When I Was You

When I Was You
by Minka Kent


Blurb:

After barely surviving a brutal attack, Brienne Dougray rarely leaves her house. Suffering from debilitating headaches and memory loss, she can rely only on her compassionate new tenant, Dr. Niall Emberlin, a welcome distraction from the discomfiting bubble that has become her existence.

But Brienne’s growing confidence in her new routine is shaken when she stumbles across unsettling evidence that someone else is living as…her. Same name. Same car. Same hair. Same clothes. She’s even friended her family on social media. To find out why, Brienne must leave the safety of her home to hunt a familiar stranger. 

What she discovers is more disturbing than she could have ever imagined. With her fragile mind close to shattering, Brienne is prepared to do anything to reclaim her life. If it’s even hers to reclaim.

My Reaction:
This is a tale rife with coincidence and implausibility. (More on that in the spoiler section below.) It's a thriller that moves slowly for the first third, then picks up steam just about the time that the coincidences and illogical behaviors become overwhelming.

You'll need to suspend your disbelief to enjoy this one, but if you're able to do that and are in the mood for mindless, "suspense lite" entertainment (à la Lifetime movies), it's not a terrible choice.


SPOILERS 
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follow...


I think my biggest gripe with this one is the bizarre, unlikely coincidences and strange choices characters have to make in order for the plot to "work" (to the degree that it does work, that is).

I mean, seriously. What are the chances that Brienne's mother would essentially adopt a son who just so happens to have a friend (and eventual girlfriend) who is the mirror image of Brienne herself? That in itself is insane.

Then there are all the odd behaviors-- such as Brienne's friends cutting off contact so completely (no chance for the truth to come out) and Brienne's own unwillingness to involve the police (until very late in the book). The closeness of Sam and Brienne's relationship didn't ring true, either, given how very little time they spend together. I feel that could've worked if it had been given more time and space, but as it was presented, it was far too rushed to be believable.

There are more, but those illustrate my point.