Is he a good guy or a bad guy? 'Frank' shows up on English coast one day, with only the clothes on his back, no memory of who he is or how he got there. A woman named Alice finds him and takes him in, much to the chagrin of her family and closest friend. Miles away in London, Lilly an Ukrainian immigrant reports her newlywed husband is missing. Knowing no one, she has to figure out who she can trust to learn what happened to him. Decades earlier, a family goes on a seaside vacation in a small coastal community with unforeseen results. These three separate plot lines comprise the story of I Found You. A slow build up leads to an explosive explanation about how the three distinct tales intersect and provide all the answers.

Jewell effortlessly takes the reader back and forth, from present day to 1993. She paints descriptive pictures of each character, allowing for a full image to form and opinions to emerge. As the book unfolds, the two male characters are introduced, and one is likable while the other is not. With the story bouncing back and forth from the past to the present, and 'Frank's' identity slowly forming shape, the reader is left to guess which of the two men he really is.

Highly recommend this suspenseful novel. My book club is going to read it, and I can't wait to hear their opinions.

3.5 stars. This was a strong psychological suspense story filled with damaged characters. This definitely wasn't a thriller, as it did move a little slow. I thought it was a little easy to figure out who people were and how they connected within the back and forth time jumps.

I Found You is not a perfect novel. In fact, it has many flaws, some of which should be enough to turn Lisa Jewell's latest novel into a dud. A funny thing happens while reading the story though. You get so caught up in the identity of the amnesiac, in the fate of Lily's missing husband, in Gray's growing concern about the man courting his sister that you forget the flaws and enjoy the story. This does not happen often, but when it does you remember once again that sometimes a book is more than just the sum of its parts. Such is the case with I Found You.

One cannot deny the faults that exist within I Found You, one of which revolves around one of the main characters. Simply, Lily Monrose is not an enjoyable character. There is a difference between an unlikable character and an enjoyable one. A character can be wholly unlikable - a mass murderer, a pedophile, a true villain - but can still be an enjoyable character. In fact, you might argue that often, the villains are the characters you enjoy the most. You do not like them because they are deplorable, but you find them compelling. An unenjoyable character is one about whom you cannot stand to read. He or she might not be a bad person, but there is something about him that annoys you to the point where you take no interest in their story. Lily Monrose is an unenjoyable character.

She should be a fairly sympathetic character. After all, she is a newlywed as well as a new immigrant to the United Kingdom. She has no family or friends she can lean on for support. Her knowledge of the English language is decent but not good enough to manage the nuances of a police investigation. Her plight should be enough to generate more than a little interest in readers. Yet, she is not sympathetic. She is harsh and off-putting. Her conversations with others are abrupt and strident, and you do not want to help her so much as you just want her to go back to Kiev and leave well enough alone. While I can see her behavior is supposed to show how strong she is, she comes across as a bit of a bully. I quickly found myself almost disgusted by her attitude and actions and had to skim those sections in which she is prominent.

The other major fault of the story is the fact that I figured out the various mysteries well in advance. I knew the amnesiac's identity well before he started remembering things, and I knew what had happened with Lily's husband. The reveals were not surprises to me so much as they were confirmations of things I had deduced many pages earlier. I was so confident that I knew how it ended that I noticed every red herring and clue Ms. Jewell had in the story. In other novels, being able to predict the ending is a deal breaker. After all, when it comes to mysteries and suspense novels, the unwritten understanding between reader and author is that the mystery will be difficult to solve unless you can find all of the clues and that the clues will be almost impossible to find. This is not the case with I Found You.

Either one of these issues are major enough that they should have been enough to turn me off of the story. Instead, I found myself not caring in the least. While I did have to skim those scenes during which Lily is the primary character, her presence ended up being little more than a minor distraction. As annoying as she is, it is the questions and clues she uncovers that are essential, and once you realize that, it is easy to ignore her. As for the predictability of the story, I found it to be a nonissue. I was having so much fun watching Alice live her life, watching the amnesiac struggle to remember, and watching Gray grow more protective of his little sister that I simply did not care whether I knew how it ended or not. The story swept me along, and while I never was completely immersed in it, I was nonetheless able to enjoy the ride.

