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A review by thereadrose
And Then You Were Gone by R.J. Jacobs
2.0
Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
“After years of learning how to manage her bipolar disorder, Emily Firestone finally has it under control. Even better, her life is coming together: she’s got a great job, her own place, and a boyfriend, Paolo, who adores her. So when Paolo suggests a weekend sailing trip, Emily agrees—wine, water, and the man she loves? What could be better? But when Emily wakes the morning after they set sail, the boat is still adrift...and Paolo is gone.”
I’m only going to post the first paragraph of the synopsis because frankly, I feel like the description gave too much away about this story.
I feel so conflicted about this book. And Then You Were Gone was gifted to me in 2019 and I am just now getting around to reading it due to personal matters.
However, it was a little crazy reading a book that tries to prevent the spread of a possible epidemic/pandemic, when since this book was published, as we all know, a global pandemic did transpire. It was interesting to hear the perspective of a relative who had died from an infectious disease, as well as the scientific side of it. Did I understand what they were talking about? No. Did I get the gist? Yes.
However, I do not like the the-main-character-has-a-mental-illness-so-she-must-be-crazy-and-guilty stereotype that goes along with the stigma of mental illness. I feel like it's a low blow and honestly, a little cheap. As someone who suffers from ADHD, G.A.D., and severe depression, it's just not the most progressive point of view, especially with the author being a man writing in the POV of a “crazy” woman.
I DID like that Emily, the main character was a psychologist, I think, and that the story was based in Nashville. I say, “I think” because the story seemed to be more about her mental illness rather than her being successful in her field.
As far as the plotline goes, I only had one theory in mind while reading this story, which included a slight “twist” and I was proven 100% correct. I’m not someone who will give a thriller/mystery a low rating if I guess the ending correctly. I will however rate a book low if it feels like not much thought had been put into the the resolution. I didn’t find anything about this story “thrilling” besides the structure of the story that meets the bare minimum qualifications of a thriller novel.
There’s a possibility that I’d read a more recent work from this author, to see if he has, hopefully, evolved as a writer.
“After years of learning how to manage her bipolar disorder, Emily Firestone finally has it under control. Even better, her life is coming together: she’s got a great job, her own place, and a boyfriend, Paolo, who adores her. So when Paolo suggests a weekend sailing trip, Emily agrees—wine, water, and the man she loves? What could be better? But when Emily wakes the morning after they set sail, the boat is still adrift...and Paolo is gone.”
I’m only going to post the first paragraph of the synopsis because frankly, I feel like the description gave too much away about this story.
I feel so conflicted about this book. And Then You Were Gone was gifted to me in 2019 and I am just now getting around to reading it due to personal matters.
However, it was a little crazy reading a book that tries to prevent the spread of a possible epidemic/pandemic, when since this book was published, as we all know, a global pandemic did transpire. It was interesting to hear the perspective of a relative who had died from an infectious disease, as well as the scientific side of it. Did I understand what they were talking about? No. Did I get the gist? Yes.
However, I do not like the the-main-character-has-a-mental-illness-so-she-must-be-crazy-and-guilty stereotype that goes along with the stigma of mental illness. I feel like it's a low blow and honestly, a little cheap. As someone who suffers from ADHD, G.A.D., and severe depression, it's just not the most progressive point of view, especially with the author being a man writing in the POV of a “crazy” woman.
I DID like that Emily, the main character was a psychologist, I think, and that the story was based in Nashville. I say, “I think” because the story seemed to be more about her mental illness rather than her being successful in her field.
As far as the plotline goes, I only had one theory in mind while reading this story, which included a slight “twist” and I was proven 100% correct. I’m not someone who will give a thriller/mystery a low rating if I guess the ending correctly. I will however rate a book low if it feels like not much thought had been put into the the resolution. I didn’t find anything about this story “thrilling” besides the structure of the story that meets the bare minimum qualifications of a thriller novel.
There’s a possibility that I’d read a more recent work from this author, to see if he has, hopefully, evolved as a writer.