This book is bonkers but that's not a bad thing per se. I felt the way the story unfolded - and the twists - were excellent. There were some confusing and frustrating parts - perhaps the book could have done with another edit to cut down loose ends/sort out some pacing issues - but I loved a main character that was chaotic, unreliable, and potentially psychotic.

I felt that the book is undersold given some of the sensitive topics covered - the assault and treatment of the girls is heartbreaking and hard to read, but also important.

Great plot but the execution needs some work.

Thanks to Netgalley for this review copy in exchange for an honest review.

I dnfed this book after 70% pages.
Too much swearing
Judgy writing style
Rude MC

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for an early copy of this book!

I enjoyed the writing and the story, however I would not consider it a thriller.

I liked the alternating between POVs, and I would like to think that this is exactly how some people’s lives are, but I found it hard to imagine our MC as a real person. I don’t know what it is - maybe it was the way she thought, but I just couldn’t get past her being a fictional character only.

The assault description was quite triggering and upsetting, but that was probably the point of it, so in that case - well done.

I overall enjoyed this book, but I’m not sure I’d ever pick it up again or recommend it to someone, unless I definitely know they would not be overwhelmed by it.

This book was more of an emotional retelling than the thriller that it claims to be. It is quite graphic and upsetting at parts. It’s well written but unfortunately it isn’t for me.

CW sexual assault, paedophilia

Paloma grew up in an orphanage in Sri Lanka. Until the Evanses arrived and chose her to be adopted. Now Paloma Evans lives in America but ghosts from her past are threatening her present.

The narrative moves between 12 year old Paloma in the orphanage and 18 years later in San Francisco. Adult Paloma is living a chaotic life, drinking too much on her medication. Making money in a less than salubrious manner. Slowly her past is revealed in the flashback chapters as well as in the present day. It kept me guessing for a long time before the reveal.

Personally I think the description of the sexual assault on 12 year old Paloma was too much. It’s why I can’t rate this higher than I have.

No introductions My Sweet Girl starts with drama and ends with drama. I really don’t know what to make of this book, it’s well written and has an interesting subject but I wouldn’t consider this a thriller. There’s a great twist at the end but the rest left me wanting more. BUT if you go into this as an ethnic drama story it’s pretty fantastic!

I liked the alternate chapters of Paloma dealing with modern day and also leaving Sri Lanka. The contrast was extremely interesting, I read this in one day.

I didn’t like Paloma’s personality and I thought she wasn’t very realistic. A difficult, spoilt character who has few good points, you’ll love to hate her! (Her need to comment on her brownness every other sentence was boring / overdone and I never want to read “melanin” again. )

I would not consider this book a thriller but it’s an enjoyable story with a unique plot.

3.5/5.

#MySweetGirl #NetGalley
Hodder Straighten's best book published till date.
Paloma has led a privileged Californian life: the best schools, a generous allowance and parents so perfect that Paloma fears she'll never live up to them. Now at thirty, Paloma has managed to disappoint her parents so thoroughly that their relationship will never recover. Unemployed and friendless, the only person still talking to her is Arun - the Indian man subletting her spare room. That is until Arun discovers Paloma's darkest secret, one that could jeopardize her fragile place in this country, and the next day is found face down in a pool of blood. On finding Arun's body Paloma flees her apartment. But by the time the police arrive, there's no body to be found or signs of struggle - and no evidence that Arun ever even existed in the first place.
I devoured it.
Thanks to NetGalley and Hodder Straighten for giving me an advanced copy.