A review by sams_fireside
The Girl She Left Behind by Jo Bartlett

challenging emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book when I read the Author’s Note at the beginning, but I absolutely loved it from start to finish. You won’t find any spoilers in my review because personally, I think knowing how this ends would make it less enjoyable. 

The Girl She Left Behind was sensitively written, with obvious research having gone into how police procedures deal with a missing person and the information which they can and can’t share with relatives.

I loved Phoebe, Jamie and Darcy. Darcy is an amazing little girl who seemingly deals with things the way only children know how to, and with the love and support of those closest to her.

Unfortunately, I could relate to the behaviour of Phoebe and Lucy’s Mum, in the fact that I had to work with someone who showed that sort of behaviour and it did bring up painful memories as I was reading but it did make me realise that I did the right thing by taking myself out of the situation.

The Girl She Left Behind is so much about the loving support of friends in times of need and how trying to at least provide some sense of normality can help with coping mechanisms. I would totally recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a contemporary novel, but please check the trigger warnings beforehand.

Thank you to Boldwood Books, Rachel’s Random Resources and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review The Girl She Left Behind by Jo Bartlett.