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Girl on the Verge

by Pintip Dunn (Goodreads Author)

3.9 · Rating Details · 94 Ratings · 74 Reviews

From the author of The Darkest Lie comes a compelling, provocative story for fans of I Was Here and Vanishing Girls, about a high school senior straddling two worlds, unsure how she fits in either—and the journey of self-discovery that leads her to surprising truths.

In her small Kansas town, at her predominantly white school, Kanchana doesn’t look like anyone else. But at ...more

Paperback, 256 pages

Published June 27th 2017 by Kensington

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Lists with This Book

Spring 2017 YASH List

102 books — 88 voters

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

YA Novels of 2017

960 books — 5,940 voters

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Community Reviews

(showing 1-30)

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Apr 18, 2017 Chelsea Humphrey added it

Shelves: from-publisher

3.5 STARS

My initial interest in this one stemmed from a desire to find more culturally diverse reads in a plethora of genres. I always fangirl when I can find one in the young adult sector as I think it's important to empower our young people and expand their views on cultures other than their own. I'm not "old" by any means, but I'm far enough removed to wish I had found more books like this when I was a teenager. Girl on the Verge was a fantastic example of such; while it didn't feel like an i ...more

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May 27, 2017 Emer rated it did not like it

Shelves: 1star, arc, reviewed, read-in-2017, netgalley, young-adult

When I receive an ARC through NetGalley I always feel a sort of privilege. It's so nice to have someone grant me an eCopy of a book for free before it's released in exchange for an honest review. I feel that this is the one time that my review holds some gravitas so I always try to find good points within a book and to think about the precise target market for a book when I write my review while still remaining honest about my feelings.

This is a hard book to review. Or at least it is for me bec When I receive an ARC through NetGalley I always feel a sort of privilege. It's so nice to have someone grant me an eCopy of a book for free before it's released in exchange for an honest review. I feel that this is the one time that my review holds some gravitas so I always try to find good points within a book and to think about the precise target market for a book when I write my review while still remaining honest about my feelings.

This is a hard book to review. Or at least it is for me because sadly I did not enjoy the reading experience. This is a YA mystery/thriller about two young girls who both feel like outsiders and become instant friends. And initially I was taken in by the story: the setup was nicely done and it looked to be a promising easy read. But after about 15% through the book I found myself getting bored by the storyline and increasingly frustrated by the actions of the main character. Kan is a Thai-American teenage girl and from the start she was immensely likeable. She was a girl lost somewhere between two cultures and always unsure of herself socially but privately she was a girl with a clear vision of who she wanted to be, what she wanted to do with her studies etc. But soon after the introduction of the secondary character Shelly things took a turn for the worse with both characters becoming little more than pastiches of themselves. The main plot-line was entirely derivative of other thrillers. In some aspects this novel had something of a B-movie quality to it and I decided to treat it as a popcorn sort of book; something very light and frivolous almost. However, the ending destroyed that for me. Instead of leaving the reader with a sense of wanting more everything was over-explained leaving no room for a little much-needed supposition. I'm not saying this needed an ambiguous ending but this went overboard on the elucidation!

Until the last chapter I had thought of giving this book two stars because I very much enjoyed reading about the Thai culture of Kan (I'm a big fan of diverse characters in YA) but there was too much here that I did not like so sadly it is one and a half stars.

*A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher, Kensington Books, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.* ...more

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Jun 02, 2017 Carrie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Kanchana is a Thai-American girl that has always had a feeling of not quite fitting in. Kan has been raised in a small Kansas town where she is the only one of her descent among her classmates but when she visits her homeland she also stands out as being too Americanized.

When Kan's mother brings home another teenage girl and informs the family that Shelly will be staying with them Kan immediately feels drawn to her. The two become good friends sharing a lot in their feeling of not quite fitting ...more

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May 29, 2017 The Bookavid rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 2017-releases, ownvoices-culture, poc-thai-mc

More Reviews on my Book Blog The Bookavid

In GIRL ON THE VERGE, Kan's mother offers to take care of Shelly, who eagerly becomes Kan's new best friend, but also arrives with a mountain of secrets.

