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3.87 AVERAGE
3.87 AVERAGE
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
N/A
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
Best mystery/thriller I’ve read in a long time
- Was this book predictable? Yes. Did I really enjoy it? Also yes!
- I loved the complex characters. They had full personalities and felt like real people with imperfections that you can clearly see but you still care about the person.
- The ending is heartbreaking!!
- I loved the complex characters. They had full personalities and felt like real people with imperfections that you can clearly see but you still care about the person.
- The ending is heartbreaking!!
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Contains spoilers! This is my review of Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell. The story follows Laurel, whose 15-year-old daughter Ellie went missing ten years ago. Laurel has never fully recovered. Her grief destroyed her marriage, weakened her bond with her other daughters, and left her life on hold for a decade.
Finally, Laurel begins to put herself back together — but then her daughter’s body is discovered. She tries to stay positive, rebuild her relationship with her surviving daughter Hannah, and move forward. During this time, she meets a man named Floyd, who has a nine-year-old daughter called Poppy. Laurel is hesitant at first, as she’s avoided children since Ellie’s disappearance, but she’s instantly struck by how much Poppy looks like Ellie. The resemblance sets off alarm bells in her mind.
The book follows Laurel as she investigates the connection between Floyd, Poppy, and Ellie, while also trying to reconnect with her family. She’s drawn to her new relationship, but friends and circumstances keep hinting that Floyd might not be who he seems. The tension builds with red flags and suspense throughout.
I loved Laurel as a character. Her grief felt raw and heartbreaking, and I really felt for her. The plot was full of twists and I never guessed the ending — I wouldn’t have predicted it in a million years. Admittedly, parts of the conclusion felt a little unrealistic, but at the same time, it was chillingly plausible that someone unhinged could behave that way.
I did wish there had been more about Ellie herself, but I was glad that her family ultimately found closure. The ending carried a sense of bittersweet peace. Overall, I really enjoyed it, and I’ll definitely be picking up more of Lisa Jewell’s books.
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
This story gutted me. I went in blind and what occurred in this story, I couldn’t wrap my head around it. Noelle was a piece of work, the lengths she went to as an adult and her actions to a CHILD was ridiculous. I have no words. She ruined a lot of lives by her decisions.
fast-paced
dark
mysterious
sad
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad