| Title | : | The Stranger in the Mirror |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0062967320 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780062967329 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 336 |
| Publication | : | First published July 6, 2021 |
In a posh home in the Boston suburbs, Julian tries to figure out what happened to his loving, caring wife, Cassandra, who disappeared without a trace two years ago. She would never have left him and their seven-year-old daughter Valentina of her own free will—or would she?
As these two lives intersect, The Stranger in the Mirror hooks readers with riveting drama, told with Liv Constantine’s hallmark blend of glamour, tense psychological thrills, and jaw-dropping twists.
The Stranger in the Mirror Reviews
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Addison is about to marry Gabriel, and although she loves him, she’s very unsure of herself. She has Retrograde Amnesia, and only remembers the past two years of her life after a trucker found her on the highway. She has flashes of memories here and there, and unfortunately, they make her believe she might not have been a good person. In fact, she may have been involved in something dangerous.
Julian is still distraught after his wife, Cassandra, disappeared two years earlier, leaving him and their young daughter, Valentina. He would do anything to find her and bring her back home.
These threads will intersect, and that’s all there is to say without revealing anything.
What I Liked:
It’s a quick read, and even though it seemed like it was going to take a predictable route, I still found the first half entertaining. I also enjoyed the use of multiple POVs to tell the story.
What I Didn’t Like:
While it doesn’t end up going a predictable route, the twists in the second half are absolutely ridiculous! Sometimes I enjoy suspension of disbelief, but this was too much. It didn’t entertain me, and it dumbed down the story. The dialogue in the second half is also extremely cheesy. I literally couldn’t stop rolling my eyes. 🙄
2.5 stars
Available now from HarperCollins.
Review also posted at:
https://bonkersforthebooks.wordpress.com -
Liv Constatine has done it again!! I have read and loved every single one of their books!
Addison is engaged to a wonderful guy..💍 yet secretly inside she is freaking out.😬 She can’t remember her past…she wonders what she was running from the night she showed up in his town.. bloodied and battered..was she a victim or.. something else??
Meanwhile many states away.. Julian is looking for his missing wife.. 😳… and we will leave it at that!! Eek!!
I love this twisty psychological thriller! It checked all the boxes for me…kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time ✅ Kept me up wayyy too late✅ made me gasp OMG out loud…to nobody✅ kept my twisted thriller mind guessing all the way until the end✅
Short,intense chapters are my absolute favorite! I flew through this book… I needed answers! Who is this girl and what has she been through? Or what has she done?
Thank you HarperCollins for my gorgeous gifted copy!! Thank you Suzy Approved Tours for having me along on this tour! 🥰 -
So many amnesia books, so little time.
This domestic thriller about a bride-to-be with retrograde amnesia is fast-paced, compelling, and "unputdownable" until the ultra-bizarre "twist" is revealed at the 75% mark.
LET THE EYE-ROLLING BEGIN!
Check your tablets and phones. At that 75% completion marker, this gripping domestic thriller radically transforms itself into an absurd and far-fetched saga that defies reason.
Even though I am usually intrigued by novels with a narcissistic sociopath protagonist, I never enjoy books with convoluted and implausible endings.
Unfortunately, the only thing that I will remember about this "amnesia thriller" is its disappointing and off-the-wall ending.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrators did a superb job. Even talented narrators could not save this book. -
A new book by this fabulous sister duo? Oh, yes! And this may be my favorite yet.
Addison is about to get married, but she doesn’t know her real name or what happened to her. She may even be guilty of something very bad.
Meanwhile, Julian’s wife has been missing for two years.
These lives will interest in a way I never saw coming.
This is such a page-turner, and I couldn’t read it fast enough. Wowza. I still need to read The Last Mrs. Parrish, and I’m wondering how it will stack up with this nailbiting gem? Great stuff! A fantastic summer thriller!
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog:
www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram:
www.instagram.com/tarheelreader -
This might be the dumbest fucking shit I’ve ever read. It’s definitely a top contender and taking home a trophy.
