49 pages 1 hour read

April Henry

The Girl I Used to Be

Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2016

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

In April Henry's The Girl I Used to Be, orphaned teenager Olivia Reinhart, who was formerly Ariel Benson, discovers that her father was not her mother's murderer after his remains are found. Returning to her hometown under an assumed name, Olivia sets out to uncover the true killer while grappling with her fragmented identity and complex family history. The novel includes themes of parental death and violence.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry blends suspense and an engaging plot as it follows the protagonist's quest to uncover her parents' killer. Reviewers praise the fast-paced narrative and well-developed characters, though some critique the predictability of the mystery. Overall, it's considered a compelling read for young adult audiences interested in thrillers.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Girl I Used to Be?

The ideal reader for The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry would be a young adult who enjoys fast-paced mystery and thriller novels with strong, relatable protagonists. Fans of One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus and We Were Liars by E. Lockhart will find similar intrigue and suspense in this gripping story.

RecommendedReading Age

12-18years

Lexile Level

HL660L

Book Details

Genre

Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction

Mystery / Crime Fiction

Realistic Fiction