Welcome to my review of The Girl before Me by Laura Wolfe. I have never read a book by this author before, so the intriguing blurb and great cover drew my attention. But unfortunately, it didn’t quite live up to the fast-paced, exciting thriller that I had expected.
I switched on the bedroom light, casting a glow across the apartment. No one was there. But then the locks on my front door caught my eye. I thought I’d locked them both, but now one was open…
When I moved into the apartment with my little daughter Lily, it was meant to be a new beginning for us. Now we are right in the heart of downtown, in a building with its own doorman. For the first time in a long time we are safe, away from my ex-husband.
But just as we settle into our new lives a letter arrives for someone called Annie. The neighbors tell me to ignore it. She’s just the woman who lived here before me, who moved out one day without a word.
Curious, I open it anyway and am shocked by what I read. It says Annie wasn’t safe. It said she needed to get out.
Now, I can’t escape the idea that someone is watching us. I feel I can’t trust my neighbors.
And I can’t help but think… Something happened to Annie. Something bad. And Lily and I are not nearly as safe here as I thought we were…
A totally unputdownable gripping thriller, perfect for fans of Lisa Jewell, Shari Lapena and Gillian Flynn.
Laura Wolfe is an Amazon charts bestselling author who writes fast-paced and twisty psychological thrillers and suspense novels. Her recent titles published by Bookouture include WE LIVE NEXT DOOR, HER BEST FRIEND’S LIE, SHE LIES ALONE, and TWO WIDOWS. Laura’s YA mystery series and adult suspense novel, TOP PRODUCER, have been shortlisted for multiple indie book awards. Laura is a lover of animals and nature. When she is not writing, she can be found hanging out with her husband and two kids, growing vegetables in her garden, or spoiling her rescue dog. She enjoys living in Ann Arbor, Michigan
www.Facebook.com/LauraWolfeBooks
www.Bookbub.com/profile/laura-wolfe
Instagram: @LWolfe.Writes
Twitter: @LauraWolfeBooks
The Girl Before Me started off brilliantly and drew you in immediately. Rachel has recently divorced and left her abusive ex-husband. She has moved with their six-year-old daughter, Lily, to the big city, an apartment in Lincoln Park, Chicago, from their previously lived suburbs. This new dream world was going to be excellent; Rachel works from home, and they have a desirable apartment they couldn’t usually dream of affording, but thanks to Annie Turner disappearing one night three weeks prior, they got a great rental rate. To top it all off, Lily has won a very prestigious scholarship, all fees paid for education at a local elite school. What could possibly go wrong?
Well, everything could go wrong as it seems! Rachel still doesn’t feel safe despite having around the clock doorman and secure entry, an apartment with double locks. A letter arrived for Annie urging her to leave urgently as she was in danger; Rachel had opened it and now can’t get the idea out of her mind. She makes some new friends, and Lily settles in well, but all may not be as it seems.
Unfortunately, the plot fell a little flat for me. It wasn’t as fast-[aced as I had hoped and at times, it felt a little too drawn out. The writing style was lovely, and I felt unsure of many characters throughout the book. Some parts did appear to be lacking in reality, for example, Alex’s past, and despite Rachel’s past experiences, she is incredibly trusting of these new people a little too quickly, especially leaving her daughter in their care when she barely knows them.
There are some twists and turns. The plot throws you from one idea to the other. The characters didn’t do much for me. I neither liked nor loathed them. Even Lily, whom I would usually imagine as adorable, felt flat to me. She didn’t have the energy of a small child or the cuteness in the description I would expect.
The ending was too abrupt for me. There are plenty of things going on throughout, but they aren’t all tied up brilliantly, and I felt like I had been left hanging.
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| Title | The Girl before Me |
| Author | Laura Wolfe |
| Series | N/A |
| Format | eARC |
| Page Count | 323 Pages |
| Genre | Psychological Thriller |
| Publisher | Bookouture |
| Release Date | 29th April 2022 |
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