Author Julia Dahl has written a timely novel focusing on wealth and privilege and the repercussions that can come from people of that socioeconomic status feeling above it all. Being well-known and rich does not provide protection from being the victim of a crime, and it also does not mean you can get away with doing anything and everything you want… or does it?

When NYU freshman and social media it-girl Claudia Castro wakes up in her dorm room over Spring Break, it is clear something is very wrong. What is much less clear is what exactly happened the night before. She is bruised and bloody, but has no memory of most of her evening out. While she slowly starts to piece together the events that may or may not have occurred, she begins to rely on another student in her dorm that has also stayed on at school over the break Trevor is a kid from Ohio with a past he is trying to move beyond, and he is soon swept up in Claudia’s life and his developing feelings for her. As it becomes clear what happened to Claudia during her missing hours, Trevor goes down a path he thought he would not travel, especially for a girl he barely knows.

Told in alternating points of view, The Missing Hours explores rape culture among the elite, and how resources and status can make people feel they are above the law, while exacerbating the reluctance of a victim to come forward. It is a fast-paced and well written tale of how that privilege can also make people feel comfortable taking the law, or whatever they define as retribution, into their own hands without considering the consequences.

Fair warning, this is going to be half review and half slightly rambling rant about the objectification of women. I’d like to think the writer intended people to have this kind of reaction to her book though, so cheers to Julia Dahl for getting me all riled up. And while we’re on the topic of warnings, please be advised this book deals very frankly with sexual assault and many will likely find portions of it very hard to read.

Claudia Castro wakes up in pain, with her skirt around her waist and her underwear missing. Her face is busted and bruised, it hurts to urinate, and she can’t remember what happened last night or how she got this way. But after quite literally bumping into another student named Trevor in the dorm hallway, she finds an unlikely friend. He’s not her rich friends and family. He’s not her instagram followers or a member of the public judging her for her latest appearance on a reality show. Most importantly, he isn’t asking her what happened, he’s simply just there for her during a period when she is struggling to reach out to anyone else.

Eventually, Claudia finds out what happened that night via graphic video evidence and from there things start to spiral out of control. Some people want very badly to make sure the video never sees the light of day, and soon Claudia has vanished. Is she hiding out, or is there something much more sinister at play..?

This isn’t a long book, but it packs quite a punch. The chapters are short and the pace is quick, with narratives switching quite often, which kept me on my toes and excited to get back inside the head of certain characters. I finished it quickly but found I wanted to step back and really let my thoughts and feelings on it form before writing my review, which leads us into the ranty section…

Please note this may be ever so slightly spoiler-ish, though I have tried to keep it as vague as possible. I hope readers take some time to look below the surface here. Sure, it’s a fast-paced, waiting on the edge of your seat to see what happens kind of book, but there’s some really great commentary too. And not just the surface level #metoo and haves/have-nots stuff. The book may be about Claudia, but Trevor’s story is what really interested me. How much of his “friendship” with Claudia (and everything that transpires after they meet) is merely a function of lust after seeing her in some short shorts at the beginning of the book? Mind you, not just in short shorts, but sporting a black eye and cut lip, and limping down the hallway clearly in pain. I’m not saying Trevor is a bad guy (in fact, what makes this even more disheartening is how “good” of a guy he is), nor am I comparing him to the people who assaulted Claudia. However, I really hope readers don’t miss out on the larger point that Claudia remains a sexual object throughout the book, and that lust and obsession are the main driving forces for two very different acts, committed by two very different men. Violence committed against Claudia and violence committed for Claudia, because to both perpetrators she is an object of desire first and foremost.

Go ahead and binge read this one and get swept away in the story, but take a moment to sit on it afterwards and reflect. For me, the objectification of women hit hard, but I can easily see readers having just as much of an emotional response to the socioeconomic portions of the book. Justice simply isn’t the same for those with money, is it?

Publication date: September 14, 2021

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for an advanced reader’s copy of this book for review.

Yikes! Do you want to chew your nails down to the skin, flip pages in fear you will miss something if you stop? Look no further, The Missing Hours, is the perfect novel for you! Bravo Julia Dahl! This is a book that will haunt you long after finishing . Talk about an addictive read!

Get ready for a fast paced read that at times did hit on some difficult topics, parts were difficult to read.

I absolutely love when a book is written from multiple points of view so you can see different perspectives of everyone involved in the story line, this novel did just that. The intensity is felt very early on.

How many of us went out drinking and miss pieces of our night? I know the college version of myself was definitely guilty of this more times than I would like to admit to. This is the story of Claudia. Something very bad happened, although Claudia can not recall the missing hours of her night. What is worse is a video has surfaced that shares the graphic details of Claudia's traumatic night.

Like I said, at times, the subject matter and the graphic description was hard to read. All in all this was an incredible, impacting novel. My heart was in my throat more times than I can count. The ending gave you satisfaction . I will be thinking about this book for months.

