Name: The Blonde Identity
Rating: 3.96875 (16 reviews)
ISBN: 9780063276642

Ally Carter

A Novel

The Blonde Identity

'A unique, delightful, hilarious, unputdownable romance. . .I’m wonderstruck by The Blonde Identity!' - ALI HAZELWOOD author of THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS The Blonde Identity is a hilarious, action-packed, road-trip romance with witty banter, sexy operatives, and the ultimate high-stakes. It’s the middle of the night in the middle of Paris and a woman just woke up with no memory. She only knows three things for certain: 1. She has a splitting headache. 2. The hottest guy she has (probably) ever seen is standing over her, telling her to run. And oh yeah... 3. People keep trying to kill her. She doesn’t know who. Or why. But when she sees footage of herself fighting off a dozen men there’s only one explanation: obviously. . . she’s a spy! Except, according to Mr. Hot Guy, she’s not. She’s a spy’s identical twin sister. Too bad the only person who knows she’s not the woman they’re looking for is this very grouchy, very sexy, very secret agent who (reluctantly) agrees to help her disappear. Which is easier said than done when a criminal organization wants you dead and every intelligence service in the world wants you caught. Luckily, no one is looking for a pair of lovesick newlyweds on their honeymoon. And soon they’re lying their way across Europe—dodging bullets and faking kisses as they race to unravel a deadly conspiracy and clear her sister’s name. But with every secret they uncover, the truth shifts, until she no longer knows who to trust: the twin she can’t remember or the mysterious man she can’t let herself forget. . .

Definitely something different than my normal read. It was an enjoyable spy read with an unexpected romance!

Amanda 

This was so funny. Perfect for the holidays 

Annabella

This was so funny. Perfect for the holidays Runs to read more

Ellen Ivey

What started as a thrilling spy story really devolved into just a standard love story where all the characters can talk or think about is how perfect each other are. 

Kate B-L

The beginning? Incredible.

The middle? Pretty great

The end? Mostly mid. 

What started as a thrilling spy story really devolved into just a standard love story where all the characters can talk or think about is how perfect each other are. 

*A delightful spy romance full of tropes but just as full of fun adventure*

series was so much fun, so when I found out that Ally Carter was publishing her first adult book, I was giddy. And the description of a Romantic Suspense novel about a woman who gets mistaken for her spy sister sounded like a lot of fun.

And the story certainly delivered on the fun angle. Look, this isn’t some serious espionage tale. It isn’t overly fluffy, but it is an entertaining action/adventure story with some romance thrown in. And it is full of tropes. There is amnesia, mistaken identity involving identical twins, enemies-to-lovers, grumpyXsunshine, fake dating, and bad guys that aren’t very competent. This is much more like “The Spy Who Dumped Me” rather than “Bourne Identity” (even if the latter also uses the spy amnesia trope).

 delivered exactly what I wanted: a humorous spy adventure blending action and romance. It is very much Gallagher Girls for adults. I had some minor quibbles about it, but I enjoyed the story a lot. It was a grand time to ignore the world for a bit and go gallivanting around Europe on a spy mission.

The story opens with our heroine waking up on the street in Paris with no memory and a lot of bad guys chasing her. Good thing a sexy spy guy turns up to help her. But is he really on her side? And how did she get into this mess in the first place?

The story is told in alterating close third person, past tense POVs labeled “Her” and “Him.”

Admittedly, I didn’t love the female lead character at first. She had that overly-bubbly Kindergarten teacher vibe and actually said things like "gasp." I get that Carter was really leaning into the dumb blonde sterotype, but there is such thing as too perky. But she did grow on me. And there was enough witty banter between the main characters to keep me hooked. As I mentioned, this was a fun little adventure that left me wanting more. I sincerely hope that Carter publishers more books similar to this!

Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars

Colleen

4 Stars

*A delightful spy romance full of tropes but just as full of fun adventure*


The Gallagher Girls series was so much fun, so when I found out that Ally Carter was publishing her first adult book, I was giddy. And the description of a Romantic Suspense novel about a woman who gets mistaken for her spy sister sounded like a lot of fun.

And the story certainly delivered on the fun angle. Look, this isn’t some serious espionage tale. It isn’t overly fluffy, but it is an entertaining action/adventure story with some romance thrown in. And it is full of tropes. There is amnesia, mistaken identity involving identical twins, enemies-to-lovers, grumpyXsunshine, fake dating, and bad guys that aren’t very competent. This is much more like “The Spy Who Dumped Me” rather than “Bourne Identity” (even if the latter also uses the spy amnesia trope).

And yet despite the tropes, The Blonde Identity delivered exactly what I wanted: a humorous spy adventure blending action and romance. It is very much Gallagher Girls for adults. I had some minor quibbles about it, but I enjoyed the story a lot. It was a grand time to ignore the world for a bit and go gallivanting around Europe on a spy mission.

