I don’t even know where to begin. Perhaps I’ll just get the technical stuff out of the way, yes?

Ellie Mack is the brilliant, beautiful, and beloved daughter of Laurel Mack. One day, Ellie goes missing, turning Laurel’s world upside down. However, a chance encounter with a new love (Floyd), on the way to a potentially new life, brings Poppy (the nine-year old wonder) into her orbit. Poppy is the daughter of Floyd and she is uncannily like Ellie.

The madness, as you can imagine, unfolds from there ...and it’s a crazy ass race to the finish.

I don’t know who I despised the most in this book—Laurel (for her inability to take her head out of her own backside), Floyd (for his overall creepiness), Poppy (because ...my god, what child is this?), Hanna (for being permanently stuck in moody-broody land), Noelle (for being as unhinged as humanly possible), or Paul (for being as dim witted and useless as possible.

All of these characters made me want to slap the tar out of them, but they certainly made for an interesting story.

The end was wrapped far too neatly for me, but the ability to understand the perspectives of each of the key players, via specific chapter spotlights, was a nice touch.

Of course that knowledge also made this an even more cringeworthy read but ...it is what it is.

In the end, I gave it four stars because it was paced well, compulsively readable, and interesting in a “let’s all watch this train wreck” sort of way.

Overall, an entertaining read that made me want to do a cleanse and shower in holy water when I was done.

This was my first Lisa Jewell novel and while the writing was good, the characters snd story fell flat for me. To be honest while reading this I predicted everything that happened so there was no edge of my seat feelings. I was not shocked or thrilled at all and most of the time I was kind of bored. Instead of a thriller I’d say it’s more of a book about grim topics. Ellie was the only POV I enjoyed and even that was sparse. Over all this wasn’t for me.

Let me start by saying that I am a big fan of Lisa Jewell. The House We Grew up In and I Found You are two of my favorites. The She Was Gone didn't work quite as well for me.

The story centers on Laurel Mack, a divorced middle aged woman whose third child, 15 year-old Ellie, went to study at the library ten years ago and never returned. Since then, Laurel hasn't been able to move on with her life, her every thought consumed by what happened to her sweet, golden girl. But when she meets a nice man named Floyd in a cafe, she is able to open her heart and rejoin the human race. As their relationship progresses, Laurel begins to learn that Floyd has secrets that maybe she doesn't want to uncover.

It was an easy read and definitely kept me turning the pages, but as I was able to guess the gist of the story line very early on. Many of the clues were a bit heavy handed and Laurel felt unrealistically thick headed (or in deep denial) about the reality of what happened to her youngest daughter. Also, the quick switches in POV and narrators along with change in time periods seemed unnecessarily complicated and confusing. I think it could have been simplified a bit and still work well.

I am keeping my seat on the Lisa Jewell train, hoping her next one works a bit better for me.

This might just be my favorite thriller I've read so far this year. Then She Was Gone is a dark and compelling story about grief, forgiveness, and family. To me, this was not a thriller that had an "aha" moment of "I did not see that coming." After certain points in the story, I did see some of the twists and reveals coming and figure out some of the mysteries...but I felt I figured them out when the author wanted me too. So in other words, this is more of a slow unraveling of a complex story. (So if you've read reviews that negatively say this is predictable...I disagree for those reasons.) I felt emotionally connected to Laurel and everyone else immediately. Even when she was making bad choices or not figuring some things out I still just loved her and felt for her. Read this!

What a phenomenal read! I love thrillers, but I don’t love the anxiety that comes along with reading most of them. This was perfect — kept me reading from the first second, kept me guessing throughout, showed redemption in the midst of horrifying circumstances, and told a story filled with characters I truly care about—all without the adrenaline hangover I’ve experienced with most thrillers. I finished within twenty-four hours of starting it, and turns out it’s one of those books I’m still thinking about even though it’s over. I would love to write a story like this one some day. Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC.

