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Find out what Mumsnetters thought of Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land

90 replies

SorchaMumsnet · 16/01/2017 12:27

This week we're introducing you to debut author Ali Land and her psychological thriller, Good Me Bad Me.

Annie's mother is a serial killer. The only way the 15-year-old can make her mother stop is to get the police involved – but out of sight doesn't mean out of mind. Despite having a new identity, the secrets of her past won't let her sleep.

We ask all winners to share their thoughts about the book on this discussion thread. However, you don't have to win a free book to take part in the discussion - you're welcome to grab a copy of Good Me Bad Me and post a review on this thread.

Everyone who posts detailed feedback on the book by midday Tuesday 7 March will be entered into a prize draw to win a £100 Love2shop voucher.

This giveaway is sponsored by Michael Joseph

Find out what Mumsnetters thought of Good Me Bad Me by Ali Land
OP posts:
stewaris · 22/02/2017 19:28

I really enjoyed this book and admired Millie for standing up and telling the truth but was torn between that and feeling sorry for her and the consequences she had to face. Going from a mother who was a serial killer to a life of, what she hoped would be normality, and being targeted by a jealous teenager was pretty heartbreaking. A good read though.

beckyinman · 22/02/2017 19:28

This was not what I was expecting at all. Way more gripping and tense than I anticipated. I found bits a bit dark and a little bit uncomfortable, but would definitely recommend it

RACHELSMITH45 · 22/02/2017 21:44

Gripping, I couldn't put it down!! Read within 3 days. A great book!

sbruin1122 · 22/02/2017 22:33

Im still reading this one but thought I would post my thoughts! It's defiantly gripping from the first chapter and has a few unsettling moments! Looking forward to reading the rest!

phillie1 · 23/02/2017 09:15

good read, but worrying as parents of teenage girls - glad we didnt have to go though anything like this, back in my days!

iut044 · 23/02/2017 14:21

Enjoyed this book a lot I found the story very engaging .

angiehoggett · 24/02/2017 17:05

a gripping read, highly recommended!

sweir1 · 24/02/2017 19:27

I'm about half way through and I can't put it down

dannydog1 · 24/02/2017 20:42

I really enjoyed this book despite it not being my usual genre. I couldn't put it down and read it over a few days. Very easy to read with an interesting plot and characters. I liked the style where a little more was given away about the main character's background chapter by chapter, rather than giving all of her background at the start. Would definitely recommend as a quick, enjoyable read.

cookie09 · 25/02/2017 11:50

I really enjoyed reading this book. I looked forward to having a bit of time to pick it up. Nice twists and turns and I was never sure where it would go.

cookie09 · 25/02/2017 11:50

I really enjoyed reading this book. I looked forward to having a bit of time to pick it up. Nice twists and turns and I was never sure where it would go.

queenoftheschoolrun · 25/02/2017 11:59

Finished this last night. I am fascinated by the character of Annie/Milly, both drawn to her as a victim of an unthinkable upbringing and manipulated by her. Overall I still feel desperately sorry for her and hope that against all the odds the "Good Me" can prevail.

This is more than your usually page-turning thriller - for a start there are no details given of the murders, these are left to the reader's imagination; Milly's mental health problems, the details of the foster family's problems and the teenage bullying are all very real.

I will definitely recommend this to my fellow thriller lovers. Thank you for my free copy.

Cailin7 · 26/02/2017 13:19

I enjoyed this book, started reading it in the hair salon and had to finish it when I got home.

Celama · 26/02/2017 21:45

This was a gripping read which I found difficult to put down. There were many layers that this story touched on - Annie's life with a child murderer and the abuse that she herself suffered, her experience as a looked-after young person with an assumed identity and the effect that had on her, the trial and the realisation that Annie may have been more involved in her mother's actions than what you initially thought before the story concludes with Annie's future appearing to turn out the way she wanted contrary to the original plan.

