I Know, I Know—It’s Been a Minute…But hear me out.
Before we dive into this week’s book (That’s Not My Name by Megan Lally), let me say this first: if you’ve been wondering where the heck I’ve been—hi, I missed you too. Brash & Bookish hasn’t ghosted you, I swear. I’ve just been hard at work behind the scenes bringing some seriously exciting things to life over at our sister site, Brash Body and Soul (think: bold mental health support meets real-talk coaching, minus the fluff and fake vibes). More on that soon.
But just because I’ve been busy doesn’t mean I forgot about my bookish besties. You’re still the reason I power through plot twists and suspicious characters at 2 a.m. with tea in one hand and post-its in the other.
So let’s get into it.
“I Don’t Know Who I Am… But I Know I’m Not Safe”
This book had me from the premise alone: a teenage girl is found alongside the road, bloodied, bruised, and with absolutely no clue who she is. Zero. Zilch. Nada. But even in her foggy state, she’s sure of one thing—someone hurt her. Someone bad. And that someone is probably still out there.
Cue the internal scream.
From there, Megan Lally takes us on a psychological journey of piecing together identity, trauma, and trust—or the lack thereof. The main character (who starts off being referred to as “Jane Doe,” naturally) is soon claimed by a man who says he is her father… but is he? Probably not—but who is he really? And who is she?
What I Loved
This was my first read from Megan Lally, and she made a strong first impression. The pacing was on point—not too slow, not rushed—and the tension built in a way that made me want to keep peeling back layers. Her writing style is clean, engaging, and emotionally grounded. I felt for the main character, even when she couldn’t remember enough to feel for herself.
The premise is one we’ve seen before—amnesia, a possible attack, the slow unraveling of memory—but Lally brought a fresh angle. Instead of turning it into a complex police procedural or going too heavy on the dramatics, she kept it rooted in the emotional disorientation of waking up in a life that feels like it doesn’t belong to you.
There’s also a satisfying twist or two. Nothing wildly shocking for seasoned thriller readers, but enough to give you that delicious jolt of “ohhh, okay—so that’s what’s really going on.”
What Didn’t Land as Hard
Now, I’ll be honest—That’s Not My Name didn’t quite crack my top five reads of the year so far. And that’s not a knock on the book; that’s just me being the picky little plot gremlin I am.
There were a few moments where I wanted a bit more grit. A little more edge. A few darker layers, especially with a theme like trauma and recovery. And while the ending wrapped things up neatly, part of me wanted it to leave just a bit more emotional residue. You know? That lingering ache that sticks with you after you close the last page.
But even so—it was very good. A solid four stars in my book. And if this is what Lally is bringing to the table? I’m absolutely keeping her on my radar.
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Read This If You Like…
Let’s break it down. That’s Not My Name is a great pick if you’re into:
- Thrillers with an emotional core
- Unreliable narrators (but make it memory loss)
- Found family vibes with a twist
- Stories where nobody is 100% trustworthy
- A female lead who’s figuring it out, even when everything feels impossible
It would pair well with books like We Were Liars by E. Lockhart, Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow (though less raw), or even The Stranger Game by Cylin Busby if you liked that eerie disconnection from identity.
Brash & Bookish Book Club Corner
Because I can’t help myself—here are a few discussion questions if you’re reading this with your book club (or just want to overanalyze with your cat):
- What do you think makes memory loss such an effective storytelling tool in thrillers?
- Did you trust anyone in Jane’s life? Who raised red flags for you early on?
- How did the author handle the theme of trauma—did it feel authentic, or would you have wanted more depth?
- If you lost all memory of your life, what’s one thing you’d want your future self to remember?
A Quick Life Update (and a Thank You)
Before I wrap this up—I just want to say thank you. For still being here. For sticking with Brash & Bookish even when the blog went a little quiet. You are not forgotten, and you’re definitely not second tier to all the Brash Body & Soul magic happening in the background.
Truth is, both sides of this brand are my heart—books and mental health. The stories we read and the stories we live are more connected than most people realize. And I want to keep showing up for both.
So whether you’re here for the reviews, the recs, or just to remember you’re not the only one who gets emotionally attached to fictional characters (hi, it’s me), I’m so glad you’re here.
Big things are coming. And more bookish content is on the way. Pinky swear.
If you still need to get your copy of this great title you can get it here on Amazon. Or get it for free when you sign up for a free trial from Audible.
Until next time my bookish besties—keep it brash, keep it bookish, and keep it true to you.
