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Minka Kent
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When I Was You Kindle Edition

by Minka Kent (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 39,881 ratings

A stolen identity leads a woman down a dark and desperate path in a gripping novel of psychological suspense by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Minka Kent.

After barely surviving a brutal attack, Brienne Dougray rarely leaves her house. Suffering from debilitating headaches and memory loss, she can rely only on her compassionate new tenant, Dr. Niall Emberlin, a welcome distraction from the discomfiting bubble that has become her existence.

But Brienne’s growing confidence in her new routine is shaken when she stumbles across unsettling evidence that someone else is living as…her. Same name. Same car. Same hair. Same clothes. She’s even friended her family on social media. To find out why, Brienne must leave the safety of her home to hunt a familiar stranger.

What she discovers is more disturbing than she could have ever imagined. With her fragile mind close to shattering, Brienne is prepared to do anything to reclaim her life. If it’s even hers to reclaim.

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  1. Print length
    316 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Thomas & Mercer
  4. Publication date
    February 1, 2020
  5. File size
    3.6 MB
  6. Page Flip
    Enabled
  7. Word Wise
    Enabled
  8. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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  1. In the end, it’ll all be okay. And if it isn’t okay, it isn’t the end.
    Highlighted by 1,265 Kindle readers
  2. It never fails to amaze me all the things people do when they think no one’s watching, the things they think they can get away with.
    Highlighted by 846 Kindle readers
  3. Bad people don’t sit around thinking about all the ways that make them bad.
    Highlighted by 732 Kindle readers
  4. “Money talks, wealth whispers,” and it’s a motto I’ve always tried to live by.
    Highlighted by 564 Kindle readers
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Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

In When I Was You, author Minka Kent turns the time-tested memory-loss narrative on its head. Kent couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if she was someone else. After all, identity theft is a rampant problem in the modern era. In 2017 there were 14.4 million cases of the crime in the US. The result is a twisting novel that is sure to keep you riveted until the very last line.

Brienne Dougray hasn’t trusted her memory since a horrible attack several months before our novel begins. Since then, she’s become a shut-in, isolated from her coworkers and even her friends. The only person she has frequent contact with is her roommate, Niall.

Now there’s someone else out there claiming that she is Brienne Dougray.

But what if the person who stole your identity didn’t just steal your credentials? What if they really became you, right down to the clothes you wear? Is Brienne still herself if someone else is out there living her life, driving her car...and doing a better job at it than Brienne ever did?

- Jessica Tribble Wells, Editor

About the Author

Minka Kent is the Washington Post bestselling author of The Stillwater Girls, The Thinnest Air, The Perfect Roommate, and The Memory Watcher. She is a graduate of Iowa State University and resides in Iowa with her husband and three children. For more information, visit www.minkakent.com.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07PCR7SYF
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Thomas & Mercer (February 1, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ February 1, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 3.6 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 316 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 39,881 ratings

About the author

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Minka Kent

Minka Kent

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Washington Post and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Minka Kent is a graduate of Iowa State University and the author of The Memory Watcher, The Perfect Roommate, The Thinnest Air, The Stillwater Girls, When I Was You, Unmissing, The Silent Woman, People Like Them, Gone Again, and Imaginary Strangers. Her debut psychological suspense, The Memory Watcher, hit #9 in the Kindle store and landed on the Amazon Most Sold chart. Her follow-up, The Thinnest Air, was a Washington Post bestseller five weeks in a row and reached #1 in the Kindle store. Her work has been nominated for two International Thriller awards, an Audie, and a Shirley Jackson award, featured in People Magazine and The New York Post, as well as optioned for film and television. Her novel, Unmissing, was adapted for Lifetime in 2024.

Minka also writes contemporary romance as Wall Street Journal and #1 Amazon bestselling author Winter Renshaw.

She is represented by Jill Marsal of Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
39,881 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find this book to be a page-turner with engaging writing and richly developed characters, particularly appreciating how the story alternates between two main perspectives. Moreover, the narrative features twists and turns that keep readers guessing, with one customer noting its creative use of shorter paragraphs. However, the pacing receives mixed reviews - while some praise how quickly it moves, others find it rushed.

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1,371 customers mention "Readability"1,371 positive0 negative

Customers find the book highly readable, describing it as an entertaining page-turner that made them keep wanting to read.

