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3.27 AVERAGE
3.27 AVERAGE
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Violence, Suicide attempt, Murder
Minor: Confinement, Drug abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Stalking, Car accident
Emily, who is afraid of water and doesn't know how to swim, only agrees to go sailing because boyfriend Paolo is a very experienced swimmer. Emily wakes up alone onboard to find Paolo has disappeared, she is in the middle of the ocean, and has no memory of the night before. The story unravels as Emily tries to solve the mystery of Paolo's disappearance while she becomes the police's biggest suspect
I found the beginning and the end exciting but struggled through most of the middle. Emily is bipolar, which comes up multiple times throughout the book but besides contributing to her unreliability, doesn't seem to have a purpose. I also didn't understand why, Emily's mom, a big support to her in the beginning of the book and in her past, suddenly disappears when she is needed most. I wanted to like it, but this book was a miss for me.
I found the beginning and the end exciting but struggled through most of the middle. Emily is bipolar, which comes up multiple times throughout the book but besides contributing to her unreliability, doesn't seem to have a purpose. I also didn't understand why, Emily's mom, a big support to her in the beginning of the book and in her past, suddenly disappears when she is needed most. I wanted to like it, but this book was a miss for me.
I received an advance digital copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
"If you came with a warning label attached to you," I asked, "what would it read?"
2.5 Stars | What a book. For me it didn't worked as a thriller or mystery book at all because I was constantly annoyed by Emily Firestone. Her name is as stupid as her decisions. I don't blame her because it was for her and her mind an extreme situation but it made the plot redicilous and predictable. Halfway through I knew how this would end (I have to admid that there has been one tiny surprise). Emily being bipolar didn't felt like an extra, more like a plot element and this, I think, was the biggest mistake Jacobs could do. There is nothing wrong with an unreliable protagonist, this can be extremly intriguing.
If the ending would have been able to surprise me I would have given this book 3 Stars. There were moments, which were really good written. For example the scenes between Cal and Emily where they talk about grief and try to process their loss: such a strong, emotional moment!
"If you came with a warning label attached to you," I asked, "what would it read?"
2.5 Stars | What a book. For me it didn't worked as a thriller or mystery book at all because I was constantly annoyed by Emily Firestone. Her name is as stupid as her decisions. I don't blame her because it was for her and her mind an extreme situation but it made the plot redicilous and predictable. Halfway through I knew how this would end (I have to admid that there has been one tiny surprise). Emily being bipolar didn't felt like an extra, more like a plot element and this, I think, was the biggest mistake Jacobs could do. There is nothing wrong with an unreliable protagonist, this can be extremly intriguing.
If the ending would have been able to surprise me I would have given this book 3 Stars. There were moments, which were really good written. For example the scenes between Cal and Emily where they talk about grief and try to process their loss: such a strong, emotional moment!
I think I am going to be the odd man out with this one but I have to say it – I did not enjoy this book. My hopes were so high and I was so excited to read this debut thriller from R. J. Jacobs but no matter what I tried, I could not focus. Six months. It took me SIX MONTHS to finish reading this book and, honestly, the only reason I finished was because it was an advanced copy and I felt that I had to give it my all.
Why didn’t I love this book like everyone else has? There are several reasons. The big one being that I just could not connect with Emily from the beginning and Paolo….well I just plain didn’t like him. No real reason, I just didn’t. When he went missing it didn’t matter to me one bit and let’s face it – if you start out a book by not caring about the characters, you’re just setting yourself up for failure.
My lack of connection with the Emily made the plot accelerate very, very slowly for me. So slow that by the time I found the pace quicken, I didn’t care anymore about what happened. It got to the point where I was reading to finish instead of reading to enjoy myself and there’s no coming back from that.
What I DID enjoy about this book (yes, there were parts) is the mental illness representation and how much that illness was involved in the plot. Emily’s downward spiral into mania throughout the investigation was incredibly well done and allowed for a completely different experience while reading. Again, I was already past the point of no return with this book before Emily started slipping but you can tell that the author has done his homework on bipolar disorder and that makes all the difference to the reader. I learned things. I like that.
