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dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I had high hopes for this book, I really did. But it just don’t live up to my expectations.
Without spoilers: The characters were insufferable, it was hard to get through at least 60% of it, but it did keep my attention and I was glued to it by 80% and throughout the end. I feel as though the climax came very quickly, and the end was abrupt. I wouldn’t read it again. I say this next part with distain but also I’m impressed just a little, it went through all 3 different perspectives. 3rd, 1st, and even 2nd! And I’m positive it was intentional too!
I did enjoy it enough to give it a relatively decent rating as it was the first book to make me shake with anticipation for at least two chapters. This is, however, my first thriller. Overall, the book was boring, hard to keep up with, and not something I’d recommend. But I give credit where credit is due, it was an interesting story. Just way too predictable.
I did end up changing my review a few days after finishing it, a 2.5 didn’t feel fare for a book I at least half enjoyed. I’m excited to see it come to film and that why I changed my rating to a 3.
I did end up changing my review a few days after finishing it, a 2.5 didn’t feel fare for a book I at least half enjoyed. I’m excited to see it come to film and that why I changed my rating to a 3.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Murder
Moderate: Rape, Suicide
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Miscarriage, Kidnapping, Murder
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I initially picked this book to be my last book of 2024, but instead ended up my first finished read of 2025. This was not a bad read to begin 2025 with. Then She Was Gone was a book that had moments of predictability, times where I “I knew it” as a revelation happened, as well as “I should have seen that coming”, but also moments where I was on the edge of my seat, or feeling of shock where I had to take a moment to soak in what happened before I could continue reading. It was also so interesting to have the different POVs presented in this book and get the different perspectives as pieces of the story were lining up together. Towards the end it definitely gave me vibes similar to the Netflix show You. This book in the end kept pulling me in and made me stay up until after midnight on a work night to finish it, so I can’t say it didn’t hook me. I don’t think I’ll go back to re-read it personally, but would recommend it to others. I’m glad to have chosen this as my second psychological thriller and can’t wait to explore more of this genre.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Death of parent, Abandonment
Moderate: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Miscarriage, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Dementia, Pregnancy
Minor: Sexual assault
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Kidnapping
Moderate: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Emotional abuse, Infertility, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy
The premise of this book is a child who is kidnapped/dead. About 2/3 of the way through the book, we find out that she is forced into pregnancy (I marked this as sexual assault, but not entirely sure), emotionally/physically abused, given numerous pet hamsters (which they talk about being dead), and briefly understand that the kidnapper is mentally ill and has suffered miscarriages/infertility.
At the end of the book there is the death of a parent and death by suicide.
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Moderate: Kidnapping
Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Death, Sexual assault, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment
dark
emotional
mysterious
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I like Lisa Jewell’s novels quite a lot! They’re never quite 5 star reads for me, but always a go to when I want a pretty solid and definitely entertaining mystery/thriller.
The twists were guess-able but it was an entertaining ride nonetheless!Two baddies in different ways was a fun take also.
My biggest criticism was how some of the characters were written re: their ages,specifically SJ and Poppy. I kept forgetting SJ was 21 and even for a super gifted kid Poppy was just off.
The twists were guess-able but it was an entertaining ride nonetheless!
My biggest criticism was how some of the characters were written re: their ages,
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping
Moderate: Death, Pregnancy
Minor: Miscarriage
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
If it wasn’t because I struggled a bit to get into it in the beginning, this would be the absolute perfect book. The writing was pleasant, the characters felt real. The storyline was just heartbreaking and still hopeful. It’s honestly everything I want in a book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Drug abuse, Miscarriage, Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Cursing, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Suicide, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Abandonment
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is twisted and constantly leaves you on the edge of your seat. It starts out a bit slower, but then you can not put it down!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Death, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Kidnapping, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Pregnancy
Moderate: Dementia, Death of parent
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The pacing was a bit slow, but I liked the story. I did feel a bit of deja vu while reading it, which immensely took me out of the story.
It’s a very sad story which leaves you wondering how anyone will find out the truth. I found empathy for Ellie, she really didn’t deserve what happened to her. I wish the tutor wasn’t so callous, but I understood the reasoning behind her shitty behavior. There are many women in this world who are exactly like the tutor, so she was the most believable character for me. As was Ellie. She was just a child, with her whole life ahead of her, as so many real children are. I feel for these two characters the most, as I felt like I spent the most time with them.
With that being said, Floyd could have been written better. It felt like shit was just happening to him and he was just accepting it. The only time he really stood up for himself was when hekilled the tutor, and even that came out of nowhere. There was no buildup to that supposed burst of anger. He’s really just a boring character with no backbone.
I wish we had spent more time with Laurel finding out what a shit mom she’d been and making amends with her children, even Ellie. I hated the tutor explaining things to the reader. We’ve established she’s an unreliable narrator, so there could have been a second pov for certain events. I also wish we spent more time with the sister and how she started dating her boyfriend. That would’ve been a nice plot point instead of breezing past it:
The ending, I felt, was rushed. We don’t spend too long on everyone’s emotions or sitting with them as they learn the truth of what happened to their family member.
Overall, the book was an emotional letdown. I was expecting more emotionally from the characters given the nature of the story.
It’s a very sad story which leaves you wondering how anyone will find out the truth. I found empathy for Ellie, she really didn’t deserve what happened to her. I wish the tutor wasn’t so callous, but I understood the reasoning behind her shitty behavior. There are many women in this world who are exactly like the tutor, so she was the most believable character for me. As was Ellie. She was just a child, with her whole life ahead of her, as so many real children are. I feel for these two characters the most, as I felt like I spent the most time with them.
With that being said, Floyd could have been written better. It felt like shit was just happening to him and he was just accepting it. The only time he really stood up for himself was when he
I wish we had spent more time with Laurel finding out what a shit mom she’d been and making amends with her children, even Ellie. I hated the tutor explaining things to the reader. We’ve established she’s an unreliable narrator, so there could have been a second pov for certain events. I also wish we spent more time with the sister and how she started dating her boyfriend. That would’ve been a nice plot point instead of breezing past it:
The ending, I felt, was rushed. We don’t spend too long on everyone’s emotions or sitting with them as they learn the truth of what happened to their family member.
Overall, the book was an emotional letdown. I was expecting more emotionally from the characters given the nature of the story.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Child death, Confinement, Death, Pedophilia, Sexual assault, Violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Pregnancy
Minor: Animal death, Miscarriage
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Sexual assault