"...Page turner and some unexpected twists. Recommend this book for sure. Good read" Read more

"...It wasn’t perfect, but it was extremely entertaining and I can’t even say a thing about the most riveting character that blew me away the most!..." Read more

"...of Identity Theft to an utterly frightening level and you get a thrilling novel that is really hard to put down...." Read more

"...I give this book a 3 out of 5, a good book that someone less picky than me would likely find amazing, but that I personally am happy to have spent a..." Read more

1,371 customers mention "Twists and turns"1,077 positive294 negative

Customers enjoy the book's twists and turns, describing it as an interesting suspense/thriller with unexpected plot developments that keep the pace fluid.

"Was different than I thought it would be. Page turner and some unexpected twists. Recommend this book for sure. Good read" Read more

"...What a crazy ride this mesmerizing suspense thriller was in tackling an extreme case of identity theft, and the thrill ride left me breathless with..." Read more

"...This is a fine novel by a very accomplished author with best-selling novels already under her belt...." Read more

"What a great twist! While reading, you know something is off. The book leads you through a journey trying to guess the ending...." Read more

304 customers mention "Writing style"265 positive39 negative

Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, describing it as wonderfully and engagingly crafted, with one customer noting its creative use of shorter paragraphs.

"...The concept is brilliant, and the plotting insanely clever, along with my love for the author’s writing style...." Read more

"...This is a fine novel by a very accomplished author with best-selling novels already under her belt...." Read more

"...” movie, but it is much more engrossing because it is significantly better written...." Read more

"...The way it was written kept me coming back to see what would happen next...." Read more

283 customers mention "Character development"228 positive55 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, noting that the characters are richly developed and the story alternates between the two main characters.

"...push the action, but they work because the characters reactions match their personalities and how they have been treated earlier in the book...." Read more

"...I did not want it it to end. Great storyline and character development! The audio narrators were fantastic!!" Read more

"...The protagonist is innocent and immensely sympathetic, despite her spectacular naïveté, and willingness to discount the evidence of her own lying..." Read more

"Solid 3 star thriller. Plot was decent, characters were okay. This was not my favorite Minka Kent book, but still worthy of reading." Read more

206 customers mention "Mystery content"166 positive40 negative

Customers enjoy the mystery content of the book, which keeps them guessing with plenty of surprises and unexpected elements.

"...The “impostor” twist gets taken to a new level, with chilling ironies...." Read more

"...The author, Minka Kent, made the circumstances so very real and plausible. I can’t elaborate without a spoiler alert...." Read more

"...fast and satisfying read with many conflicting challenges and unexpected revelations...." Read more

"...There is some suspense and some guessing, which is what these types of books are meant to inspire...." Read more

136 customers mention "Page turner"136 positive0 negative

Customers describe this book as a definite page-turner, keeping them engaged and turning pages well past bedtime.

"Was different than I thought it would be. Page turner and some unexpected twists. Recommend this book for sure. Good read" Read more

"With the kind of writing that draws you in immediately and gets those pages flying, this thriller is well worth a read...." Read more

"...I could not put this book down and agree that it is an absolute page turner. I thoroughly enjoyed the read...." Read more

"...Totally entertaining and kept me turning pages. At one point I seriously was saying 'WAKE UP AND SMELL THE GASLIGHTING, DARLING!'..." Read more

82 customers mention "Difficulty to put down"64 positive18 negative

Customers find the book hard to put down, describing it as easy to follow and dive back into.

"...frightening level and you get a thrilling novel that is really hard to put down...." Read more

"...Seriously. I know I've made it sound like it was, but it's not. It's an easy, fast read that is pretty well written with an interesting and..." Read more

"...It doesn't require your full attention... it's easy to put down and resume when you have the time without being confused as to what is happening......" Read more

"...Power through it. The beginning needed a little work, but if you keep reading, it gets better pretty fast, and it was well worth it...." Read more

316 customers mention "Pacing"193 positive123 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with some praising how quickly it moves and describing it as fast-paced, while others note that it starts slow and feels rushed.

