Reviews tagging 'Grief'

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

125 reviews

aprilrosek's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Grief, Confinement, and Death

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Miscarriage and Physical abuse

isabezza's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

4.5

I don't often read thrillers but Lisa Jewell is my go-to. Each novel I have read has been packed with suspense and disturbing psychology and this story was no different. The story discusses family dynamics after trauma and contains a distressing mystery. I really enjoyed the multiple POV which garnered an insight into each characters motivations and perspectives of others. A little slower than some of her other mysteries but ultimately just as gripping. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Grief, Kidnapping, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Miscarriage, Child death, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Death, Murder, and Stalking

mlle's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

As someone with ADHD, the book kept my attention. It has short chapters with something new or something discovered at the end. It kept me engaged throughout the book because I wanted to know how it ended. However, that's pretty much it without spoilers. 

The events of what happened to the daughter is so sad but you can kind of see it coming if you are an avid reader of this genre. A good amount of this book is believable: the kidnapping, the Mom having a favorite child, her attempting to love again. However, what was unbelievable was that child Poppy (if I remember correctly) was so unnaturally mature it didn't make sense to me. The artificial insemination reminded me of Jane the Virgin, and the boyfriend not saying anything. I didn't like the ending for me personally- I like a chaotic mess but this was okay.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping and Sexual assault

Moderate: Grief

If you want one of those old school LifeTime movies that they play on Sunday nights in the mid 00's then this is it.

lauragoose's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

1.75

Hard to finish. I'm not sure if the book intended to be surprising or shocking or with having "twists" but it's all plainly laid out. Slow pace. Sad inclusions of diet culture and toxic beauty stands. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Fatphobia, Animal death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Slavery, Torture, Eating disorder, Suicide, Death, Kidnapping, Abandonment, Trafficking, Child death, Confinement, Infertility, Miscarriage, Murder, Death of parent, and Emotional abuse

condls27's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Thrilling and an emotional ride! A little dark for me at times but still a compelling story

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Suicide, Kidnapping, Murder, Confinement, and Grief

crowray's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

i loved the twists in this book i hate when i can guess but a few of them really caught me by surprise. the characters felt fleshed out and human and the emotion and writing was brill. didn’t feel very tense apart from towards the end but that’s really the only thing.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Grief, Animal death, Blood, Murder, Death, Gore, Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Injury/Injury detail, Miscarriage, Violence, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Infertility, Physical abuse, Stalking, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Suicide, Torture, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Sexual content, Terminal illness, and Mental illness

theycallmerash's review against another edition

dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Kidnapping, Child death, Death, and Grief

Moderate: Murder, Abandonment, Miscarriage, Stalking, Suicide, Confinement, Mental illness, Child abuse, and Pregnancy

Minor: Death of parent

faythfarrar's review against another edition

2.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Kidnapping, Miscarriage, Grief, Stalking, Abandonment, Animal death, Confinement, Suicide, and Child abuse

jpt007's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

This was a book I chose to read on a whim while on a Barnes and nobles run with a friend, and wow I just have to say my luck that day was really good! 

Characters- 5/5*
The characters felt rich, deep, and most importantly real. You hated some of them but understood the 3D image of them.

It was impressive Jewell even did that with such a horrible person as Noelle Donnelly. Authors sometimes struggle to give depth to “villains” but Jewell did it beautifully.

Conflict- 5/5*
Once you get into it you couldn’t put the book down. Trust me I tried! 

Plot- 5/5*
The structure of the story was beautifully done. Even the exposition drew you in. Every moment of the journey had thus unsettling feeling that just made the book so much better.

Setting- 4.5/5* 
It was basic but that was the point. I added the the gravity of the story an every day neighborhood. My only complaint is as someone not from London I was lost with a few thing and would have loved a hair more description. (But that’s just me being knit-picky)

Theme- 5/5*
Even after life gives you hell you can find a way to live again, it will take time, but you can do it.

also never inform gut feelings!

I wasn’t expecting to cry from a book like this but at the end I was left with a message I really needed to hear.

Overall Score: 4.9/5⭐️

I recommend this book to anyone who wants a thrill and needs a reminder of why they like to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Animal death, Grief, Kidnapping, Suicide, Animal cruelty, Emotional abuse, Rape, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Cursing

claireswale's review against another edition

dark emotional mysterious sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

This book only got 4 stars from me because it was actually very difficult to read at times. I found the story very disturbing at times and was crying at the very end because of how sad it was! However, it did keep my interest and I enjoy thrillers and true crime. Something about this one was not as entertaining to me though. Just sad and horrible to think about.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Child death, Pregnancy, Grief, Murder, and Infertility