Ten years after the disappearance of her beloved daughter, Ellie, Laurel
finally begins to move on with her life after she is charmed by a man she meets in a coffee shop. Laurel is taken aback when she is introduced to this man’s nine year old daughter, who is the image of Ellie and, in time, this ideal romance becomes more and more unsettling.

Told from various points of view of the main characters, it is a good story. When I read a book, I do not try to figure out whatever mystery there may be; yet I found this one to be predictable barely a third into it. Despite that, I still found the story compelling and couldn’t wait to finish this psychological thriller.

Disjointed structure, predictable mystery, plodding pace

This book gripped me right from the beginning-it was fantastic! I want to read more by this author!
Laurel Mack's daughter, Ellie, disappeared 10 years ago. Even though they have been looking for her, no clue has turned up in all this time. The only thing that happened during this time was a break-in at the Mack's house with a few items taken. The family just has no idea of what happened to their beloved daughter. Laurel and her husband Paul have divorced, and Laurel is starting a new relationship with a man named Floyd. When she meets Floyd's daughter, Polly, she bears a strange resemblance to Ellie. So begins Laurel's heartbreaking search to find out what really happened to Ellie.
I HIGHLY recommend this book! It is heartbreaking and a story you will not soon forget!

This novel is creepy—in a good way. Fifteen-year-old Ellie disappears on her way to the library one day. Ultimately, since police can’t find anything, they suspect she’s a runaway despite the fact she had a boyfriend she loved and was looking forward to taking the exams she’d been studying hard for.

When we meet up with her mother Laurel ten years later, Laurel’s relationships with her other daughter, her son, and her now-ex-husband have all suffered greatly because they’d never found a body or any evidence of where Ellie may have gone. The not knowing if Ellie is alive or dead has made it impossible for Laurel to move on.

New evidence comes to light at the same time Laurel falls for Floyd, her first relationship with a man since she and her husband separated seven years earlier. At first, the romance is dizzyingly exciting. Then, certain things that Lloyd does start to niggle at Laurel. Something doesn’t seem quite right.

This was not my favorite suspense novel that I’ve read recently, so if you’re strapped for time, I might go with another book. It’s good, but not great, in part because you can guess at a huge part of the mystery (and be right) well before everything is revealed.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this mystery, which will be published in the States on April 17, 2018.

Lisa Jewell knows how to build realistic characters from everyday lives and pull you into their stories so that by the end you feel you know them and have lived to tell about it. You realize as the plot thickens that no one is ordinary and everyday lives can hold many secrets. In her newest novel coming out this month Jewell weaves a page turning suspense emotionally narrated from different viewpoints bringing the past and present together to an explosive ending!
A teenage girl goes missing, jump forward 10 years and the family has fallen apart with no answers to what happened to Ellie Mack. Her mother Laurel has had the hardest time moving on till now. She finally has met a wonderful man raising 2 daughters himself. She is especially enamored with young Poppy who reminds her so much of Ellie. So much that she sometimes wonders..........

I've read a lot of psychological thrillers over the years, so it's hard to catch me off guard. It's hard to surprise me. But I'm happy to say this one threw me for a loop! Every time I THOUGHT I knew what was going on, I was wrong. Every time I smugly thought to myself "This is what's going to happen next" the author went in a completely different direction. By the time I figured out what ACTUALLY happened, I was beyond wrong (not to mention horrified...). I love it when a book can take me down a crazy unexpected road. Great read!

A 15 year old girl named Ellie went missing on her way to the local library one day in May back in 2005. Her mother Laurel was so stricken with grief that she started withdrawlingfrom her husband and two other kids. Which ruins her marriage.
Fast forward Laurel runs into a girl that is a spitting image of Ellie! Bom Bom Bom......sorry that was my sad excuse of some drama music
Lisa Jewell is one of my go to writers so I was excited to read Then She was Gone! The writing was really good and Lisa did an amazing job giving many different POVs and jumping from past to present. I look forward to read more from Lisa!

