That’s Not My Name Review
That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally
She thought she had her life back. She was wrong. It was a mistake to trust him.
Shivering and bruised, a teen wakes up on the side of a dirt road with no memory of how she got there―or who she is. A passing officer takes her to the police station, and not long after, a frantic man arrives. He's been searching for her for hours. He has her school ID, her birth certificate, and even family photos. He is her father. Her name is Mary. Or so he says.
When Lola slammed the car door and stormed off into the night, Drew thought they just needed some time to cool off. Except Lola disappeared, and the sheriff, his friends, and the whole town are convinced Drew murdered his girlfriend. Forget proving his innocence, he needs to find her before it's too late. The longer Lola is missing, the fewer leads there are to follow…and the more danger they both are in.
This is one of the best thrillers I have ever read! Every page seemed to pull me in deeper, desperate to know Mary's true identity. There were several plot twists that I saw coming, but I actually really enjoyed that because I gaslit myself into believing they weren't true, and pretty soon I felt like I was going as crazy as Mary as she tried to find the truth.
The plot was utterly captivating, shrouded in suspense from the very first page. We follow Mary, who wakes up in the middle of the woods with no memories, not even her name. After being taken to the police station, she meets a man claiming to be her father, and pretty soon, everything begins falling apart for Mary. This novel is Dual POV, as the other perspective is Drew, a teenage boy who is suspected of killing his missing girlfriend, but swears he didn't. We go through an intense journey of back and forth of wondering if Lola is actually Mary, and I never truly knew what to believe until the big reveal.
A lot of YA characters often fall flat for me, but the dynamics in this book were truly exceptional. Mary was a complex character, and we really got to see her intelligence and stubbornness, even with her lack of memories. It felt like we were discovering who Mary is at the same time Mary was discovering it herself. Drew is truly a ride or die boyfriend, willing to do anything to find the truth on the disappearance of Lola, especially if it means he can bring her home safe. One of the best fleshed out characters in this book was Wayne. I think Megan Lally perfectly captured his essence and was able to weave a clear picture of the deranged man, who truly believes what he's saying. Every time Wayne was mentioned, the reader couldn't help but feel as if something was off, but it only got worse as the book continued and Wayne showed his true colors.
I honestly believe that this book was so good because of how realistic it is, especially the ending and the whole Mary, Lola, and Wayne situation, which I can't get into without spoilers. It was dark, intense, and creepy, perfect for an amazing thriller. I can't wait to read Megan Lally's other books!
Written by Carlie Renee