The story opens with our heroine waking up on the street in Paris with no memory and a lot of bad guys chasing her. Good thing a sexy spy guy turns up to help her. But is he really on her side? And how did she get into this mess in the first place?



“So that’s how she found herself straddling a stranger on top of a floating terrarium while two dozen tourists took photos from below.”


The story is told in alterating close third person, past tense POVs labeled “Her” and “Him.”

Admittedly, I didn’t love the female lead character at first. She had that overly-bubbly Kindergarten teacher vibe and actually said things like "gasp." I get that Carter was really leaning into the dumb blonde sterotype, but there is such thing as too perky. But she did grow on me. And there was enough witty banter between the main characters to keep me hooked. As I mentioned, this was a fun little adventure that left me wanting more. I sincerely hope that Carter publishers more books similar to this!


RATING FACTORS:
Ease of Reading: 5 Stars
Writing Style: 4 Stars
Characters and Character Development: 4 Stars
Plot Structure and Development: 4 Stars
Level of Captivation: 5 Stars
Originality: 4 Stars

This was absolutely bonkers. It reminded me of those cheesy straight-to-DVD movies. It was ridiculous, unbelievable, cringy, yet so entertaining. Was it a great book? Not even close, but I had a great time reading it. The writing came across as very juvenile, especially Zoe's character. She has amnesia at the start of the book, and it is as if her entire ability to function as a human being was lost along with her memories. But through it all, Carter had me utterly charmed. I fell into this outrageous plot and insta-love romance, hook, line, and sinker. If you want something full of adventure that's super fast-paced but that you won't have to think too hard about, I'd recommend checking it out.

Heather Harrington

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

this is the spy romance i’ve been NEEDING!! ally carter i knew i could count on you!! this book was the perfect balance of mystery, plot twists, humor and romance (a little cheesy but I LOVED IT)

“You save me. And I save you. We’re a mutual saving society,”

reading this adult spy book in my 20s is such a full circle to when i read the gallagher girls in high school

i love how this serious grumpy spy would keep smiling and laughing when he’s with her (not saying names bc spoilers) ALSO THEIR BANTER.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

this is the spy romance i’ve been NEEDING!! ally carter i knew i could count on you!! this book was the perfect balance of mystery, plot twists, humor and romance (a little cheesy but I LOVED IT)

“You save me. And I save you. We’re a mutual saving society,”

reading this adult spy book in my 20s is such a full circle to when i read the gallagher girls in high school

i love how this serious grumpy spy would keep smiling and laughing when he’s with her (not saying names bc spoilers) ALSO THEIR BANTER.

"the way i loved you" (taylor's version)

This book was a wild ride! It follows a woman who wakes up in the middle of Paris with no memory of who she is. Oh did I mention that several people hunting her down?  In an attempt to learn who she really is and escape, she tags along with the cute spy who is trying his hardest to keep her alive... and to not fall in love with her. Sparks and bullets fly as this duo try to survive in one of the most romantic cities in Europe!

I cannot put into words how much I loved this book! As a huge fan of Ally Carter, this adult spy novel is exactly what I needed. The book has everything as it is hilarious, suspenseful, shocking, and swoon-worthy. 

At first, I thought that the the premise of spies in Paris may be a bit cliché, but it is done in such a fun way that I was hooked and read it as fast as I could. I enjoyed how fast-paced the plot was. I never felt that it dragged at any point. The mystery of who the main character is also surprisingly full of twists. You feel for her as she tries to navigate this world of espionage that everyone around her remembers but her. I will say that the plot is centered more on the characters relationship and connection than tense espionage plot points, but for this book, it really worked. I appreciated all the side characters and how they kept coming back into play in the most unexpected ways. The only thing that I wished had been different is more detail on how the evil character that is trying to kill them. I feel there was a missed opportunity to make this book a bit more serious and in-depth. Since it didn't, I wasn't as tense as I feel I could have been at certain points because I didn't know the real danger. This, of course, could be intentional to have the book be more light-hearted spy romance. Regardless of this critique, I really enjoyed the plot! 

Speaking of characters, I couldn't get enough of them. They were funny, endearing, and relatable. I appreciated that the main character still had a strong personality that shined through despite the fact she didn't know who she was. Even if she wasn't aware of it, her mind knew what to do. Other books who have similar tropes make the amnesiac to be this boring zombie-like character without any personality, so I appreciated that this was not the case here. I also appreciated that the main characters had flaws and made mistakes. While the male protagonist was this smart super spy, he was human and made mistakes. I thought that the inclusion of this made the book more realistic and the characters more likable. 

I think the strongest point of this book was the two main characters and their relationship as they had awesome chemistry. Their banter flowed really well in a way that had me chuckling. It never felt stilted or forced. As a fan of romcoms and spy novels, it's rare to see both genres come together in such an fun way. 

Do I think that this book is a realistic version of spy life? No... Did I love absolutely every minute of it? Yes! I cannot recommend enough!

Special Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book to review!

