Here’s another book you’re gonna love, or boy, you’re gonna hate it.

I felt like the book was a definitely hill and valley book. It would start slow, pick up some suspense, then drop back to slow, then ease back into suspense. I just never was really invested enough to care if Sophie was ever found by Tara. I honestly felt like that should have been what the book was about, but it was more about Tara finding herself and dealing with her past in order to confront her present.

However, the writing is truly beautiful by Archer. I do think we should stop and appreciate how well written it was. When Tara starts to show her family’s history of abuse, it was a lot to take in because it was crafted so horrifically well. There’s always this itch in the back of your mind wondering what is going to be revealed will, and it does. The seeds are planted so well by Archer that the reader thinks they’re clever enough to have seen it by themselves instead of with the help of the author.

Overall, this book invoked a lot of anger out of me. I had to calm myself and step away to digest what I read in order to fairly review it. This dark read was definitely a triggering read, but it was well crafted. Definitely don’t worry about the blurb for the plot because that’s not what you’re going to get. You’ll get much much more

Thank you Lake Union & NetGalley for the gifted copy! Until We Are Lost is out Feb. 2nd.

Thank you to NetGalley and Leslie Archer for an advanced copy in return for my honest review. Until We Are Lost is available for purchase on February 2, 2021!

Tara comes from a broken family – her father a stage hypnotist and her mother a religious leader and her twin sister vanishes on day unexpectedly. Tara is trying her hardest to work through her issues in therapy while hoping to find her long lost twin again. Tara gets too close to her therapist and ends up watching her home on multiple occasions, and it is on this street that she meets Figgy. Figgy not only opens up a world of new possibilities but he also opens up her heart which ends up opening old wounds. Can Tara work through her past trauma’s and find happiness in her life? Will Tara ever find out what happened to her beloved twin?

To start – there are major triggers in this book, from sexual abuse to physical abuse drug use and rape. Please keep this in mind before purchasing. Overall, this book wasn’t for me. I had a hard time keeping Tara and Sophie straight as sometimes it would bounce back and forth mid-paragraph. I found the build very slow and drawn out. I also felt like the ending was rushed – the ending relationships felt really forced to me as if there wasn’t enough time for the relationships to carry as much weight as they ended up carrying in the final few chapters. For me, this book was one that I had to force myself to finish but that’s not to say that the storyline wasn’t interesting – it just didn’t land for me.

Until We Are Lost by Leslie Archer will probably be enjoyed by some, but I just couldn’t find myself wanting to keep reading. I felt it was just lacking. Unfortunately, was a DNF for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read this book for a honest review.

I appreciated the social commentary in this book. However, it just fell short for me. I wanted to love it. But I found myself drifting while reading. This of course is on me and doesn't speak to the work. I think some will truly enjoy this book.

Tara is trying to find her twin sister who disappeared with no word. She is going to therapy working through the death of her parents, yet she doesn't trust her therapist. So, she starts hanging around her place to see if she can be trusted. There she meets Figgy. And things start unraveling.

Take a walk on the wild side with this thriller that immerses you in the sleazy and sordid underbelly of society where drugs,sex, abuse and religious fervour are all part of everyday life for protagonist Tara. Think fire and brimstone, a battle between the superego and the id, unsavoury characters aplenty, a life further descending into the depths of hell and that pretty much sums up Tara’s existence.
Snapshots of a childhood and a family life that is dysfunctional, delusional and blighted by the prevalence of abhorrent and depraved parental behaviour are relayed via Tara’s therapy sessions with Dr Lind. Both her parents, her father a stage hypnotist and her mother a televangelist are now dead, a fire in their family farmhouse claiming his life just three weeks following his wife’s death. As if that isn’t enough to contend with Tara’s twin sister Sophie has disappeared with the search for her other half adding another layer of torment to her already tortured soul. In ways that you’d never expect, Tara’s life becomes entangled with that of her therapist whose husband Marwyn Rusk and their next door neighbour Figgy have prominent roles to play. In this world where the elite and powerful coexist alongside the disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society, always maintaining the upper hand, I found Until We Are Lost bleak, the absence of any happy individuals striking and depressing.

