I've been a massive fan of Tess Sharpe for a long time. I love her writing, her characters, the relationships, the friendships. And The Girls I've Been was such a whirlwind for me. I love the cover of this book, I love the author, but that description - I thought surely nothing could live up to the high expectation of daughter of a con artist taken hostage in a bank robbery with her girlfriend and her ex-boyfriend.

Honestly, I was on the edge of my seat throughout this whole story. I was invested in it all - Nora's history and what she learned as the daughter of a con artist, her relationship with her sister. Her relationship with her ex boyfriend, her relationship with her girlfriend. All of it, I wanted to consume it all in one big gulp. And it was so satisfying, every page of it.

Content warnings: abuse, violence, assault, death, endometriosis, blood, gambling.

I hate to be that person, BUT I just didn't love this one like I thought I would. I have seen this promoted as a 'gripping thriller, full of twists' but it just wasn't THAT book for me. Not to say I didn't enjoy it - I did. It was just bang average for me.

Nora - the MC is definitely the best thing about this book. A ex child con-artist who would do absolutely anything to protect the ones she loves. The way the author progressed Nora's character (or should I say characters(?)) was effortless and gave many opportunities for the reader to build a connection with her. Reading about her relationships with Lee, Iris, and Wes was so much fun. Each of these characters also touched upon their own experiences of trauma and the impact those experiences had on these individuals.

In regard to the trauma and recovery element of this book, Sharpe handled each and every topic with such immense sensitivity. There was not one moment where these experiences were sugarcoated and the horrific experiences of Nora's past were explored in such a unique way. The topic of Iris's Endometriosis was such a strong side story aswell and seeing this discussed in a YA book gave me so much happiness. Even highlighting the symptoms of the condition could do so much for young adults today.

Overall, this is quite a unique book. The combination of an intense thriller with a powerful insight into trauma and navigating life. I recommend this book to any YA lover!!

This book truly has it all: incredible writing, suspenseful plot, and well-developed characters. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, waiting for Tessa Shape to give me more!

Nora O’Malley is 17 years old. But she hasn’t been Nora for very long. She’s been Haley, she’s been Katie, she’s been Samantha, she’s been Rebecca. Before all of them she was someone else, but that’s not her anymore.

This gripping YA thriller finds Nora caught up as a hostage in an armed bank robbery, with her ex boyfriend turned best “Franken-friend” Wes, and Iris who she’s only recently started dating.
Wes knows her past, but Iris doesn’t and shed rather keep it that way, but that’s not going to be possible if they want to get out alive.
The action flips from gripping scenes at the bank, to flashbacks from Nora’s colourful past, and back again, while officers outside the bank attempt to negotiate with the increasingly angry robbers within.
The heartbreaking reason for her multiple changes of identity is that her mother Abby was a professional con artist, and Nora her most useful tool.
Once she got what she wanted, Abby would escape, Nora in tow, and the two would settle in a new place with a new name and a new story.
But as the book goes on we realise that the last con wasn’t as simple as the others. It’s one Nora has never truly been able to escape.
And now, stuck in the bank, maybe she never will.

I really enjoyed this fast paced novel and found myself snatching moments to read a few pages on the underground, eating breakfast, waiting for appointments etc as it was so addictive. It’s currently being adapted for film with Millie Bobby Brown apparently cast as Nora, so I can’t wait to see that!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for letting me access and advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback.

Nora is the daughter of a con artist and has been involved with her schemes as long as she remembers. One day she gets taken hostage and she has to find a way to escape. This was fast paced and I loved the story.

Fantastic read, don't be put off as it is a YA book I am certainly not that yet was gripped from start to finish.

Strong female characters with interesting back stories - which are fed to us a tantalising tidbit at a time. Absolutely loved the way this book was written.

This book was such a wild ride! I honestly went into it with low expectations (apart from the cover, which I loved immediately). I absolutely adore the characters, including the protagonist, even though she's obviously a little problematic.

Nora, our main character has been known by many names and disguised under many different hairstyles. Her mother was a con artist who roped her and her older sister into her acts throughout their young lives. The older sister eventually escapes their mother's influence and Nora becomes Rebecca, Samantha, Katie, Haley, Ashley, and so on. An ever changing parade of girls with an ever-changing parade of instructions (be sweet, smart, quiet, invisible, etc.).

But in the present day, Nora finds herself the unwitting victim of a bank heist, along with her girlfriend and best friend. Slowly the reader discovers more about Nora's chequered past, as the teenagers come up with different plans to get themselves out of the terrifying situation in one piece. It's a YA romp, with inclusive LGBTQ* characters and plenty of mystery and suspense to keep you turning the pages. I most definitely recommend!

Oceans 8 meets Alias via dirty rotten scoundrels. A fantastic story told through Nora's experiences with her con artist mother who brings her up as different girls to complete her con.
Those different girls have to come together to save Nora as she unwittingly ends up in the middle of a bank robbery.
This is a truly haunting book with an amazing plot and was very hard to put down.

