This was good! But I feel like with all Minka Kent books, they're decent thrillers, but nothing too insane. I feel like the middle of the book was better than the end. It was one of those, that I wanted a final twist on the last page that the girlfriend actually knew all about it, behind the boyfriend's back. I thought that's why the private detective had laughed when she originally called him, which I still don't understand that part. Why would he laugh? I thought maybe the private detective was already working for the girlfriend because she thought something was up with the boyfriend. SPOILER: Overall, this was a decent book about a guy who moves into a girl's house to be a roommate and then eventually convinces her that she's got amnesia and she's actually someone else and has her committed. In the end, she gets out of the facility and catches on to the fact that he's stealing money from her. And he has a girlfriend who has no idea that any of this is happening. Definitely far-fetched, which I don't mind for an easy thriller, but also wasn't earth shattering. ( )

When I Was You is a twisty rollercoaster ride from the first page. When Brienne Dougray, a woman with PTSD after being mugged, receives a key in the mail to an apartment she knows nothing about, she starts to question everything around her. Soon, what first appears to be a case of identity theft morphs into much more. This story immediately pulled me in and kept me glued to every page. I found the plot very original and entirely plausible. Although I liked the conclusion, I hoped for more of a "Wow" at the end. But if you're looking for a thriller that will make you question everyone you meet in the future, this book is for you. ( )

When Brienne Dougray receives a key to an apartment she didn't rent, to find its inhabitant copying every single thing about her down to her handbag, I was sure this was an identity theft tale.

It would have been an entirely different book.

It is hard to review a novel where revealing the actual premise ruins the novel for other readers, so I’ll be vague, because authors work too hard for me to do that. My biggest issue is believability. I could not buy into the twist, or the things that happened while Brienne was “away.” The “how” I’ll call it, because I’d like to believe safeguards are in place to prevent this sort of thing. If a certain “stay” had been omitted, and if the actual act had been more hard won for the bad guy, I most certainly would have given this novel at least four stars. As someone with a medical background, I just can’t overlook the glaring unlikelihood of what happened to Brienne. There’s no way, even in a world of privilege such as she lives in, that even a private facility would go along with what happened.

If I’m not criticizing the minutia, this is a fun read. A bit different, certainly engaging, and the momentum in the last fifty pages or so is commendable. I had to know what happened and the conclusion is satisfying. I like the dual point of view. I just take issue with anything that’s too big a leap of faith.
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Stupid main character. Lots of holes. ( )

Brain Injury or Burglary

Brienne Dougray lives in a beautiful old Victorian house in Quinnesec Bluffs, Iowa. From a wealthy family, she leads a leisurely life except for one small problem.

Brienne is recovering from a traumatic brain injury caused by an attacker the police still haven't found. She is terrified that he will return to hurt her again.

Deciding that she can no longer live alone in fear, Brienne advertises for a roommate and meets Nialle Emberlin, a doctor at the nearby hospital. He is quiet, fastidious and comforting and Brienne comes to depend upon him for her safety.

Everything begins to unravel when Brienne finds a key in the mailbox addressed to her for a condo she has no idea how she purchased.

Author Minka Kent serves up a bone cracking, nerve wracking mind twisting thriller on a silver platter that will leave you famished for more. The end is especially satisfying. Highly recommended. ( )