Silly little things niggled me such as the character Margo being referred to by her initial M (ok I realise I’m being fussy!) but it’s probably the fact I’d entered such an alien strange world unable to identify with Tara or Sophie that prevented me from really enjoying this novel. Granted, beneath all the doom and gloom lies the foundations of a great thriller with the author pulling off a number unexpected twists but with more troughs than peaks I struggled through the pages. I wanted to care deeply about Tara’s search for Sophie and the truth which the reader should be most concerned with yet empathy for this tragic figure eluded me.

I’m afraid to admit that the only thing I gained from reading this dark and twisted storyline was a headache. Very rarely do I pick up a book, realise I’ve chosen unwisely and decide not to finish but there are a few red flags in this storyline that almost made me walk away. Plus my fear of snakes was compounded with a scene that curdled my stomach and that’s putting it politely.Obviously that’s not the author’s fault! However hard I tried I couldn’t tune into this author’s wavelength, realisation dawning as to the kind of characters we’re dealing with here taking a while to sink in. Eventually a storyline does begin to emerge with some parts easier to read than others in what is a disjointed, fractured narrative. The only time I experienced a semblance of enjoyment reading this thriller was learning of Sophie’s time spent in LA; I actually felt my impression of this thriller was about to dramatically improve. Viewed dispassionately, the writing, the premise and the execution of the plot (there are a few unanswered questions which may frustrate some readers) suggests this thriller is worthy of at least 3 if not 4 stars. Unfortunately I’m not the kind of reader that can sweep my feelings to one side and so my heart often rules my head when I consider writing a review. I found it impossible to disassociate myself from feelings of disgust and distaste this storyline engendered so coupled with my ambivalence towards the characters I don’t feel inclined towards a more glowing and generous review. I was veering towards a measly 2 star rating to reflect how uncomfortable this thriller made me feel and my relief at reaching the end yet that would be doing a disservice to the author as I can still recognise the merits of a plot that has the ability to shock and surprise you. I’m a big believer in stepping outside of your comfort zone and on the plus side this thriller doesn’t conform to the usual tried and tested formulas favoured by many writers of this genre which can become monotonous. I’ve read many an unpalatable storyline so I can’t even blame the content that leaves a vile taste in your mouth for my rather negative review. Is this a marmite book? Possibly. It simply wasn’t for me. My thanks as always to the publisher and Netgalley for giving me the opportunity to read in exchange for an honest review.

The entire premise of the book seemed off to me. It felt like reading a draconian novel in the beginning and not the mystery/thriller I was hoping for. The characters didn't seem relatable to me and I didn't grasp where the plot was headed.

Until We are Lost is more of a psychological tale than a thriller. Tara has lost 6 months of her life and is working with a therapist to get her memory back. As she uncovers her past and reveals secrets from her childhood, will she like what she finds?

I really wanted to love this book. It had all of the makings of a great thriller. However, I didn't like it. I feel like the story was too jumbled and I found myself re-reading parts because I felt like I missed something. I'm not usually one to want trigger warnings, but there should be some with this book. There was a very graphic scene involving her mother in the book that really turned me off. I think it's just that the story wasn't for me. But check it out, maybe you will like it more.

Sigh. Tara lost her memory and her twin Sophie and she's doing her best to find both of them. Unfortunately, it didn't grab me and I'll admit that I found myself clicking through my kindle looking for answers- and I wasn't surprised. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'm undoubtedly the odd one out as I suspect others will find it suspenseful.

Favorite Quotes:

I don’t seem to work and play well with others. Stupidity gets on my nerves.

Seasons change, but not in Hollywood. It’s as if time didn’t move on there, and all the plastic surgery was a desperate attempt to make sure it remained that way.

Maybe to distinguish herself from other evangelists, she made exorcisms her specialty… Whether the exorcisms worked, I couldn’t say. But they did appear to, which, in religion, is the same thing.

I am like nested Russian dolls, she thinks, each part of me inside the other, going deeper and deeper, darker and darker. Tara shivers then, and she knows the meaning of someone walking on her grave.