This was an insightful book with some tender yet difficult moments and I found all the character weaknesses extremely believable. There was enough suggestion that all was not what it seemed throughout the novel that when you reached the end, you knew that more was yet to come. A wonderful debut novel and I will be looking out for more of Ali Land's work.

jacqui5366 · 27/02/2017 13:57

I loved this page turner, it will not be everyones 'cup of tea' as it is dark and scary, but I found it to be gripping, thought provoking, and it is a keeper for me which I will read again. The sad thing I thought is that some people actually go though these horrors depicted in the book.

danson16 · 28/02/2017 15:50

Wow what a book. It was gripping, quite real and a bit disturbing at times but well worth reading. I read this within a few days as it was just too good not to find out what happened next. I also liked the way information was dropped into it and all the twists and turns. I would definitely recommend this book for thriller fans.
Thank you so much for our copy it was really really good.

AFawnDawn · 01/03/2017 11:49

I was so pleased to get given a copy of this book as I enjoy a good psychological thriller and I'd recently had it recommended to me. So I was thoroughly looking forward to getting stuck in and expected to have it finished within a couple of days....

BUT...I struggled with it to be honest. Although I enjoyed it, I found it quite slow going at times and it look me nearly 2 weeks to get through which is unusual for me and this type of book.

I found the adult characters lacking in depth. The relationship between Sasha/Saskia? and Phoebe was unexplored. In fact that whole household seemed a bit lacking in connection - at times it just seemed as though it were all strangers just living in the same house. The relationship between Milly and the young girl from the estate was also a little bizarre and not fully explored - maybe that was the point, I don't know. It seemed to appear out of nowhere and be extremely intimate (violence, sleeping over) within a couple of days.

The book was creepy and disturbing, naturally given the subject matter, and I did enjoy it but I found it slow and shallow in places, so I'm not sure I would rush to read anything else by the same author.

rocketriffs · 02/03/2017 19:56

Brilliant psychological thriller. Millie is a fifteen year old girl who has had a traumatic childhood at the hands of her serial killer Mum. She is fostered into a dysfunctional family, suffers bullying, has nightmares and cant escape her former life. A very gripping read. You cant put it down.

CycleQueen · 03/03/2017 16:26

Really enjoyed this book! I didn't find it gripping from the start though - I found it a bit slow to really get going, but I stuck with it & once the pace picked up then I couldn't put it down! It became my constant companion until I'd finished it.
I particularly liked the fact that it didn't give every gruesome detail of what had gone on before, but rather let the reader get to know Milly/Annie and her thoughts. Intriguing how much well-intended intervention can be manipulated, including that if the professionals. Won't add any spoilers but I will also post a review on Amazon.

Nowyouseeme · 03/03/2017 18:07

Thanks for the free copy. I enjoyed this book and was hooked from the beginning - so much so that I read it in one go finishing around 2.30 am. Luckily no work the next day!

Catiefraser · 03/03/2017 23:01

My initial thought was that this book would be too graphic but I loved reading this book. Once I started I couldn't put it down. It is well written and deals with a difficult subject well. Define made me think and won't be forgotten for a while.

lilywillywoo · 04/03/2017 15:09

Thanks for the opportunity to read this book, which was excellent. Milly was a complicated character, groomed by her serial killer mother, she was torn between doing the right thing, and the thought that she was inherently bad because of her mother. The rivalry between Milly and her foster sister was very realistic. I wasn't especially surprised by the ending, it was fairly obvious what the outcome would be.
The book was a real page turner, and I would certainly recommend it.

sophiefouldsx · 04/03/2017 21:38

I've heard a lot of people recommending this book so I did decide to give it a go a few weeks ago. It's a very compelling read and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this! It's absolutely chilling and creeps under your skin right from the start, definitely a difficult story to step away from, with very chilling plot lines. You feel sympathy towards Annie as she struggles with being her mother’s daughter after what her mother is/does, but then at times you’re left wondering whether she is turning into her mother. Her life gets tougher throughout the book which makes you just want to read more! Love a good thriller book!

sophiefouldsx · 04/03/2017 21:43

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

grannybiker · 05/03/2017 08:50

A pretty straightforward read that quickly engages and draws the reader in. Realistic portrayal of teenage girls bullying that has your heart strings tugging.