Book Review – When I Was You by Minka Kent
First published, 2020
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
The story follows Brienne, a woman recovering from a traumatic head injury which came about as a result of an opportunistic mugging. No longer comfortable with living alone in her spacious town house, Brienne has taken on a lodger: the scrub-wearing, cabernet-quaffing, rather dishy, Niall.
But as Brienne starts to wonder just how divorced Niall is, she is shocked to find that there’s another woman wandering around town who not only looks remarkably like her – with the same dress sense, jewellery, hairstyle, and manner – she’s also using Brienne’s name. More than simple identity theft, the mystery woman seems to have stolen the very essence of what makes Brienne herself. But is anyone, including Brienne, really who she thinks they are?
I’m not going to ruin it for you. There are multiple twists and turns and a number of ‘A-ha’ moments, this was a really good read. In my book club, I’ve read other thrillers that wish they were this book. Book clubbers, you know the one I’m talking about.
Other reviewers have picked up that there are moments in the story that don’t bear much scrutiny, that real people would not behave the same way as these characters. Although that’s true, if you can allow yourself to remember that fictional characters don’t always behave the same way as real people, you’ll probably get a kick out of this novel.
Recommended.
Petrina Binney - Author 