Reviews tagging 'Confinement'

Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

224 reviews

juanat77's review

4.0

challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Medical content, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail

erinomaista's review

dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Grief, Murder, Pregnancy

bedwellbooks's review against another edition

5.0

challenging dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: A mix

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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This was a great read that told a chilling story. I did predict the ending, but I thought it was still a great book. I was sad for Elle the entire book and found myself gasping when I found out all of the things that happened to her. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Stalking, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol

chapters_and_pages's review against another edition

4.0

dark emotional mysterious sad 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: Complicated

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Lisa Jewell is honestly becoming one of my favourite authors!

Then She Was Gone follows Laurel, who’s 15 year old daughter, Ellie, went missing 10 years prior. Throughout the book, we learn about the events that lead up to Ellie’s disappearance, what happened during the 10 years Ellie was gone, Laurel’s discovery of what exactly happened to her daughter. 

I’ll be honest, I pretty much guessed the plot twists within about 100 pages, but that didn’t stop me from loving this book!

My heart broke for Laurel, Ellie and Poppy, as well as the rest of Ellie’s family, and reading a book like this, it reminds you that even those this is a fictional story, there are people out there who have gone through similar things, whether as a direct victim or a loved one of a victim. 

Even though I really enjoyed this book, it felt like a 4 star read for me for a couple of reasons. Firstly, I guessed the plot twists very early one. Secondly, Poppy was written quite unrealistically for a child of her age. I get what the author was trying to do, but it kind of missed the mark for me personally. Thirdly, while I really enjoyed this book, I didn’t enjoy it as much as some of her others. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief

Moderate: Pregnancy

katdid's review

3.5

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

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Such a dark story

and you can't help but be glad that Noelle ends up murdered(?) honestly. Ellie's death was so sad and wasteful!

From the three books of hers that I've now read Jewell never really sticks the landing imo -- she does plot-wise but not from a narrative/delivery point of view.

Like here I thought the Floyd chapters sucked if I'm honest and the final note from Ellie wasn't necessary.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Confinement, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Pregnancy

Minor: Animal death, Physical abuse

curtinbrit's review against another edition

2.0

dark mysterious tense medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: No

Diverse cast of characters: No

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Sexual assault, Torture, Pregnancy, Abandonment

bbell99's review against another edition

3.75

dark emotional mysterious 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: No

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy

Moderate: Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide

Minor: Animal death, Death of parent

caoxtina's review

3.0

dark mysterious tense 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Murder

Moderate: Suicide

aprilrosek's review against another edition

4.0

dark mysterious sad medium-paced

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Confinement, Death, Kidnapping, Grief

Moderate: Murder

Minor: Miscarriage, Physical abuse

isabezza's review

4.5

dark mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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