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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
A debut novel that definitely has me ready to read more from this author. "We are sisters, and sisters we are" was a quote in this book that lingered with me throughout until the end.
We meet Bee and Audrina, sisters. Sisters living innocent lives in a small town, thinking, as most of us do, that nothing bad will ever happen.
It takes place in the 1980s, before the internet was involved in every aspect of our lives. The kids in the neighborhood rode bikes, played outside, and spent their summers swimming at the club or lake nearby. Bee and Audrina go to the lake with their new-ish neighbors, the Bakers, whose son Max is near their age, and daugther, Sally, is four. The older three are playing in the water, with Sally playing on the beach, and in a blink, Sally is gone! Somehow none of them realized the moment when she disappeared. including Mrs. Baker. Search of the lake and areas nearby turn up nothing.
This missing child caues ripples in this small town and innocence is lost. Relationships are strained all around, including Bee and Audrina. Especially when a bit of information comes out that one of them perhaps knew something and didn't speak up.
The missing child was sad and while a big part of the story, I feel the relationship between Bee and Audrina is the focus. The ups and downs of sisterhood. The competition between sisters.
Overcoming conflict. Having each other's back no matter what. Despite conflict, you feel their love for each other throughout.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
We meet Bee and Audrina, sisters. Sisters living innocent lives in a small town, thinking, as most of us do, that nothing bad will ever happen.
It takes place in the 1980s, before the internet was involved in every aspect of our lives. The kids in the neighborhood rode bikes, played outside, and spent their summers swimming at the club or lake nearby. Bee and Audrina go to the lake with their new-ish neighbors, the Bakers, whose son Max is near their age, and daugther, Sally, is four. The older three are playing in the water, with Sally playing on the beach, and in a blink, Sally is gone! Somehow none of them realized the moment when she disappeared. including Mrs. Baker. Search of the lake and areas nearby turn up nothing.
This missing child caues ripples in this small town and innocence is lost. Relationships are strained all around, including Bee and Audrina. Especially when a bit of information comes out that one of them perhaps knew something and didn't speak up.
The missing child was sad and while a big part of the story, I feel the relationship between Bee and Audrina is the focus. The ups and downs of sisterhood. The competition between sisters.
Overcoming conflict. Having each other's back no matter what. Despite conflict, you feel their love for each other throughout.
Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group Dutton for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book is about the deaths of two girls, which happened in very different ways. It’s set in the 80s and is narrated by one of the girl’s sisters. The focus is really on the narrator and how these deaths impacted her life.
The sisters’ relationship was very realistic. I wished for a little more happiness in the book, but life isn’t always happy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
The sisters’ relationship was very realistic. I wished for a little more happiness in the book, but life isn’t always happy.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This isn't really your typical true crime/mystery which is what gave me pause in reading this novel. I wasn't expecting the lack of thrill. It's more of a disturbing family drama/coming-of-age novel with a foundation of mystery in the background. But, the writing and character work is great. These are flawed children and the reader has to grapple with that. A promising debut.
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Medical content
3.5 Stars!
This book is a wonderful journey to the summer of 1985 when Borka was 12 years old. Told in an alternating prospective, the intro and end chapters with her as an adult and the rest told as her younger self. She takes you through the journey of her neighborhood friend, a 4 year old from across the street, going missing one summer and her sister dying the following summer.
I loved the setting of 1985 in a small town. I also loved the characters. Some of the minutia was a little bit slow and then all things at the end were a bit rushed and I did not feel satisfied, I still have questions lingering.
A special thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and Karen Winn for providing me with an ARC.
This book is a wonderful journey to the summer of 1985 when Borka was 12 years old. Told in an alternating prospective, the intro and end chapters with her as an adult and the rest told as her younger self. She takes you through the journey of her neighborhood friend, a 4 year old from across the street, going missing one summer and her sister dying the following summer.
I loved the setting of 1985 in a small town. I also loved the characters. Some of the minutia was a little bit slow and then all things at the end were a bit rushed and I did not feel satisfied, I still have questions lingering.
A special thanks to NetGalley, PENGUIN GROUP Dutton, and Karen Winn for providing me with an ARC.
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Self harm, Grief, Murder
Moderate: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Infidelity
Minor: Child abuse, Pedophilia, Dementia
emotional
reflective
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Moderate: Medical content, Kidnapping, Murder
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes