When Shay witnesses a woman jump in front of a subway train it changes her humdrum life. She becomes obsessed with who the lady is and finds herself with a glamorous new circle of friends who seem like they want to help her change her life around. Is this too good to be true? Shay’s loneliness makes her an easy target for these manipulative friends. But what are they getting from this new friendship?

I liked the way the book jumps back so that we get bit sizes snippets of how the main characters meet and this keeps the suspense ticking along. I couldn’t bear to be separated from this book and even tried to read it while cooking dinner!!

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy in exchange for a review.

Thanks to Macmillan, Greer Hendriks and Sarah Pekkanen for the ARC. It s very interesting that this novel was written by two people. I can't imagine doing it but it certainly succeeded here. You Are Not Alone kept me guessing until the end, just how I like it. Shay is very likeable. I think most of us have had those feelings of aloneness or loneliness, the thoughts that everyone is having a good time apart from us. And its these very thoughts that make her vulnerable to the machinations of Cassandra and Jane, that they seem to be everything Shay isn't, and have everything she would like.to have owned. It also makes her miss the red flags,, or at least choose to ignore them. The story built to a satisfying end and I look forward to reading the authors' other novels.

You Are Not Alone tells the story of a young woman lost in a big city. Shay is in love with her (taken) roommate, growing distant from her college best friend, and struggling to find a permanent job. So, she's already in a pretty rough place; but, things go from bad to worse when Shay witnesses a suicide on the subway line. What Shay sees that day shifts the trajectory of Shay's life in ways she could never have imagined, and we - the reader - get to see exactly what unfolds in the weeks following from both sides of the story.

This is a book of two halves for me. I had a lot of problems with the first 50% of You Are Not Alone. The foremost issue for me was how Hendricks and Pekkanen dealt with trauma and fear. As a person who lives with debilitating OCD, the way the authors described Shay's sudden-onset phobia of using the subway - and how it impacted her life - really resonated with me, and I appreciated that a lot. Shay mentioned how her life was becoming smaller and smaller; she could no longer go to the gym she liked to visit, for instance, because doing so meant using the subway. And for some reason that Shay knew was irrational, she just couldn't use the subway. I felt that shit in my soul. If you've ever had to live with any kind of phobia like the one Shay develops as a result of her trauma, you'll know that feeling. The feeling of the world shrinking around you. The feeling of all those things you used to find so easy slipping away. Hendricks and Pekkanen did a great job capturing exactly how it feels to live with a debilitating mental illness like this, and I appreciated that a lot. However, their representation soon went downhill.

Later in the book, after Shay has met Cassandra and Jane Moore (who I'll come on to later), Valerie - using the alias "Anne" - drags Shay on a romp around the subway station. And then, voila! Shay is cured. She can now use the subway again as if she never witnessed a woman throw herself in front of a moving train moments after making direct eye contact with her. That is not how this shit works. To deal with my OCD, I've had to put myself through hours of harrowing "mini exposures" to try to lower the panic I experience in response to certain stimulants. It takes weeks, months, years, to get to the point where you can face your biggest fear; in Shay's case, taking the subway. She certainly wouldn't be cured after being forced into a terrifying situation by a complete stranger one single time. But I get it; a thriller like this can only be so long. Hendricks and Pekkanen didn't have months'-worth of narrative to spend on Shay's mental rehabilitation. That said, I do think they could have handled her recovery somewhat more ceremoniously than they actually did.

My second issue with this book was more minor, and it bothered me far more in the first half than the second half - possibly because I found the actual story so much more gripping from the halfway-point onwards that I stopped noticing it, but I digress. My problem was with the writing; I felt that it was pretty cringeworthy at times. For instance, Shay said of the Moore sisters: "Even their names have the sound of mantras." Pardon? What does this mean? What is this line even trying to convey? The use of simile here felt really jarring to me, like Hendricks and Pekkanen knew what they were trying to say but thought they ought to say it in some roundabout, literary-fiction-y type way. Yes, we might say that's what authors are supposed to do; we all know the first rule of writing is show, don't tell. But, this line didn't show me, nor did it tell me, anything at all. It felt a bit try-hard to me, and I couldn't help cringing.

