People Who Knew Me

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Resolved to tell her husband of the affair and to leave him for the father of her child, Emily's plans are thwarted when the world is suddenly split open on 9/11. It's amid terrible tragedy that she finds her freedom, as she leaves New York City to start a new life. It's not easy, but Emily---now Connie Prynne―forges a new happily-ever-after in California. But when a life-threatening diagnosis upends her life, she is forced to rethink her life for the good of her thirteen-year-old daughter. People Who Knew Me was commissioned by Dylan Haskins, Commissioning Editor (Podcasts) for BBC Radio 5 Live & BBC Sounds

Sharon Horgan (Executive Producer at Merman) says: “It has been so great to bring Kim Hooper’s emotionally and morally complex novel to life via a drama podcast. Daniella’s adaptation and direction, along with a brilliant cast led by Rosamund and Hugh, bring you right into the mind of Connie and her battle with truth and lies. This is a series that will challenge your prejudices and invite you to ask, what would you do if you had the opportunity to run away?”Even if it did mean not continuing her education as originally planned, Emily Morris marries her young love Drew. She has a happy life with Drew. That is, until circumstances change drastically. Drew’s business fails and his mother becomes chronically ill. Emily throws herself into her work as pressures mount on this married couple. Emily can see no way out of the life and difficulties. And then a twist of fate, provides a way out. In California, Connie vows to keep people at arm’s length. How does she succeed at this? How does she fail, in spite of herself? This story got me in from the outset, though I never warmed to Emily/Connie at any point. Despite not liking the main character I wanted to keep reading so that is a sign of good writing, especially when this is a debut novel. Interested to see what else this author writes. Tangentially, yes. I had a boyfriend who was close friends with her, so we hung out a few times. I liked her enormously. She took me to the ballet once. I remember it clearly because ballet had been her life as a young girl and she took it seriously. Going to see dance with Chelsea was fascinating because of her insights.

I, myself was surprised to see that this is the author of “No Hiding in Boise” which I listened to on Audible last year-and which made my favorites list!! 💖 Episode 1 of People Who Knew Me will be available on first BBC Sounds on 23 May, with episode 2 dropping on the 25 May. New episodes will drop twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the entire series will be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 from Monday 26 June.In People Who Knew Me, we switch between the two lives of one woman: Emily Morris as a young married woman in New York during the decade leading up to September 11, and fifteen years later in her new identity as Connie Prynne. Though she was passionately in love when she married young, she slowly begins to question her obligations and loyalty to her husband and mother-in-law, who becomes very ill. When resentment builds, she find solace in someone from her past. It’s impossible not to wonder what would have been different had Connie stayed – admitting to the affair and everything else.

But this novel’s obviously about more than that. We’re forced to ponder whether running is always the best option. Is it better to stay and confront our problems? This book had my attention the whole way, but I still found the ending less than satisfying. It was still an interesting story. I have goodread friends who enjoyed this book but I'll be the outlier. I don't mind an unlikable character if I find the story itself well-written and compelling. But in this case the protagonist was so selfish I couldn't get past it, maybe because my husband and I are/have been caretakers of elderly parents. What she ultimately decided to do to her husband was unforgivable. The title of the book, PEOPLE WHO KNEW ME, references the life Connie left behind in New York. How do those people “follow” Connie to California? I possibly would have liked to know a little more about the fourteen years Connie spent in California before we rejoin her. Claire’s delightful so she’s done a great job with her, but shut herself off from everyone else.

And yet? I didn’t find it riveting. The main character is unsympathetic to a degree that I just couldn’t ever dig deep and care for her. And I couldn’t get past the idea of running away from your life, I’ve just never had that fantasy, and especially taking something as horrifically painful as the events of 9/11 and using them to disappear. The blurb asks what would you do? I believe I would face the music and deal with the choices that led me there. Your next film release is Emerald Fennell’s Saltburn , reportedly a Ripley-esque thriller. What can you tell us about it? Just as Emily is finally ready to make the choice between the two men, 9/11 splits the world apart. Amid this terrible tragedy, Emily sees an opportunity to remake herself. Starring Rosamund Pike and Hugh Laurie, Kyle Soller, Isabella Sermon and Alfred Enoch. The first audio drama from the makers of Bad Sisters, People Who Knew Me is a 10-part series, written and directed by Daniella Isaacs, adapted from the book by Kim Hooper. Without giving away the ending, it is not one of those books where everything at the end is neatly tied up in bows, but rather makes the reader think of what will happen to the characters in the future. I loved this book and strongly recommend it to anyone.

I enjoyed the premise of this novel though wasn’t entirely sure about the logistics of changing your name when you’re supposedly dead. And never being found out. You may change or cancel your subscription or trial at any time online. Simply log into Settings & Account and select "Cancel" on the right-hand side. It’s pretty bizarre, but this book has a lot in common with another book published this year, What Was Mine. Both books are set in New York and California, both are about a mother with a teenage daughter, both are about a huge momma secret that has huge consequences, both have the heroine making questionable choices, both have an abrupt ending that can be annoying. I liked both books, though What Was Mine really pissed me off and this one did not. I’m thinking that my reaction to these two books is sort of sexist. In What Was Mine, the birth mother missed 21 years of her daughter’s life. In People Who Knew Me, the father missed 14 years of his daughter’s life. I felt so much sorrier for the mom than the dad. What’s THAT about?! I must think that it’s more important for a daughter to know her mother than her father. That's terrible! Yep, sexist as all get out! This would be a great book for book clubs as there’s lots of fodder for discussion. Connie’s actions (as well as those of Drew) for a start. And Connie’s decision to run. I didn’t agree with a lot of her actions but couldn’t imagine what it would be like in those circumstances. Emily Morris uses 9/11 to fake her own death and run away to start a new life in California as Connie Prynne. Fourteen years later, now with a teenage daughter by her side, Connie is diagnosed with breast cancer. She will be forced to confront her past so that her daughter will not be left on her own if she does not survive. She must decide how to explain her lies, her secrets, her selfish decisions - and ultimately her 'widowed' husband. Everything she thought she had fled from when she pretended to die in New York.

Book Club

The original 2016 audiobook was just re-released with two new narrators, Hillary Huber and Rachel L. Jacobs. I always love it when audiobooks have multiple narrators and both narrators did an outstanding job.