When I Was You - Book Review

When I Was You by Amber Garza
Publication date: August 25, 2020
Pages: 368 pages
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 5/5 stars ☆☆☆☆☆
Strengths: Plot, THAT ENDING!!
Weaknesses: Could get confusing - best to read it as quickly as possible!

I've found that I really enjoy books with unreliable narrators. This story was definitely that. There's two Kelly Medinas, a fact that fascinates the older of the two, and she feels compelled to help the younger navigate a life that she's sure is just like hers. But we hear, as the older talks to her husband and best friend, that things may not be okay with the older Kelly. There was something super-traumatic in her not-so-long-ago past that leaves those around her doubtful of her ability to evaluate people and situations. We don't know exactly what she's apparently in denial of until much later in the book. 

The younger Kelly Medina and her baby boy definitely seem to need help. She tells the older that she has no support in the area, but never quite says what led her to move to this small town where the older already lived. The older Kelly is so excited to feel useful again, now that she lives alone while her husband works a few towns away and her son isn't living at home since he left for college. And more friends are always a good thing, right?

Unfortunately, there is no way to discuss the last quarter of the book without giving major spoilers. I squealed with delight at the very end of the book, but this may be because I don't mind things a little dark. I can't imagine everyone would be as happy with the ending, but I sure was!

Overall, I'd give this excellent thriller 5 out of 5 stars. The ending was totally unexpected by me, and I'm sure not everyone would be as happy with it, but I'd be willing to read the whole book again if I had time - it was that good.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my electronic copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my glowing review.