Then She Was Gone is a steady stream of suspense from the very first page. I was intrigued by the title and sold on the blurb. I am a huge fan of books about disappearances as I am always eager to solve a good puzzle. This book gave me everything I wanted.

The story follows Laurel, a grieving mother of three who is living the worst parents’ nightmare. Her fifteen-year-old daughter Ellie has disappeared without a trace. Ellie, a bright teenager has everything she could ask for: great notes, a handsome boyfriend and a good life at home with loving parents.

When Ellie disappears, Laurel is left to grief a daughter who may or may not be dead. Not only has she lost her daughter but in the midst of her grief, Laurel loses her husband as well. With her children grown and in the aftermath of a divorce, Laurel attempts to make a new life. She meets Floyd in a coffee shop and soon a romance emerges. Laurel knows it’s time to move past the grief.

Lisa Jewell’s voice is refreshing and her character development outstanding. She will keep you guessing throughout and when you think you have it all figured out, she will take you in a completely different direction.

I was really excited to read this book however sadly I wasn't happy with the payout. I felt the characters weren't connecting with me and I felt the main character was kind of boring. I wish it was more of what I was looking for because I am a fan of Lisa Jewell but this one wasnt one of my favorites from her.

Then She Was Gone is a riveting, spellbinding, emotional thriller that I couldn't put down. The story touched my heart and sent chills down my spine. Every parent's nightmare is a missing child, especially one that vanishes without a trace like a ghost in the wind. The worry, stress, despair, helplessness, hopelessness, blame/guilt, and heartache are devastating, often destroying families - just as it shatters missing fifteen-year-old Ellie's family. Not ever knowing the reason for Ellie's disappearance, if she's alive or dead, still haunts her mother, Lauren, ten years later. And then she meets a nice man, Floyd, and his lovely, brilliant, precocious nine-year-old daughter, Poppy. Finally, Lauren begins to embrace and reconnect to life again . . . and yet, she senses that something is "off", something she can't quite put her finger on. As the story and their relationship progresses, odd coincidences begin to surface. And once again, Lauren's world is thrown off-kilter. I won't discuss details and suggest readers avoid spoilers and experience this first-hand.

Through multiple points of view and switching between past and present, this heart-breaking, sinister story unfolds. While I saw where the story was headed early, it in no way lessened my reading experience, and I soon discovered unforeseen twists. Held captive in the dark, atmospheric setting by an ominous premonition and presence, I experienced goosebumps and was forced to absorb blow after blow just as the characters do. Jewell sets a dire tone early, maintaining it throughout with chilling scenes and characters - each building upon the last until they all collide, and the truth is revealed. Tears were streaming down my face as I read the last page. Then She Was Gone is brilliantly written and delivered piece by agonizing piece. I'll be seeking out more of this author's work. A Must Read!

Ellie, 15 was walking to the library when she went missing one day in may, 2005. Laurel, Ellie's mother was torn to pieces, withdrew from her other 2 children, and husband, putting their marriage in shambles.
Years later, dating a man named Floyd, Laurel runs into what possibly could be Ellie's clone. Too many unusual coincidences related to Ellie new boyfriend also with Ellie start occurring, putting Laurel on edge.
Then She Was Gone was told from multiple points of view, spanning many years from past to present.

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/
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Then She Was Gone is an amazing story. It is an intriguing and unique mystery. It is also full of love, tenderness, and the genuine feelings of a mother for her daughter.

A very enjoyable psychological suspense, told from 4 POVs and the author does it very well. A missing child, a grieving mother. A huge mystery. I stayed up all night reading. Well-done!

3.5 star read. Overall, it was a very enjoyable read. The characters were well developed and the storytelling was what made this book great. However, maybe I'm being nitpicky, but I found it predictable and a bit unrealistic.