What intrigued me: Wanted to read more from Pintip Dunn.

Young Voice and Creepy Vibes

GIRL ON THE VERGE needed a while to get me interested. I didn't quite know what to expect, I thought this would be some kind of angsty contemporary. But once Shelly arrives and weasels the way into the reader's (and Ka ...more

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May 13, 2017 Laura rated it liked it

Shelves: netgalley, ya, gifters, thriller, thai-american

The fun part of any mystery or thriller is trying to second guess where the author is going with it. And when you get it wrong, and are surprised, it is even better. That is where the tension lies.

But, then there is this book, where I figured out not only who Shelley really was, but who she was not. It was the only suspense there was, really.

The story, on the other hand, is fast paced, even though there is a sort of love triangle, with the Perfect Boy ™.

So, although it was well written, and has ...more

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Jun 27, 2017 Shenwei rated it it was amazing

Shelves: asian-reads, by-and-about-poc

I didn't intend for my review to be a haiku but the universe had the syllable count planted in my subconscious somehow so here you go:
holy fucking shit
what the hell did I just read
I need to lie down

flag 12 likes · Like · see review

Jun 13, 2017 Lisa B. rated it really liked it

Girl on The Verge is wonderful and by wonderful, I mean creepy, twisted, and disturbing. This book is filled with everything that makes a perfect thriller! I am delighted to see another great spine-chilling young adult thriller to hit the shelves soon.
Thank you to the author, publisher, and netgalley for providing me with an e-copy for an honest review.

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Mar 29, 2017 Amy's Book Reviews added it

**I received a complimentary copy of GIRL ON THE VERGE from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review**

GRADE: A+++++++
5++++ stars

Oh Pintip Dunn, I think I'm in love with you. Only a few pages into GIRL ON THE VERGE I knew I was reading a story I'd reread many times. The level of tension gave me a visceral reaction in my chest. I had to stop reading several times, just to catch my breath and slow my heart rate.

Kan straddles a world between her old-fashioned Thai grandmother and her American life ...more

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May 26, 2017 Hristina rated it really liked it

Shelves: e-books, ya-and-na, reviewed, first-read, from-netgalley, thriller

Actual rating: 3.5

For my review + a chance to win a 25$ Amazon gift card, CLICK HERE.

You may have or have not noticed, but I might be Pintip Dunn’s biggest fan. Most of all, I enjoy her writing style, and this book doesn’t disappoint when it comes to the writing. Her ability to pull you into the story solely with the narration comes through again.

The story revolves around Kan, a Thai-American girl who feels as though she doesn’t belong anywhere. The aspect of growing up between both cultures w ...more

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Mar 28, 2017 Kelly rated it it was ok

In my seventeen years in Foxville, Kansas, it's never been me. Why should anything change now?

I liked a lot about this book: the #ownvoices aspect, as Kan is a Thai girl in a predominantly white school; the twistiness; and the family theme. It's rare to see a Thai protagonist, so I really appreciate Pintip Dunn's inclusion.

However, I saw everything coming from a mile away. If you've read any sort of suspense or thriller, you'll know exactly what's going on. I kept reading, hoping I'd be proved w ...more

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Jun 06, 2017 Pocket Full of Pages rated it it was ok

Shelves: e-books

‘Girl on the Verge’ by Pintip Dunn.

Publisher: Kensington Books.

Expected Publication: June 27th 2017.

Page Length: 256 pages.

Genre: YA contemporary, Mystery, Thriller.