The beginning of The Stranger in the Mirror could not be more poorly written. We start with the most worn out and tired trope on the planet. Throw in some nonexistent character development, shallow (to the point of desperation) dialogue, the most ridiculous ass plot, and you’ve got the recipe for this novel.
In fact, the only thing that would make this better is if you actually did put it in the oven on 450* and went to take a nap.
I’ve been a huge fan of Liv Constantine in the past, but this feels like a completely different author. Like a really bad joke.
It would be a better use of your time to paint your house with q-tip.
1/5 ✨
Thanks to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the advanced copy. Out in the US 06 July 2021 -
Boy oh boy was this one a bit much!! I would have given this one 4 Stars, because it was a pretty good read, even above-average at times, but thinking about it as a whole, it just seemed so UNBELIEVABLE! That's sometimes what I struggle with, when reading, and maybe it's just me, but if a book doesn't come across believable does that make it worse? Sometimes I think yes, especially with this one towards the end. Another tale of amnesia, with two love interests a woman must decide between, which as you can imagine led to a fair amount of drama in itself. Throw in some good old-fashioned gaslighting and this one went way over the line at about Part 3 and I caught myself laughing out loud at times! How very much like a soap opera this read at times...I just couldn't. I'd still recommend this, as it definitely has that entertainment factor thing going, but dang...be prepared to suspend TONS of disbelief with this one!
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"Something said Don't look back, don't stop. Keep running."
That's kinda what I was feeling as I got deeper and deeper into this one. I questioned the reflection I was seeing in The Stranger in the Mirror. Sorta like those funhouse mirrors where everything is distorted and almost unrecognizable.
Liv Constantine (the writing sister duo) takes us for a wild ride traveling the highways to Wonkyville. You don't even need a reliable GPS. They'll see to it that you'll arrive on time. We're surrounded by character passengers suffering from old standards: amnesia, unquestionable romance with a besotted fiance, convenient heroes by happenstance, and medical and psychological woowoo themes. Much to discuss.
The Stranger in the Mirror started out pretty well until it got into the high weeds. Addison is suffering from amnesia and can't remember anything from her former life. She was picked up along the highway by a good samaritan who takes her home where his wife is waiting. They allow her to stay with them as she builds a new life. (No social media searches....nothing) Addison is now engaged to Gabriel from a well-to-do family and he's hooked. A wedding is being planned. Addison finds that she is a highly talented photographer and she winds up with a showing at a local gallery.
Say what?
In the meantime, Constantine implements a parallel storyline in which Julian is searching for his wife who vanished into thin air leaving him and his young daughter abandoned. And, of course, their paths will cross. Exactly how and when adds to this brewing stew of events.
The Stranger in the Mirror opens itself up to some continuous eye-rolling experiences. I'm owning my share. The reviews have been quite good with 4 and 5 Stars. I always respect how others come away from their book experience. I just came away with a completely different take. Your vision may take you towards the bigger stars. Take it for a spin and see what you think. -
*I gave it 4.5 stars.
It was really compelling and suspenseful. The story unfolded at a slow pace, which bothered me a little. However I am very impressed with the amount of research these authors must have done to create this tale. It’s a (worth taking a look at) story that will stay with me for a long time. -
This is one of those books that has a tired sounding plot (amnesia, a husband the protagonist can't remember, etc.), but then the twist is so out there - almost to the point of completely unbelievable - but it works perfectly with the overall storyline that it makes the book a standout from all of the other amnesia plots. In the end, I couldn't help but applaud the Constantine sisters and give it 4 stars!
Like I said, the plot sounds like a hundred other thrillers - protagonist Addison is in love with a great guy and about to be married, but she’s not looking forward to the big day - because Addison doesn’t know who she really is. Two years earlier, a truck driver found her bleeding next to a New Jersey highway and rescued her. While her physical wounds healed, her memory never returned. She doesn’t know her real name. Or how she ended up injured on the side of a road. Or why she can’t shake the fleeting memories that lead her to think that she may have done something very, very bad.