You definitely need a map to find where these characters are located in this new novel by Lisa Jewell.. I Found You has three different story lines that converge mid-way in the book into one fast-paced psychological suspense novel.. Great beach read! Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for my ARC copy.

I FOUND YOU is almost three stories in one. First there is the Alice, a single mother living in a cottage on the beach. She takes in strays and has a room for rent. One day she notices a man sitting on the beach. He sits there all day. It rains and he still sits. Curiosity gets the better of her and she asks him why he is sitting there. He can’t remember and so she invites him into her home while he tries to figure it out.

At the same time, Lily, a new bride in a foreign country, waits anxiously for her husband to come home from work. Hours and then days go by and he doesn’t appear. Lily must find out what happened to her doting husband. Her husband may not be what he seems.

At some point in this story, the author introduces a shared past story for a few new characters. Grey and Kristy are a whole different story as they spend the summer by the beach with their parents. Frank starts to remember that tragic summer. I was completely thrown off by this additional story line at first, but I came to see why it was important. The author weaves these three tales into a coherent slow building mystery.

This story switches between these three story lines. I grew to really like Alice and Frank, the man with amnesia. Alice is a little rough around the edges but she is so full of love and trust. Lily is left in a precarious situation. She is brave to stay and fight to find out what happened to her husband. I don’t think I would have done the same thing. Grey and Kristy’s story seemed peaceful but there was a menacing character inserting himself into their lives that left Grey needing to protect his sister Kristy.

All of the characters have distinct voices and depth. I enjoyed the descriptive scenes the author laid out in this tale. I could clearly see all the characters and had no trouble keeping their stories, and backgrounds, straight.

The problems I have with this story are Franks amnesia and Mark’s shady character. I did enjoy the way the author tied everything together. The characters alone were worth reading about in this book even if the main idea, the amnesia, is a bit overdone. The ending was very satisfying. I would definitely read this author again.

Last year I was introduced to Lisa Jewell's writing when I read and reviewed "The Girls in the Garden". I was very impressed, and when I saw this title offered on NetGalley, I anticipated a good read. What I didn't expect was that "I found you" was even better than "The Girls in the Garden"!

"Two decades of secrets, a missing husband, and a man with no memory are at the heart of this brilliant new novel."

The present day narrative features Alice Lake, a single mum. She has had a rather colorful past and her three children reflect it. She calls them her Benetton family. An artist, Alice lives with her children and three dogs in a small cottage near the seashore in Ridinghouse Bay, Yorkshire. She makes a living making art out of old maps. Her one friend, Derry Dynes sees through Alice's rather brusque manner and looks out for her in a supportive (though bossy) way.

One evening while walking her dogs on the beach, Alice comes across a man sitting on the shingle in the rain. He has been there for hours and is drenched through. Against her better instincts she invites him to her cottage to dry out. This act of compassionate kindness will forever change her life.

The man has no memory. He finds it difficult to assimilate information and make decisions. Alice Googles his condition and discovers that he is in a 'fugue state' which is usually caused by emotional trauma. Because they have to call him something, her tiny daughter names him Frank. As the days pass, Alice becomes more and more drawn to this man but is wary of becoming involved. She fears that doing so would further complicate her already arduous and lonely life. She is a very sexual person, but her sexual desires have landed her in trouble many times in her life and she does not want to duplicate her previous mistakes. Alice fears that when 'Frank' regains his memories she will lose this man whom she has come to love dearly...

Lily Monrose is a newlywed. A Ukrainian, she has just moved to suburban London after a whirlwind courtship. Her husband, Carl Monrose, is devoted to her and she to him. The time Carl is at work is very lonely for Lily as she knows no one in England and finds British ways strange from what she is familiar with.

When, just ten days into their new life together, Carl does not return home after work, Lily becomes distraught. She reports him missing to the police. When she gives the police his passport to aid in their investigation, they find that Carl Monrose does not exist! The passport is fake. With little money, Lily enlists strangers to help her find the love of her life.