Nora O'Malley is at a bank with her girlfriend and ex-boyfriend when two men pull out guns and start a robbery.
Nora will have to use her past as a con-artist's daughter and all the different girls she's been to make it out alive and save her friends.

The premise for this book intrigued me so I decided to give it a go, especially as I'd been meaning to read a book by the author for a while.
The majority of the book is set during the bank robbery and I enjoyed the thriller aspects of this. There are also flashbacks to the different girls Nora was forced to be by her mother. These flashbacks were interesting and made me feel sorry for Nora who didn't get to really have a childhood. She'd been through a lot for someone so young.
Nora was a likeable and relatable protagonist who I enjoyed getting to know.
Other than Nora, my favourite characters were Lee, Nora's sister, and Iris, Nora's girlfriend, who were both pretty badass.
I liked the representation and thought the dark themes were handled well.
The plot held my attention throughout and while I wasn't gripped, I was interested to keep reading and find out what would happen. However, I wasn't invested enough to be shocked or on the edge of my seat.
The writing style was easy to follow and I would be interested in reading another book by the author.

Overall, this was an enjoyable, unique read.

A gripping book - fast paced and claustrophobic, with lots of subtle action. I loved the way the main character's past and history was drip-fed, and eventually led to the biggest reveal of all. The characters had a believeable relationship also. I recommend this for a 13+ reader who can deal with some more adult themes (allusions to sexual assault, physical violence in the home, bomb/gun threats).

I really wanted to love this book, the daughter of a con man? I thought it was gonna have a little more action in it but it disappointed me with its tameness.

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this before publication in exchange for my thoughts. The Girls I've Been is a hard-hitting story exploring some awful crimes...but from the perspective of a young girl you can't help but support (even though she's had to do some awful things).
Nora O'Malley is waiting in line in her local bank to deposit some fund-raising money. She's with her ex, Wes, and her girlfriend, Iris. Things are normal for them...until they are almost at the front of the line and the man in front of them pulls a gun. They find themselves caught up in a robbery - which would be a dramatic story of its own - but it becomes the perfect catalyst for us to learn the truth about Nora. She is not what her friends think.
During the course of the dramatic few hours they are held captive in the bank, Nora's insight into the minds of the men holding them hostage reveals she's got a lot more in common with them than you might think. Nora has been raised by her mother to con people...to read them carefully, to find the perfect mark, to exploit their weakness and then move on.
As their drama in the bank unfolds, we learn the truth about Nora. She has been many girls - each with a particular characteristic - in order to help her mother get the end result. But what we soon learn is that Nora is hiding a bigger secret...the last 'mark' was a seriously dangerous man, her mother fell in love with him and Nora did what she had to in order to escape.
There's so much going on here, but it never felt messy as I was reading. The background to the characters was fascinating, and I really liked the dynamics between the main three characters. I can't help but feel there's more we could have been told, and the way the story ends really could be the start of a whole new story. Great fun!

The Girls I've Been follows our main character Nora, her best friend and her girlfriend who end up caught up in a bank robbery when they go to deposit some money.

I thought this sounded like a really quick, fun read. My history with YA mystery/thriller hasn't been so good up until this point though. Usually I feel that they lack something that adult thrillers and mysteries do better, but this one was something different.

I loved Nora, how clever, conniving and strong she was. I loved her best friend and girlfriend and how much strength they also showed. Tess has a brilliant way of writing morally grey characters without making them seem unlikable . She managed to perfectly capture trauma in this book and unfold it gently throughout the story. Although there is a lot of mess and grit in this story, Tess has managed to keep it appropriate and delicate in a way. She also wrote about healing and learning to grow and adapt beautifully, merging pain together and letting people in to help who are also experiencing trauma. It was so heartbreaking but comforting at the same time.

I usually hate reading dual timelines, but it was done so well in this book that it just felt essential. It helped us learn about Nora, about her past and what molded her as a person and why she is the person she is today. It gave us an insight into how she became so resourceful and scrappy in emergencies.

What I liked most about this, is the message it sent about people who have gone through trauma; that they can really be okay, and happy, and they can move on and live a better life despite it. Trauma feels hopeless, and this brings a little light of hope to that.

Thank you to the publishers, the author and NetGaley for a chance to read this book in exchange of an honest review.

Ah this story stole my attention from the very beginning! I loved the viciousness of the writing, the ruthlessness with which the writer chose to tell such an important story and overall, I thought it was a brilliant read.

Thank you to NetGalley and publishers for an advanced proof.

TRIGGER WARNINGS - Abuse, sexual abuse, violence and

I was interested to read this as I heard that it was being made into a Netflix film adaption starring Millie Bobby Brown. I know it will become quite the seller once that occurs, and its always nice to know what you're selling.

I found the book to be a very quick read with short and snappy chapters. The storyline drifted in between present and the past nicely; but unfortunately I found the book to be immature both in the writing style and the unnecessarily dramatic scenes.

