When a young girl wakes up on the side of the road with no recollection of who she is or how she got there, a passing officer takes her into the police station to try and figure out what happened. Moments later, an older man arrives and he’s frantic, claiming that he’s been looking for her all night. He’s her father. He says her name is Mary and he’s got her school ID, birth certificate, and family photos to prove it, or so he claims…
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Congratulations to Megan Lally on her debut novel! I really enjoyed the premise of this story. It’s told from two different perspectives, both of which are very easy to follow. The pacing was quite slow in the first half, but my curiosity never faltered. With most thrillers, the action usually takes place in the last few chapters. While this was true with That’s Not My Name, I liked the way Lally came up with a conclusion that was satisfying and didn’t feel rushed.
With that, I do have a few criticisms that I’d like to mention that includes plot holes, lack of character development, and scenarios that would most definitely not happen in real life. I can overlook a few things as this is a Young Adult novel, but I think a bit more in depth research on police investigations would’ve made the reading experience more enjoyable and made this a five star read.
Nonetheless, I was incredibly invested in this story from beginning to end. I especially enjoyed the emotional Epilouge and applaud Lally for taking this book in a direction that I would’ve never guessed. If you’re a fan of Young Adult thrillers with twists and turns, you’ll love this one. Get your copy on Amazon today.
That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally
Genre: Mystery/Thriller, Young Adult
Pages: 297
Rating: 3.5/5
Oh I spotted this one GR the other day.. love the cover.
It’s a great cover, isn’t it? Thank you for reading Hena.
Thanks for sharing, I am always looking for new books to read
I’m glad to hear that, Pooja! I hope you enjoy this book.
Gracias por la reseña. Tomó nota. Te mando un beso.
Thank you for reading Citu!
It’s very nice when it’s nice to follow the stories. First time to know about this and would love to check since you loved it. I’m sure it will be a great read.
Thank you for reading Fransic!
Sounds like a cool book! I like that it’s told from different viewpoints. Slow start, but it kept you curious. It’s good that the ending felt right. You had some issues, but overall it seems worth reading. Thanks for sharing!
Yes! Overall it was a satisfying read. Thank you for reading Doris!
Thank you for sharing your honest review of this book Winnie! Congratulations to the author on her debut novel.
Thank you for reading Jodie!
Overall, this seems like a decent read and one that maintains interest throughout (even with a slow-ish start). It’s a shame about the plot holes and the scenarios that were unlikely as that can be a real block for me when reading.
A bit more research would’ve made this a perfect read, but overall it was an intriguing story. Thank you for reading Molly!
I haven’t heard of this book, but I am a big fan of thrillers. The plot sounds intriguing and it’s good to know it’s pretty good. However, the plot holes would bug me!
I agree, thankfully the premise kept me hooked despite the flaws. Thank you for reading Karalee!
What an interesting plot! It definitely sounds like it would be an engaging story to read (aside from the problems you pointed out). Thank you for sharing your honest review of it!
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Thank you for reading Melissa!
It’s good that it managed to keep you engaged despite a few problems, the premise is really interesting.
The premise is very intriguing, it’s a huge part of what kept me going. Thank you for reading Sarah!