Review:

This book was provided to us by the publisher, Kensington Books via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

We were so thankful and privileged to receive an eBook of this unique book before it’s release date. Here is our honest review. We always try and find good points within a book whilst remaining honest about our thou ...more

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May 26, 2017 Paula Phillips rated it really liked it

Though Girl on the Verge has a strong focus on Kan and her American-Asian roots and the trying to fit in with her friends, this story isn't about Kan. Its main focus is on Shelly. Kan's dad has passed away, and her Grandmother has come to live with them as Kan's mother works long hours at the local hospital. When a patient is killed, Kan's mother takes in Shelly - a teenage girl about the same age as Kan. Kan has always wanted a sister and sees this as an opportunity to have someone around whom ...more

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May 24, 2017 Ashley Gillan rated it it was amazing

In the tradition of "Fatal Attraction" and the recent movie "Unforgettable," "Girl on the Verge" explores what happens when someone gets a little too....friendly. However this book adds some twists that make it a great, suspenseful read.

Kan is a great character who is immediately likable and relatable. I really enjoyed her character and was immediately creeped out by Shelly, who was also really well written. One added "twist" that makes the book interesting is that despite Kan's pleas, her mothe ...more

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Jun 21, 2017 Cat (cat-thecatlady) rated it liked it

I'm not sure what I thought of this one. I guess that mainly I just didn't think the things this book tried to do mixed that well together. I did like the own voices aspect and how it deals with feeling like you're in several worlds and not fitting in any. I just need to think a bit more about this, to say something eloquent about it.

full review here: https://catshelf.wordpress.com/2017/0...

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May 17, 2017 Danielle rated it really liked it

Shelves: arcs

This was a book. It was twisty, and engaging, and fun. It reminded me of a Criminal Minds episode in the best way. There was action, suspense, and a bit of romance. All around, this was a really run read that kept me on my toes.

Things I Liked :
I loved that we got to see Kan deal with microaggressions in her daily life. I mean I’m not happy she had to deal with assholes, but I thought it was very realistic to show how Kan was othered in her school and home life - she wasn’t Thai enough, she wasn ...more

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Jul 13, 2017 Kristine rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley

Original review can be found at http://kristineandterri.blogspot.ca/2...

** I received an advanced readers copy from Kensington in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

I was very much looking forward to reading this book. I previously read The Darkest Lie and thoroughly enjoyed it. From the synopsis it sounded like this one would be sure to follow suit. So you need to understand that it pains me tremendously to write my honest thoughts on Girl on the Verge.

I wanted desperately to like this ...more

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May 28, 2017 Nicole Hewitt rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction-addiction-read

This review and many more can be found on my blog: Feed Your Fiction Addiction

This thriller reminds me of a movie from when I was a teenager (many many moons ago) called Single White Female mixed with another (old---sorry) movie, Fatal Attraction.

What happens when someone swoops into your world and immediately makes an impression, but then things start to go sideways fast. When Shelly moves in with Kan, she really likes her at first---even feels sorry for her because she's had a rough life. But ...more

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May 30, 2017 OutlawPoet rated it liked it

I expected something different…

You see, the plot description doesn’t really tell you how much of a thriller this is.

When I started reading, I was intrigued. My own background can be described as ethnically ambiguous. The number one question I tend to be asked by strangers is, “What are you?” Usually after they’ve spent the last ten minutes staring at me. (Nothing creepy/uncomfortable about that, right?) I also get the shout out. After the requisite 10 minutes of staring, a total stranger will s ...more

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Jun 27, 2017 Olivia rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favorites, arc

TW for abuse, domestic violence, suicide, self-harm, and sexual harassment.

Early copy provided by Netgalley. This doesn't affect my opinions or my review.

THIS BOOK. THIS FREAKING BOOK.

I was reading three books at once, then decided to focus on this one. I read it in a day and don't regret it at all. It blew my expectations out of the water and I loved every page.

This actually just released today, so I feel it's appropriate that I finished it. I'm going to be recommending it a lot. For such a sho TW for abuse, domestic violence, suicide, self-harm, and sexual harassment.

Early copy provided by Netgalley. This doesn't affect my opinions or my review.

THIS BOOK. THIS FREAKING BOOK.

I was reading three books at once, then decided to focus on this one. I read it in a day and don't regret it at all. It blew my expectations out of the water and I loved every page.

This actually just released today, so I feel it's appropriate that I finished it. I'm going to be recommending it a lot. For such a short book, it really packed a punch and kept me on the edge of my seat. Seriously, I haven't done anything other than read in about three hours.

