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philisa_ndaza's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Do feel like the first 17 chapters could have easily been suppressed into two chapters, it was a lot of fluff , nothing substantial. The only substantial information could have been 2 chapters. From chapter 18 everything went as expected, Jenny is a good writer and the chapters after solidified that for me ,especially given the fact that this was her first book. But again the 3 star
scollard's review against another edition
3.0
A lot of lead up with not much finish, almost as if the ending was slapped together in a hurry. Enjoyed it up until that point though.
kellylacey's review against another edition
5.0
The cover is striking and memorable, but I urge you (if like me you have the hardback version) to take a peek under the dust jacket. The blood-red cover with gold lettering on the spine is thrilling and truly spectacular.
Anna has no choice but to return home to settle her mother’s estate. She’s been hiding for so long but now she is out of excuses. The story flip-flops from current day to the 80’s. Where we get to puzzle together the fragments of the story and find out what happened to Anna’s sister Gabriella.
I was a little slow to catch the pace of the book. It’s not one to be rushed, there are details and important information as you go along. I loved the nostalgic references from the 80’s and it made me reminisce.
I liked Anna, I felt sorry for her. Her whole life defined by the death of her sister. How awful would that be? No wonder she withdrew from everything that was a reminder. But now she’s back and she is faced with the option of opening closed doors and asking what happened to her sister and getting answers.
I really enjoyed the book, it had me up until the wee hours. I had to know what happened to Gabriella and to find out if the truth will bring peace to Anna.
A brilliantly written debut novel with bite!
Anna has no choice but to return home to settle her mother’s estate. She’s been hiding for so long but now she is out of excuses. The story flip-flops from current day to the 80’s. Where we get to puzzle together the fragments of the story and find out what happened to Anna’s sister Gabriella.
I was a little slow to catch the pace of the book. It’s not one to be rushed, there are details and important information as you go along. I loved the nostalgic references from the 80’s and it made me reminisce.
I liked Anna, I felt sorry for her. Her whole life defined by the death of her sister. How awful would that be? No wonder she withdrew from everything that was a reminder. But now she’s back and she is faced with the option of opening closed doors and asking what happened to her sister and getting answers.
I really enjoyed the book, it had me up until the wee hours. I had to know what happened to Gabriella and to find out if the truth will bring peace to Anna.
A brilliantly written debut novel with bite!
anneyrosey's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
The book was promising, as a mystery always is. I do like how the book set out the main preface of the book, which is the mystery of the missing girl. Although there was a lot of dialogue, it was the last 100 pages that kept me hooked. However the constant wondering of what had happened is what kept me going, so it isn’t the best mystery I have written.
Although it was good to know the ending, it wasn’t satisfying, which I suppose mimics the reality of life. People are rarely brought to justice.
Although it was good to know the ending, it wasn’t satisfying, which I suppose mimics the reality of life. People are rarely brought to justice.
miss_philisa's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Do feel like the first 17 chapter could have easily been suppressed into two chapters, it was a lot of fluff , nothing substantial. The only substantial information could have been 2 chapters. From chapter 18 everything went as expected, Jenny is a good writer and the chapters after solidified that for me ,especially given the fact that this was her first book. But again the 3 star 🌟 🌟 🌟 is because I wouldn't even had known how amazing the book was ,had i just 'dnf'ed it .
bluestarfish's review against another edition
2.0
Anna and Gabriella are sisters and Anna is the one left behind when her sister goes missing. It is quite interesting having the focus on the missing sibling as that doesn't happen very often. A quite little village is the centre of the drama as is the flashback revisitation Anna does when she returns back to her home after a long absence. The story alternates between the present adult Anna and the 1982 Anna.
Writing from a child's point of view is difficult to do well and I didn't feel like it worked at all here. There is no discernable difference in the voice between the present day and child Anna which then makes the narration irritating when we're in the 1982 sections. If it's adult Anna reflecting on what happened in the early eighties then why can't she bring the adult sensibilities to play. I realise that a kid wouldn't necessarily know why her uncle and his best friend keep showing up for Christmas but if it's the adult Anna then it is rather disingenuous to not make the connection. I just found that whole dynamic quite irritating - you're an adult now you don't have to pretend you are a child. Or if you are doing the pov from the child it felt forced.
Writing from a child's point of view is difficult to do well and I didn't feel like it worked at all here. There is no discernable difference in the voice between the present day and child Anna which then makes the narration irritating when we're in the 1982 sections. If it's adult Anna reflecting on what happened in the early eighties then why can't she bring the adult sensibilities to play. I realise that a kid wouldn't necessarily know why her uncle and his best friend keep showing up for Christmas but if it's the adult Anna then it is rather disingenuous to not make the connection. I just found that whole dynamic quite irritating - you're an adult now you don't have to pretend you are a child. Or if you are doing the pov from the child it felt forced.
colorfulleo92's review against another edition
3.0
30 years ago Anne Flores sister, Gabriella went missing. Now their mother have died and Anne goes back home to fix things up with the funeral and such. When she goes through the belongings she also finds Gabriella's stuff and memories and questions come up again. What happened to her?
I feel like I've read this in the wrong time, didn't give it as much "attention" as I should have done. Was to scatter brained. I didn't get invested into the story but I think iöö go back to this one some other time
I feel like I've read this in the wrong time, didn't give it as much "attention" as I should have done. Was to scatter brained. I didn't get invested into the story but I think iöö go back to this one some other time
susannareads's review against another edition
4.0
More thoughtful, empathetic and intimate than many books like it. Sad, lovely story.
anneduff's review against another edition
5.0
Oh, wow! This book knocked me for six! It's right up there with The Book Thief for the amount of tears I cried.
Beautifully written, I have never before come across grief being so achingly and accurately depicted. A perfect example of "Show, don't tell". You just KNOW the pain of Anna of her family. You can't help absorbing their grief as you read. Your heart breaks and your insides clench as you experience their sadness.
I read the last pages with tissues resting just under my eyes so that I could quickly squeeze my eyes closed to wring out my tears onto the tissues in order to clear my vision to carry on reading. Then, when I'd finished reading and had pulled myself together, I sent messages to my parents and my sister just to remind them that I love them. My sister will probably reply, "Lol. You been reading a sad book again?"
I will always remember this book and I'm looking forward to this author's next one.
Beautifully written, I have never before come across grief being so achingly and accurately depicted. A perfect example of "Show, don't tell". You just KNOW the pain of Anna of her family. You can't help absorbing their grief as you read. Your heart breaks and your insides clench as you experience their sadness.
I read the last pages with tissues resting just under my eyes so that I could quickly squeeze my eyes closed to wring out my tears onto the tissues in order to clear my vision to carry on reading. Then, when I'd finished reading and had pulled myself together, I sent messages to my parents and my sister just to remind them that I love them. My sister will probably reply, "Lol. You been reading a sad book again?"
I will always remember this book and I'm looking forward to this author's next one.