A review by stephanieam
Notes on Your Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach

emotional funny hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I stumbled across this book during a trip to the bookstore. I was immediately hooked when I read the description and then learned it was written by a local author. What a hidden gem. This book made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion, like genuinely laugh. All while telling a meaningful and moving story about a challenging topic. I loved the relationship development between Sally and Billy, and it was interesting to see how real local influences shaped some of the fictional events. The only thing that gave me pause initially was the point of view. The book is told from Sally's perspective, but she is telling the story and explaining things to another character. When I first started reading, I remember being skeptical and thinking, "Oh no, is the whole book like this?" I do not recall ever reading a book with a similar narrative structure, and it felt weird for a little while. I eventually got used to it and liked and appreciated it by the end. Looking forward to future works by this author!