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Review: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

Title: Then She Was Gone
Author: Lisa Jewell
Year Published: 2018


Genre: Adult fiction
Pages: 369
Rating: 4 out of 5

Location (my 2020 Google Reading map)UK

FTC Disclosure: I received this book as a gift

Summary (from the inside flap of the book): Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, the youngest of three. She was beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic post-exams summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her.

And then she was gone.

Now, her mother Laurel Mack is trying to put her life back together. It’s been ten years since her daughter disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie’s case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.

Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie. And now, the unanswered questions she’s tried so hard to put to rest begin to haunt Laurel anew. Where did Ellie go? Did she really run away from home, as the police have long suspected, or was there a more sinister reason for her disappearance? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl? 


Review: I received this book from my Secret Santa and it was a good one to read during this pandemic since it is a page turner and a light read.

The story is told from varying perspectives: Laurel, whose daughter has disappeared; Ellie, the girl who disappeared; Floyd, Laurel's new boyfriend; and, eventually, another character that I won't mention since it will spoil the story. I liked hearing this type of story from varying perspectives because it means we get more of the story.

Just before half way through the book, I figured out what happened and thought, "why am I going to finish this book? I know what's going on." But, I have trouble leaving a book if I am enjoying it so continued reading, which was a good move because the author intended for the reader to figure it out. The second part of the book is when it all gets laid out by the various characters and there were details that I didn't know or expect.

All in all this is a good book and if you are looking for a non-scary thriller, you'll probably enjoy it.

Challenges for which this counts: 

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