This review post is all about “I’ll be You,” a novel by Janelle Brown.
CATEGORIES: BOOK BLOG POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS, MYSTERY/THRILLER
ABOUT THE BOOK
title: i’ll be you
AUTHOR: jANELLE BROWN
GENRES: THRILLER, SUSPENSE, family drama
PUBLISHER: RANDOM HOUSE audio
PUBLISHING DATE: 4/26/2022
FORMAT: audiobook
length: 11 hours, 41 minutes
narration: julia whelan and kate rudd
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MY THOUGHTS ABOUT “I’ll be you”
After raving about Janelle Brown’s “Pretty Things,” I was eager to dive into her other book, “I’ll Be You.” And let me tell you, it did not disappoint!
This book isn’t just about child acting and the drama that comes with it (though there’s definitely plenty of that). It’s a gripping tale the hits on subjects like family dynamics, secrets, infertility, brainwashing, and the complexities of sisterhood.
This book review of “I’ll Be You” by Janelle Brown will contain a breakdown of the plot, characters, and writing style. It will also contain book recommendations for books similar to this one and list some of the author’s other works.
Let’s get into it.
this review post is all about "I'll be you" by janelle brown.
goodreads: “I’ll be you” book summary
Two identical twin sisters and former child actors have grown apart–until one disappears, and the other is forced to confront the secrets they’ve kept from each other in this twisty thriller from the New York Times bestselling author of Pretty Things.
I’ll Be You shows Janelle Brown at the top of her game: a story packed with surprising revelations and sharp insights about the choices that define our families and our lives — and could just as easily destroy them.
"I'll BE YOU" BOOK REVIEW
UNPACKING THE PLOT OF “I’LL BE YOU”
Sam and Elli Logan 32 year-old twins who have been estranged for years after Sam did something unspeakable to her sister. At the heart of this novel is Sam’s journey to mend herself and also mend her relationship with her sister who, as evidence builds, appears to be having a mental breakdown.
The story begins when Sam is called to help babysit her niece, Charlotte, a niece she didn’t even know existed. Ellie goes AWOL, off to a secret women’s retreat in Ojai, and her parents are scrambling to keep up with a rambunctious 2 year-old.
Sam, under the judgmental eye of her mother, attempts to appear as the paragon of responsibility and sobriety, thinking if she appears the perfect aunt she can prove to her family that she’s changed for the better.
However, Sam uncovers disturbing facts about Ellie and her life before her disappearing act. Plus, she can’t understand why Ellie’s texts are continually marked as read but never responded to. Her parents won’t seem to accept that their “good twin” for once doesn’t have it all together. However, Sam knows deep down that something is off with her twin sister.
The mystery of what caused a rift between the twin’s relationship plus the mystery behind the secret women’s group GenFem drives this story forward, keeping the reader eager to find out what happens next.
"There are moments in life when you collide with something that sends you careening down a path from which you can never return. We are ping-pong balls, paddled about by fate and coincidence, doing our best to wrestle back some agency from the forces that move our lives. On our deathbeds, our last thoughts a faint echo: what if, what if, what if."
THE CHARACTERS of “I’ll BE YOU” BY JANELLE BROWN
Sam Logan is the stronger twin. The one who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind or take risks. Eventually those risks would land her with a drug and alcohol problem which was exacerbated by she and her twin growing apart. When her career as a child actor takes a nosedive, her life of partying grows out of control.
On the contrary, Elli Logan was the twin who was the people pleaser, the one who always wanted to fit in. She, unlike her sister, hates acting and would trade places with her sister so she didn’t have to be on set. Her point-of-view chapters came later in the book and we see her struggle with being assertive and also infertility.
Elli’s fragile mental state and her lack of assertiveness made her a perfect target for the manipulative woman’s group called GenFem.
Author Janelle Brown did an excellent of capturing the fears and anxieties of these two characters. However, I connected more with Sam, since she owned up to her mistakes and seemed to have a stronger sense of self.
"Believe me, if you want to know how vital hope is, ask a recovered addict; they are the most hopeful people in the world, because they know what it means to be so low that there are only two viable paths left: up, or death."
When I think of this story, I can’t help but comparing it to the real lives of the Olson twins, who famously shared a role in the show “Full House” and later had a rough go of it growing up in the spotlight.
Probably the least favorite character was Elli and Sam’s mother who, rather than face the uncomfortable truth of Sam’s addiction and Elli’s mental collapse, pretended everything was okay and turned a blind eye. The judgmental comments she threw at Sam really irked me because if she shared some of the blame for how her daughter turned out.
“It’s impossible to fully escape the world in which you were raised; it beats inside you, a muted pulse, always waiting for the opportunity to rush back to the surface.”
THE WRITING STYLE THAT MAKES “I’LL BE YOU” MEMORABLE
Janelle Brown’s writing in “I’ll Be You” is emotional and insightful. The use of dual POV worked well, allowing us to see the sisters’ perspectives and understand their motivations. The suspense built slowly but steadily, making the climax feel satisfying and earned.
I did find the flashbacks a bit heavy-handed at times. They often slowed the pace at pivotal moments. I would have preferred more subtle hints woven into the main narrative.
The Narration of “I’ll be You”
Both narrators, Julia Whelan and Kate Rudd, did an awesome job portraying Sam and Ellie. They really brought the characters to life, however, I did feel that Sam’s portrayal sometimes sounded way too erudite to sell me on junkie and former party girl.
“I’ll Be You” by Janelle Brown is a compelling, emotional rollercoaster. It tackles complex themes like addiction, mental illness, family dynamics, and the bond between sisters with nuance and depth. I was invested in the characters and their journeys from start to finish.
This author has a mastery with words that allows her to draw upon raw emotions of the reader. I definitely related the jealousy Ellie felt when she compared herself to her much more assertive sister and Sam’s sense of protectiveness. Sister dynamics is complicated and the author did a great job crafting a realistic portrayal.
If you are a fan of psychological thrillers with a strong family drama core, I highly recommend giving “I’ll Be You” a read. It’s a beautifully written, gripping story that will stay with you long after you turn to the last page.
Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! I’d love to discuss this book further.
OTHER BOOKS BY JANELLE BROWN
If you haven’t read Janelle Brown’s “Pretty Thing’s, I highly recommend that one too, be sure to check out my book review here.
BOOKS SIMILAR TO “I’ll be you”
Thanks for reading this book review of “I’ll Be You” by Janelle Brown. If you’ve read this book or other works by this author, I’d love to hear your thoughts. Please leave a comment below.
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