GIRL I USED TO BE

Olivia had lost her mother as a kid. According to the police, her father had killed her mother and ran away. But after fourteen years, new evidence point to the fact that her father was killed on the same day. Now, Olivia wants justice for her parents being taken away from her in such a young age. With a new identity, she returns to her old town. Will she be able to identify​ the killer before the killer identifies her?The Girl I Used to Be is the first book I’ve read by author April Henry. When starting any new books by an author I’ve never read before my expectations going into it are somewhat natural but this time, I really love it.The book starts off with a bang, with the cops knocking on Olivia Reinhart’s door, telling her that her father has also been dead all along, and not the person to blame like everyone thought. It pulls you right into the story, and Henry’s writing keeps you gripped. Olivia/ Ariel was a great narrator, each world filled with pain and strength and the ability to love and be loved that was taken from her. Henry really makes you feel for her.Every new chapter held a new piece of evidence, a thrilling build up to the very end where the truth becomes revealed. There was never a dull moment, that’s for sure. I’m looking forward to reading more books from the author that’s for sure!

So this was definitely a good book I loved reading about her struggle to find her parents killer, and to discover who she waned to be. Ariel(Olivia) has had a difficult life never really having a family after her grandmother died and she was put into foster care. She's living a mostly calm life when the police show up telling her father, he man she spent 14 years believing killer her mother, is dead and actually believed to be another victim instead of the killer himself.I wish it had been longer because this was to good in the amount of pages it had .

It was a nice break away from my usual genre reads. A YA mystery of a girl uncovering her past and murder of her parents.I did fall asleep at two points during this novel – and its short- so that had me questioning why. It’s by no means boring or had me wanting to abandon it. I think it might be the frank and dry style of the narrative. Characters aren’t painted colourfully with quirks and foibles. It’s all very realistic, and as such, wasn’t as engaging as it should be.Ariel/Olivia is a great protagonist. She’s independent and an intelligent thinker. I liked how she took the initiative to sleuth out facts and piece together a story. It felt very organic.Ariel/Olivia also had a few moments of damsel in distress, like screen sirens of old, toppling over uneven ground and turning an ankle – hasn’t that been done to death by now?Some problems I had revolve around her amnesia, recovering memories through hypnotism is such over-used tool in this genre I wasn’t at all impressed. ‘The Girl I Used To Be’ also suffers what many in this genre do – how characters are mysteriously compelled to over-share to let the reader garner facts of the case. It’s a bit of a cop out. A clever author will find much more imaginative and fantastic ways to uncover truths.Duncan, (Ariel/Olivia’s love interest) does not really get developed. He kind of appears, there’s instant attraction… and that’s about it. I feel a missed opportunity to add more to the plot, or in the least an attention grabbing arc would have added a lot to this book.It wasn’t until very close to the reveal that I pieced together the story, so it is definitely not predictable. We are given many characters as possible suspects, and logical scenarios to show their guilt/innocence. The mystery part of this novel is well done, even if it lacks some sophistication.I was grabbed in the last quarter as the action and tension heated up, though I’ve read better, so I can’t give it more than an average rating.April Henry can construct a great landscape and doesn’t let much through to spoil the ending, and while I recommend this book, it’s definitely aimed for a younger crowd. A seasoned reader, especially in a mystery genre, may not get much from ‘The Girl I Used To Be.’It’s short and easy enough to complete in a day if so inclined. I liked it, a nice break from my usual reads.

This book was recommended to me by my school for summer reading. Didn’t expect for this book to be as great as it was. It was a great love story and mystery all twined into one book. I recommend this book to anyone who likes a short story but has great depth. This book really caught me off guard but also not in a way, as such these types of books always seem to have this type of ending. But I also didn’t expect the whole forest fire and I loved how Arial or as Olivia made this whole story turn back around from beginning to end which is why I love this book.

Loved the twist at the end. Didn’t see it coming. Kind of sad it turned out to be what it was and what the circumstances were and what was the deal with Nora and the dog?? Good book, though.

This was a fabulous, little mystery and my new, favorite April Henry book.Ariel/Olivia is curious and independent and I took to her immediately. True to Henry's style, the action starts right away with the discovery of Terry Weeks' body.The minor characters of Nora and Duncan are well crafted and they add a lot of heart to the mystery. I was surprised that it kept me guessing as much as it did, but I thought it was pretty tricky! An enjoyable, quick read.

This was an easy, quick paced YA mystery-thriller that kept me turning the pages. A solid read, engaging, but I was left wanting just a little more.

I like it .. I will definitely read it again

el libro es para mi hi hija y le está gustando mucho, dehecho me ha dicho que le compre mas libro de April Henry. Me llegó en dos días desde que hice el pedido.

it was a gift