User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
4.5 STARS"If she could unwind the timeline, untwist it and roll it back the other way like a ball of wool, she'd see the knots in the yarn, the warning signs. Looking at it backward it was obvious all along. But back then, when she knew nothing about anything, she had not seen it coming. She had walked straight into it with her eyes open."Lisa Jewell has quickly become one of my favorite authors, and for good reason. Her writing is addictive and appeals to a wide variety of readers; not too light, not too dark, but just right. Her characters are full bodied and bloom like a spring flower by the end of her stories.
Also, who doesn't like to read books by genuinely nice people? If you've been active in the book community at all this month then you're sure to have noticed that
Then She Was Gone is an April Pick by Book Of The Month, so naturally this is one that's being hyped for a reason-it's just that good! If you haven't managed to get your hands on a copy yet, then you'll want to make it a priority and here's why...
Lisa Jewell knows how to take a classic storyline and make it her own. Most of her plots are traditional tales that have been told before in some form, but the difference is that she knows how to take something that could be predictable and put her own spin on it. The atmosphere, characterization, and raw emotion that is infused into each of her novels elevates their status to something that few suspense novelists have attained. The blending of multiple genres in each of her books really creates a unique reading experience; readers of every gender and walk of life have been able to connect with her writing and I feel that's a sure sign of the highest quality of writing.
I'm positive you've noticed that I haven't mentioned the plot yet, and that's for good reason. You really truly want to go as blind into this one as you can. I'm going to avoid any details here, as I want you to have the most fabulous reading experience with this one possible, so I'll stick to describing it with some buzz words.
Breathtaking. Compulsive. Suspenseful. Poetic. <--- But Chelsea, how can you describe something thrilling as poetic? Trust me, once you experience Jewell's writing, you'll understand.
Gang, this one is more than just a a beautiful shell of a cover.
But that cover IS stunning, amiright? You definitely want to add this to your reading schedule ASAP, especially if you're looking for a read that is so gripping you'll fly right through it. To say I'm waiting with bated breath for Lisa's next novel would be an understatement, and I hope you enjoy this story as much as I did. <3
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy. Apologies for republishing this, but apparently some haters thought it would be funny to report my review and get it taken down because they have nothing better to do.
Rating: really liked it
This was a fairly average experience for me. It's a very quick read - I read it in a single day - and it goes down smoothly and easily, but it is
so easy to predict everything that will happen. I was always several chapters ahead of the characters and it sapped a lot of tension out of the story.
I can see why, with a better plot, Jewell is a great writer. The relationships and characters were fleshed out and interesting. Laurel’s pain over her missing daughter is palpable and realistic. The loss of Ellie felt like a real thing, not something that exists only inside a book. It's a shame, though, that we know a major aspect of Ellie's fate almost immediately, seeing as this is probably what I would have cared about most.
In the wake of Ellie's disappearance ten years ago, her mother and father have split and the family has been torn apart by losing its "golden child". Laurel, Ellie's mother, is struggling to get her life back on track and save her relationships with her two remaining children. A new romance with a guy called Floyd makes her think that she may finally be moving on, until she meets his youngest daughter, Poppy, who looks shockingly like Ellie.
It sort of feels like I've read a hundred different variations of the missing daughter/grieving mother plot, and Then She Was Gone doesn't really do anything new with it. The writing is strong, but it's disappointing when you figure out all the major reveals in the first few chapters and even get the reasons behind them. As soon as certain characters are introduced, I was thinking “ah, got it” and, unfortunately, I was right. I kept hoping something exciting would happen to prove me wrong, but it really is as obvious as it seems.
I'm also not totally convinced about the biological possibility of one plot point.
Then She Was Gone was fine as an undemanding beach thriller, but I wouldn't recommend it for readers looking for something new and innovative.
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Rating: really liked it
4.5
Edgy, Dark and Addictive
This turned out to be quite a stunner. I’ve read lots of psychological thrillers and this one caught me off guard. Much more than your typical missing daughter plot. Scattered with hints of some shocking revelations to come.
