Book Review: When I Was You by Minka Kent

“Bad people don’t sit around thinking about all the ways that make them bad.”

― Minka Kent, When I Was You 

Wall Street Journal bestselling author Minka Kent's compelling psychological thriller story follows a lady who is driven to despair by a stolen identity.

Synopsis from Goodreads...

After barely surviving a brutal attack, Brienne Dougray rarely leaves her house. Suffering from debilitating headaches and memory loss, she can rely only on her compassionate new tenant, Dr. Niall Emberlin, a welcome distraction from the discomfiting bubble that has become her existence.

But Brienne’s growing confidence in her new routine is shaken when she stumbles across unsettling evidence that someone else is living as…her. Same name. Same car. Same hair. Same clothes. She’s even friended her family on social media. To find out why, Brienne must leave the safety of her home to hunt a familiar stranger.

What she discovers is more disturbing than she could have ever imagined. With her fragile mind close to shattering, Brienne is prepared to do anything to reclaim her life. If it’s even hers to reclaim.

My reaction to this novel...

I've read a book by Minka Kent before, and the first one piqued my curiosity in both her writing style and the novels she writes. I really adore this book's cover in addition to the pleasure I had reading her prior work. Though I usually keep thriller novels on my shelf, this one seemed eerie, so I decided to give it a go and read it right away after buying it.

I think the book is really outstanding. Since there are just three primary characters in the novel, readers—especially those who are new to reading—won't be confused. In fact, there are occasions when I really become confused while reading a thriller novel with a large cast of characters, so this is definitely a positive for me. The characters were easy for me to recall, and I could follow the plot developments.

I had a number of situations in my thoughts while reading this story that I envisioned and foresaw. Even though I realized the narrative of this one correctly, reading it still seems strange. I was simultaneously astonished and impressed by it. I have the impression that I am a part of the narrative and that I am seeing the falsehoods the characters are speaking come to light. This is a somewhat difficult way of living for the main character. She made every effort to conduct her life in accordance with her perception of her own level of expertise. My favorite thing about her is that, despite her wealth, she chooses to lead a modest and straightforward life.

The story's twist is quite shocking. The twist is so good that it will definitely make you pause and consider things. I think that would make an excellent suspense novel since it puzzled you in a whole new way. I enjoy how the narrative challenges the reader's perspective as they continue to consider the words they are reading. Throughout this work, there have been several instances where, even though I was able to predict the outcome, it still left me with a number of unanswered issues regarding the reality that I'm unfolding. For me, the author is a true talent since she piqued my attention and made me yearn for more stories like this.

This is Minka Kent's second book that I have read so far, and both of them have truly impressed me. For that reason, I am delighted to suggest this book to anybody searching for a thriller that will challenge their preconceived notions about plot points. Adding this to my list of favorites is a given.

My Overall Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨(4.5/5)