Author: Rose Carlyle
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Genre: Crime, Mystery, Thriller, Suspense, Fiction Adult
Year of release: 2020
Release Date: 4th August 2020
Rating 
Synopsis
Identical twins only look the same …
Beautiful twin sisters Iris and Summer are startlingly alike, but beyond what the eye can see lies a darkness that sets them apart. Cynical and insecure, Iris has long been envious of open-hearted Summer’s seemingly never-ending good fortune, including her perfect husband Adam.
Called to Thailand to help sail the family yacht to the Seychelles, Iris nurtures her own secret hopes for what might happen on the journey. But when she unexpectedly finds herself alone in the middle of the Indian Ocean, everything changes.
Now is her chance to take what she’s always wanted – the idyllic life she’s always coveted. But just how far will she go to get the life she’s dreamed about? And how will she make sure no one discovers the truth?
Written with the chilling suspense of The Girl on the Train and Before I Go to Sleep, The Girl in the Mirror is an addictive thriller about greed, lust, secrets and deadly lies.
Review
Identical twin sisters Iris and Summer Carmichael are alike in looks alone but shine a light to close to the pair and you’ll see a definite darkness that sets them apart. Iris has always been cynical and insecure for as long as she can remember, she has always been resentful of Summer and her seemingly never- ending good fortune, even Summer’s husband Adam seems to be perfect.
An opportunity arises for Iris to perhaps gain some of her own good fortune when she is called to Thailand to assist in sailing the Carmichael family yacht to the Seychelles. Upon her arrival Iris hopes for her luck to change, only grow bigger. Things do change for Iris but for the worse, Iris finds herself unexpectedly alone in the middle of the Indian Ocean.
The life that Iris has always wanted is laid out in front of her, no obstacles stand in her way, how far will she go? but more importantly what lengths will she go to just to make sure no-one discovers the truth about what has she done?
I’d seen The Girl in the Mirror everywhere and was hearing nothing but good things, so I took the leap.
The theme of The Girl in the Mirror pulled me in and kept me guessing in the beginning chapters, I also loved and whilst I did guess the conflict sooner then I was hoping for, I was still somewhat eager to find out if my suspicions were correct; just to see how it would all come together. Even though I appreciated the descriptive writing in the beginning chapters I found like it was stopping me from reaching the conflict and resolution sooner, (this reader is not one for patience).
“Adam’s not coming. From the slump in my heart, I know it was he who lured me here. Two or three weeks alone with Adam, breathing his smell, gazing into his abyssal eyes, thrilling to his voice.― Rose Carlyle, The Girl in the Mirror
This would have been a five-star read for me had I felt anything for any of the characters, The Carmichael family have issues as a whole unit. A mother who sees only one of her three children is unbelievable; I’m sure certain memories with a certain child can stand out more at different periods in time, but to know nothing of your twin daughters’ differences even a slight change was baffling to this reader.
Summer was such a Marsha Brady and yes, I understand this was how she was seen to Iris but now having reached the end of this book I realised I felt like I was missing something, I wanted to connect to Summer albeit in a small way and I just couldn’t find anything.
Poor, poor Iris, that girl just needed someone to notice her and champion her as the story progressed, I did feel my sympathy for her evaporate, she may be invisible but she’s not altogether innocent.
And yet it would have been agony. Brotherly jests, clumsy gallantry, me close to bursting with forbidden desire. It’s not like he was going to dump Summer just because I sail better.”
― Rose Carlyle, The Girl in the Mirror
Adam is a self-absorbed creep and a lot like Summer I found nothing even remotely resembling a decent human being.
Personally, this book could’ve benefited from a dual perspective narrative, this might have helped me connect to the characters more and it might have also answered some of the questions I had about the characters pasts.
If you’re looking for a faced-paced from start to finish phycological Thriller that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book, then The Girl in the Mirror is the read for you.