This is my fourth Lisa Jewell novel and I’m a huge fan. I love her writing style and how she keeps me totally absorbed in the story line. The more I read, the more invested I became and started to care about some of the key characters. Told in multiple POVs we get to learn about their motivations as secrets come out. Somewhere around seventy percent, it became unputdownable as so many shockers were thrown at me. I’m pretty sure I was talking to myself about what was happening!
Laurel’s teenage daughter, Ellie goes missing, she is a smart and clever girl. In time, Laurel meets a charming man who she is very attracted to. When she meets his teenage daughter, she can’t shake the feeling of how much she reminds her of her beloved Ellie. Well, what the heck is going on here? You’ll have to read it to find out!
There is an emotional punch as the tension builds towards the dramatic end.
Thanks to Atria for my ARC.Review will also post on my blog https://dressedtoread.com/
Rating: really liked it
Missing with a twist - this is quite a popular book genre right now. I feel like saying it has a "twist" is no longer a spoiler. It reminds me of when M. Night Shamalan first made movies and everyone was surprised by the shocking twist. Now, when you see one, you are sitting there not wondering if there will be a twist, but when.
So, yes, Gone Girl-ers, this is another book for you!
Now, this doesn't tend to be a favorite genre of mine. Because of this, it has to be creative and well written to keep me interested. If the author leans on hateable characters (like The Girl on the Train) or other thriller tropes (alcoholism, mental illness, etc.) I tend to find my focus drifting. If the author can find just the right combination of these things, then I will be right there ready to throw more stars their way.
Happily I can report that Then She Was Gone is a successful member of this genre. I have seen some mentions that the outcome was predictable, but I found it to be unique, suspenseful, and surprising in the end. My wife read this about a month before I did and I looked forward to our nightly rehash sessions of the section I read that day. Even now, after finishing, there are still some questions I have floating around in my head about the events of the novel and the outcome. Because of all this, I am thinking this would be a great book to read with a group of friends or a book club (and, it does just so happens to be one of my book club picks this month)
Much like the other book I just read from this genre (What Happened to Michael), I can safely recommend this to "missing person with a twist" thriller fans. Wait!? Two from this genre in a row that I am giving high marks!? Maybe I am turning over a new leaf!
Rating: really liked it
Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell is a 2018 Atria Books publication.
Well, this was certainly different!
Missing persons tropes are common in mysteries and thrillers, and the theme has been written and explored in many predictable ways, but also in many clever, even shocking ways. But, no matter how it is presented, it is a scenario that never fails to draw me in. But, I must say, this novel puts an entirely new and fresh spin on the missing persons mystery-
The story begins like so many others-
Ellie, a conscientious teenager, and the apple of her mother's eye, left to visit the library and was never seen or heard from again. Laurel, Ellie's mother, couldn’t understand how her other children and her husband were able to move on with their lives without knowing what happened to Ellie. Laurel's life stalled, her marriage fell apart and the relationship with her two remaining children is strained.
But, finally, after years of just going through the motions of life, Laurel meets Floyd, a single dad with a young daughter named Poppy. The connection between Laurel and Floyd is immediate and heady. But, when Laurel finally gets to meet Poppy, she is unnerved by the uncanny resemblance to her daughter, Ellie. She even smells like Ellie, which kicks Laurel's natural maternal instincts into high gear. This and another small coincidence, puts new thoughts into Laurel’s head, prompting her to do a little amateur sleuthing.
She never in a million years could have predicted the shocking revelations her inquiries would uncover or the personal epiphanies that would change Laurel's life forevermore. Is it possible that Laurel could, at long last, find all the answers about her daughter’s disappearance?
This story was very dark, gloomy, and creepy, but also quite emotional and poignant. Laurel's voice is so realististic, raw, and sympathetic, she nearly had me believing she was a real person and that this was a true story. Her emergence from a tortuous state of limbo and her fierce determination to get to the truth, and begin truly living life again was an amazing transformation.
