I Plead Alter Ego by Amanda Verrall is a deep dive into a woman’s unraveling, flipping between her everyday life as a competent single mom and the chaotic escapades of her alter ego, “Roxy,” who emerges on wild nights out. Roxy is bold, impulsive, and carefree—the polar opposite of the tightly wound Clare. But with every reckless decision comes a tidal wave of guilt, regret, and shame.
The book opens with Clare in a psychiatric hospital, completely shattered, and unsure of how she got there. From that stark moment, we’re pulled back through the mess that led her to this breaking point—drunken nights, obsessive cleaning sprees, toxic coping mechanisms, and a constant inner war with herself. Clare’s voice is raw and painfully honest, capturing the chaotic beauty and despair of a life teetering on the edge.
Amanda Verrall doesn’t hold back. She dives straight into the taboo, portraying Clare’s darkest moments with boldness and vulnerability. The descriptions are vivid, pulling you right into Clare’s world—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Her thoughts? Unfiltered. Her actions? Often uncomfortable to witness. But it’s this honesty that makes Clare feel so real.
That said, the book isn’t perfect. The prose, while emotional and evocative, can feel repetitive, as if it’s stuck cycling through the same thoughts. Some scenes are graphic and intense, which might be too much for readers looking for more subtlety. And there are rough edges—grammatical hiccups and clunky sentences—that disrupt the flow.
The biggest hurdle, though, is that the supporting characters often fall flat. Clare’s friend Donna, as bubbly as she is, feels more like a cheerleader than a fully developed person. The same goes for Clare’s romantic interests—they exist to serve Clare’s story rather than adding real depth to the narrative.
Despite its flaws, I Please Alter Ego is a gutsy, emotional read. It offers a no-holds-barred look at identity, mental health, and the struggle to find meaning when life feels chaotic. It’s not for everyone—if you like your stories polished or your characters likable, this might not be your cup of tea. But for readers who crave raw, unfiltered honesty and deeply flawed protagonists, this book will hit home.
It’s gritty, it’s messy, and it’s unapologetically real—just like Clare herself.