"...It was a fun read and went by fast...." Read more

"...The book necessarily starts off slow...." Read more

"...Minka Kent is such a great writer, pulls you in and ensures you keep reading until the very end." Read more

"...Interesting but not traumatizing! I especially liked the slow, deliberate pace that gave me time to consider the story's unfolding and how I might..." Read more

Light thriller, hard to believe
3 out of 5 stars
Light thriller, hard to believe
This is a light thriller. The first part, which is Part 1 for Brienne, moved slower than the rest of the novel. This first part last from 1%-41% (on a Kindle) and caused the beginning to drag. It's her repeating constantly how she is scared and how she wants to confront the person who took her identity but never really acts upon it.....other than that she only talks about how she thinks her roommate is cute. So, that made it repetitive and uneventful. Also, there were several obvious clues dropped during that time that gave away the twist. I liked the story okay, but I really had to suspend belief for the majority of it. There was quite a lot that was hard to believe. It is an easy read and okay if you are looking for something lighter and don't mind suspending belief. There is no sex, but there is some cursing. 
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Shanna
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    Was different than I thought it would be. Page turner and some unexpected twists. Recommend this book for sure. Good read
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  • Cynema
    4.0 out of 5 stars A MIND-BOGGLING MINDBLOWER!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    An impostor story that blew my mind! What a crazy ride this mesmerizing suspense thriller was in tackling an extreme case of identity theft, and the thrill ride left me breathless with excitement. I kept asking myself what the heck is going on here? The “impostor” twist gets taken to a new level, with chilling ironies. The story was clever, unsettling, and proved once again that the author (a pseudonym of Winter Renshaw) continues to have more thriller tricks up her sleeve. On edge for most of it, I was delightfully sucked into every fresh angle and crazy dip that took the story in wild and unexpected directions. The twists and turns never stopped, as I frantically whipped through the pages for answers. POVs and revelations kept shifting and left me constantly off-kilter. The slow wind-up followed by the unwind of an inventive plot was deliciously devious and complex, and everything spiraled in faster and faster free-fall to conclusion.

    “It never fails to amaze me all the things people do when they think no one’s watching, the things they think they can get away with”

    An assault left Brienne Dougray with severe headaches, memory loss and blackouts. Fear of her still-at-large assailant has made her a recluse in her monstrous home. Her friends ghosted her as a literal pariah after the incident, though she has no idea why. Worse, there’s a lookalike woman in town openly living as Brienne, and using her name. But, who is the real Brienne and why are false memories more real than the supposedly true ones she can’t remember? No one – not even the police – seems to take her claims of an impostor seriously, nor are they doing much to find her attacker. Instead, she is treated like a stalker. If not for her recent boarder – Dr. Niall Emberlin – lonely Brienne would lose her mind. But, she doesn’t even know the worst of it … yet.

    This noirish thriller had me off-balance in all the best ways. The beginning strikes just the right unsettling chord of introducing Brienne and her situation, never giving us the full picture, while teasing us with tidbits that slowly help unravel this mind boggling mystery. What is truth, and which, if any, characters are reliable? I’m always a sucker for the unreliable narrator angle, but don’t think you have all, or any, of the details of this puzzler figured out because the imaginative story keeps shifting focus and revelations at a snappy pace.

    The multiple POVs were deliciously manipulative. And once the answers start flowing, I had to pick my jaw up off the ground because I never imagined the story would be so intricate in motivation and detail. While I was busy screaming in my head at the actions (and sometimes foolish mistakes) of characters, I was still enormously entertained by how ingeniously crafted the story was. There was a very noticeable flaw in logic in a scene/dialogue that I can’t mention without giving too much away, but that mistake wasn’t enough to spoil the story for me in any way. The plot starts getting real and gritty once distractions occur, and over-confidence leads to sloppy, mushrooming mistakes and possible exposure of the truth.

    The concept is brilliant, and the plotting insanely clever, along with my love for the author’s writing style. Just let yourself go and accept the logic and dynamics of this generally satisfying thriller. It wasn’t perfect, but it was extremely entertaining and I can’t even say a thing about the most riveting character that blew me away the most!

    “When I was you, I learned about the person I was, the person I wanted to be, and the person I didn’t want to be anymore. And after meeting you today, I learned about the person I hope to become more like someday”
    49 people found this helpful
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  • Joanna D.
    5.0 out of 5 stars Identity Theft on steroids
    Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    his thriller takes the concept of Identity Theft to an utterly frightening level and you get a thrilling novel that is really hard to put down. Author Minka Kent ( author of The Stillwater Girls, The Thinnest Air, The Perfect Roommate, and The Memory Watcher.)