I think Lisa Jewell has written a chilling novel of suspense, but it is also a book about the power of maternal love, forgiveness and healing and never giving up.
This could be Jewel’s first tentatives steps towards advancing up to the literary thriller category. I was impressed with this novel as it held my rapt attention from start to finish. It gave me goosebumps in more ways than one.
4.5 stars
Rating: really liked it
Totally enjoyable .....
As a couple of friends said - (Diane & Esil) - they were pretty sure ‘what’ happened to Ellie who had gone missing early in their reading — me too - but I didn’t know ‘why’.
All I knew was that Ellie was a bright girl - an excellent student - and that her mother - Laurel had a ‘special’ love for her ( in ways she definitely didn’t her other two children) —
Much about this story felt real.
While on the way to the library— a child is never to be seen again. It gives me chills thinking of the missing children I still remember from years ago. Right here in the Bay Area.
Besides the suspense — the characters hearts are tender - I felt what they did — none were offensive.
The more I read - the more I wanted to keep reading. Lisa Jewel wrote a ‘jewel’ of a great suspenseful- book with terrific fantastic characters.
The epilogue — I’ll just say WOW! An ending - and book I’m likely NOT to forget.
Rating: really liked it
Gripping psychological thriller about the disappearance of 15-year-old Ellie Mack. Then She was Gone is not about what happened to Ellie, it’s more about the how and the why she disappeared, as well as the after-effects of her disappearance on her family. One morning, Ellie Mack heads to the library. At 10:43 am, she was never to be seen again. The police’s investigation never turned up any clues to what happened to her, but believe she ran away. Her mother, Laurel, believes otherwise. After 10 years have passed, the family finally gets some answers--what they don’t realize is how close they were to knowing the truth all along.
As Laurel slowly finds closure, she begins to rebuild her life. She starts dating and it seems as if she has found love again with a single father named Floyd. But something isn’t quite right about Floyd, especially his relationship with his nine-year-old daughter, Polly. The more and more Laurel spends time with Floyd and Polly, she comes to realize that what happened to Ellie was not at all what it seemed.
The reasons behind Ellie’s disappearance come to light through Ellie’s POV. Her mother, Laurel, also has a main voice in the story.
There are several things I loved about this book. While it’s obvious what happened to Ellie, what is not are the reasons why. Jewell has a way of writing that is just completely enthralling. I always get sucked into her books, and one of the reasons why is her strong characterization. By the end of this, I really felt like I knew Laurel Mack.
Although parts of the story are a little bizarre (Jewell says this herself in the Acknowledgements), she makes it work.
This is a fast-paced, dark read with some interesting twists and some well-written psychopaths! I highly recommend!
Rating: really liked it
I read a Lisa Jewell novel last year and connected immediately with her writing style, tone, and voice. When Then She Was Gone showed up on NetGalley last month, I immediately requested it and added it to my reading queue for April. I really find myself enamored with Jewell's characters, plots, and settings, so much that I've added ten of her other books to my TBR and hope to read a few more later this year.
Domestic drama is the best sub-genre to describe this book. A 15-year-old girl goes missing, resulting in her family falling apart. Ten years later, her mother finds new love (divorced her ex-husband though they still remain friends) and slowly learns of connections to her missing child who was feared dead. The description in the Goodreads or Amazon summary says it all, so I don't need to add to it here. The book alternates between "Then" and "Now" to tell the story of what happened to Ellie, who kidnapped and hurt her, what the new love interest for Ellie's mother, Laurel, has to say transpired over all the years, and where things really fell apart.
