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A review by ashylibrarian
The Reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this title in exchange for a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*
This book will have readers up until all hours of the night desperate to learn what happened to Rachel Price.
Bel has grown up being the child of Rachel Price, the wife and mother who went missing 16 years ago. And now, at age 18, Bel is filming a documentary at her father's wishes to recount what life has been like since the disappearance. Bel feels that her life has settled into "normal" until one day, the unthinkable happens. Rachel Price reappears. With this reappearance comes chaos, lies, and blurred lines. Bel must decide who she can trust, which stories she can believe, and what she must do to get back to the normal life she craves so deeply.
Holly Jackson does it again with another riveting and gripping YA novel that makes readers feel like they are a part of the mystery. I felt like I was reading the behind-the-scenes of a real true-crime mystery. There was drama, twists, turns, surprises, and jaw-dropping secrets.
Though parts of this story were predictable, I felt like I was still able to enjoy it because of the way I experienced it through Bel's perspective. Her emotions jumped off the page and allowed the reader to be fully immersed in what was happening.
One flaw I would say this book holds is that it is long. Some scenes could have been a tad shorter and could have allowed this book to be less than the current almost 450 pages. Am I mad that I read almost 450 pages? No, not at all. I just think that it could have still been successful a bit shorter.
I will 100% be recommending this book.
This book will have readers up until all hours of the night desperate to learn what happened to Rachel Price.
Bel has grown up being the child of Rachel Price, the wife and mother who went missing 16 years ago. And now, at age 18, Bel is filming a documentary at her father's wishes to recount what life has been like since the disappearance. Bel feels that her life has settled into "normal" until one day, the unthinkable happens. Rachel Price reappears. With this reappearance comes chaos, lies, and blurred lines. Bel must decide who she can trust, which stories she can believe, and what she must do to get back to the normal life she craves so deeply.
Holly Jackson does it again with another riveting and gripping YA novel that makes readers feel like they are a part of the mystery. I felt like I was reading the behind-the-scenes of a real true-crime mystery. There was drama, twists, turns, surprises, and jaw-dropping secrets.
Though parts of this story were predictable, I felt like I was still able to enjoy it because of the way I experienced it through Bel's perspective. Her emotions jumped off the page and allowed the reader to be fully immersed in what was happening.
One flaw I would say this book holds is that it is long. Some scenes could have been a tad shorter and could have allowed this book to be less than the current almost 450 pages. Am I mad that I read almost 450 pages? No, not at all. I just think that it could have still been successful a bit shorter.
I will 100% be recommending this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Kidnapping, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Dementia, Domestic abuse, and Death