This certainly wasn't the only instance of cringeworthy writing in You Are Not Alone. Take this line: "I wasn't the kind of girl who dreamed about pink ruffles or tulle - I preferred soccer and math puzzles." God. Everyone stop the press! We have a perfectly normal girl here with her own hobbies and interests. Who knew girls are distinct individuals? I thought they were all tulle-loving, pink-donning little fairies! Seriously, both the authors of this book are women, and neither of them realised this line smacks of not-like-other-girls syndrome? Cringe. And how about this attempt at humour: "This station is shaking more than my vibrator!" What grown woman says this to someone she has just met? How does a building shake like a vibrator? And more to the point, why did Shay find this line so hysterical? This part of the book read like it was written by A.I.s trying to simulate how real women act.

But, as I said, after about the 50% mark I stopped making note of lines I didn't like. I actually stopped finding lines I didn't like, because I was so gripped by the narrative that I didn't linger long enough to notice them! Indeed, all the things I really loved about You Are Not Alone struck me hardest in the second half.

First of all, let's talk about characterisation. There are few things I find more repugnant in a person than being bent on revenge. So, Hendricks and Pekkanen were already onto a winner with their vigilante villains, the Moore sisters. I hated them. And that's a great thing! Antagonists are rarely supposed to be likeable, and the authors certainly did a great job at making sure theirs weren't. I took against Cassandra and Jane from the second we first met them, and by the time the penny dropped regarding their true intentions with Shay, I despised them. That being said, the Moore sisters weren't cartoonish villains. They were complex, multi-layered women, and I never got tired of reading about them.

Conversely, I very much liked our protagonist, Shay. I found it really easy to root for her because she was something of an "everywoman." Countless women the world over long for what Shay longs for: companionship, sisterhood, a support network. Loneliness has buried its way into the hearts of almost every woman I know at some point in her life, myself included. It is for that reason Shay's experience really struck a cord with me; I saw myself in her. At one point in the book, Shay says she's yearning for "[a] place to belong. A home that has nothing to do with a physical structure and everything to do with a feeling of love and acceptance." I actually gasped when I read this, because it hits so close to home. This is what I long for too, when I'm lying awake at 3am; a place - a person - that feels like home. I felt that Shay and I have a lot in common - sans the "soccer and math puzzles" - so seeing a person like her represented on-page was really something special.

Last but not least, I want to mention the plot of You Are Not Alone. I'm trying to keep spoilers to a minimum in this review, so I won't mention any specifics from late on in the book, but wow! I have to say, the first half of this book was a bit repetitive for me. This isn't much of a spoiler, because this pattern is established very early on (but if you want absolute zero spoilers - stop reading now!), but this is basically how part one and a lot of part two go: Shay experiences something that makes her think Jane and Cassandra are her friends, we realise that Cassandra and Jane are actually manipulating Shay, rinse, repeat. However, once we get to late-part-two/early-part-three, when Shay starts to twig that some shenanigans are going on, the plot shifts up a gear. It took me two weeks to read the first 50% of this book, and a single evening to read the last 50%. That's how much of a change in velocity there was for me plot-wise. By the end of You Are Not Alone, the narrative is moving at 100 mp/h and I was so caught up in the action that I felt like I was watching a Bourne film or something. The big reveal was *chef's kiss* divine, and I found the ending mostly satisfying (bar one thing, but I won't go into details - spoilers!). I've heard that crazy plots is a strength of Hendricks and Pekkanen and I wasn't disappointed.

So, as you can probably tell, when I started reading this book there were things Iiked, but also quite a lot of stuff I didn't. I was predicting You Are Not Alone to be a 3 - maybe 3.5 - star read in the early stages. But then, it turned a corner in the second half, and by the end I was happy to give this book a very strong 4 stars! If you're a fan of twisty-turn-y thrillers, well-developed female characters, and can get over some sometimes subpar writing, I certainly recommend picking up You Are Not Alone.

This book! It's been a few years since I've read a thriller because I almost always feel a little let down or bored. I was not bored for one minute with this one.

You Are Not Alone is a psychological thriller about a range of badass, vindictive, vigilante-justice-serving women. I adored that aspect. The cast were brilliant, and while I didn't typically like any of the characters really, I found myself sympathizing/empathizing with a lot of them. The main character Shay is a lonely woman who longs for strong friendships as her one true friendship dwindles. The other main twosome; the Moore sisters, are glitzy, glamorous, popular women - women the likes of Shay could only dream of befriending/becoming.

I found the Moore sisters personalities vile and eye-rolling. I didn't like them from the beginning. I did, despite this, like their whole friendship group if only for the particular 'skills' each of them had, and their connections.