This book read itself. I intended to spend 90 minutes reading on a weekend afternoon to have a relaxing break from some outside chores. Three (3) hours later, I'd finished it. The book was so good that I lost track of time and read so quickly, everything just disappeared, but I was absolutely connected and attached to every part of the story and characters. Jewell clearly knows how to lead readers on a path where investment is deep and shock is wide. I'm sure a few readers will sideways glance at a couple of plot twists, and I can understand it. You have to suspend a tiny bit of your disbelief or questions as to how the kidnapping was truly pulled off. But it's fiction and it's part of a story and that's why it worked -- the writing supports it and carries you off into a world you cannot leave.
I normally figure out what's really going on. But Jewell uses some clever disguises regarding timing that make it complicated, and when you do figure it out about 2/3 of the way thru, you have to stop for a few minutes and think about all the repercussions, Then, it all adds up. How did I miss it??? But for me, that's what makes an incredibly gifted writer. One who transports you into the story that you forget to try to solve it because you're just so stunned by its beauty. I can't wait to pick up another Jewell book this summer. So many to choose from! But this one gets at least 4.5 stars.
Rating: really liked it
This is the third Lisa Jewell thriller that I have read and she has penned another winner! After finishing this book I really had to wait a few days to sort of “SETTLE ME DOWN” as this mystery touched some very delicate feelings in me, more so than her first two books. Call me a snob but in my experience with thrillers, it has been hard to find many with the combination of great writing, past and present POV’s that flow seamlessly together, and create emotions that well up inside of you and really stay with you.
The main character in this novel is Laurel who has three children, two of whom are daughters whom she adores and they have great family dynamics. On a seemingly “normal” day, her youngest daughter Ellie leaves for the library and never returns. There are no clues or hints to explain her disappearance and the police keep coming up empty handed. Laurel however still feels that her daughter is alive even though many years go by. It is hard to read the despair and feelings of inadequacies that the family members encounter and at one point it was a little hard for me to continue. Not because the plot was stagnant but quite the opposite, it was speeding along so fast and with an outcome that seemed too terrible that I just had to stop, just until the next day when I furiously turned the pages to find out the mystery.
I won’t go over the plot, I rarely do that, you all read the blurbs on the books I know you do! This is a true thriller to me as it contains an extremely deviant sociopath who is so mentally ill that it’s painful to read her thoughts. You know where it’s going but you just can’t stop it.
I love strongly character driven novels, including thrillers and that is what Ms. Jewell does so so well. I became invested in the feelings of Eliie’s mother, and as a mother of four daughters, I wanted so badly for things to somehow turn out that this poor woman didn’t have to continue without knowing what happened to her missing beautiful, intelligent, golden girl!
If you loved “Girls in the Garden” and “I Found You” you will definitely love this book. For me this one was a little difficult to read because the behavior of this probable psychopath was just so twisted and ugly. After starting this novel I couldn’t quit, her writing is just so compelling, those of the words I would use to describe it!
I received a ARC of this novel from the publisher through Edelweiss, thank you, will post to public media upon publication.
Rating: really liked it
4.5 stars
Ellie Mack was 15 years old when she went missing. She was the youngest of three children who left the house one day to go to the library and never returned. Her Mother, Laurel Mack, fell apart after her daughter's disappearance, as most parents would. Her daughter's disappearance forever altered her life. Her marriage fell apart, her other daughter, Hanna became distant and withdrawn from her Mother,her son moved away. Throughout it all she never gave up hope on finding her daughter. Was Ellie a runaway as the police suggested? Was she kidnapped? Was there an accident? So many questions without answers can wear a person down, can leave a hole, and can prevent a person from fully moving on with one's life.
Then ten years after her daughter's disappearance, she goes into a bakery after getting her hair cut, and meets a man named Floyd. He compliments her hair and offers her a bite of his carrot cake. Laurel usually doesn't take chances, but after the last clue in Ellie's case was discovered, Laurel is ready to put her life back on track.
Soon Laurel and Floyd are a couple and she has met his two daughters. She is shocked to see that his youngest daughter, Poppy has a strong resemblance to her daughter, Ellie. As Laurel gets to know the entire family, she begins to learn about coincidences, there is a certain individual who ties both of their lives together.