I loved everything about this book. The characters, the family, the romance, absolutely everything. You should see my Kindle notes. They're all over the place. Then again, so am I. I went into this happy to have an early copy, because I was looking forward to it, but I wasn't in desperate need of it or expecting much from it. Don't let this go under the radar. It's amazing.

One thing I liked that I haven't seen before was a Thai-American character. Kan, whose real name is Kanchana, struggled to balance the expectations of her Thai family and the desire to have an American life. I can't say much on the rep as I'm not Thai, but this is an #ownvoices story so I think it's fine. But anyway, I loved that her family was present, even though her mother worked a lot, and I especially loved her grandmother. I also liked the tidbits of Thai culture and the Thai food that was woven into the story.

There are racist microaggressions in the book as well, mostly in the beginning, but I think they were handled well. They were challenged rather than left alone.

One other thing I want to bring up is that both Kan and the love interest Ethan have unique hobbies, something I want to see more of in YA. Kan designs and sews clothes, and Ethan is a competitive ballroom dancer. Yes, please! I've seen a handful of designers before, but never a ballroom dancer. I loved it, even if it seems minor.

I applaud Pintip for making such a small book so impactful and thrilling. This is slightly more than 250 pages and yet the story is so intricate and gripping. Even though I knew the basis of what would happen due to the synopsis, I was in nearly a constant state of shock as I read. I loved the last quarter, especially! I never expected it, and I couldn't have ever guessed that ending.

All in all, I loved everything about this book. It was an epic read, perfect for bingeing and definitely a new favorite. ...more

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May 20, 2017 Just Another Bookish Blog rated it liked it

Review TBA on the 23rd of may! :)

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Jun 12, 2017 Sue Holmes rated it really liked it

Shelves: young-adult, crime, arc, diversity, thriller, 2-b-reviewed-on-amazon, 2017

The good news is Girl on the Verge is good, the bad news… it’s good – but just doesn’t tip the scales to great simply because it’s just a little too shallow. The shallowness of both plot and characters let the story down. The storyline, although unoriginal, has all the makings of a brilliant psychological thriller where the reader alternates between wanting to slap the gullible character and hiding under the duvet. More depth is needed and although there were occasional flashes of sinister, dark ...more

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Sep 28, 2016 Meg rated it it was amazing

For anyone who liked Pintip Dunn's first contemporary thriller, The Darkest Lie, this new book is a must-read. Kan is a Thai-American high school girl trying to find her place in an all-white, Midwest town, when her mother brings an orphaned teen into her home to finish high school. Shelly is lost and grief-stricken, and is grateful for any attention Kan gives her. But the friendship takes a turn when Kan starts dating her dream guy and Shelly's fixation on Kan turns darker. And darker. This gri ...more

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May 29, 2017 Katherine Paschal rated it really liked it

Shelves: read-to-review, mystery, teen, suspense

Kan has always felt like she does not belong- be it in her life in America, or with her family in Thailand. She tries to be the good Thai girl her grandmother wants her to be, but she dreams of being a fashion designer instead of the doctor she wants for her. When Kan's workaholic mother brings home a strange girl to come live with them, Kan tries hard to be supportive. The girl, Shelly, is completely alone and has suffered tragedy, so Kan befriends her and is excited at how much joy just being Kan has always felt like she does not belong- be it in her life in America, or with her family in Thailand. She tries to be the good Thai girl her grandmother wants her to be, but she dreams of being a fashion designer instead of the doctor she wants for her. When Kan's workaholic mother brings home a strange girl to come live with them, Kan tries hard to be supportive. The girl, Shelly, is completely alone and has suffered tragedy, so Kan befriends her and is excited at how much joy just being nice gives Shelly. But soon strange things start happening and Kan's life is unraveling. Who is Shelly and what is she really doing?

