The Other Emily

by Barbara Freethy

"I know what you did."

The anonymous note starts an ominous game of cat and mouse. Soon, Emily finds herself trapped in a web of gaslighting and manipulation. Someone is lurking in the shadows, observing her every move, and insidiously replacing her in her own existence.

With no one she can trust, Emily turns to a stranger for help, an ex-soldier with his own baggage to carry, but is he who he appears to be?

As the danger escalates, Emily fights to put an end to the terrifying charade. With all the skeletons in her past, unmasking her tormentor is no easy task, but if she fails, she may find herself erased from her own life.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Thriller

308 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 12, 2023

About the author

Barbara's love of writing developed out of a love of reading. Growing up in an all-boy neighborhood, she spent quite a bit of time reading through her mother's large library, many of which were romantic novels. After graduating from the University of California at Santa Barbara, she went into Public Relations, but soon discovered that writing was her true passion.

Barbara was traditionally published for many years, then formed her own publishing company FOG CITY PUBLISHING in 2011 and has since sold over 10 million books! She has published 75 novels ranging from mystery thrillers to romantic suspense and contemporary romance.

Her book SUMMER SECRETS was a #1 New York Times bestseller! And twenty-five other novels have also appeared on the New York Times and USA Today Bestseller Lists. She is currently writing two ongoing series, a contemporary romance series set in Whisper Lake and a romantic suspense series: Off The Grid: FBI Series. She is also known for her bestselling Callaway Family Series, which offers up fourteen books and two novellas.

When Barbara isn't writing or publishing, which isn't very often these days, she is playing tennis, hanging out with friends and family in beautiful Lake Tahoe or reading books!

For a complete list of her books, visit her website!

Reviews

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this romantic suspense that has lots of action and plenty of twists.

I honestly got to the point that I didn’t know who to trust in this one so I could see how the main character, Emily, suspected everyone of trying to ruin her.

It was great that the book had behind the scenes of Hollywood, a revenge theme, an old murder/questionable death, and a little romance.

[Lisa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Emily, the latest release by Barbara Freethy is fantastic. I extend thanks to the author and publisher for the Advanced Release Copy that was gifted to me.

I highly recommend this book for more reasons then I can state in my review. This book is described as a psychological thriller and it definitely hits the marks. I wasn't sure what to envision when I picked up the book but the vast array of twists and turns exceeded my expectations. As a self identified bibliophile, who reads in excess of 200 books a year, it is HARD to fool me. I generally have the plot line figured out by no further than midway through. Not with this book. I was genuinely still changing my mind until the story revealed that it was .... did you seriously think I was going to have a spoiler alert in my review ... not likely. I'm still shaking my head the day after finishing and thinking, I did not see that coming.

I loved the character development and how the author was able to expertly changes our perception and opinion of nearly everyone. The were a couple other small areas that enhanced the reading experience. I appreciated the back story being presented in such a manner that it wasn't a distraction and without constant bouncing between past and present. Finally, I thought there was just enough romance and anticipation without it taking center stage. It will appeal to fans of many genres.

I have long been a fan of Barbara's work and have read almost everything she has written. That being said, this journey into a psychological thriller may well be her best work. It truly has this reader engaged and losing myself in how it would be if I was dealing with an "Other Lisa".

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a ride! The Other Emily moves quickly as Emily discovers someone is trying to take over her life and destroy her. Like her, I found myself questioning everyone, not knowing who (if anyone) could be trusted. This book is a definite page turner, edge-of-my-seat emotional roller coaster! Plenty of tension, gripping suspense, and action at every turn makes this a riveting and spine-tingling story I won’t soon forget.

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great one from BF! I loved the suspense and this whole storyline. Highly recommend this one! Many thanks to the publisher and author for this copy for review

[Brandy · Rating 4 out of 5]

So I can't begin to count the number of times I thought I knew what was going on and was wildly wrong! This kept me off balance the whole time, wondering who knew what and who was playing a dangerous game. Really suspenseful and engaging, I couldn't put it down!!

[Andrea · Rating 3 out of 5]

The premise was good, but the writing was not. Just felt the characters were under developed. I didn’t care about Emily at all and found her annoying. Writing was juvenile.

[Ana Stanciu-Dumitrache · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nu a fost rea deloc, am citit-o repede, a avut mult suspans.