I read this book in one day. I literally could not put this book down. Lisa Jewell has written a very good psychological thriller/mystery. I enjoyed all the characters even the bad ones. The bad ones were good characters in so much that they were creepy and sinister while at the same time being damaged. This book was a very well thought out and developed plot. The story moves at a very good pace. There were no dull moments. There were moments when I wanted to yell at Laurel "Ask more questions!" and "come on, put it together". Is the book a little predictable? Yes, yes, it is a little predictable. I figured the "mystery" out but that did not spoil the book for me, as I kept turning the pages to see who else was going to figure the book out. The suspense builds as some questions get answered. Do you need to suspend some disbelief? Sure, a little...but that didn't affect my enjoyment of this book at all.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
See more of my reviews at www.openbookpost.com
Rating: really liked it
wow. okay. maybe i wont be playing the whole
‘predict what happens based on the synopsis only’ game because it turns out i only got 1 out of 4 guesses right and its not a good look for my ego. lol.
also, i was super into the version of the story i had imagined before reading this and what actually happened feels… disappointing? i dunno how to describe it. everything just fell flat for me about 100 pages in. even though my original guesses were wrong, its VERY obvious what will happen early on in the story, and so it just started to feel drawn out by the halfway point. its much more of a contemporary/drama fiction vibe than a mystery/thriller.
still, not the worst book out there. i definitely would have loved this more if my predictions had been right, but thats completely my own fault.
_________________________
the mystery/thriller stories i have read lately have been really predicable, so im starting a new game with myself where i predict what will happen before i read it, based solely on the synopsis. heres what i think for this one:
floyd was involved in ellies disappearance (i dont think it will be a kidnapping, but maybe manipulated to run away?) and poppy is ellies daughter. i also dont think ellie will be dead.
i still havent figured out how im going to reward myself for a correct prediction - the game is a work in progress - so suggestions are welcome. lol.
↠ 3 stars
Rating: really liked it
Ellie was fifteen eager to take her exams. Now that she had been tutored in math she was sure she would do well. On her way to the library one evening, she disappears. Her disappearance takes a huge toll on the family, a family that breaks apart as many families in this type of situations often do. Now ten years later, Laurel is willing to take a shot at having a life and love again a series of events will send her reeling. Would she finally find out what happened to her daughter?
A very suspenseful story, with an underlying sense of creepiness, and a novel way of telling a story. As a reader I pretty guessed what had happened to Ellie, in fact the sisters I was reading this with also had the same thoughts. This happened in the first third of the book but...there was still much to discover. The author kept my interest by some very good storytelling, and by the way it was structured. Changing tenses and changing narators the fast pace continued, new discoveries, and the insidious darkness beneath, kept me turning pages.
I have now read the last few books by this author and look forward to reading many more. To prove a point of mine, it is possible to write a good and suspenseful story without blood, excess gore and constant action. This is the kind of psychological thriller I actually enjoy.
ARC from Edelweiss.
Rating: really liked it
4.5* Brilliant! I completely lost myself in this book from beginning to end!
Laurel is doing her best to move on with her life. Her teenage daughter went missing years ago, triggering an avalanche of misfortune. The family splintered. Laurel and Paul divorcing. And now, their two remaining children are leaving home at the first chance they get - anxious to live their own lives, away from the oppressive tension within their home.
When laurel meets Floyd she’s quickly swept off her feet. She’s finally ready to live and love again. But too many things just aren’t adding up. What do they say about coincidences? Could Floyd be too good to be true? Why do the doors to the past keep opening?
What a breath of fresh air this book was for me. I‘ve had trouble loosing myself in a good book lately. And isn’t that what we all hope for?
Well, this was the refreshing change I’d been looking for! Though some give-away clues are revealed early on, you’re still taken on a journey that will most definitely pull your heart in many directions.