All alone in his Boston suburbs mansion, Julian tries to figure out what happened to his wife, Cassandra, who disappeared without a trace two years ago. Even if she was tired of him, she never would never have left their young daughter, Valentina, of her own free will. He has never felt that she was dead and has always believed that she will come back to them. One day a flier for an art show featuring a budding photographer changes everything....
For awhile I thought, "here we go again," and I was pretty sure I knew exactly what direction this one was taking - I was so wrong! At times, it took twists and turns that seemed almost a bit too much of a reach, but the more I thought about them, the more oh-so-clever they became, and quite frankly, a breath of fresh air to the amnesia schtick. I don't want to say much more, as not to spoil anything, but it's worth reading to experience the mindscrew for yourself!
Overall, I didn't want to put this book down - I read it in one sitting and didn't feel one ounce of regret over it when I was done. The Constantine sisters' writing style, coupled with their ability to create an action-packed, suspenseful plot with complex, but relatable, characters is masterful! ⭐⭐⭐⭐ -
The Stranger in the Mirror is Liv Constantine's best novel since their debut The Last Mrs. Parrish! I said what I said! Liv Constantine is the pen name for author / sister duo Lynne and Valerie Constantine, but their books always sound like they come from one voice. You'd never know its written by this powerhouse duo. They jumped on the scene with their debut The Last Mrs. Parrish, but their recent novels haven't won me over as much as their debut. Sure they were juicy and fun, but something was missing. Whatever spark you may feel that has been lost is surely back in their juiciest book yet, The Stranger in the Mirror.
This story focuses on Addison Hope and her venture through her case of amnesia. Addison is engaged to a wonderful man in a wealthy family and has everything going for her. However, her amnesia has been over two years strong and she doesn't remember anything from her past. Why does she have these wounds on her arms and why can't she remember her family? At the same time, there's a family in Boston looking for the wife and mother of their family. Julian is seeking out to find his wife Cassandra and their daughter Valentina misses her mother. As the story weaves in and out of Addison and Julian's lives, you will get an unexpected narrative that you didn't see coming. Amnesia has been used in the past for psychological thrillers, but definitely not like this. The Stranger in the Mirror definitely surprised me, and in the best way possible. -
I don't think this is how hypnosis works.
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The Stranger in the Mirror starts out strong, suspenseful and intense! Although amnesia is a well-worn trope used in many books, I was definitely still intrigued. How can you not imagine what it would be like to have absolutely no memories of your past? No matter how good your current life is, without the past as a foundation, can you really build a successful future, especially with a love interest involved? Or, does the lack of memory and identity, with unanswered questions swirling unanswered, cause the fragile foundation to shake, tremble and crack apart?
Who are we without the family, people, places and events leading up to our "now" sense of self? And what if you have flashbacks, often violent, which make you unsure of not only your sanity, but of the very nature of your moral character? Are you running from a past you can't remember, or are you running from yourself, or both??
Clever, unsettling premise that kept my interest until increasingly implausible, absurd, over the top plot twists and decisions took over the duration of the book. The Constantine sisters can definitely write, and I know a certain suspension of belief is often necessary in psychological suspense, but it became just too far-fetched and convoluted for me. Again, I see I'm mostly in the minority on this one, but the less than stellar reviews mimicked so many of my thoughts. I will still definitely try other books from these authors. -
Addison Hope has amnesia. It has been two years since a kindhearted trucker brought her home to live with him and his wife. Addie was just wandering down the side of the highway in New Jersey. Should she marry someone before uncovering the truth about her past? What if you were the mother of the young man who wants to marry her? What if you were the husband she left behind two years earlier. The first sections of this book are engaging and the questions began to multiply. Believe me when I say that this book just gets more and more complex and the plot takes twists and turns that propel you to the very end. Definitely my favorite from this author duo since I read 'The Next Mrs. Parrish."