My Review:

This was an intense and challenging read, which was evidenced in the fact that it took me three times longer to read it than any other book of the same length as I needed to periodically put my Kindle down and seek out a pleasant distraction. The storylines were throbbing with tension, angst, conflict, and inner turmoil; yet written with incredible insight and painful awareness.

I was intrigued and repelled Tara’s disturbing family history as her parents were odious. Her zealot mother was the worst type of loathsome hypocrite; I despised her before I even knew the half of it. All the characters, even the secondary ones, were complicated, dark, and deeply twisted, yet so compellingly written they viciously stabbing at my curiosity. Very few were even likable beings with the dog Hickory being the only one that truly was, and he didn’t fare so well.

I learned two new words and phrases used by Tara’s evangelical faith healer mother to describe myself, I am “resolutely apostate” and apparently have a “Jezebel spirit.” Amen!

Did not finish; quit at chapter 19, 32% of the way through the book, and it was a struggle to even get that far. The reading was dull and dry and I don't feel connected to the characters or the storyline. Will not be reading more by this author.

I really enjoyed this book. It was easy to read and follow, gripping, tense and suspenseful. Would recommend.

It seems I am in the minority here, but I really did not enjoy this one. It felt all over the place and the entire split personality storyline was both predictable (don't love the decision to start the parts with Jekyll/Hyde quotes...) and unbelievable. I also found some of the diction to be overly colloquial for what the book was. I think there was potential here, but ultimately missed the mark for me.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Until We Are Lost is a disturbing, suspenseful novel about the lengths the mind will go to in order to protect itself from traumatic memories. There are some significant trigger warnings, so do your research before reading if you need to.

Tara and Sophie as characters were brilliantly developed. I really enjoyed watching Tara’s growth and acceptance of her past. I will say that there wasn’t much depth to any of the secondary characters, other than Tara’s parents.

As I read, I was eager to learn what happened in Tara’s childhood to cause her to forget large chunks of her past. I loved the first few parts of the book, from both Tara and Sophie’s perspectives. The story was entertaining, the plot was enthralling, and the pages turned quickly. I was especially interested in Sophie’s time in LA, where she fell in with a high-flying crowd that most people don’t see the inner workings of.

I really enjoyed Leslie Archer’s writing style. She did a great job of revealing the story layer by layer. The reader always knows more is happening than what they have read so far, and wants to read more to figure out the truth.

Story aside, I don’t quite like the book blurb. It only covers the first couple chapters of the book, and then you find out the “twist”. The rest of the book is really more of an exploration of Tara’s character and the memories she is running from. I didn’t really feel like there was much of a mystery to the book. I thought I was missing something, because there didn’t really seem to be anything else to “figure out” besides waiting for the author to tell you about the trauma that happened in Tara’s childhood. If you’re expecting a story like The Missing Sister, this book is not similar at all.

A really dark and gritty book but brilliant nonetheless. I lived the setting. The dark under belly of NYC. Highly recommended xx

This book was such a snooze fest. It didn’t make any sense at all. These are my first thoughts. I will update this review closer to pub date.

This was a great read, enjoyed it thoroughly, great storyline and loads of twists and turns , highly recommend this book

I got about five chapters in and quit. I didn't get hooked immediately and didn't feel invested in anything to do with the story. I usually love thrillers and mysteries, but something about this didn't work for me. Not for me, I guess.

Loved loved loved this book. It has everything one wants in a book that we want to devour in one sitting and this is it. Drama, angst, thrill, twist and turns , this book has it all. I love this genre and this book did not disappoint. I will be re-reading it again because I read it so fast the first time around. Highly recommend this book.

A great read. Told in three parts which wrapped up the story nicely. Was a bit hard to figure out but I'm glad I persevered. Dealing with many unspoken tragedies this is a story of personal triumphs and self discovery. A page turner.

Thank you, NetGalley for an advanced copy of this novel.

Until We Are Lost is a suspenseful novel with many twists and turns. Tara is looking for her missing sister Sophie at the beginning of the book, but as you turn the pages you learn of Tara's tumultuous childhood, and how much she is protecting. Hard to put down!!