A wonderful Traveling Sister read 🌸
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for an ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
For this review and our full Traveling Sister review please visit Brenda and Norma’s fabulous blog:
https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com/
Rating: really liked it
4.25 Stars (rounded down)
Spellbinding and Completely Irresistible.
Ellie Mack went missing 10 years ago. Her mother, Laurel has never given up hope of finding her. Ellie was fifteen years old, full of life. The world was, in fact, her oyster. No one knew what happened to Ellie. The police have never found a trace of her. My interest was piqued from the very beginning. My breath caught in my throat - nerves jangled.
Now, Laurel Mack’s life is very different: her marriage fell apart years ago and her relationship with her remaining children is tenuous. Somehow, she meets Floyd - a devastatingly handsome man and she is immediately swept off her feet. Then Laurel is introduced to his little girl: Poppy, and she is dumbfounded to discover that Poppy bears a striking resemblance to Ellie, her Ellie. Of course, this isn’t possible - it’s a coincidence, right? And if it’s not, what ever does it mean? Laurel begins questioning everything and those questions take her on a dangerous path, one she never envisioned.
Can you feel the hair on the back of your neck stand up? Mine did. What unfolds thereafter is brilliant, stunning and packs one heck of an emotional punch. Lisa Jewell’s “Then She Was Gone” is a phenomenal psychological thriller that kept me enthralled throughout. Though I knew where it was going early on, I still truly enjoyed it and simply could not put it down! The character development was stellar and the writing was spot on. This is the second Lisa Jewell novel I’ve read (I Found You, being the first) and I can’t wait to read more of Ms. Jewell’s novels.
This was a Traveling Sister Read, which we all really liked. For full Traveling Sister Group reviews, please see Brenda and Norma’s blog: https://twosisterslostinacoulee.com
Thank you to NetGalley, Ariele Friedman, Atria Books and Lisa Jewell for a complimentary copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.
Published on NetGalley, Goodreads and Twitter on 4.15.18.
*Will be published on Amazon on 4.17.18.
Rating: really liked it
My reviews can also be seen at: https://deesradreadsandreviews.wordpr...
A terrific read from Lisa Jewell! I have read and listened to a few of Lisa Jewell’s books and I have enjoyed them all. This one kept me gripped and I finished it in just a couple of sittings.
Ellie Mack was fifteen when she went missing over ten years ago. Ellie was a very smart, lovely girl whose disappearance left a hole in the lives of those who loved her. Ellie’s mother, Laurel Mack has never given up hope of finding her daughter.
The book opens from Ellie’s point of view ten years earlier. Life is going great for Ellie. She’s doing well in school and the boy she’s had her eye on seems to like her too. Her future is bright.
Then she leaves home one morning to go to the library and doesn’t return.
The police thought Ellie might have run away. But Laurel knew that wasn’t possible. The years went by and although Laurel kept pushing the police to do more…there was only so much they could or would do.
Ten years later, Laurel is still struggling. She doesn’t socialize. She just works and visits her mother once a week. Though it seems everyone else has moved on, Laurel feels stuck in place. But then, she meets someone new. Suddenly, all of those thoughts and questions come rushing back with a vengeance.
What happened to Ellie Mack? Will her mother ever learn the whole truth?Once again, I am impressed with Lisa Jewell’s storytelling. I thought this was a terrific story. Told from multiple points of view, alternating between ‘then’ and ‘now’, I was enthralled as everything was revealed.
Populated with fantastic characters, this was a fascinating and moving story about obsession, loss, and family. Some suspension of disbelief may be necessary, but it didn’t really bother me, I just enjoyed what I found to be a unique and absorbing story.
Gripping and heartbreaking, I shed more than a few tears as the book came to an end with a gut-wrenching epilogue.
As you can tell, I loved this novel. I can’t wait to read more of Lisa Jewell’s previous novels and of course, I'm looking forward to reading what she writes next.