Oh my geez, there were so many twists thrown at me during this book I could not have ever expected. Just when I felt like I had a firm grasp on the story, the rug was pulled out from under my feet and I was caught off guard. Just a disclaimer here: the story at times was super messed up, nobody is safe and even the end was not really what I would call a happily ever after. This was the best kind of mystery though, one where it was super dark, very twisty, with tons of psychological manipulation and tricks to keep the characters off balance (and some romance, but that was not the most important part to me). The perfect way to describe this story would be a modern teen version of the movie "Single White Female". If you haven't seen that, this this book will be an ever bigger surprise.

I liked the fact that Thai culture was sprinkled all over this book, be it food, attitude, expectations, customs or language. It added another layer to the complexity of the characters, especially Kan who tried so hard to balance who she was with who she was expected to be. It was a big part of the story and not something that I have ever personally had to think about as well as something that I had not read about before so I really liked that aspect of the book. I liked how the complicated mess that was the plot of the story also had the beginnings from this world as well, which I never would have guessed.

Kan was complicated. AS seen through her own eyes, she was not pretty, smart, talented or worthwhile. But then seeing her through the eyes of Shelly, she was attractive, amazing, sought after and popular. Keep in mind that (in my opinion) Shelly is a total crazypants, but still, it made me wonder who was right. Is Kan this amazing person that Shelly thinks, but is so unaware of it...or is Shelly just a crazy? I think by the end of the book she was more comfortable in her own skin which I was happy to see but wow the circumstances were awful to get to it.

I have been wanting to read a book by Pintip Dunn for awhile so I was super excited to get my hands on this book and I am happy to say that I was not disappointed. Ms. Dunn was able to create a great mystery, complex characters and an overall engaging book. I will gladly read anything else that she wants to write. I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a complicated dark mystery with a surprising ending.

I received this title in return for my honest review. ...more

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Jun 14, 2017 Kourtni Roucoulet rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc-reviews, 2017-releases, young-adult, contemporary, thriller-mystery

True rating is a 4.5/5
This review was originally posted on my blog.
Trigger warning: (view spoiler)

As a fan of YA thrillers and a reader always looking to read more diversely, Pintip Dunn’s latest went on my TBR as soon as I heard about it. Once I saw it was up on NetGalley, I couldn’t resist requesting it and I was so excited to see that I had gotten approved. And let me tell you: it did not disappoint. I True rating is a 4.5/5
This review was originally posted on my blog.
Trigger warning: (view spoiler)

As a fan of YA thrillers and a reader always looking to read more diversely, Pintip Dunn’s latest went on my TBR as soon as I heard about it. Once I saw it was up on NetGalley, I couldn’t resist requesting it and I was so excited to see that I had gotten approved. And let me tell you: it did not disappoint. If you’re looking for a new thriller to read or want to read more about what it’s like to be a first-generation American, you should really give this one a try.

Let me first say that I loved the parts of the book that explored Kan feeling like she doesn’t fit in with either her American friends or her Thai family. Her parents are both from Thailand, but she and her family live in America, and while she wants to fit in with both cultures, she feels as if she doesn’t fit in with either one. I think this will be incredibly relevant and relatable to readers with immigrant parents or even who are immigrants themselves. I can’t speak as to whether it’s an authentic portrayal or not as I’m white and I’ve never really been in a similar situation, but considering the author is also Asian-American, I’m not too worried about it. (As always though, if you know of any Asian reviewers who have reviewed this book, please let me know! I’d love to link to their reviews here.)

The relationships between Kan and the other characters in the story were really interesting to read about, especially her relationship with Khun Yai (her grandmother) and Shelly. I love reading books with strong familial relationships, so Kan’s relationship with Khun Yai was refreshing to see. Even though they have disagreements, readers can still see there’s a very strong bond between the two of them and they really care about one another. Kan’s friendship with Shelly is pretty twisted (which I’m sure you could guess would be the case just from reading the synopsis), but that made it even more interesting to me. As dark as it sounds, I loved seeing Kan go from pitying Shelly to realizing she’s not nearly as innocent as she seems.

