Review: Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell

 Summary from Goodreads:

Ten years after her teenage daughter disappears, a woman crosses paths with a charming single father whose young child feels eerily familiar, in this evocative, suspenseful drama from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Jewell—perfect for fans of Paula Hawkins and Liane Moriarty.

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?

Release Date: April 24th 2018

My Review:



What I Liked:

Writing. If I decided to pick another Lisa Jewell novel it will be because of her writing style. The writing/characters were the main reason I kept reading until the end, despite not enjoy the last half of the story line. 

Characters. I struggled with the twist/unsettling aspects of the plot but the characters Jewel created, good and bad, were one of the best parts of the novel. Laurel was my favorite, and the main point of view. 

What I Disliked:

Plot. I would give 5 stars to the first half of the novel, mainly for the writing and characters, but felt that the second half unraveled. 

Unrealistic. I felt that the big plot reveal/twist was rushed and felt unrealistic to me. I was expecting something different or at least something believable to wrap up the mystery. 

Unsettling.  I struggled to make it to the end after the main twist was revealed because I found it extremely disturbing (at least for me). It is a reminder of why it took me a while to get into thrillers/mysteries because sometimes I cannot handle unsettling story lines or actions. 

I recommend checking out this interesting thriller because it was well-written even if I was not a fan of the main plot twist. 

My Rating:

3.5 Stars Out of 5 Stars