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miraeli's review against another edition
3.0
Not bad, but there are two major logic plotholes that you have to ignore for the novel to work:
1. They never run a DNA test on Sarah. I could be wrong, but I do believe this is police procedure, never mind getting confirmation from the family that the person is who they say they are. Especially because people claiming to be long lost kids or such for money is common enough to warrant a little caution.
2. Dead bodies float. Sarah's body would have eventually risen to the surface and been found. Even if it hadn't, the police would have searched the lake for a body. The novel tries to explain this away by saying the police had no reason to search the lake because Sarah's bike was found in the nearby park so they thought she disappeared from there, but no, sorry, the police still would have searched the lake.
2. Dead bodies float. Sarah's body would have eventually risen to the surface and been found. Even if it hadn't, the police would have searched the lake for a body. The novel tries to explain this away by saying the police had no reason to search the lake because Sarah's bike was found in the nearby park so they thought she disappeared from there, but no, sorry, the police still would have searched the lake.
maryam162424's review against another edition
4.0
*3.75 stars* this totally went somewhere I didn’t even think of and I loved it! That’s why I’m listing it as 4 stars. I thought it’d be a similar book to the few others I’ve read that had the same plot. BUT IT WASNT. damn. I really liked the concept of family I just feel so wrong for living this book a little bit.
bookish_burrow's review against another edition
4.0
This book kept me hooked! It was a really intense premise and coming from both the sister's point of views kept the story interesting as both views converged into the present day. There was some social drama that occurred that I felt was a little unnecessary but, after all, these are high schoolers. Other than that, Busby focused on the relationship between the two sisters. I figured out about a quarter of the way through what was going to happen but there were still some twists I hadn't figured out! Busby's writing kept me thoroughly involved and I found myself getting increasingly angry at characters that didn't have Nico or Sarah's best interest in mind. The flashbacks were incredibly well-written which I really enjoyed, they offered so much depth into the complex relationship between Nico and Sarah. Busby captured estranged relationships and didn't glaze over or romanticize Nico's emotional abuse that she suffered. Her actions and words were so fit for the trauma she suffered and I seriously commend Busby for handling such a touchy subject, so well.
desiree930's review against another edition
2.0
2.5-2.75
I really wish Goodreads would upgrade their rating system. This book is a solid 2.5-2.75 for me, but I couldn't quite put it up to a 3 star...
I haven't read many YA mysteries. This one was interesting, especially since it was loosely based on a real case from the 90s (something the author mentions in her acknowledgments).
I liked the concept of the story, and the execution was decent. I had my theories about what could be the big twist (because let's face it...there is always a twist) and while I had certain elements right, it wasn't until closer to the end that everything became clear.
The chapters chronicling Sarah's life were more impactful to me than any of the stuff with Nico's POV. I honestly didn't really connect with her character at all. I get that she is very guarded, especially where Sarah is concerned, considering their previous relationship. But she just fell a little flat to me. Because of that, certain plot points just didn't have the emotional impact I would've liked.
My next biggest critique would probably be that I didn't feel like things were fleshed out enough. Events and people were mentioned and then not brought up again. I'm not sure why it was important to the story to bring up all the people Nico spoke to at the parties and school if there wasn't going to be any payoff later in the story. Also, I wish that we'd had a scene or two between Sarah and Paula before she disappeared...some sort of flashback or something. We are told that they had this tumultuous relationship based on competition. It would've been nice to see some more interaction.
However, understanding that this story was ultimately about the relationship between Nico and Sarah makes those side characters relatively unimportant.
All in all, I appreciated that this wasn't a typical YA book. It read like a movie to me. I could picture everything quite clearly. I would be interested to check out more of the author's works in the future.
I really wish Goodreads would upgrade their rating system. This book is a solid 2.5-2.75 for me, but I couldn't quite put it up to a 3 star...
I haven't read many YA mysteries. This one was interesting, especially since it was loosely based on a real case from the 90s (something the author mentions in her acknowledgments).
I liked the concept of the story, and the execution was decent. I had my theories about what could be the big twist (because let's face it...there is always a twist) and while I had certain elements right, it wasn't until closer to the end that everything became clear.
The chapters chronicling Sarah's life were more impactful to me than any of the stuff with Nico's POV. I honestly didn't really connect with her character at all. I get that she is very guarded, especially where Sarah is concerned, considering their previous relationship. But she just fell a little flat to me. Because of that, certain plot points just didn't have the emotional impact I would've liked.
My next biggest critique would probably be that I didn't feel like things were fleshed out enough. Events and people were mentioned and then not brought up again. I'm not sure why it was important to the story to bring up all the people Nico spoke to at the parties and school if there wasn't going to be any payoff later in the story. Also, I wish that we'd had a scene or two between Sarah and Paula before she disappeared...some sort of flashback or something. We are told that they had this tumultuous relationship based on competition. It would've been nice to see some more interaction.
However, understanding that this story was ultimately about the relationship between Nico and Sarah makes those side characters relatively unimportant.
All in all, I appreciated that this wasn't a typical YA book. It read like a movie to me. I could picture everything quite clearly. I would be interested to check out more of the author's works in the future.
fortheloveoffictionalworlds's review
4.0
Disclaimer: An eARC was provided via Harper Collins India. The Thoughts, opinions & feelings expressed in the review are however my own.
