Tess Sharpe

A deliciously commercial YA page-turner about the daughter of a con artist who is taken hostage in a bank heist. Nora O'Malley is a lot of things. A sister. An ex. A secret girlfriend. Kind of crooked, but reformed... somewhat. Nora O'Malley's been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up her mother's protege. But when mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape. For five years she's been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems: #1: her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they've all been inseparable for months, Wes didn't know about her and Iris. #2: The morning after, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised together. It's a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly. Because #3: right after they get in the bank, two guys start robbing it. But they have no idea who they're really holding hostage. The robbers are trouble. Nora's something else entirely.

The Girls I've Been

Valle Fernandez

I didn't fall for Iris like a ton of bricks.

I fell like a star and she was the end of the world. A cataclysmic crash of two people, ver to be the same. Never getting back up.

Beatričė 

Jei negali jų įveikti, prisijunk prie jų. 

Arba, kaip šiuo atveju, pergudrauk juos.

 Nekenčiu posakio ,,kas mūsų nenužudo, padaro stipresnius". Nesąmonė . Kartais tai, kas taves nenužudo, yra kur kas blogiau. Kartais jau geriau nužudytų. Kartais tai, kas nenužudo, taip tave sužaloja, kad belieka nuolat kovoti, norint išgyventi su tuo, kas iš taves liko.

I love this book so much! It's action-packed & Fast paced. Plus the characters are so well written.

dezzy

Soon to be a Netflix film starring Stranger Things' Millie Bobby Brown - this must-read psychological thriller, perfect for fans of One of Us Is Lying, will leave you guessing until the final page. 'Slick, stylish and full of suspense' - Sophie McKenzie. As an ex con artist, Nora has always got herself out of tricky situations. But the ultimate test lies in wait when she's taken hostage in a bank heist. And this time, Nora doesn't have an escape plan ... Meet Nora. Also known as Rebecca, Samantha, Haley, Katie and Ashley - the girls she's been. Nora didn't choose a life of deception - she was born into it. As the daughter of a con artist who targeted criminal men, Nora always had to play a part. But when her mother fell for one of the men instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con herself: escape. For five years Nora's been playing at normal - but things are far from it when she finds herself held at gunpoint in the middle of a bank heist, along with Wes (her ex-boyfriend) and Iris (her secret new girlfriend and mutual friend of Wes ... awkward). Now it will take all of Nora's con artistry skills to get them out alive. Because the gunmen have no idea who she really is - that girl has been in hiding for far too long ...

Syahla Aurel

”I am someone who survives. I am a liar and I’m a thief and I’m a con artist. And I hope I’m still the girl you’re in love with, because I am really, really in love with you”

I think the story's concept is quite unique. The first part of the book is a little bit confusing because there is a lot of flashback chapters and most of them talk in riddles 😬

The dynamic between Nora, Wes, and Iris is lovely, but there is far too little information about Iris, which makes her relationship with Nora feel forced due to a lack of chemistry. I know nothing about Iris except that she dresses like an elderly lady and has the capacity to detonate a bomb, lol.
On the other side, I adore Nora and Wes' interactions since they appear to be (still) in love. And isn't it odd that Iris is meant to be the one with Nora, but Wes is the one who has more serious chats and moments with Nora? Idk maybe it's because they had a history together? 🤨

Anyway, I’m looking forward for the netflix adaptation 😌

fatru tamzil

Be Bi, Do Crimes

I love how messy this book is. Very much be bi, do crimes. Also Nora is *che's kiss* I love her.

Vivi

★★★★☆ (4)
“What didn't kill me didn't make me stronger; what didn't kill me made me into a victim.
But I made me stronger. I made me into a survivor.”
those flashbacks had me on the EDGE. i love them all so much, my broken babies.

Niksy K

Marta

Wow…just wow. Since picking it up one day ago, I couldn’t stop reading it. Unless I had to. “The Girls I’ve Been” has amazing humane characters which I now want to put in my jeans pocket and protect them at all costs. The variety of chapter lengths and the striking writing style made the story even better. This book is a masterpiece. 
Here are some quotes that I personally really loved:

“My skin will hold the memory of him as permanent, because you don’t forget the first person to touch you with love after life’s taught you all touch is fear and pain.”

“There is no normal,” she says. “There’s just a bunch of people pretending there is.”

I hope you enjoy the book just as much as I did!

See ya!

What an intense Read, Once I picked this up and got started, I was invested, and it was difficult to put down…. I read this in an entire weekend with the 250 pages in one day, I got lost in the story and just needed to know what happened next. The characters, Setting and pacing where just perfect, this is a thriller that I think you need to pick up and give a read!

This is a Thriller that features Nora, The daughter of a con artist who has been taken hostage during bank heist and Nora needs to use the skills from her past to help her current situation and with her friends they need to survive and must work together in order to do just that. Will they get out alive or will something happen along the way.

This has a super unique storyline and plot, morally grey characters, important messages, hard-hitting writing and themes, strong female characters, the best platonic AND romantic relationships, complicated family dynamics and backstories, and if that wasn't enough, great mental health and LGBTQIA+ representation.

It's honest, raw, fast paced, heart-breaking and expertly written. The execution of the multiple timelines was superb and made for a read that was truly impossible to put down. I wish I was a better reviewer and could say more than simply 'I love it' but honestly, I just loved it. Tess Sharpe sure knows how to write a true page turner.

Ian Brakspear

What an intense Read, Once I picked this up and got started, I was invested, and it was difficult to put down…. I read this in an entire weekend with the 250 pages in one day, I got lost in the story and just needed to know what happened next. The characters, Setting and pacing where just perfect, this is a thriller that I think you need to pick up and give a read!

 

This is a Thriller that features Nora, The daughter of a con artist who has been taken hostage during bank heist and Nora needs to use the skills from her past to help her current situation and with her friends they need to survive and must work together in order to do just that. Will they get out alive or will something happen along the way.

 

This has a super unique storyline and plot, morally grey characters, important messages, hard-hitting writing and themes, strong female characters, the best platonic AND romantic relationships, complicated family dynamics and backstories, and if that wasn't enough, great mental health and LGBTQIA+ representation.

 

It's honest, raw, fast paced, heart-breaking and expertly written. The execution of the multiple timelines was superb and made for a read that was truly impossible to put down. I wish I was a better reviewer and could say more than simply 'I love it' but honestly, I just loved it. Tess Sharpe sure knows how to write a true page turner.

CLAUDIA VALDES

all i can think of is: gate keeping. gaslight. girl boss. 

the ending lacked A LOT (unless there’s a second book coming) but i’m not even upset bc the rest of the book makes up for it. the main character is suchhhhh a bad ass.

HELLA TRIGGER WARNINGS TBH! but insanely great book. fucked with it heavy. 

must mention: no plot twist :/

Soon to be a Netflix film starring Millie Bobbie Brown! In this feminist, suspenseful thriller the daughter of a con artist is taken hostage in a bank heist—and will need to tap into all her skills in order to survive. A BUSTLE, REFINERY29, COSMOPOLITAN, BUZZFEED and MARIE CLAIRE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK of 2021 Nora O'Malley's been a lot of girls. As the daughter of a con-artist who targets criminal men, she grew up as her mother's protégé. But when her mom fell for the mark instead of conning him, Nora pulled the ultimate con: escape. For five years Nora's been playing at normal. But she needs to dust off the skills she ditched because she has three problems: #1: Her ex walked in on her with her girlfriend. Even though they're all friends, Wes didn't know about her and Iris. #2: The morning after Wes finds them kissing, they all have to meet to deposit the fundraiser money they raised at the bank. It's a nightmare that goes from awkward to deadly, because: #3: Right after they enter the bank, two guys start robbing it. The bank robbers may be trouble, but Nora's something else entirely. They have no idea who they're really holding hostage . . .

Nicole 

This book has a strong female lead who is learning who she is after growing up with a tragic childhood and manipulative family. This book leads you through her life in a unique and suspenseful way.

Soon to be a Netflix film starring Millie Bobby Brown - a must-read psychological thriller for fans of One of Us Is Lying. As an ex con artist, Nora has always managed to get herself out of tricky situations. But the ultimate test lies in wait when she's taken hostage in a bank heist. And this time, Nora doesn't have an escape plan ...Meet Nora. Also known as Rebecca, Samantha, Hayley, Katie and Ashley - the girls she's been.As the daughter of a con artist who targets criminal men, Nora has always had to play a part. But when her mother falls for one of the men instead of conning him, Nora pulls the ultimate con herself: escape.For five years she's been playing at normal, but things are far from it when Nora finds herself, Wes (her ex-boyfriend), and Iris (her secret new girlfriend and mutual friend of Wes ... awkward) smack bang in the middle of a bank heist. And it will take all of Nora's con artistry skills if she has any hope of getting them out alive ...The robbers are trouble. Nora is something else entirely.

this is an absolutely amazing book i finished it within 1 night 

Hannah Mobbs

this is an absolutely amazing book i finished it within 1 night 



grace richards

tess sharpe i please ask of you to make your next book fluffy and not have me violently sobbing

basically like casa de papel but sapphic and with girls having their periods? 

sophia

Izza

Aba Essilfie

Ugh this book was great
There wasn’t a moment where i was bored
I loved the story,the characters,the relationship dynamics,the writing style,like literally everything
chefs kiss

nuria

Sophie

this book is excellent. i love the connection between the real time events and the past, how they're intertwined. 
i am a big fan of the chapter length, cause it's never long chapters, but always short or medium length chapters. I really want a lee sequel (prequel?) cause I really like her character.
anyways this might be one of my favourite books.

Imogen Grace

At first I thought this book was a little young, but as I got into it I really started to unpack the meaning, and by the end it had me in tears. This book will hit very close to home for anyone who is dealing with or has dealt with abuse, which is probably why it hit me so hard. While I didn't grow up with a con artist mother, I know what it's like to have physically and emotionally abusive parents and this book has portrayed that subject brilliantly, along with topics of SA. Hats off to Tess, I have never come away from a book feeling the way I did reading this one in my life.

I thought the book was really good. It was easy to follow, and all the storyline’s made sense. The I ou thing that tripped me up was at the end when she was talking about Dallas, and I’m not sure if the audience is supposed to know or not. 

I’ve rated it four stars because I absolutely loved the characters. Wes has my heart, and is an amazing side character. Also, Nora as a main character is great because she isn’t unlovable - the trap many female protagonists fall into. She’s self assured, acts within her character bounds, and has faucets of herself that make the audience relate to her. 

Iris <3

Overall, really strong book with a consistently good storyline!

The Girls I've Been

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