[Marcia’s Review] : A Girl Named Anna by Lizzy Barber

A compulsive suspense debut for fans of Megan Miranda, Wendy Walker and Kimberly Belle, about two teens--one sheltered by her strict and reclusive mamma, one living in the shadow of the missing sister who was snatched from a theme park as a toddler--and their search for the truth about their families and each other.

If your whole life is a lie, who can you trust?

Raised in a quiet rural community, Anna has always been taught that her Mamma's rules are the only path to follow. But, on her eighteenth birthday, she defies her Mamma for the first time in her life, and goes to Astroland. She’s never been allowed to visit Florida’s biggest theme park, so why, when she arrives, does everything about it seem so familiar? And is there a connection to the mysterious letter she receives that same day—a letter addressing her by a different name?

Rosie has grown up in the shadow of the missing sister she barely remembers, her family fractured by years of searching without leads. Now, on the fifteenth anniversary of her sister’s disappearance, the media circus resumes as the funds dedicated to the search dry up, and Rosie vows to uncover the truth herself. But can she find the answer before it tears her family apart?

Winner of the Daily Mail First Novel Competition, A Girl Named Anna is a psychologically riveting read that introduces Lizzy Barber as an outstanding new voice in suspense fiction.

I received this book for free from Publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

This is every parent’s worst nightmare: a child disappearing from a theme park in another country!

Do I have your attention now?

15 years later, we meet Anna, living with her very religious and neat-freak mama, in Florida. Anna is a good girl, but on her 18th birthday she wants to go to the theme park, Astroland with her boyfriend. Mama forbids Anna to go there, so she decides to lie to her Mama for the first time in her life. To Anna’s surprise, the park seemed familiar, in a “deja vu” kind of feeling, which should be impossible since she’s never been to that park…that’s when Anna starts to get curious about her past.

Across the ocean, we meet Rosie, the missing girl’s sister. Her parents are working on the 15th anniversary of her sister’s disappearance. They never gave up looking for her. But everything is about to change when Rosie decides to find her sister on her own…

The author delivers a brilliant story, full of suspense and a lot of twists and turns. I could not put it down!

Grab some snacks and cancel all your plans for the day.

Buckle up and enjoy this emotional thrill-ride!♥

Marcia

I’m an avid reader and writer, always trying to unleash my creative side with pictures and traveling to different places.  I’m also the blogger behind the scenes at TrendySimpleLife.com and the creator of #SOMAbookclub, a NJ bookclub with over 100 members.