And Then You Were Gone was obviously not the book for me, but I do see its potential and the draw for other readers. While I didn’t enjoy it, I can definitely see why so many others do and would still recommend it to someone looking for this type of thriller. I would also keep an open mind about reading future works from Jacobs. I think his writing style is on point and would love to see if other books by him will hit home with me as this book has with others.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this book to read and provide my honest opinion.
Why didn’t I love this book like everyone else has? There are several reasons. The big one being that I just could not connect with Emily from the beginning and Paolo….well I just plain didn’t like him. No real reason, I just didn’t. When he went missing it didn’t matter to me one bit and let’s face it – if you start out a book by not caring about the characters, you’re just setting yourself up for failure.
My lack of connection with the Emily made the plot accelerate very, very slowly for me. So slow that by the time I found the pace quicken, I didn’t care anymore about what happened. It got to the point where I was reading to finish instead of reading to enjoy myself and there’s no coming back from that.
What I DID enjoy about this book (yes, there were parts) is the mental illness representation and how much that illness was involved in the plot. Emily’s downward spiral into mania throughout the investigation was incredibly well done and allowed for a completely different experience while reading. Again, I was already past the point of no return with this book before Emily started slipping but you can tell that the author has done his homework on bipolar disorder and that makes all the difference to the reader. I learned things. I like that.
And Then You Were Gone was obviously not the book for me, but I do see its potential and the draw for other readers. While I didn’t enjoy it, I can definitely see why so many others do and would still recommend it to someone looking for this type of thriller. I would also keep an open mind about reading future works from Jacobs. I think his writing style is on point and would love to see if other books by him will hit home with me as this book has with others.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a copy of this book to read and provide my honest opinion.
“Memory is an interesting thing. It’s woefully inaccurate. People think they capture moments perfectly, but they don’t. Images fade and change over time. When a person remembers something, they remember the last time they remembered it, a copy of a copy. Then the next time is a copy of that. Each time, a little less of the original.
A N D
T H E N
Y O U
W E R E
G O N E.
This book has me shook. But in a good way. I’m struggling with the can’t-put-it-down-but-don’t-want-it-to-end-but-I-need-to-know-what-the-f-is-going-on.
I’m a sucker for books that highlight mental health topics. This gal in the book has wrestled with her bipolar disorder. She is finally well managed, has a boyfriend that wants to take her sailing on the lake for a date. When she wakes up the next morning SHES ALONE ON THE BOAT.
Damnit, Paolo.
.
.
*Trigger warning (maybe): drowning.
My brother in law drowned and so this has been a roller coaster of emotions personally. But in a weird way I feel okay. He loved to swim. We swam alllllll the time. I’ll never stop wondering what happened that day.
A N D
T H E N
Y O U
W E R E
G O N E.
This book has me shook. But in a good way. I’m struggling with the can’t-put-it-down-but-don’t-want-it-to-end-but-I-need-to-know-what-the-f-is-going-on.
I’m a sucker for books that highlight mental health topics. This gal in the book has wrestled with her bipolar disorder. She is finally well managed, has a boyfriend that wants to take her sailing on the lake for a date. When she wakes up the next morning SHES ALONE ON THE BOAT.
Damnit, Paolo.
.
.
*Trigger warning (maybe): drowning.
My brother in law drowned and so this has been a roller coaster of emotions personally. But in a weird way I feel okay. He loved to swim. We swam alllllll the time. I’ll never stop wondering what happened that day.
I was immediately sucked into this book from page one and was torn between wanting to digest it in one sitting or spread it out to savor. I haven't been shy about how disappointed I've been with mystery/thrillers lately, but this one kept my interest the entire time. I was positively delighted to be surprised by the ending and was even more pleased to be satisfied by it. It's one thing to shock your readers, but it takes real talent to make it jive with the whole story and not make it an over-the-top gimick.