It was clever and definitely page-turning. The only thing it lacked for me, was that I saw it coming. I didn't feel like there were any -gasp- moments for me, no exciting twists that I longed for. The ending I felt I could see coming (doesn't make it bad), but just left me feeling wanting a little more.

I have another Hendricks & Pekkanen book on my bookshelf that I will read, and will keep an eye out for future releases.

It is definitely an entertaining read and I enjoyed every second of my reading experience.

3.75 stars.

* * * *

From the authors of The Wife Between Us and An Anonymous Girl, You Are Not Alone is another twisting, turning psychological thriller that keeps you guessing from beginning to end.

When miserable and lonely Shay inadvertently witnesses the suicide of a young woman on the New York subway, she can't stop thinking of the girl and what caused her to take her life. Unresponsive to therapy, Shay tries to find out more about the girl and attends her memorial service. There she meets beautiful, glamorous and kind sisters Cassandra and Jane who give her their contact details in case she ever needs to talk.

Within a matter of weeks, Shay is in a much better place, feeling happier and more optimistic than she has in a long time and she owes it all to the sisters. But what Shay doesn't realise is that the sisters need her much more than she needed them.

I was intrigued by the reason behind Amanda's suicide and read eagerly awaiting the big reveal. The plot is refreshing and something that I didn't expect. The sisters' wider group of friends and their story is interesting too although for me I felt like we needed more of them to understand exactly what the group were and how they worked. The big group of characters allowed some of the women to fall into the background and not live up to the potential I thought they had when they were introduced. Still, the book is really enjoyable and whilst reading it, I felt that this would make a really good film - something along the lines of Gone Girl, again making us question the narrator whilst escalating to its dramatic finale.

You Are Not Alone is yet again another brilliant book by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen and I'd highly recommend to anyone who is a fan of these ladies and their previous books.

Thank you to NetGalley, Greer Hendricks, Sarah Pekkanen and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Errrr, I'm not really sure how to rate this. On the one hand it was engrossing, and it was definitely keeping me reading to find the 'answers'.. on the other I found the 'answers' just appeared on the page, with no real fuss or drama, leaving me feeling a little empty...read it in just over 2 days, so guess, on the whole, this is worth a 4/5.

This was a clever thriller, with some unexpected slow reveal plot twists. I enjoyed the read and will continue to look out for this author.

I loved this book, it was brilliant.

Firstly I loved, even after reading the synopsis and the first few pages, I had no idea where the story was going.

I loved all the characters in the book.

The ending was strong as well.

Highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book and found it very easy to read. The writing style has a way of effortlessly drawing in the reader, providing just the right amount of detail at exactly the right moment to pique interest and develop the plot.

Written predominantly in the first person, the protagonist of 'You are not alone' is narrator Shay. She is both likeable and relatable and as the tale begins, we meet her at quite a low point in her life. After witnessing an apparent subway suicide, Shay's vulnerability increases and she falls victim to the charms of sisters, Cassandra and Jane Moore, when she encounters them at a memorial service. Their higher social status combined with their exquisite style and elegance, captivates Shay and makes her easy to manipulate.

The story moves along at a fast pace and is utterly absorbing. Readers are given access to information on characters and events about which Shay is ignorant and this creates significant tension and suspense. The twists are unexpected and keep coming until the end, by which point, the character of Shay has transformed from the naive and almost spineless woman at the beginning to an independent and decisive force to be reckoned with.

I recommend this book and thank-you to Netgalley and Pan Macmillan for allowing me to read an advanced copy of it.

Loved this! This is my kind of story - happily ticking along at a nice pleasant pace then Wowzer - you didn’t see that coming! Shay is really easy to like and the story is really well told! Not my first book by this couple, and certainly not my last!

This is the third book that Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen have co-written together.
They make a very great team together.
Shay Miller loves numbers and statistics but struggles to hold down a job.
She is now living with Sean and his girlfriend which is not ideal.
On the way home she witnessed a woman jump in front of the subway train and this changed her life forever.
Shay cant get the woman out of her mind and decides to go to her memorial service and is met by the Moore sisters Cassandra and Jane whom she befriends, they soon became close friends but the sisters have a more sinister motive in mind.
Will Shay ever be safe again?

Brilliant. There is so much packed into this story. Shay witnesses a suicide and that sets off a whole chain of events. Shay is lonely so is happy to be befriended by the Moore Sisters. I loved Shays fascination for facts and how they were part of her everyday life. This whole story has been very cleverly written and has several strong characters. I want to sit and read it again to see what clues I missed.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

This is the first book I have read by these authors and it definitely won't be the last if this is anything to go by.