Ooh this was such a brilliant book – a book that had my attention right till the moment I got till the end.
This is the book that falls under the category of a book having a twist within a twist – One sister missing and One sister returned. What is the truth?
Nico’s sister went missing; and as you go through the plot, the book, you realise that Sarah, the sister who went missing wasn’t one who was liked by anyone; she was a bully and an abusive person but years later; Sarah the sister who came back, is quite the different from the one who went missing.
It turns the world that Nico has created upside down. What is the truth anymore?
We get two very different POVs – Nico and Sarah’s – while Nico’s in the present, Sarah’s starts from the beginning. The beginning of what, you ask? Well you will just have to read and find out!
I loved the writing style of the author – it is wonderfully deceptive; you believe that you will be getting one mystery when the author turns around and shocks with a totally different one from what you envisioned and you can’t do anything but hold along for the ride. And what an exhilarating ride it was!
I would definitely recommend this beauty for readers who love getting lost for a few hours into mysteries that have the ability to awe you!
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
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audiobookingwithleah's review
4.0
MY RATING⇢ 4 ✰STARS✰
BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏15 YEAR OLD GIRL GOES MISSING ⤏4 YEARS LATER SHE IS FOUND ⤏EVERYONE THINKS SHE IS SARAH...BUT IS SHE REALLY ⤏WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THE DAY SARAH WENT MISSING???
MY THOUGHTS⇣
Told in alternating POV's between Nico and Sarah...Nico in the now and Sarah in the past leading up to the now. The narration, by both Erin Spencer and Arielle Delisle, was a win-win and performed swimmingly by both narrators.
A different take on the missing/kidnapped formula that may have taken the easy way, but may have also done it to keep everything a PG rating and suitable for younger readers. I sort of saw the way it was going but I also think it was done intentionally that way. It isn't a story told for the purpose of blowing your mind with the unforeseen twist. It's more a story of perseverance or the tenacity of the living to keep on doing so, and maybe make their world a place that they can live in. It was maybe done a little too subtly; for everyone else to see...or, maybe I'm giving it more credit than it deserves.
BOOK DETAILS⇣
AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ ERIN SPENCER & ARIELLE DELISLE
NARRATION RATING⇢ 5/5
BOOK COVER⇢ MEH...
SETTING⇢ IT'S EITHER INDIANA OR ILLINOIS...I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH...
SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)
AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 6 HOURS, 43 MINUTES
BREAKDOWN⇣
Plot⇢ 4/5
Characters⇢ 4/5
The Feels⇢ 4/5
Pacing⇢ 4.5/5
Addictiveness⇢ 4.5/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 3.5/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4/5
Twisty-ness⇢ 3/5
Originality⇢ 4/5
Ending⇢ 4.2/5
BOOK TAGS⇣
⤏15 YEAR OLD GIRL GOES MISSING ⤏4 YEARS LATER SHE IS FOUND ⤏EVERYONE THINKS SHE IS SARAH...BUT IS SHE REALLY ⤏WHAT REALLY HAPPENED THE DAY SARAH WENT MISSING???
MY THOUGHTS⇣
Told in alternating POV's between Nico and Sarah...Nico in the now and Sarah in the past leading up to the now. The narration, by both Erin Spencer and Arielle Delisle, was a win-win and performed swimmingly by both narrators.
A different take on the missing/kidnapped formula that may have taken the easy way, but may have also done it to keep everything a PG rating and suitable for younger readers. I sort of saw the way it was going but I also think it was done intentionally that way. It isn't a story told for the purpose of blowing your mind with the unforeseen twist. It's more a story of perseverance or the tenacity of the living to keep on doing so, and maybe make their world a place that they can live in. It was maybe done a little too subtly; for everyone else to see...or, maybe I'm giving it more credit than it deserves.
BOOK DETAILS⇣
AUDIO PERFORMED BY⇢ ERIN SPENCER & ARIELLE DELISLE
NARRATION RATING⇢ 5/5
BOOK COVER⇢ MEH...
SETTING⇢ IT'S EITHER INDIANA OR ILLINOIS...I DON'T REMEMBER WHICH...
SOURCE⇢ LIBBY AUDIOBOOK (LIBRARY)
AUDIOBOOK LENGTH⇢ 6 HOURS, 43 MINUTES
BREAKDOWN⇣
Plot⇢ 4/5
Characters⇢ 4/5
The Feels⇢ 4/5
Pacing⇢ 4.5/5
Addictiveness⇢ 4.5/5
Theme or Tone⇢ 3.5/5
Flow (Writing Style)⇢ 4/5
Twisty-ness⇢ 3/5
Originality⇢ 4/5
Ending⇢ 4.2/5
britthebookguru's review
4.0
3.75 stars
This was such a predictable book. Almost painfully so. But even the predictability didn't make it bad, or even boring. The predictability made me want to keep reading so I could see if it was going to prove me wrong (because the story was almost too easy).
It keeps you interested throughout and the characters didn't feel poorly developed. Not much for the surprise element, but it will satiate your appetite for a nice, easy read.
This was such a predictable book. Almost painfully so. But even the predictability didn't make it bad, or even boring. The predictability made me want to keep reading so I could see if it was going to prove me wrong (because the story was almost too easy).
It keeps you interested throughout and the characters didn't feel poorly developed. Not much for the surprise element, but it will satiate your appetite for a nice, easy read.