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anotherbooklady's review against another edition
4.0
This is my first foray into a Laura Dave novel, and I thoroughly enjoyed her writing.
Part mystery, part drama, part suspense and completely addicting. I had a difficult time putting this book down!
Hannah’s husband Owen Michael has disappeared, not before leaving his wife of 14 months a mysterious note: “Protect her.”
He’s referring to Hannah’s sixteen-year-old step-daughter, Bailey. Bailey barely tolerates Hannah, but with Owen missing, they come together to unlock this strange disappearance.
Hannah and Bailey start to discover that Owen is not who either of them thought he was and as they put together the pieces of his past, they realize a very different future lays before them.
I really enjoyed the relationship-building between step-mother and step-daughter. I found Hannah to be relatable and strong. I felt the author’s wit woven through the story as a sort of comic relief to the serious and heartbreaking elements of the plot.
I would definitely read other works by Laura Dave.
Part mystery, part drama, part suspense and completely addicting. I had a difficult time putting this book down!
Hannah’s husband Owen Michael has disappeared, not before leaving his wife of 14 months a mysterious note: “Protect her.”
He’s referring to Hannah’s sixteen-year-old step-daughter, Bailey. Bailey barely tolerates Hannah, but with Owen missing, they come together to unlock this strange disappearance.
Hannah and Bailey start to discover that Owen is not who either of them thought he was and as they put together the pieces of his past, they realize a very different future lays before them.
I really enjoyed the relationship-building between step-mother and step-daughter. I found Hannah to be relatable and strong. I felt the author’s wit woven through the story as a sort of comic relief to the serious and heartbreaking elements of the plot.
I would definitely read other works by Laura Dave.
maliaode's review against another edition
4.25
This was a good mystery and I enjoyed the unfolding of the story. I particularly liked that the pacing was mixed. It wasn’t always the unraveling I expected which I appreciated as a reader. I also respected the ending, even if I didn’t adore it. Good read and checking out another Laura Dave book next!
kelc2398's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
happycrafter207's review against another edition
4.0
4 Stars!! Wow, that was fun! I really liked the fast pace in this novels.
I also liked the main character Hannah. Despite the very unusual situation she finds herself in, she does not lose her head and tries to do her best to deal with the situation and protect her stepdaughter, just as her husband Owen asked her to do. Hannah is quick to think and not afraid to act. She is a strong heroine who can think outside the box and act on the spot.
The difficult relationship between Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey added extra drama and another interesting dimension to the story. We not only wonder what is going on with Owen, but also whether the relationship between Hannah and Bailey would eventually improve. And whether it will happen fast enough that none of them will get hurt.
The ending surprised me. I didn't think this story would end like this. I even wonder if I'm a bit disappointed, but that's because I just like happy endings, and this one doesn't quite feel like one to me. Either way, the ending is interesting.
I really enjoyed discovering Owen's secrets gradually. And while I think some of Hannah's actions weren't entirely rational (like going to Austin, for example) and there are some holes in the story, I had no problem overlooking them. I also wonder how she felt/knew some of these things after only 2 years of marriage BUT overall I really enjoying the story.
I also liked the main character Hannah. Despite the very unusual situation she finds herself in, she does not lose her head and tries to do her best to deal with the situation and protect her stepdaughter, just as her husband Owen asked her to do. Hannah is quick to think and not afraid to act. She is a strong heroine who can think outside the box and act on the spot.
The difficult relationship between Hannah and her stepdaughter Bailey added extra drama and another interesting dimension to the story. We not only wonder what is going on with Owen, but also whether the relationship between Hannah and Bailey would eventually improve. And whether it will happen fast enough that none of them will get hurt.
The ending surprised me. I didn't think this story would end like this. I even wonder if I'm a bit disappointed, but that's because I just like happy endings, and this one doesn't quite feel like one to me. Either way, the ending is interesting.
I really enjoyed discovering Owen's secrets gradually. And while I think some of Hannah's actions weren't entirely rational (like going to Austin, for example) and there are some holes in the story, I had no problem overlooking them. I also wonder how she felt/knew some of these things after only 2 years of marriage BUT overall I really enjoying the story.
addyereadss's review against another edition
4.0
I went into it thinking that this was a thriller, it's not so don't foul yourself. I still liked it, it's a nice story between a 16 years old and her mother in law.
More complet review to come
More complet review to come
tbellesmom's review against another edition
4.0
Another good one by a new author to me. Once Hannah received the letter from Owen, I was pulled into the story and couldn't put it down. I enjoyed the flash backs of Hannah remembering moments with Owen and trying to see them from a different point of view to see if she missed anything. It wrapped up a little too easy and convenient for me, but overall an enjoyable plot line.
fischer5310's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
elenacordova's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
sm_readsbooks's review against another edition
2.0
Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her.
Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers to: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.
As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.
Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth, together. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new future. One neither Hannah nor Bailey could have anticipated.
Rating: 2/5
This book was recommended to me by a friend, who loved it. After reading the intriguing plot, I was expecting to absolutely love this book, but surprisingly, I did not.
I had no problem with the writing of this book and it was a relatively fast read, but I wasn't enthralled or obsessed like I usually am with these types of books. I truthfully felt like there was something missing from this novel.
This book was definitely not a thriller, even though it was labelled as one. I never had a scary feeling that something absolutely drastic was going to happen. There was suspense, but it was not that specific feeling I was expecting that always accompanies a good thriller novel. I would categorize this book in a mystery genre.
This book is well written and I did appreciate that the characters were interesting and well described. The pace and overall feel of the novel was what disinterested me, it seemed to take forever to get to the “good part”.
Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers to: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.
As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.
Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth, together. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new future. One neither Hannah nor Bailey could have anticipated.
Rating: 2/5
This book was recommended to me by a friend, who loved it. After reading the intriguing plot, I was expecting to absolutely love this book, but surprisingly, I did not.
I had no problem with the writing of this book and it was a relatively fast read, but I wasn't enthralled or obsessed like I usually am with these types of books. I truthfully felt like there was something missing from this novel.
This book was definitely not a thriller, even though it was labelled as one. I never had a scary feeling that something absolutely drastic was going to happen. There was suspense, but it was not that specific feeling I was expecting that always accompanies a good thriller novel. I would categorize this book in a mystery genre.
This book is well written and I did appreciate that the characters were interesting and well described. The pace and overall feel of the novel was what disinterested me, it seemed to take forever to get to the “good part”.
readastorywithtory's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.25