Not Like Everyone Else

by Jennifer Leigh

[kalventure]

Not Like Everyone Else is a book that I was not expecting. It is an incredibly fast-paced read with twists that I thought I saw coming but I was wrong. So very wrong; and I love that!

"All of these afters, but Ryan can’t remember the befores."

I would consider this book in large part a psychological thriller, but not really in the way you would think based on the synopsis. Piecing together her memory and past, all of those befores, becomes important for Ryan but it is not the initial driving plot point. You learn on like the first page what I am referring to, but suffice to say that there are two perspectives in this story - one unknown person (told with italicized text in unnumbered chapters) and Ryan's POV. It is a little confusing as both are told in the same POV, but I found it enjoyable.

This is definitely a 4-star plot, but I knocked a star off of my rating because I felt that the characters were a bit one dimensional and for me I wish that more time was spent on character development. The friendship with Harper was out of left field, and even though Ryan and she kind of addressed the irony in the narrative I just didn't buy the connection there. There was a bit more development with Elliott, but I still find myself wanting more here; a lot of crazy stuff happens and these two people didn't bat an eye really. It seemed a little forced but I am glad that she has people to rely on in her life and I did care for the characters.

I deeply felt for Ryan's character having left an abusive relationship and tried to move on with her life. That is difficult without the memory issues she faces but doesn't seem to really notice until it became a bigger issue. I wish more had been developed into her character though because I spent most of the book thinking that she was approximately 22 until she mentions she isn't old enough to have wine, so I downgraded her plausible age to 20, and then near the end of the book it came out that she was 18. Which at least that somewhat explains how her parents treat her like a child, but what kind of parents let their 17 year old move out with their boyfriend? (She was dating Corey for four years, they lived together for one before she left him and the book pretty much begins with her decision to leave him). The subject matter for this book is probably more suited for the new adult genre rather than young adult.

This is a great mystery that will keep you guessing, and would make for a great beach/pool read this summer!

Many thanks to the author, Jennifer Leigh, for sending my a free eARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

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