Thank you to Harper and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review. I trust that the slight discrepancy in the Cassandra timeline from Part III has been corrected by publication. -
Two years ago Addison found herself along the edge of a road with no memory of who she was or where she came from. At just that very moment a long haul truck driver who dedicated himself to helping out young women in dangerous situations after his daughter suffered a tragedy happens by (how convenient!!!) and not only gives her a ride, but ends up taking her in. Now she's engaged to a wonderful man, but she has lingering doubts about whether or not she can fully commit herself to him, as she doesn't even fully know who "herself" is. In another city, Julien and his daughter are still suffering from the effects of the disappearance of his wife and his child's mother Cassandra. She vanished one day without a trace, and he refuses to give up hope or to move on.
How will these two stories intersect, and what secrets might be lying in Addison's past?
Well... this was tropey but interesting enough until the end. But oof that ending. I get it, thrillers based around amnesia aren't going to be the most realistic thing you'll come across. When I pick one up, I'm prepared for a fun suspension of disbelief. That's why I thought this would be a perfect audiobook for a recent car trip. And on the drive there, I was pretty into this. There were enough "wait, how could that be...?" moments to keep me guessing about exactly how the plot lines would intersect and honestly I quite enjoyed Blithe as a character (which I assume might be an unpopular opinion). But I'd say with about 2 hours left in an approximate 10 hour audiobook, this took a nosedive for me. It went from implausible to absolutely ridiculous. The only thing saving my eyes from the strain of constant rolling was the fact that I did indeed still have to keep them on the road.
I actually really love the dilemma of what one would do if they'd built a totally new life for themselves only to discover one left behind. How would you react? Could you give everything you now love up for things you think you loved in the past? There could have been a really good book here, and if anyone knows of one that does this well, please recommend it in the comments! -
I loved this book with all its unexpected twists and turns. Great characters and a 5 star thriller!
Addison’s getting married. The big problem is two years ago she was found on the side of the road and still has no idea who she really is. Addison‘s not even her real name. But she powered through, finding pseudo- parents, building a new life and she has a fiancé (who comes from a loving close knit family with loads of money). But one day someone recognizes her. The old her. And so starts her journey of finding out who she was before she was Addison. -
An addictive psychological thriller full of twists & turns!
This audiobook was compulsively engaging - I devoured it!
I can be hit or miss with amnesia plots but this one really worked for me. It was convoluted and out there and I couldn’t have been more entertained y’all! I was up way past my bedtime with this one.
Addison is in love and about to marry her fiancé. It should be the best time of her life, but it isn’t. Addison doesn’t know who she really is. Years before she woke up bleeding on the side of the road. She doesn’t know her name or how she ended up there and she can’t shake the feeling that there is something bad in her past. I found Addison to be such a wonderful unreliable narrator!
Julian’s wife disappeared two years ago. He knows something bad happened to her. He knows she never would have willingly abandoned him and their seven year old daughter. He won’t stop looking until he finds her and brings her home.
As these two stories intersect, you will be on the edge of your seat. You have to be willing to suspend reality a bit here, like you would for any good thriller movie. The twists might be considered unrealistic but they work with the story. I was not disappointed with how much this book grabbed my attention from beginning to end. The short chapters, multiple POV and interspersed flashbacks kept me glued to the audio and ignoring everything else. -
The Stranger In The Mirror by Liv Constantine. Thanks to @harperbooks for the Arc ⭐️⭐️
Addison Hope picked her name. She doesn’t know her birth name. In fact, she knows nothing of her past but is building a new life for herself. When she begins to learn about her past, her new life unravels.
I’ve liked their previous books a lot, but I’m sorry to say that this one missed the mark. It’s going to be difficult to explain what I disliked about this book without spoiling anything, but I will do my best. The first half was good. It really built mystery and suspense. However, once you find out what’s going on.. you’re done. It’s so far fetched that I would say it’s ridiculous. It’s almost what someone would write if they were writing a satire on psychological thrillers. The twist had no subtlety. Suddenly it was “bam! This is happening and I’m evil mwhahaha”. No... this one was not for me. The unbelievability and lack of complexity was astounding. I will continue to read Liv Constantine because I’ve enjoyed their previous works, but I advise skipping this one.