I really enjoyed the unique cast of characters. The protagonist, Emily, has bipolar disorder, and she is constantly tested by horrendous events that could easily make her spiral out of control. The bipolar aspect was almost like another character in itself without being constantly shoved down your throat. It was presented in a thoughtful, subtle manner that is even more credible given the skillful writer's background in psychology.
There was also plenty of clever layering to this plot. Emily's boyfriend, Paolo, disappears out of the blue after a romantic night on a boat, but there is so much more going on than your basic missing person situation. I loved following along and learning how everything developed and connected.
Bottom line - Buy and read this book! It comes out in March, and/or you can check it out now on Netgalley. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars
I really enjoyed the unique cast of characters. The protagonist, Emily, has bipolar disorder, and she is constantly tested by horrendous events that could easily make her spiral out of control. The bipolar aspect was almost like another character in itself without being constantly shoved down your throat. It was presented in a thoughtful, subtle manner that is even more credible given the skillful writer's background in psychology.
There was also plenty of clever layering to this plot. Emily's boyfriend, Paolo, disappears out of the blue after a romantic night on a boat, but there is so much more going on than your basic missing person situation. I loved following along and learning how everything developed and connected.
Bottom line - Buy and read this book! It comes out in March, and/or you can check it out now on Netgalley. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/5 stars
Thank you to NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and R. J. Jacobs for the chance to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Emily Firestone finally has her life together. After years battling to find an even keel she has her bipolar disorder under control and is happy: she is working as a psychologist with children, her own apartment, and is madly in love with her boyfriend, Paolo.
When Paolo suggests a weekend sailing Emily ignores her fears of water and agrees to the trip. After a perfect first night she wakes to find him gone. She alerts the police but is certain that as a strong swimmer he couldn’t have drowned and that he didn’t just up and leave her. When the Police declare Emily the only suspect in his death she knows finding the truth is the only way to clear her name, a task that seems impossible as her life falls apart piece by piece.
But then one of Paolo’s coworkers contacts her saying she has evidence that Paolo was murdered by someone close to him. Increasingly desperate to clear her name, Emily tries to find further proof but finds her mania intruding her thoughts more and more as she races against the clock to not only uncover what really happened to Paolo but to also keep her grip on reality.
This book was a breathtaking roller-coaster ride. R. J. Jacobs has written a compulsive, thrilling and unpredictable debut novel that I couldn't put down.
Emily was an unreliable protagonist but also one I loved. Seeing her battle against her paranoia was riveting. She herself couldn’t trust the truth and accuracy of her recollection of events or what she was thinking which added an extra layer of uncertainty to whether or not you could believe her version of events, while also making her a character that is interesting to read. The author’s background as a psychologist shines through in these intricate details of Emily’s character and her bipolar II. The expressive language used to describe her thoughts and feelings enabled me to understand her and put myself in her shoes even though I have never lived with her condition. I also found the tidbits of information about how and why the brain works the way it does really interesting and it helped me understand mental health in a new way.
And Then You Were Gone is a fabulous psychological thriller that keeps you guessing as you are never quite sure what to believe. Filled with with surprising twists, turns and revelations this is a book that has you on the edge of your seat until the end. R. J. Jacobs is a talented new voice in fiction and I’m excited to see what he writes next.
Emily Firestone finally has her life together. After years battling to find an even keel she has her bipolar disorder under control and is happy: she is working as a psychologist with children, her own apartment, and is madly in love with her boyfriend, Paolo.
When Paolo suggests a weekend sailing Emily ignores her fears of water and agrees to the trip. After a perfect first night she wakes to find him gone. She alerts the police but is certain that as a strong swimmer he couldn’t have drowned and that he didn’t just up and leave her. When the Police declare Emily the only suspect in his death she knows finding the truth is the only way to clear her name, a task that seems impossible as her life falls apart piece by piece.
But then one of Paolo’s coworkers contacts her saying she has evidence that Paolo was murdered by someone close to him. Increasingly desperate to clear her name, Emily tries to find further proof but finds her mania intruding her thoughts more and more as she races against the clock to not only uncover what really happened to Paolo but to also keep her grip on reality.
