The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry blends suspense and an engaging plot as it follows the protagonist's quest to uncover her parents' killer. Reviewers praise the fast-paced narrative and well-developed characters, though some critique the predictability of the mystery. Overall, it's considered a compelling read for young adult audiences interested in thrillers.

The ideal reader for The Girl I Used to Be by April Henry would be a young adult who enjoys fast-paced mystery and thriller novels with strong, relatable protagonists. Fans of One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus and We Were Liars by E. Lockhart will find similar intrigue and suspense in this gripping story.

In April Henry's The Girl I Used to Be, orphaned teenager Olivia Reinhart, who was formerly Ariel Benson, discovers that her father was not her mother's murderer after his remains are found. Returning to her hometown under an assumed name, Olivia sets out to uncover the true killer while grappling with her fragmented identity and complex family history. The novel includes themes of parental death and violence.

April Henry

Novel

Fiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore The Girl I Used to Be reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read The Girl I Used to Be | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Girl I Used to Be and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Girl I Used to Be Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

The Girl I Used to Be Chapters 1-5 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 6-10

The Girl I Used to Be Chapters 6-10 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 11-15

The Girl I Used to Be Chapters 11-15 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 16-20

The Girl I Used to Be Chapters 16-20 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 21-26

The Girl I Used to Be Chapters 21-26 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 27-32

The Girl I Used to Be Chapters 27-32 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 33-37

The Girl I Used to Be Chapters 33-37 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 38-42

The Girl I Used to Be Chapters 38-42 Summary & Analysis

Chapters 43-46

The Girl I Used to Be Chapters 43-46 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The Girl I Used to Be Character Analysis

theme

Themes

The Girl I Used to Be Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Girl I Used to Be Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

The Girl I Used to Be Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

The Girl I Used to Be Essay Topics

The Girl I Used to Be

Before You Read

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read The Girl I Used to Be?

Reading Age

Book Details