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3.41 AVERAGE
3.41 AVERAGE
This story is creepy, sad, and so engrossing! Twins Helen and Ellie play a trick on their mother by swapping places, but then Ellie refuses to switch back. The reader is taken between the past and present to see the narrator's rollercoaster of a life. I don't want to give anything away, but I highly recommend this to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers! - Michelle V.
DNF at 39%
I never do DNF. When a normal brain says, “ok, this is not worth my time” mine says “BUT WHAT IF IT GETS BETTER??” so I finish the book, and then I get angry because more often than not my first impression was right and I don’t like the book, but my point is, I always finish a book (not the sharpest knife in the drawer, I know :P).
I have to say that this is not a bad book, it’s just not a book for me. I was very intrigued about the premise (twins that swap places as a joke, then one of them refuses to swap back) but the book I was reading was nothing like what I expected, and maybe that’s part of the problem. Now on my issues with the book…
The story is told in two different timelines: one chapter with Helen as a child, one with Helen as an adult. That made the pace off for me, and I never really got into the story. My other problem is that everyone in this book is absolutely odious – the mother in particular was so horrible, so abysmally neglecting to her own daughters that I saw red every time she showed up in a scene. I know this is very common in thrillers right now, but the problem with not having a single nice, or at least redeeming character is that you end up alienating your readers so much that they don’t care about your characters at all. My other reasons are very spoilery, so I’m discussing those under the tag.
My final reason is actually the thing that made me stop reading. At age eleven, Helen is raped by the brother of a friend. I won’t dwell too much on this for obvious reasons, but I am sick of rape being used as a ‘plot device’, especially when it doesn’t bring anything to the story. Helen was already destroyed by the swap; she was nothing like the (nasty) little girl she used to be, and to add this to her tragedy was completely unnecessary in my opinion.
So that's basically it. If you enjoy disturbing thrillers, give this a chance. If, like me, you're more into the whodunnit? type, maybe you should try a different book.
PS: Sorry for the rant! I kind of needed to vent :P
I never do DNF. When a normal brain says, “ok, this is not worth my time” mine says “BUT WHAT IF IT GETS BETTER??” so I finish the book, and then I get angry because more often than not my first impression was right and I don’t like the book, but my point is, I always finish a book (not the sharpest knife in the drawer, I know :P).
I have to say that this is not a bad book, it’s just not a book for me. I was very intrigued about the premise (twins that swap places as a joke, then one of them refuses to swap back) but the book I was reading was nothing like what I expected, and maybe that’s part of the problem. Now on my issues with the book…
The story is told in two different timelines: one chapter with Helen as a child, one with Helen as an adult. That made the pace off for me, and I never really got into the story. My other problem is that everyone in this book is absolutely odious – the mother in particular was so horrible, so abysmally neglecting to her own daughters that I saw red every time she showed up in a scene. I know this is very common in thrillers right now, but the problem with not having a single nice, or at least redeeming character is that you end up alienating your readers so much that they don’t care about your characters at all. My other reasons are very spoilery, so I’m discussing those under the tag.
Spoiler
My biggest issue was the lack of coherence in the story. We’re told that Ellie got her umbilical cord around her neck during birth, and as a consequence of the temporary lack of oxygen she suffered a noticeable mental impairment - so if there was indeed a swap, how come no one noticed the change??? Surely even a mother as abysmal as Margaret would notice the prolonged changes in her child's behaviour?? Especially when one of them suffers from such a severe condition? My theory was that there had been no swap at all, that it was all in Ellie's delusional head, but after I decided to stop reading I looked up for reviews that spoiled the ending and apparently the author kind of leaves this to be decided by the reader, although some people say that there’s vague evidence that there was a swap and that the mother knew about it, but basically didn’t correct it and ruined her child’s life in the process so she wouldn’t look like an idiot. Which totally validates my decision to DNF.My final reason is actually the thing that made me stop reading. At age eleven, Helen is raped by the brother of a friend. I won’t dwell too much on this for obvious reasons, but I am sick of rape being used as a ‘plot device’, especially when it doesn’t bring anything to the story. Helen was already destroyed by the swap; she was nothing like the (nasty) little girl she used to be, and to add this to her tragedy was completely unnecessary in my opinion.
So that's basically it. If you enjoy disturbing thrillers, give this a chance. If, like me, you're more into the whodunnit? type, maybe you should try a different book.