[Linda-bythepond · Rating 1 out of 5]

No more Barbara Freethy for me. The last 30 pages is a ridiculous mish-mash of soap-opera worthy finger-pointing Da-Da-Da-Dumb revelation after revelation of affair/jealousy/murder/confession, along with a neat little thread to awkwardly stitch the heroes and the villains all together. Of course there's a bow on top with the happily-ever-after, after only 3 days of knowing each other. Did I mention that the writing is grade-school? Bleh.

[Mommysmoose · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fall, the perfect time to curl up with a blanket and the best page turner this season. This book was amazing. I couldn’t put it down.

Emily, a film director has worked hard to put her sketchy past behind her. But, someone wants to steal her future and the life she’s built for herself. Is it someone from her new life who’s jealous or someone from her past wanting revenge. As she tries to stay alive and figure it out the other Emily works hard to erase Emily’s whole life.

Can Emily stop her before she steals more than her looks and voice? This book is full of great characters, fast paced action and a whole lot of mystery that will keep you guessing until the end. I absolutely loved it.

I was given an ARC from the author and wasn’t disappointed.

[Tara · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.5. This wasn’t one of my favorite Barbara freethy novels and I’ve read almost all of them. The writing and dialogue just sounded very robotic. The story itself was good but I didn’t feel any real chemistry or true emotion in the characters.

[Lesley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Intriguing mystery from Barbara Freethy. Emily is a rising directorial star with a famous boyfriend, but it all starts to fall apart with a mysterious note. Then she is mugged and helped by security guard Ethan who ends up roped into the mystery with her. Can they figure out who is trying to destroy her life in time?

I was not a big fan of the main characters - Ethan is our hero who keeps trying to get away from helping Emily. Even stranger is the way she begs him for help even though he is a stranger to her. The mystery though is good and will keep you guessing and the writing is excellent as always. I do think the ending was a little abrupt and would have loved an epilogue to see how things resolved themselves.

Thanks to the author for a review copy.

[Stacey (reading2escape) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was an amazing psychological thriller that had some romantic suspense mixed in. I had such a hard time putting this book down because it was just SO good!!

This story is about Emily, a rising Hollywood movie director who finds herself caught in a game of cat and mouse when someone gaslights and manipulates her in order to take over and destroy her life.

This book kept me guessing the entire time! I loved the original plot and all the twists and turns! So many characters made good suspects, and just like Emily, I didn't know who I could trust!

If you love a fast-paced, action-packed thriller, do yourself a favor and read this book!

Thank you so much, @barbarafreethybooks, for gifting me a copy of your book and for these awesome gifts that you sent with it! 😀

[Janice · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Emily is a wonderful story full of suspense. I received an advanced copy from the author and started reading it immediately. It was so hard to put it down. It is quick reading and I couldn't wait to find out who the villain was. I always look forward to every new book Ms. Freethy writes. She never disappoints me. This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time I was reading. Just when I thought I knew who was putting people in jeopardy, there was a twist in the plot. I recommend this book to all who enjoys suspense filled stories.

[Julie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Disappointing.

[Patti Lucas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Barbara Freethy has done it again; I absolutely loved The Other Emily and thoroughly enjoyed reading it! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. Who does not love a romantic thriller with a surprise ending and lots of plot twists and turns? Once again Barbara Freethy has shown that she is a master storyteller and definitely did not disappoint her readers. I love how she developed the story line and the characters. It was impossible to put it down and I loved every moment on every page of this incredible page turner. I love the love story, the setting, and the amazing characters! Barbara Freethy has once again delivered an amazing story filled with everything that I have come to love about her books. She has once again provided her readers with the amazing characters, that I have come to love and expect in her books, they feel like family! I love how Barbara develops her characters in such a way that you fall in love with them and care about them much like a good friend. Barbara Freethy continues to deliver all that and so much more. I love that she wrote The Other Emily in the first person from the perspective of the main character, Emily Hollister. I loved getting inside her mind and knowing her thoughts and how she really feels. My favorite part is how Barbara Freethy incorporates the name of the book into the story. The Other Emily is the story of Emily Hollister, an associate producer for Holly Roads Productions. Emily recently had the opportunity to be the director for The Opal King, which has become critically acclaimed. She was recognized as one of the 30 under 30, and that night everything changed with her starting with a mugging where her purse was stolen. Ethan Burke, a security guard for Stillman Securities was working at a jewelry store that night but missed it. Mysterious occurrences continue to happen to Emily. As Emily and Ethan work together to figure out who is behind all the events things start to change between them. I love the chemistry between Emily and Ethan. I love the secrets that Emily and Ethan share with one another and all the surprises that they discover together while trying to find answers. A surprise plot twist puts Emily’s life in danger. I love all the unexpected plot twist and turns throughout the story, including the one the threatens the relationship between Emily and Ethan. One of my favorite part of the story is the Alfred Hitchcock quote. I also loved the memories that Emily has of her mother at the beach and how that gives her the strength to persevere. The Other Emily was an incredible romantic thriller and had me guessing who was behind the events that were happening to Emily, the destruction of her home, and the attacks on Emily. The closer Emily and Ethan get to solving the mystery the more risks are involved putting Emily’s life in danger. I never saw the villain or the real story behind other events that took place in the past until it was revealed in the story. It truly took me by surprise. I love how Emily changed during the story from, becoming a strong confident woman achieving her own dreams and how Ethan decided to make changes in his life. My favorite part is the ending, and how it is a perfect ending. It was an incredible romantic thriller. Looking for a great romantic thriller, then I highly recommend The Other Emily. I received an advanced copy from the author.