    The story revolves around Brienne Dougray, who seems to have PSTD and some kind of traumatic brain injury after an attack. She doesn't want to leave her house. But befriended by Dr. Niall Emberlin, who is sympathetic and helpful, she starts to regain her life, only to discover, there's someone who's copying her life. A key she never ordered is delivered to her, by mistake. This starts the chain of discovery.
    This isn't a case of "imitiation is the truest form of flattery" no, indeed. Not only is it scary, Brienne has to now go find out who this mystery person is that is literally living her life. And...why.

    Of course, Brienne checks social media--she's not a Facebook user and yet there she is, and "she" has friends of her own family. That's creepy. So she does what you or I would do logically, try to hire a private investigator, who palms her off as nuts. So naturally, Brienne has to do her own sleuthing. A lucky break; after reading up all she can on this mystery doppleganger, she realizes that "she" goes to the same bar for happy hour, every Thursday. So you know what's going to go down next and I'm not putting in ANY spoilers.

    This is a fine novel by a very accomplished author with best-selling novels already under her belt. She reminds me of Lisa Gardner, so if you like the genre of crime-psychological thrillers such as Gardner's books or Sue Grafton, you'll enjoy this book. Just what you need for a boring plane flight...try it out. (My favorite reading for long flights or being stuck in airports is a good thriller on my phone's Kindle app.)
    9 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • DEV Nellore
    5.0 out of 5 stars good read
    Reviewed in India on July 24, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    Nice psychological thriller. Lots of twist and turns ….a bit draggy in between with lot of info however it’s important I guess to build characters and the story.
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  • Kindle Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars A very well written psychological thriller
    Reviewed in Australia on September 15, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    The female protagonist is portrayed realistically and hauntingly familiar for anyone who has experienced the mind bending rollercoaster ride of a relationship with a narcissistic. Without giving away the story; suffice to say that I understood her pain and confusion along with the constant questioning and analysing the relationship. It's a very good story with lots of intrigue. The beginning is a bit slow but persevere because it's worth the effort.
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  • Kindle Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars When i was you
    Reviewed in Brazil on October 18, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book was an easy read and entertaining. nothing extraordinary or life changing but it was nice. There was some cool plot twists, at first the book felt a bit slow and then around the 40% things pick up .
    i legit didn't know what was going on with Brienne and thought i had guessed the plot but nope i was kind of wrong which is good
    nothing worse than guess correctly the plot when you're still halfway through the book.
    i enjoyed the reading, no curse words and spicy scenes to be found here so if you looking for a light reading this is it, no violent scenes or anything like that
    Happy Reading!!!!
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  • Avid reader
    5.0 out of 5 stars enjoyable psychological thriller
    Reviewed in Canada on August 16, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    Brienne’s emotional recovery from an attack is slow and painful. She is “still working on digging her out from beneath the pile of psychological rubble and emotional ash.” The handsome doctor Neil who is renting a room is helping and he is too good to be true. Or at least are his suggestions true? Did I mention that Brienne inherited millions from her parents? Part 2 is fast paced and scary, the suspense is increasing and as typical in Minka Kent’s books, nothing is what it looks like.
    Very enjoyable psychological thriller!
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  • Wendy Jones
    5.0 out of 5 stars Tension Crackles from Every Page
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 4, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is the first book I have read by this author and I can assure you it won’t be the last. A tense psychological thriller, the tension ratchets up quickly and does not let up until the last page. I read it in one sitting, turning page after page, genuinely wanting to know what would happen next. The basic storyline, Brienne, the main character, finds her entire life being impersonated. However, there is so much more to it than this. I loved her as a character, she is both vulnerable and resourceful, a mixture that is handled well in Kent’s hands. Kent is a wordsmith, evident in the way she pulls the reader in and plays with their emotions. I’d say this is the best book I’ve read this year but the year is only a few days old. I’m sure I would still be saying this if the year was coming to a close. A truly brilliant book which I cannot recommend highly enough.
    6 people found this helpful
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