I am guessing the author has watched Heartbreakers and ran with it

This is a YA book that has very similar vibes to A Good Girls Guide To Murder and One Of Us Is Lying. It’s a crime/thriller with a likeable, confident female protagonist. This book is published today and I’m excited to see how other people find it 😍⠀
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It took me a little while to get into this one, mostly because it took a few chapters to get invested in the characters. But from page 1 the main storyline has started. Nora and her ex boyfriend, Wes, and new girlfriend, Iris, walk into a bank and inadvertently get caught up in a bank robbery and are held as hostages. If I’m honest, the bank robbery was quite messy and it didn’t blow me away because none of the characters knew how to deal with it. The part of this book that I loved was the flashbacks to Nora’s life as a child with her mum. Her mum is a con artist and she drags Nora into playing different characters to help steal money from men. I LOVED the previous girls Nora portrayed and the inevitable breakdown between Nora and her mum and you were just waiting on tenterhooks to find out what happened. The book also deals with the trauma of Nora’s childhood and how it still affects Nora today and personally I thought that was really well addressed. ⠀
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I read the last 40% of this book in one sitting because I was just so hooked! This book also has LGBTQIA+ representation as Nora is bi and Iris has endometriosis which was well represented in the book but in no way did it define Iris’ character. ⠀

5 Word Review: Danger, family, heist, friendship, love.

I went in knowing nothing, and I was blown away by The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe. It was incredible and had me gripped. For the first time in a long time I read a book in a single sitting, I really could not put it down.

I loved the way the timeline in this book jumped about - it added to the tension and kept the pace fast. I really enjoyed the writing style, I thought it was very clever in how the past was revealed and how that in itself upped the tension further.

I could very easily picture this as a TV drama. Like an ITV crime drama spread over three nights, you know the kind.

I loved the bi rep, the messy relationships - there were so many messy relationships. Even Nora's relationship with herself is complicated, and I enjoyed seeing her layers peeled away and her past revealed. She is one tough cookie and has been through a lot. And she's a bit messed up because of it, understandably. Iris and Nora's relationship in this fraught situation was incredible - the passion and care really came through.

Speaking of Nora - I love her. I loved how fierce she was, I love her style, and how she has to Get Shit Done even when she's almost immobilised with her period. I loved her flippant references towards her menstrual cup (woo for cups in books) and how she even used it against the villains. And when her secret was revealed I wanted to cry for her.

The Girls I've Been by Tess Sharpe is excellent. It's thrilling

I think I've found a new top author to follow. The Girls I've Been is bitingly entertaining and yet poignant and heart-felt as it explores past trauma, the lies that hold us together and just how badly family can hurt us. Nora hasn't always been Nora. She's been any number of girls, all with different names and different personalities, all with a part to play in her mother's con of the time. She's been Rebecca: Sweet, Smiling, Silent. She's been Samantha: Dainty, Delicate, Demure. She's been Haley: Humble, Faithful, Modest. She's been Katie: Sweet, Spirited, Smart. And she's been Ashley: Myth, Legend, The Girl Who Doesn't Exist.

Now she's Nora, a girl on the run from her past and the step-father she helped to put in prison. She's also stuck in the middle of a bank heist gone wrong and suddenly all those skills her mother drilled into her have to come back to the fore front if she and her friends are going to survive. This is a book about love and loss, of deep and abiding friendships, of trauma and the rocky road to recovery and of forging an identity for yourself, even when you aren't sure who you really are.

Tess Sharpe uses the dual timeline narrative brilliantly, with half the book set firmly in the present and interweaving chapters looking back at the girls Nora has been and the roles she has had to play. The chapters are short and snappy, and lend themselves to the fast pacing of the book well. Nora is a strong, sassy and brilliant character who leaps off the page, but impressively all the side characters did as well. I particularly liked how the relationships were developed through the present timeline, even as neither of her friends are fully aware of her full history. I really empathised with Nora; how she juggles truth and lie and balances multiple personalities.

This is a book that doles out action in spades, but tempers it with a poignancy and thoughtfulness as Nora comes to terms with her own identity and the trauma that forged her into what she is today. There are some really dark themes here; sexual exploitation, domestic violence, as well as emotional, physical and sexual abuse. But there is also a constant dark and sharp humour that runs through the novel, saving it from ever becoming too depressing. And Tess Sharpe handles the themes sensitively; she explores the road to surviving and overcoming childhood trauma with a deft and poignant hand.

All in all, this is a fantastic read and I've immediately picked up another one of Tess Sharpe's books to get started on. On the one hand, this is a locked-room thriller about three teenagers overcoming adversity and trying to survive a heist gone wrong. But it's also a wonderful exploration of their relationships and their past trauma; all three of them have suffered some form of abuse or trauma and the way they re-make themselves in the wake of it is stunningly portrayed.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for my free review copy of this title. It was spectacular.

This seems like a fun story that my students will enjoy. The characters seem relatable and the plot entertaining. I can see this being popular.

I will be purchasing a copy for the library I work for.