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A review by thegeekybibliophile
The Fall of Lisa Bellow by Susan Perabo
3.0
I received an advance review copy of this book courtesy of Netgalley and Simon & Schuster.
Meredith Oliver and Lisa Bellow aren’t friends. In fact, Lisa’s mockery of Meredith has made her miserable. One day after school Meredith stops off for a treat at the sandwich shop before heading home, and nearly leaves when she sees Lisa is inside, but decides to go in and make her purchase as planned. This is how both Lisa and Meredith find themselves in the wrong place at the worst possible time. A disguised man with a gun comes in to rob the place and, when there’s little money to be taken, he forces Lisa to go with him, leaving Meredith behind. Physically, she’s unharmed, but mentally and emotionally, Meredith is traumatized by Lisa’s abduction and struggles with the grief and guilt she feels in the aftermath of the crime. How are you supposed to feel when you’re the lone witness to the kidnapping of someone you don’t even like?
Meredith is full of conflicted feelings. Though she is relieved to be safe with her family, she feels like she should have been taken instead of Lisa. Other times, she feels they both should have been taken. She spends her days imagining what Lisa must be going though, and slowly withdraws from her family and friends.
Meredith isn’t alone in her suffering. Her mother feels relieved (and guilty for feeling it) that her daughter wasn’t the one taken. Lisa’s mother clings to the belief that her daughter will be found, despite the lack of leads in the case. And Lisa—wherever she is—is likely the one suffering the most.
Perabo did a great job of showing the confusion felt by everyone involved, and draws the reader into that confusion, as well. The resolution wasn’t quite what I expected, but it worked. All in all, this was a good read, and I enjoyed it.
Meredith Oliver and Lisa Bellow aren’t friends. In fact, Lisa’s mockery of Meredith has made her miserable. One day after school Meredith stops off for a treat at the sandwich shop before heading home, and nearly leaves when she sees Lisa is inside, but decides to go in and make her purchase as planned. This is how both Lisa and Meredith find themselves in the wrong place at the worst possible time. A disguised man with a gun comes in to rob the place and, when there’s little money to be taken, he forces Lisa to go with him, leaving Meredith behind. Physically, she’s unharmed, but mentally and emotionally, Meredith is traumatized by Lisa’s abduction and struggles with the grief and guilt she feels in the aftermath of the crime. How are you supposed to feel when you’re the lone witness to the kidnapping of someone you don’t even like?
Meredith is full of conflicted feelings. Though she is relieved to be safe with her family, she feels like she should have been taken instead of Lisa. Other times, she feels they both should have been taken. She spends her days imagining what Lisa must be going though, and slowly withdraws from her family and friends.
Meredith isn’t alone in her suffering. Her mother feels relieved (and guilty for feeling it) that her daughter wasn’t the one taken. Lisa’s mother clings to the belief that her daughter will be found, despite the lack of leads in the case. And Lisa—wherever she is—is likely the one suffering the most.
Perabo did a great job of showing the confusion felt by everyone involved, and draws the reader into that confusion, as well. The resolution wasn’t quite what I expected, but it worked. All in all, this was a good read, and I enjoyed it.