PS: Sorry for the rant! I kind of needed to vent :P
A thouroughly enjoyable story, based on such an original concept that would risk being perceived as implausible - and alienating readers - if the author hadn't done such a good job of making it believable.
This book is unputdownable, the characters are very well built and relatable, and the final plot twist just brings all the psychological horror of the novel up a notch.
This book is unputdownable, the characters are very well built and relatable, and the final plot twist just brings all the psychological horror of the novel up a notch.
Identical twins trading places - suck me right in, why don't you! There's some really interesting psychology here in children reacting to different treatments by a parent - it would have been cool to expand on that a little more. But I did really enjoy this book.
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I really liked this. I liked how it went into second person so it was like you were in her head, it made it more intense.
This book was just not for me, I didn't like any of the characters, the storyline was far fetched
I know I am in the minority and was so disappointed not to like it
I know I am in the minority and was so disappointed not to like it
I chose to listen to Beside Myself and loved the narrator Lisa Coleman. She did a fantastic job with character voices and it was not an easy task. I was able to identify who was speaking from young Ellie (Helen) to adult Ellie (Helen) and the many different personalities. She even captured Ellie and Helen's cruel mother in all her venomous glory.
I will warn you, none of the characters are likeable or even reliable. Ellie and Helen have an awful mother and I had evil thoughts about her. Morgan puts forth a scenario that is freaking scary and shares the consequences. The stories told through Ellie’s perspective who is the "real Helen." Morgan uses “you” rather than “I” when Ellie (Helen) relays the story and I found it clever. Her childhood is dark, and there are quite a few triggers for those who are sensitive. She grows up in the shadow of Helen the "real Ellie" and is cast into the role of underachiever, troublemaker and second best. It is all rather unnerving. Of course, the louder she protests the more she looks and acts like the real Ellie.
As adult Ellie, (the real Helen) refers to herself in third person as Smudge and is quite delusional. She is estranged from her family and refuses any contact with her sister. When her sister falls into a coma, things come to a head. She discovers her sister was on her way to see her when the accident occurred. Forced back into their circle she wonders if she may finally be able to prove who she really is. Things get complicated and twisted as truths are revealed. It was quite crazy and I found myself completely wrapped up in the unraveling of it.
Beside Myself touched on psychological disorder, dysfunctional family, the effects of trauma and more. While I found the story to be compelling there were occasions when I rolled my eyes at this collection of family members and the situations the author placed them in. Not everything that happened seemed plausible or perhaps too much happened. Either way I enjoyed listening.
Addictive, disturbing and highly original I enjoyed Beside Myself, and the disturbing, thought-provoking story Morgan offered.
Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
I will warn you, none of the characters are likeable or even reliable. Ellie and Helen have an awful mother and I had evil thoughts about her. Morgan puts forth a scenario that is freaking scary and shares the consequences. The stories told through Ellie’s perspective who is the "real Helen." Morgan uses “you” rather than “I” when Ellie (Helen) relays the story and I found it clever. Her childhood is dark, and there are quite a few triggers for those who are sensitive.
Spoiler
Rape, abuse, addiction, suicide, depression, emotional cruelty, psychological disorders, and a dysfunctional family.As adult Ellie, (the real Helen) refers to herself in third person as Smudge and is quite delusional. She is estranged from her family and refuses any contact with her sister. When her sister falls into a coma, things come to a head. She discovers her sister was on her way to see her when the accident occurred. Forced back into their circle she wonders if she may finally be able to prove who she really is. Things get complicated and twisted as truths are revealed. It was quite crazy and I found myself completely wrapped up in the unraveling of it.
Beside Myself touched on psychological disorder, dysfunctional family, the effects of trauma and more. While I found the story to be compelling there were occasions when I rolled my eyes at this collection of family members and the situations the author placed them in. Not everything that happened seemed plausible or perhaps too much happened. Either way I enjoyed listening.
Addictive, disturbing and highly original I enjoyed Beside Myself, and the disturbing, thought-provoking story Morgan offered.
Audio provided by publisher. This review was originally posted on Caffeinated Book Reviewer
This was quite a dark story of a very complex family with hidden secrets and mental trauma and mental illness. That said, it was gripping and enjoyable and kept some secrets until near the very end.
Despite what it says on the cover, this book is not a thriller. It is a gripping and intricately constructed look at identity. Saying any more would be a spoiler. Read it for yourself!