This book was a breathtaking roller-coaster ride. R. J. Jacobs has written a compulsive, thrilling and unpredictable debut novel that I couldn't put down.
Emily was an unreliable protagonist but also one I loved. Seeing her battle against her paranoia was riveting. She herself couldn’t trust the truth and accuracy of her recollection of events or what she was thinking which added an extra layer of uncertainty to whether or not you could believe her version of events, while also making her a character that is interesting to read. The author’s background as a psychologist shines through in these intricate details of Emily’s character and her bipolar II. The expressive language used to describe her thoughts and feelings enabled me to understand her and put myself in her shoes even though I have never lived with her condition. I also found the tidbits of information about how and why the brain works the way it does really interesting and it helped me understand mental health in a new way.
And Then You Were Gone is a fabulous psychological thriller that keeps you guessing as you are never quite sure what to believe. Filled with with surprising twists, turns and revelations this is a book that has you on the edge of your seat until the end. R. J. Jacobs is a talented new voice in fiction and I’m excited to see what he writes next.
UPDATE: 26th September 2019
After getting a message from the author complaining that I shouldn't be giving mean-spirited reviews to books because it can discourage authors, I am very tempted to drop my rating down to a 1 star. I don't think I will though, because it wasn't necessarily a bad book, I just didn't enjoy it. I don't even think my review was particularly mean-spirited. And can I just add, RJ Jacobs told me that he named the main character after a freind who died but that doesn't mean I should like the character!! I hate it when authors give sob stories. Please don't contact me telling me that you don't like what I wrote about your book. Take criticism from readers or just don't read reviews of your work if you can't handle negativity.
"I had the dizzy feeling of standing on the edge of someplace very tall, of looking out over an expansive canyon."
This was boring. The main character (who I think was called Emily) had no personality traits apart from having bipolar disorder (which is not a personality trait) and the other characters were literally cardboard cut-outs. Nothing happened. The plot tried to be fast-paced and intriguing but it wasn't until about 70% through and even then, it was boring. The unreliable narrator trope is so overused that it has to be done really well and this time, it just wasn't.
I am very disappointed.
After getting a message from the author complaining that I shouldn't be giving mean-spirited reviews to books because it can discourage authors, I am very tempted to drop my rating down to a 1 star. I don't think I will though, because it wasn't necessarily a bad book, I just didn't enjoy it. I don't even think my review was particularly mean-spirited. And can I just add, RJ Jacobs told me that he named the main character after a freind who died but that doesn't mean I should like the character!! I hate it when authors give sob stories. Please don't contact me telling me that you don't like what I wrote about your book. Take criticism from readers or just don't read reviews of your work if you can't handle negativity.
"I had the dizzy feeling of standing on the edge of someplace very tall, of looking out over an expansive canyon."
This was boring. The main character (who I think was called Emily) had no personality traits apart from having bipolar disorder (which is not a personality trait) and the other characters were literally cardboard cut-outs. Nothing happened. The plot tried to be fast-paced and intriguing but it wasn't until about 70% through and even then, it was boring. The unreliable narrator trope is so overused that it has to be done really well and this time, it just wasn't.
I am very disappointed.
And Then You Were Gone by RJ Jacobs was the perfect page turning thriller! I couldn't put this one down and never figured it out until it was revealed. Every twist had me surprised, and the climax was heart thumping and thrilling. I was enlightened by the author's detailed and seemingly educated (see RJ Jacobs' bio/career field) description of a person struggling with and working through her life with bipolar disorder. The little hint of a romantic storyline in this one didn't hurt either.
Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.
This thriller grabbed me from the first page (too bad I don't have more time for reading) and there’s no way I could have guessed how it ended. I did not like much the main characters, but the plot was interesting.
This thriller grabbed me from the first page (too bad I don't have more time for reading) and there’s no way I could have guessed how it ended. I did not like much the main characters, but the plot was interesting.