[Shelby (catching up on 2025 reviews) · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝗥𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗜𝗖 𝗦𝗨𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗡𝗦𝗘 𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗜𝗘𝗪

Thank you @barbarafreethybooks for my gifted copy and goodies! 🥰

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗢𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆
𝗕𝗮𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗿𝗮 𝗙𝗿𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗵𝘆



✨FOLLOW ME ON BOOKSTAGRAM ✨

📖 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁: In Barbara Freethy's newest romantic suspense novel, we follow a woman named Emily, who finds herself caught up in a dangerous game of cat and mouse.

Emily had a difficult childhood, but after some good luck, has turned her life around and made a name for herself in Hollywood as a director. But when she's accused of things she had nothing to do with, it becomes clear that someone is pretending to be Emily, and is out to sabotage her (or worse). Not knowing who to trust, with everyone in her life a potential threat, Emily leans on the handsome security guard next door... though she's not entirely sure she can trust him. Will Emily be able to find 'the other Emily' before it's too late?

💭 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀: Romantic suspense is my comfort genre, and The Other Emily brought back all those nostalgic feelings. This was such a wild ride that kept me on the edge of my seat. With high stakes, twists and turns aplenty, and a large cast of potential suspects, I had NO IDEA where it was going. As someone who often figures out twists, that's saying a lot. The romance aspect was slow-burn and well-developed, and I love the way our love interests developed such a genuine friendship. That said, I'd say this leans more heavily into thriller / suspense with a romance subplot. Lastly, I really appreciate the way the author wrapped things up, leaving me with zero questions. 👏🏻

📌 Out now!

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[JigsawGirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I listened to the audiobook. I don't know if the narrator normally sounds that way, but her voice grated on my last nerve. All the female characters sounded very nasal, high pitched, and had a tone as if their sentences ended with a question mark. I will definitely listen to a sample before purchasing any audiobook with this narractor.

Emily's character just seemed whiny to me. There was no way she could have run cons with Jack and been that oblivious to what was happening around her. The bad guys were pretty obvious. I did not necessarily know what part they were playing in Emily's destruction, but I knew who was involved. That is when some of the twists kicked in.

There were so many toxic people in Emily's life. Thank goodness for Ethan. Although I only felt a hint of chemistry between Emily and Ethan, the fact that he would try to help her after only knowing her for a day was admirable.

I thought this book dragged on through several parts of the book. It felt to me like it took entirely too long for events to get interesting. I think it was because there were things going on at the party that Emily did not lock on to at the time. Where was her intuition? How could she not recognize the bad guys?

I also thought this could have used an epilogue. I wanted to know how the bad guys would be charged. I wanted to know about Jack. I wanted Emily to go to her class reunion and put people in their place. I wanted to hear her convo with Francine. I needed more. 2.5 Stars.

[Debbie Oliphant · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love a good suspense novel and Barbara Freethy did not disappoint with this "edge of your seat" story. As usual, it is fast paced, and you are on a wild ride from the beginning.

Emily is a rising star as a director and is being recognized with her peers at an event. She receives a threatening note at the party that prompts her to leave early. On her way home, she is mugged and rescued by a nearby security guard named Ethan. He wants to make sure Emily is safe and gives her some guidance to protect herself. Her problems don't end there. She notices that someone has broken in her home and may have access to her computer. She receives another message stating that they know what she did. Emily believes that the threat can mean many things. Things that she is not proud of. Ethan is becoming a trusted ally. as he has resources that can help her. However, he keeps telling her that he can't be involved. She wonders why he is helping her so much already. Danger is lurking nearby when Emily and Ethan are victim to an escalation at her home. Now it is a race to figure out who is behind this and way.