“Ten years, twenty years, I’ll have a past again, and that’s something worth fighting for.”
The Stranger In The Mirror comes out 7/6. -
You think you have it all figured out 2 chapters into the book, and it plays out in the most obvious and predictable ways possible. I was like, this cannot be IT right?? and then you get to part 3, and it spins everything you thought was happening right on its head. This is the twistiest book I’ve read from Constantine so far.
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I’m tired of thrillers featuring insecure young women getting married to a handsome, rich man that she feels absolutely inferior to. Okay, men are not that precious, okay? The main character in this book Addy is too insecure because she feels like she doesn’t deserve to marry such a perfect guy like Gabriel. Okay, he is not that perfect. In fact, he is too perfect to be true.
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One of my top 5 July books!
https://fb.watch/71l7C4RBYw/ -
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for providing me a chance to review this outstanding book by Liv Constantine.
Addison is a showcase photographer planning the perfect wedding with her fiancé Gabriel. It appears everything is in order except for the need to know who she really is and her future mother-in-law is just the person to hire a detective to protect her son’s heart from a woman who says she lost her memory about who she is and where she came.
Two years ago, abandoned and injured, Addison was taken in by a sweet little couple Ed and Gigi. With their help, she was able to get on her feet and attempted to rebuild her memories. This is how she was introduced to her future husband.
Meanwhile, several states away is Julian mourning the loss of his wife, Cassandra....while raising their daughter alone. She just disappeared one day without a trace.
This book is an amazing thriller that contains a lot of twists.... catching you off guard with its unbelievable characters and mind controlling games. You will not know who to cheer for and cry for in this psychological thriller. I could not help but think of the movie Before I Go To Sleep starring Nicole Kidman...yikes....This author is amazing!!! -
Review published in:
https://diagnosisbookaholic.blogspot....
Since I read The last Mrs. Parrish a few years back I wait anxiously a new Liv Constantine novel each year. Last year I thought The wife stalker was a bit of a cheat with its final twist, but in this case not only I found it unpredictable but absolutely bonkers (good bonkers) and I loved it!
Addison can’t remember her past and for the last two years she’s been living a new life. Julian is looking for her wife Cassandra, who went missing a couple of years back. Could they be the same person?
Even though it may look like this will be the BIG question in the story, it is answered quite early on and then it’s when the cray cray began!
Three POVs, short chapters that leave you wanting more and a surprising twist made of The stranger in the mirror a quite unputdownable read. I’ve reads hundreds of novels about amnesia but I can’t remember one where the reason behind it was so over the top and at the same time worked so well in the plot. Even though there were some details I found a bit unbelievable, I could completely ignore them cause I was having so much fun..
This is exactly what I ask of a psychological thriller, an engaging plot with some unreliable characters and twists that, even wacky, add to the story and are not there only for the shock factor.
And now, do I really have to wait a whole year for their next novel???
Thanks to HarperCollins UK for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review. -
Wowww what a twisty, messed-up, psychological thriller. The story is centered around Addison who claims to have amnesia. This is such a wonderfully intense and suspenseful read to finding out who Addison really is, if she’s crazy or not, and the darkness behind it all. It blew my mind. So good.
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if you’re into psychological thrillers, this will be enjoyable! the writing was a bit choppy and it was hard to “love” any character but it was a quick, engaging read that kept me guessing. full review to come on my Instagram by pub day.
thanks to Harper for the gifted copy! -
2.5 stars
I have a mixed track record when it comes to Liv Constantine books. Unfortunately, The Stranger in the Mirror was a disappointing read. It started off with promise but eventually delved into predictable soap opera territory. I had a deja vu feeling like I've seen something similar play out in a daytime or nighttime drama.