This is a book that will have you wondering where it is going and then BAM!! it all comes together and is tied up in a well executed ending. It is a well written, tense read with lots of clues to keep you guessing through out the book.

It will appeal to readers of women's psych thrillers who love a twisty tale.

Holy hell I loved this. I read it in a day.
The story is so engaging and moves at exactly the right pace - not too fast, not too slow.
I think the idea of Shay being so lonely that she's willing to latch on to anyone who shows her some kindness is something that's all too relatable in this day and age, and she's a believable character.

I also like that the ending wrapped things up neatly and had Shay back on her feet - but wasn't over the top in making it a happy ending either, which made it all the more real.

Excellent work from these authors, I can't wait for their next work.

Another very enjoyable psychological thriller by these two great authors. Once you start reading you immediately sense there's something off and that not all is as it seems. Plenty of clever little twists which kept me interested until the end. 3.5 rounded to 4.

This was an extremely powerful story of a vulnerable young woman, who witnesses a suicide.

She then met people along the story , who took her under their wing and tried to turn her into the identity of the victim of the suicide.

It is the story of how the truth about the suicide unfolds, that it was not so straight and simple as someone walking in front of a train.



The story flits between the main character and 5 other strong characters, and refers to their youth and growing up.

The jigsaw then begins to fit together with them all being part of the plot.



I really enjoyed this book, it was entertaining, about how a woman’s mind works when she is crossed.

It was a little confusing at times, as the story and the different characters kept going back in time.

If you like a page turner and find the act of revenge interesting, then I recommend you read this book.

It is hard to put down and has a lot of twists.

I would definitely recommend it.

This was an extremely powerful story of a vulnerable young woman, who witnesses a suicide.

She then met people along the story , who took her under their wing and tried to turn her into the identity of the victim of the suicide.

It is the story of how the truth about the suicide unfolds, that it was not so straight and simple as someone walking in front of a train.



The story flits between the main character and 5 other strong characters, and refers to their youth and growing up.

The jigsaw then begins to fit together with them all being part of the plot.



I really enjoyed this book, it was entertaining, about how a woman’s mind works when she is crossed.

It was a little confusing at times, as the story and the different characters kept going back in time.

If you like a page turner and find the act of revenge interesting, then I recommend you read this book.

It is hard to put down and has a lot of twists.

I would definitely recommend it.

Another good psychological thriller by the Duo.
Shay is a Data Analyst and is at the wrong place at the wrong time or is she?
A close group of girlfriends who share more than just meals. What secrets form the basis of their friendship and why does Shay seem so drawn to the sisters who are leading this pack?

The story goes back and forth between the voices of Shay, Amanda and the Sisters. As the story unfolds, Shay realises that all is not what it seems. She is isolated but fights her way back and she too has a secret of her own!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC

My thanks to Pan Macmillan for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘You Are Not Alone’ by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen in exchange for an honest review. It was published in hardback and audiobook on 5 March.

“Numbers never lie. Statistics, charts, percentages—they don’t contain hidden agendas or shades of gray. They’re pure and true. It isn’t until people start meddling with them, spinning and shaping them, that they become dishonest.—DataBook, Page 1.”

Shay Miller, the main protagonist of this extremely twisty psychological thriller, loves statistics and is employed in market research. A small incident on the way to the subway delays her by a mere 22 seconds and yet this sets in motion a series of life-changing events.

I am reluctant to say more about the plot because I believe that this type of thriller is best read cold. Shay serves as the main narrator while other chapters present other perspectives.

This is the second novel that I have read by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen and concur with many others at how well they structure their plots and the extremely twisty aspects.

While the plot may be a bit ‘out there’, there is no doubt that it was extremely entertaining and had me on the edge of my seat.

I was also very impressed that my local online library listed its e-audiobook, narrated by Dylan Moore and Barrie Kreink, early this morning allowing me to listen alongside reading the eARC in a single day. I just had to know how the plot resolved!

Highly recommended for lovers of twisty thrillers.

Shay sees a lady throw herself in front of a subway car and struggles to get it out of her mind. She decides to go to a memorial for this lady and meets her friends, who become an important part of her life. Most aspects of her life seem to be coming together but are these new friends sincere and is she able to trust them? This was an intriguing plot and for a while I struggled to see where it was going until .....