The story introduces many characters and you are constantly second guessing who is behind the mayhem. The plot has a twist and there are merging storylines that collide at the end of the story. I enjoyed this book and am a big fan of the suspense genre. My only wish was that i had hoped there would be an epilogue to tie up a couple of loose ends.

[Norma Jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Emily is a fast paced psychological thriller that grabbed me at the first chapter and didn’t let go until the end of the book. I couldn’t put it down until I finished it. Every time I thought I knew who was behind the terror filled gaslighting, the plot took another turn and left me wondering who the perpetrator was. There were so many possibilities.

Barbara Freethy is a master of writing suspense and psychological thrillers. Her characters are so well-developed that they seem to jump right off the page. She has a way of involving the reader in her stories to the extent that you almost feel as if you are the person in danger.

Emily has overcome a troubled upbringing to become a successful movie director. At a party celebrating her success, she is handed a note that says, “I know what you did.” This is only the beginning of a terrifying and dangerous campaign to gaslight her and steal her identity.

I can’t say much about the story without giving away too much of the plot. Let me just say that you really need to read this book if you love mysteries and psychological thrillers. You won’t be disappointed.

[Becky Claxon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Freethy did an excellent job of making us question so many characters in the book of who was working against Emily. I had no idea who it was until the very end, and I was shocked. I felt so bad for Emily losing her mother as a child, and the having a con man step father to raise her. I can’t imagine the guilt she felt when she got old enough to understand what she did with her step father was wrong. She turned into a wonderful woman that tried to do right and concentrated on her job. I must say that Hollywood would not be where I would like to work with all the jealousy and backstabbing. Could you imagine being suspicious of everyone you worked with and even your friends? Never knowing who you could trust? I couldn’t believe everything Emily went through. I was so glad she had Ethan, a stranger, to lean on. I was afraid Ethan had secrets that would affect Emily too. This is a book you will not want to put down once you start reading! I strongly encourage you to read the book. I was given a copy and voluntarily wrote a review.

[Gwen Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of mystery and suspense and have NOT read Barbara Freethy, THE OTHER EMILY is the perfect introduction.

This tale includes powerfully written characters interacting within a world of twists and turns that kept me on my toes trying to solve the mystery before Emily did. (BTW, I did not beat her!)

Emily herself is a complex character with a variety of strengths and weaknesses. The gaslighting she experiences finds her doubting herself and her instincts. It’s hard to calm down and think with so many things happening one right after the other.

Her chosen profession also becomes a character in the mystery because Freethy’s research and depiction is so strong.

I’ve read all of Freethy’s earlier works and believe this one is her best yet. It is a standalone title and will be an easy read because you won’t put it down! I received an advance copy from the author and read it in one day.

If you are new to Freethy’s work, once you finish THE OTHER EMILY, check out her backlist and start reading.

[Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Emily is another of Barbara Freethy’s freestanding mysteries that will have readers totally engaged and often puzzled as Emily Hollister tries to figure out why all of a sudden her career and possibly her life seem to be imploding. Emily is being honored as an up and coming person in the film world, but on the night of the party she receives a threatening note, that proves to be just the beginning. As incidents begin to multiply she doesn’t know who to trust and begins to question everything about her adult life. She thought she’d moved beyond her childhood years, but how can she be sure? The only person who seems to have her back is a security guard, but he’s as closed mouthed about his past as she is. Ms. Freethy’s fans will devour this story…and if you are a new reader, your library is about to explode because this author will never be a one and done! I voluntarily reviewed an advance copy of this book. Most highly recommend.

[Perrin Larton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think we've all been there...someone says something like 'I know what you did' and we all go back in our memory banks to try to remember something, anything, that might be worthy of this taunt.

In this newest book by Barbara Freethy, that exact line, in a note given to Emily, as she is being honored for becoming a director and producer at a very young age, makes her realize someone knows...she DOES have something...

As the book goes from one scene to another, the writer of the note, the gaslighter, the mugger, and the person trying to take over Emily's identity, seem to be one person...then another. The tension is delicious!

Who can Emily trust? Ethan? Why does he seem to want to help, but then tells her he can't get involved? My goodness, what an amazing ride!

Another great psychological suspense novel from Ms. Freethy. I love how involved her plots are, keeping readers on their toes until the very last scenes of the book!

[Diane (Books and Tequila Blog) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wowzer! Tons of suspense and mystery right from the start. The Other Emily is an action packed, complete page turner that I could not put down.

