I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
This was a solid three star book all the way through, until the final batch of reveals/twists.
This book is an odd one because it is labelled as general adult fiction but Kate/Evie is 17 and so it has a definite YA feel to it. I suppose this shows how the boundaries between the two merge.
Call Me Evie is a compelling novel about the vulnerability of memories, and the atmosphere of it is quite creepy overall. The chapters alternate between "before" and "after" and the two narratives converge as we discover more about the mysterious pair with a secret past. It's interesting being as clueless as the main character, and there are many questions going through the reader's mind throughout.
I enjoyed the creepy locals aspect because the reader takes on Kate's own suspicions about being watched by them. Can they be trusted? Are they on her side? Do they know who she is?
The main theme of the book is manipulation of memory, but it also has a lot about small things triggering bigger things, and how events in our past can shape us. Both of the main characters have been shaped and affected by their past, and the bath tub memory is a very interesting one that does not become significant until later on. I enjoyed the ending of the book and I thought the reveals at the end were very effective and changed the meaning of the story and one of the character's actions.
This is definitely a book that will read differently the second time round.