Kendall V

This book was a wild ride! It follows a woman who wakes up in the middle of Paris with no memory of who she is. Oh did I mention that several people hunting her down?  In an attempt to learn who she really is and escape, she tags along with the cute spy who is trying his hardest to keep her alive... and to not fall in love with her. Sparks and bullets fly as this duo try to survive in one of the most romantic cities in Europe!

~~~

I cannot put into words how much I loved this book! As a huge fan of Ally Carter, this adult spy novel is exactly what I needed. The book has everything as it is hilarious, suspenseful, shocking, and swoon-worthy. 

At first, I thought that the the premise of spies in Paris may be a bit cliché, but it is done in such a fun way that I was hooked and read it as fast as I could. I enjoyed how fast-paced the plot was. I never felt that it dragged at any point. The mystery of who the main character is also surprisingly full of twists. You feel for her as she tries to navigate this world of espionage that everyone around her remembers but her. I will say that the plot is centered more on the characters relationship and connection than tense espionage plot points, but for this book, it really worked. I appreciated all the side characters and how they kept coming back into play in the most unexpected ways. The only thing that I wished had been different is more detail on how the evil character that is trying to kill them. I feel there was a missed opportunity to make this book a bit more serious and in-depth. Since it didn't, I wasn't as tense as I feel I could have been at certain points because I didn't know the real danger. This, of course, could be intentional to have the book be more light-hearted spy romance. Regardless of this critique, I really enjoyed the plot! 

Speaking of characters, I couldn't get enough of them. They were funny, endearing, and relatable. I appreciated that the main character still had a strong personality that shined through despite the fact she didn't know who she was. Even if she wasn't aware of it, her mind knew what to do. Other books who have similar tropes make the amnesiac to be this boring zombie-like character without any personality, so I appreciated that this was not the case here. I also appreciated that the main characters had flaws and made mistakes. While the male protagonist was this smart super spy, he was human and made mistakes. I thought that the inclusion of this made the book more realistic and the characters more likable. 

I think the strongest point of this book was the two main characters and their relationship as they had awesome chemistry. Their banter flowed really well in a way that had me chuckling. It never felt stilted or forced. As a fan of romcoms and spy novels, it's rare to see both genres come together in such an fun way. 

Do I think that this book is a realistic version of spy life? No... Did I love absolutely every minute of it? Yes! I cannot recommend enough!

Special Thanks to Netgalley for sending me a copy of this book to review!

Thanks to William Morrow for this advance copy of The Blonde Identity.  As always, the opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Waking up in the snow with a splitting headache is tough enough, but a gun wielding man standing above her telling her to run is just about more than she can take until she realizes that she doesn't know her own name.  The man calls her Alex, but that doesn't sound right.  Things go from bad to worse when the man tells her his name is Sawyer, and he is an operative for the CIA.  So begins their adventure trying to figure out who she really is and why Russian gangsters, the CIA, MI6, and the Mossad are chasing them.  While Sawyer helps her, they both find that there might be more between them than just a mission.

The Blonde Identity seems to refer to the Bourne Identity and the other Bourne stories because the main character, Zoe, has lost her memory and jumps blindly into a spy centered adventure. The perspectives of the two main characters described as "Him" and Her," offer more mystery and suspense as the reader tries to figure out what is going on right along with the characters.  The first half of the book is filled with zany romantic escapades without much emotional depth, but the last half weaves fears and feelings into the action.  The suspension of disbelief is necessary to savor this novel because there is so much over the top excitement and dialogue, but the plot also offers lots of antics and fun, making this a great option for a light entertaining story. Overall, The Blonde Identity is an action packed romantic romp that makes for an enjoyable read. 

Lynn Braden

Thanks to William Morrow for this advance copy of The Blonde Identity.  As always, the opinions expressed are honest and my own.

Waking up in the snow with a splitting headache is tough enough, but a gun wielding man standing above her telling her to run is just about more than she can take until she realizes that she doesn't know her own name.  The man calls her Alex, but that doesn't sound right.  Things go from bad to worse when the man tells her his name is Sawyer, and he is an operative for the CIA.  So begins their adventure trying to figure out who she really is and why Russian gangsters, the CIA, MI6, and the Mossad are chasing them.  While Sawyer helps her, they both find that there might be more between them than just a mission.

The Blonde Identity seems to refer to the Bourne Identity and the other Bourne stories because the main character, Zoe, has lost her memory and jumps blindly into a spy centered adventure. The perspectives of the two main characters described as "Him" and Her," offer more mystery and suspense as the reader tries to figure out what is going on right along with the characters.  The first half of the book is filled with zany romantic escapades without much emotional depth, but the last half weaves fears and feelings into the action.  The suspension of disbelief is necessary to savor this novel because there is so much over the top excitement and dialogue, but the plot also offers lots of antics and fun, making this a great option for a light entertaining story. Overall, The Blonde Identity is an action packed romantic romp that makes for an enjoyable read. 

The Blonde Identity A Novel

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