"She looks about the flat, as she's done a hundred times since Carl didn't come home on Tuesday night. At first all she'd seen was Carl's absence. Now she sees his deceit."

Then we meet the Ross Family in the summer of 1993.

Pam, Tony and their two teenage children Kirsty and Gray Ross are on holiday in the small seaside town of Ridinghouse Bay, Yorkshire.

The family encounters a young man named Mark Tate. Mark is attracted to their daughter Kirsty, and is quite intense. Gray is very suspicious of him and wonders why nineteen year old Mark would be interested in his naive and innocent fifteen year old sister. Mark invites the entire family to his aunt's house, a huge manor on the headland. He insinuate's himself into Kirsty's life and invites her to a party at his Aunt's house. Gray goes to the party - partly to keep an eye on his sister, and partly because he is attracted to one of the girls that he knows will be there. The scenes at the party reminded me of the old Three Dog Night song: "Momma told me not to come". Mark's involvement with the Ross family is catastrophic to them all.

The three narratives alternate between chapters. Just about half way through this novel I thought I had 'Frank's' identity worked out. I was wrong. The stories of Alice, Frank, Lily and Gray are skillfully bound together with clever plotting in an atmospheric setting.

The entire novel makes for some very compelling reading. So much so that I found myself being rather grumpy when my reading was interrupted. "I found you" was a very cleverly plotted, character-rich, suspenseful, literary thriller. Highly recommended!

Lisa Jewell has done it again. Hit another one out of the ballpark. This is my third Lisa Jewel book and the books just keep getting better. We meet a man sitting on a beach. He has lost his memory. Alice and her three children live on the beach. Alice found the man on the beach. She takes him in and allows him to live in her shed. Next we meet Lily. She's only been married a few weeks and suddenly her husband disappears. Are the two men connected? Lisa Jewel takes you on a journey trying to found out what happened in the past. Will someone's heart be broken? You will want to read this book in one day. The suspense keeps you turning the pages into the night. 5 stars.

I Found You is masterfully written, suspenseful and intriguing, with likeable and believable characters and a storyline that hooks the reader from the very first line. From start to finish, Lisa Jewell's I Found You had me at the edge of my seat. A wonderfully enjoyable read.

In a small seaside town, single mother Alice finds a disheveled man sitting on the beach with no idea who he is or how he got there. Across the country in London newlywed Lily’s husband doesn’t come home from work, and when she goes to the police for help, they tell her he never existed. These two stories, interwoven with the summer vacation of two teenagers, Gray and Kristy, in the same seaside town from twenty-two years ago make up the taught and suspenseful plot in Lisa Jewell’s <i>I Found You.</i>

<i>I Found You</i> was a very compelling and intriguing novel, and I had a hard time putting it down, especially as I got closer and closer to the big reveal at the end. If you’re a fan of the summer thriller, this is definitely a title you won’t want to miss.

3.5 stars

Unable to put this book down. A great summer read full of suspense and twists. Brilliant

a 5 star review for another thrilling book by Lisa Jewell. This book had me on the edge of my seat. I finished it in one day. I could not put it down.
The narrative is exciting, the fast pace leads the way through a excellent sleuth that had this avid mystery reader guessing until the end, I love the authors talent for great convoluted characters and building clues throughout the story. This story sweeps the reader into the story.
A very exciting read. A 5 star read for any fan of women's fiction thrillers and mystery books.
Thank you for the ARC which did not influence my review.

Thoroughly enjoyable. Characters very engaging and the suspense of who was Frank and where was Carl keep the pages turning.

Kept me guessing the whole time- very unpredictable! I loved the detail and complex characters. I enjoyed that it was written from various viewpoints and Jewell nailed it. Thrilling and satisfying!

It’s been awhile since I read a book that I COULD NOT PUT DOWN. Well, thanks to Lisa Jewell (and to Atria Books and NetGalley, for providing a copy of I Found You in exchange for my honest review), I had that lovely experience during the past 24 hours.