My biggest complaint is that the romance between Kan and Ethan came on pretty suddenly and seemed to move pretty fast. It makes sense to some extent, given what they go through together in the book, but in the beginning, they go from never having had a conversation with each other to making out. Sure, they had exchanged some flirty glances, but that was pretty much it. Don’t get me wrong, their relationship is really cute and I like the two of them together, but I wish there had been more build up before they started dating.

One more thing that I have to mention is that this book is impossible to put down. Once I started to see how creepy Shelly is, I found it impossible to stop reading. I was so desperate to learn what Shelly was doing (and why) that I just kept turning the pages. While some things were easy to figure out or predict, there were also plenty of things that I was not expecting at all that left me surprised and thoroughly creeped out. If you’re looking for a good creepy thriller, this won’t disappoint.

It’s hard for me to really say much more about Girl on the Verge without giving too much away, but trust me when I say this is a great book. If you like thrillers or just want to see more Asian characters in YA lit, I definitely recommend giving this a try when it releases on the 27th. You won’t be disappointed!

Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a copy to review. This has not influenced the contents of this review. ...more

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May 31, 2017 Suze rated it it was amazing

Kanacha doesn't look like her classmates. She lives in Kansas together with her mother and grandmother, but most of her family members are living in Thailand. Kan does her best to be a good Thai girl and she tries to fit in at school. She designs her own clothes and would love to go to art school. She has three good friends, who don't always understand her, she is secretly in love with Ethan, but doesn't dare to talk to him and secretly she's feeling a little bit lonely. When Kan's mother brings Kanacha doesn't look like her classmates. She lives in Kansas together with her mother and grandmother, but most of her family members are living in Thailand. Kan does her best to be a good Thai girl and she tries to fit in at school. She designs her own clothes and would love to go to art school. She has three good friends, who don't always understand her, she is secretly in love with Ethan, but doesn't dare to talk to him and secretly she's feeling a little bit lonely. When Kan's mother brings Shelly home with her, a girl her age who needs a place to stay, Kan sees it as a chance to really bond with someone. Will this be a good plan?

Shelly wants to be like Kan. At first Kan is flattered she's looking up to her, but Shelly doesn't know how to stop. It's like she wants to have everything Kan has and be with the people Kan likes to spend time with, especially Ethan. Shelly tries to become Kan's best friend, but something isn't right. She might tell Kan she's her best friend, but Kan doesn't trust her new housemate. Are there valid reasons for her to be suspicious and what will Kan do when Shelly goes too far to be part of her life?

Girl on the Verge is an interesting gripping story. Kan is a sweet girl who always feels like she doesn't belong. The boys at school don't seem to notice her and people always comment on the color of her skin, while her grandmother thinks she's way too American to be a good Thai girl. I love how open and honest Pintip Dunn writes about her struggles to find her identity and to be happy with who she is. Kan is gorgeous and talented, but she needs a bit more confidence. She's a wonderful and brave person and I loved reading about her.

Shelly is creepy. She gave me the chills from the moment Kan's mother introduces her. She's way too intense, doesn't know how to stop and doesn't seem to have any scruples. Pintip Dunn skillfully creates an eerie atmosphere around her character, letting the reader know there's something wrong while slowly revealing what it is. Finding out more about Shelly and her background kept me on the edge of my seat.

Girl on the Verge is a multilayered story with plenty of surprising twists and turns. I liked how Pintip Dunn describes the thoughts and feelings of both Kan and Shelly. It was interesting to find out more about their character traits and motivations. Girl on the Verge is a captivating fast-paced story with plenty of vivid descriptions and fascinating details. I really liked this book and couldn't turn the pages fast enough to find out what would happen to Kan and Shelly. I loved this intriguing, oppressive and compelling story. ...more

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May 30, 2017 Stephanie Ward rated it liked it

Shelves: owned, for-review, ebook, netgalley

3.5 Stars

'Girl on the Verge' is an exciting new YA contemporary thriller that brings a diverse female main character to the genre. A big thing with readers lately has been the inclusion of diverse characters, and Kan is a perfect fit - in my opinion. As the description states, she's always felt like she's stuck between two worlds - American and Thai - but doesn't really belong to either of them. This is central to her character and really defines who she is and everything she does. I thought thi 3.5 Stars