Addison has no memory of her life prior to being found bleeding on the side of a road a few years ago. She doesn't even know her real name. Her only option is to try and move on so she goes by the name of Addison and manages to land herself a fiancé.
Julian lives in a Boston suburb and is desperate to find his wife, Cassandra. She disappeared two years ago leaving behind Julian and their seven year old daughter.
While there is some complexity to the story in that you can't pick up on every single detail, most readers are going to figure out the gist of the big reveal ahead of time. The mystery portion ends way too soon in my opinion and you are left with just watching everything play out. I was bored with the last 1/3 of the story because I had ceased interest in any of the characters at that point. Bottom-line the story as a whole didn't work for me. -
This book started so well. Then just became bizarre and unbelievable. For others I wouldn’t waste your time with the book. A buzzard tale of a woman who is taken by a psychologist and then through hypnosis implanted memories so she believes she is his wife who he has already murderer. Not worth the paper or was written on
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Addison Hope is an up-and-coming photographer and engaged to Gabriel Oliver. But that is not her real name. Two years ago, Addy was found wandering along a New Jersey highway in torn clothes. She has been suffering from amnesia and has no memory of who she is. As we learn more about the planning of her lavish wedding in Philadelphia, the story shifts to Julian and his 7-year-old daughter Valentina in Boston. They have been desperately searching for Cassandra, loving wife and mother, who disappeared two years ago leaving behind her ID, money and phone. Back in Philly, Gabriel’s wealthy mother Blythe is very concerned about the mysterious young woman her son is about to marry. Addy is concerned too as momentary, gruesome memories have started to emerge.
What happens next? Well, you’ll need to read this book to find out as anything more would spoil it.
The Stranger in the Mirror is another enjoyable thriller from Liv Constantine, the pen name for the writing team of sisters Lynne and Valerie Constantine. They’ve created a fast-reading, riveting story that you won’t want to put down. I’ve been reading quite a few psychological thrillers lately that fall into the “requires the suspension of reality but worth the read” category. I'm adding this book to that list. Enjoy it – just don’t keep caught up on some of the details.
Review posted on
MicheleReader.com. -
Thank you Harper Collins for my review copy.
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Hot diggity dog. The dynamic Liv Constantine duo is back. Back y'all. I loved this one.
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I'm not going to speak on the premise too much....read the synopsis for the deets. I am going to say this. I was completely addicted. I started this novel and it was all I could think about. To the point, I may or may not have snuck in a few chapters when I had downtime at work ;-). I also woke up early just to finish it, because I needed to know what was going on. The unreliable narrator is on point in Addison. I also loved the other two perspectives in Julian and Blythe. It was incredibly well rounded.
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I will be honest....there were a couple of predictable moments, but overall. I loved this one. If you like quick reads. Pick it up. If you like novels in the vein of The Woman on the Train. Pick it up. If you are a fan of Liv Constantine....by all means grab it. I'm going to say one more thing....y'all know I love nothing more than talking about a book I enjoyed! If you have read The Last Mrs. Parrish and loved it. Bring your expectations down a smidge. This book is fantastic. But in my opinion. The Last Mrs. Parrish will still be my go to book for this duo. -
Not my favourite but a fun read to finish the week off. Very much the need to suspend belief in this one
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Wow this is so crazy! Addison Hope is about to get married, but she’s apprehensive. Who is Addison? Two years ago, Addison was found bleeding on a NJ highway by Ed, a truck driver. Ed brings her home to PA where his wife GiGi is a nurse. With no memories she stayed, meets Gabriel and is engaged, but Julian Henry finds his Cassandra/Addison! Julian shows her pictures of her & their daughter Valentina, her passport, and ID she of course believes him. They head home to Boston together, at first it’s pleasant, but then it quickly becomes a s- -t show! It’s twisty & suspenseful, a bit predictable, and also unputdownable! This was finished in one sitting.
