out when it comes to these books that everyone seems to love. Oh well - seems like I'm not alone :) Thanks!
Lark, yeah it is too bad. Oh well, on to the next book! :)
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this book for the tour.
Heather, thanks for having me on the tour!
A well rendered, chillingly dark, and very unsettling novel of family dysfunction, “Beside Myself” will be enjoyed by all fans of the psychological thriller genre.
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