'Girl on the Verge' is an exciting new YA contemporary thriller that brings a diverse female main character to the genre. A big thing with readers lately has been the inclusion of diverse characters, and Kan is a perfect fit - in my opinion. As the description states, she's always felt like she's stuck between two worlds - American and Thai - but doesn't really belong to either of them. This is central to her character and really defines who she is and everything she does. I thought this was a wonderful attribute and I found it interesting to watch her struggle with her identity throughout the story. The only hard part for me was identifying with her. I never had the same kind of issues that she experiences, so I couldn't fully connect with her. Because this struggle is so deeply ingrained in her personality and life, it takes a large precedence in the novel. This really made it hard for me to get into the story, which is completely on me - it has nothing to do with the writing.

All the other aspects of the book were well done - from the characters to the plot and the writing style itself. The characters were rounded and unique - each felt realistic in their own way. Kan, the main character, is very distinctive and has many positive traits and flaws - which made her realistic. The plot was fresh and original - sort of Single White Female only in young adult, which I really enjoyed. The book did feel more like a contemporary novel than a thriller to me though, mostly because of the main characters struggle with identity and her heritage. The writing was descriptive and detailed, which I liked a lot. The author wrote the novel in the first person point of view - from Kan's perspective - which was a huge plus for me. If it had been done in any other way, I really don't think I would've had a positive experience. The POV was a great fit for the story and made it all the more realistic for the reader. I recommend this for fans of YA contemporary, thriller, suspense, and those who enjoy the author's other works.

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Jun 22, 2017 Alexandra rated it liked it

Shelves: e-books

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you both Pintip Dunn and Netgalley for this opportunity.

When I initially requested this book, I saw that it was categorized as a thriller, and for those types of stories, I normally steer away from the description and just dive right in. MAN, was this a wild ride from start to finish.
We start this story off with Kan, a Thai girl living in Kansas. She struggles to fit in because of her culture and finds it hard getting c ...more

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May 31, 2017 Neelam rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: ya, thriller, realistic-fiction, read-in-2017

I haven't powered through a book this fast in a good few months. Wow. So many people now have trouble with the feeling of belonging. If you're diaspora (brought up in a country/culture other than where your family originated from), it's pretty likely that you've experienced something like Kanchana. Confusion, tearing yourself apart. Trying to accept yourself as you are can be tough. The very core of this book is about Kan wrestling with that. Hell, she even tries to hide her true passion for des ...more

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Jun 14, 2017 Jen Malone rated it it was amazing

This book was everything I wanted it to be- super creepy and tense thriller with Single White Female vibes (irony on the "White" here, as the girl being impersonated is Thai) but thoughtful underlying layers about forming an identity and the how's, why's, and what's of our own. I love, love, loved the #OwnVoices perspective from a Thai author and really adored Kan's character arc as she found peace with having to straddle two cultures.

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Jul 14, 2017 Leah rated it really liked it

Shelves: ebooks-kindle, arcs-review-copies, netgalley, 4-stars, m-f, ya-literature, ownvoices, poc-authors

Full of twists and turns, this novel keeps you hooked, sitting on the edge of your seat, begging you to continue reading until all is revealed.

Pintip Dunn has woven an incredible story that sucks you in from the very beginning and doesn’t let you go until you’re dizzy and trying to find a foothold on solid ground.

Full review to come!

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Contemporary

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Thriller

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Mystery

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About Pintip Dunn

Pintip is a New York Times bestselling author of YA fiction. She graduated from Harvard University, magna cum laude, with an A.B. in English Literature and Language. She received her J.D. at Yale Law School, where she was an editor of the YALE LAW JOURNAL.

Pintip's first novel, FORGET TOMORROW won the RWA RITA® award for Best First Book. Her other novels include THE DARKEST LIE, REMEMBER YESTERDAY ...more

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Remember Yesterday (Forget Tomorrow, #2)

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