Emily’s world is turned upside down when she receives an anonymous note.

"I know what you did." 

The story is a super psychological thriller, edge of the seat, don’t know who to trust, twist after twist kind of thing!

“You're in real trouble, Emily. This woman is using your name, taking over your life, stealing your voice, and she's not stopping there. We need to find this other Emily."

Every SINGLE character is a suspect!! Emily’s friends, family, coworkers, even the guy who is helping her!!!

"I feel like I'm seeing evil in every person I speak to, everyone who walks by me, gives me a glance.”

I am a fan of romantic suspense and this book just went to the top of my favorites in that genre!
-5+ Stars!-

[Deb F. · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Real Great Who - Done - It!!

Barbara Freethy is an amazing author, I have read so many of her books she has written and everyone gets better. The Other Emily will keep you guessing throughout the entire book. I usually am really good about figuring out who done it, right before it is revealed. Not so with this book. Someone or someone's is trying to take over Emily's life just when things are going her way. Little things start adding up, then she is mugged, she is so shaken up but is rescued by a security guard working at a jewelry shop next door to her apartment. Then things in Emily's life go from bad to worse. She doesn't know who to trust....This excellent story has so many twists and turns you won't see the end coming...If your into psychological thrillers this is definitely the book for you!!!!! It is Barbara Freethy at her best!!!

[Allison Browske · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book. Most of the book was set up and it seemed to wrap up quickly. I wasn’t surprised that the Other Emily was Kaitlyn, being her assistant she knew every aspect of Emily’s life. I was also not surprised to that Jonah was her accomplice. There seemed to be some sort of vibe there when he was talking to Emily about her in the beginning of the book. I was surprised that the person who tried to Jill them was a tertiary character we had only heard about a few times. I was on to Ethan and Ashton for parts of the book. I feel like if one of them was the Other Emily it would have given more of a shock factor and a bigger turn of events. I am happy that Emily and Ethan end up together and they get to finally live their lives secretless. Overall this was an interesting book and it had a cute love story aspect!

[Dianna W · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emily finally has her life together. She’s making strides to everything she wanted to be in life. She got past rough childhood and now her star is started to shine.
Someone doesn’t want Emily to succeed. She starts with getting notes saying I know what you did and from there the gaslighting begins. Emily is scared and paranoid, and feels like she could trust no one. then she meets Ethan. Ethan helps her out of a difficult situation and Emily quickly feels a connection. Ethan becomes the only person she feels She can trust and she confides everything to him desperate for him to help her not to mention the sparks between the two of them.
Who hate Emily this much; who wants to see her destroyed and who wants her dead?
From the first three pages, I was invested in this book. It was very well written, and I read it quickly. Highly recommended.

[Karen Whooley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. I am so glad that Barbara Freethy has started to write thrillers with a touch of romance.

The story opens with Emily receiving accolades in her career. But the life takes a dark turn that leads her down a path where she discovers someone is trying to impersonate her and destroy her life buy bringing up secrets from her past. Along the way, she meets Ethan, a security guard who was at the right plac at the wrong time.. so to speak. Together they unravel th mystery of what is happening to Emily and who the culprit is.

The twists and turns of the story are so well done. Couldn’t put the book down! And i never saw the end coming. Recommend this book to lol. I cannot wait for the next Thriller from this Author!

[Emma (thecaffeinatedbookaholic) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Talk about a thriller!! Freethy kept me on my toes the entire time. My theories were constantly changing throughout the book, and not once did I manage to figure it out. This book had so many twists that, similar to Emily, I thought I was losing it–I was questioning everyone around her and whether or not they might have some motive to threaten her. This book was fast-paced and had an intensity the entire way through. I started to feel frazzled and like I was running out of time the closer we got to the end; it’s exactly what I want in a thriller, and I absolutely loved it! This book will play with your mind and is a roller coaster of emotions, and I definitely recommend it if you like psychological thrillers!!

[Bonnie Blackledge · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Other Emily is one of the best books I’ve read in a while. Of course, I always love books by Barbara Freethy, but this one drew me in from the very beginning. I found myself wishing I didn’t have to go to social events because I really just wanted to stay home and read. Books like this one are what reading is all about.
One thing I really liked about this story was that the idea of “the other Emily” is so unique and kept me wondering throughout the book what was going to happen. I had a hard time figuring out who was being honest and who was deceiving Emily and why. Every time I thought I knew who was behind the deception, someone else said or did something that made me wonder if I was right.
I’m looking forward to reading more Freethy books in the future.