Book Review | You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
You Are Not Alone
by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen
St. Martin’s Press
Publication Date : March 3, 2020
Pages : 343
Synopsis From Publisher :
You probably know someone like Shay Miller.
She wants to find love, but it eludes her.
She wants to be fulfilled, but her job is a dead end.
She wants to belong, but her life is so isolated.
You probably don’t know anyone like the Moore sisters.
They have an unbreakable circle of friends.
They live the most glamorous life.
They always get what they desire.
Shay thinks she wants their life.
But what they really want is hers.
For the past 2 years I have looked forward to the month of March. Not because of possible spring weather but because I know a new release from Sarah Pekkanen and Greer Hendricks is near. In 2018 the duo’s debut The Wife Between Us made a splash in the literary community and made Hendricks and Pekkanen authors I “auto read”. Each new release raises the bar they previously set. You Are Not Alone is no exception.
Meet Shay Miller - a 31 year old living in NYC. Her living situation is precarious, her temporary jobs leave her unchallenged offering no future prospects. Shay reaches her lowest point when she witnesses a suicide on her way to work. Just when she thought things could not get worse, she meets Jane and Cassandra Moore. The sisters are glamorous, successful, and kind. Every element of Shay’s life improves under the watchful eye of the Moore sisters. Shay does not realize everything the sisters have given her was not a gift. With the Moore sisters everything has a price. However the cost of the sister’s generosity may be more than Shay can pay.
Shay’s way of coping with life’s difficulties is maintaining a data book. Within this book Shay records statistics, facts, and ratings. An excerpt from Shay’s data book is found at the beginning of each chapter told from Shay’s perspective. These excerpts were my favorite part of the book, mostly because the info Shay records are statistics I would find interesting as well. She uses this data book to make sense of things that sometimes are difficult to comprehend. Shay uses her data book as a source of comfort. Some of her data pertains to how many people are affected by fear, anxiety, and sleep depravation. She also has stats on things like how often people change careers and the challenge of finding rental units in NYC. These statistics help Shay to feel less alone. This data proves she is not the only person who is lonely, anxious, and unsatisfied with her career.
Jane and Cassandra Moore are characters we should love. Shay is not the only woman the sisters have helped. There is Beth, a lawyer who fought a battle with cancer and won. Daphne, owner of a boutique and survivor of an assault. Lastly Stacey, a computer wiz who was once on the wrong side of a prison cell. Each of these women are strong, smart, and resourceful. Hendricks and Pekkanen provide backstories for Stacey, Daphne, and Beth. They have survived terrible tragedies and losses, but thanks to the Moore sisters they are now thriving members of a sisterhood. Each using their own unique skill sets to assist Jane, Cassandra, and each other when needed. A group of clever and talented people with expertise in a variety of areas who are available to each other - it sounds ideal. I absolutely loved this idea especially the sisterhood aspect. The way Hendricks and Pekkanen are able to take something which should be admirable and make it into something sinister is fantastic.
I have read each book written by Hendricks and Pekkanen. Each book is thrilling and entertaining. However You Are Not Alone is my favorite of the duo’s three books. Shay is a relatable character, the Moore sisters are cunning, the plot is fast paced and addictive. Hendricks and Pekkanen are redefining the psychological thriller genre with each new release. After reading a book by Hendricks and Pekkanen, I always wonder how I would react in the shoes of the lead character. For me this is a sign of truly compelling book.
*Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for my free review copy of You Are Not Alone. *
Murder and Moore Rating :
4 out of 5 Stars