The weird thing is, I had read the blurb on this one and kind of set it aside for awhile, thinking it was just another woman-in-danger-England-Gone Girl-wannabe, and I have read quite enough of those in the past 6 months to last me awhile.

But once I dove in, I was hooked -- and FAST. There are three things going on in this book: 20+ years ago, in a resort town on the coast, three teenagers had a vacation encounter. Back to today, we learn that the newlywed husband of a young woman named Lily (recently arrived from Ukraine) doesn’t come home one night – and seems to have disappeared. And then, the police tell Lily that her husband never existed. At the same time, in a small town, a single woman named Alice encounters a man on the beach who seems to have amnesia. Of course, the first guess is he must be Lily’s missing husband, right? Nope.

The story is told in alternating chapters, with twists and turns as the three stories veer toward and away from each other, leading up to a great conclusion.

Jewell does a great job keeping the reader guessing (or at least she kept ME guessing) until very near the end. Well-developed characters, a nifty plotline and good suspense. Five stars just because I had such a good time reading it!

I Found You is my first novel by Lisa Jewell and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I Found You weaves the tale of past and present, with Alice (the single mother of 3 children and 3 dogs) constantly making bad decisions, Gray and Kirsty who are on a family holiday with their parents, Lily who has been abandoned, and the amnesiac Frank.
Their stories come together to weave a dark and intricate tale which draws you in until the very end.
Wonderfully flawed characters, tension building scenes, varying viewpoints and a hint of romance made this a gripping, thought-provoking and entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an arc of this novel.

What a great mystery! The twists aren't too unexpected, but I really enjoyed the way they played out. The structure, with 2 contemporary stories and 1 flashback, was really well done.

I LOVED this book. It gripped me from the first chapter, and I found it difficult to put down after that. I love how the author wove together the three different plot lines, switching point of view in each chapter. The characters were believable and likable, and the mystery that started at the beginning--with the introduction of a man with amnesia--was intriguing. If you are a fan of Liane Moriarty, you will love this book.

I Found You by Lisa Jewell tells three separate tales that eventually join into one stellar tale. First you have single mother Alice who becomes involved with a man she sees on the beach. This man seems to be suffering from amnesia and doesn't know his name or how he came to be on the beach. Then you have Lily who's husband has suddenly disappeared without a trace. Lastly, you have a story that takes place in 1993 of a typical family of 4 on vacation at a beach side cottage. Jewell does a splendid job weaving these story lines together as the book comes to a heart racing conclusion. Read and enjoy!

4.5 stars. One of the things that I found interesting about this, is how Ms. Jewell gives us this fairly complex mystery-thriller and still injects an almost whimsical humor into the story without ruining it.

I liked Alice and Frank a lot. I enjoyed watching them grow with each other and learning their stories. Great in-depth characterization for the leads and supporting players. Different time-lines and several POV's all deftly brought together to make for an enjoyable read.

**Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley in exchange of an honest review.**

Lisa Jewell is a brilliant storyteller, creating suspenseful plots with complex characters and compelling stories. She keeps getting better and hits a new high with new novel, I FOUND YOU (Atria).
Present day: Alice Lake is a lonely single mother in England, who finds a man with amnesia outside her beach house. He doesn’t have any identification or idea of why he’s there. She does what one is never supposed do, invite him inside her home. In London, Ukrainian bride, twenty-one year-old, Lily Monrose’s new husband has gone missing and she’s left stranded. She turns to police for help only to learn “Carl Monrose” has never existed.
Twenty-three years earlier: Gray and Kirsty are teenagers on holiday with their parents. Their seaside vacation is uneventful until a young man shows up and proceeds to show too much attention to Kirsty. It makes Gray more uncomfortable that just being an overly protective brother.
Two decades of secrets, a young bride and a man with amnesia are at the heart of I FOUND YOU. In addition to Jewell’s lovely prose, steady pacing and interesting characters keep readers engrossed, while the tension gradually builds to a satisfying conclusion. I FOUND YOU is a beach read with a murky film over it. You can’t help but feel as if something sinister is going to happen on the next page, or perhaps, the next sentence. I’m already looking forward to Lisa Jewell’s next novel.