Review of Another Me

[Sou Hi]

[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Another Me" by Ali Vere.]

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4 out of 5 stars

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Another Me: Families and their Lies by Ali Vere tells us the story of Emily Fisher, who has been living her life with a large chunk of darkness in her memory. After a vague childhood accident, which she can't seem to remember, her life takes a turn. However, one can never forsake their old self. Once your past exists, it will creep back one day and haunt you for the rest of your life. In Emily's case, her past has a form. It's her childhood friend, Nina, the one involved in that accident. When they meet again as adults, Nina's words spark an uneasy feeling inside Emily. Is it time for her to face the darkness in her heart? What really happened twenty-one years ago to eight-year-old Emily? What will she dig up during her quest for her missing memory?

I like the mysterious veil that constantly envelops the tale. Like walking amid a dark fog, you will struggle to find your way out. As you follow Emily's narrative, you find yourself in a messed-up world. Trapped in her jumbled thoughts, you will wonder if what she says is the truth. Sometimes, it feels like you are listening to a psycho and her made-up events, and you may even suspect that she is the real villain here.

As the story unfolds, more and more secrets are revealed. For example, you will discover the real identity of Nina's brother, the crime that Nina's family committed, or the feelings Nina actually harbors for Emily. Eventually, you realize that each character carries a demon inside their heart. The only difference is how they cope with it. Standing in the middle of that is Emily, who tries to uncover what happened to her when she was young.

On the downside, the transition between the scenes is a bit incoherent, so you may be confused until you connect the dots. Besides, I can't help but feel that everything is not real. We have no solid proof aside from Emily's unreliable memory and everyone's reactions (which are observed by Emily herself). Hence, I think the first-person point of view backfires. If possible, a different viewpoint should be added to authenticate the events. Not to mention, I suggest another round of proofreading to fix the grammatical errors.

Considering the mentioned negative aspects, I will rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. If you like psychological novels, I guess this is a good choice. There are many swear words, so I don't think it's suitable for young readers.

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Another Me
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[Hazel Mae Bagarinao]

Another Me looks like a suspenseful novel. Aside from the intriguing title, Emily and Nina's characters seem to contribute to make the book a page-turner. I think this book is brimming with darkness and lies. Excellent review!

[lyss_sed]

I like the fact of this book having a curious title. It makes you think before reading: a good new version or a tough new version.
Knowing of secrets that will be revealed keeps the readers engaged. This book would be wonderful for someone a little older who likes suspense.

[Shedrack A]

I wonder what the real truth is between Emily and Nina. The storyline is an exciting one, and I'd like to find out the details of Emily's forgotten memories.

[Kemzy5]

I'm eager to read this book because it will definitely play with my imagination. I like books that are mysterious and this review was very helpful.