Five stars!

The Missing Hours is a griping story about one young woman taking control back from those who victimized her. The plot covers some pretty difficult subject matter yet despite the topic, readers will find the story moves quickly.

This was such a gripping read. I finished it in one day.

Claudia Castro seems to have it all: smarts, beauty, wealth, and a large following on social media. She’s a student at NYU. One day over spring break she wakes up feeling rough and hardly able to recall the night before. Then, when spring break is over, Claudia’s friends and family become worried that they haven’t heard from her on or offline. She’s disappeared and everyone is trying to figure out what happened to her.

The story is told from multiple perspectives and has short chapters that make this book easy to fly through.

Aside from Claudia’s storyline, there was a second crime that was plaguing the city that I thought would be explored more, but it wasn’t used in a way I was expecting. That’s very vague, but I don’t want to give anything away.

Everything in this book felt real, like you could see this happening in real life. It takes a hard look at privilege and power and how far they can stretch.

CW: rape, drug abuse, violence.

Thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for the digital arc in exchange for my honest opinions.

The Missing Hours
by Julia Dahl
Pub Date: 14 Sep 2021
This is one that will stay with you long after you read it, especially if you have a daughter.
Claudia Castro is beautiful, smart, and ready to take on anything and anyone. Until one night a few too many drinks leads to a blackout. Claudia wakes up battered and bruised and in her own bed. The shame that overtakes her while trying to figure out what happened sends her spiraling, cutting off her family and taking up with a stranger who seems nice. And then she vanishes just as people start putting together what happened during that horrific night.
This book explores what happens when guys think drunk doesn't mean "no". The psychological state of victims is overwhelming. Throw in families with money and the stakes go up.
Great read. Does get graphic in some spots, #netgalley
#TheMissingHours #JuliaDahl

So so many thoughts and feelings — when I requested this I honestly did not expect what I got but it is good because I don’t know if I would have requested it had I know what it was really about. It should have a trigger warning because it is about rape and rape culture but with that said it is done really well - it is crass and harsh and sickening but it really depicts what a survivor goes through - I know it cannot possibly reflect everything and be relatable to all but speaking from experience this was very REAL and I felt it - it brought a lot up but really it is just honest… I also fully agree that it is mind blowing that it is “easy to get away with” and people are hesitant because it is he said she said and all much victim blaming and it is mind blowing that the charges and consequences are often less than drug charges - I understand addiction don’t get me wrong but for the most part drug dealing and drug charges have to do with personal choices - rape is the exact opposite and it robs a person of so much it is such a devastating trauma … how is a person charged less for such a violent crime than a person dealing weed (which is now also legal) …
The part about vengeance and wanting them marked wanting them to hurt wanting them to suffer I fully get and even in talks with the DA I said the same then - they said to me “they won’t talk there isn’t much we can do” yes I said they …. So I said “if I murder them one by one and don’t talk I’m good too..” it is so mind blowing I can’t even …
Like I said this brought up so much for me - I don’t think it is a joyful read or a great escape but if you want a glimpse at what it is like or what it can be like to experience rape this is very real (in my opinion) glimpse ….
I don’t know the answer but I def think a huge part of it is not focusing on correcting women’s behaviors or dress etc but holding men accountable and making better humans … (rape can go both ways and same sex as well so I will say make better humans!) Minotaur Books thanks for making this happen and Julia Dahl thank you for making something so raw and real and shining a light on a very difficult topic

I was lucky to receive an advance copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This book grabbed me from page one and didn't let me go until the very end. The storyline tackles a very difficult subject, rape, but this is a relevant story that we would hear on the daily news. I thought it was a great read and couldn't wait to see how it ended.

This was a fast-paced book that I finished in one sitting (and in the middle of the night!). It centers on Claudia, spoiled rich girl and NYU freshman, who wakes up one morning knowing that something bad happened to her the previous night, but missing the memories to tie it all together. A dangerous game of cat and mouse ensues as the details of those missing hours become more clear. Chapters are told from her POV as well as those of her sister and her new friend, Trevor, also an NYU student.

The story is fast paced from beginning to end- and with short chapters that kept me reading. While Claudia is a bit of a cliched character, I liked her and appreciated her zeal to get revenge on those who had wronged her. While the author didn't go as deeply into Trevor's background, I felt like I understood where he was coming from as well. The characters were all believable to me, even if cliched.

Overall, this was a fun ride throughout- it was fast paced and contained more than a few surprises. I found the end to be satisfying as well. I'd definitely recommend this book to those who like mysteries and psychological thrillers. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"From whom much is given, much is expected."

I really liked this book. I think the structure of the book contributed to that a lot. The book opens with the crime but this fact is not obvious to the reader right away nor is it to the victim. In this age of #metoo, it's nothing we haven't heard before but I enjoyed the main character's journey all the same. I found the ending realistic and mostly satisfying. A well done, thought-provoking book that I'd recommend.


Thank you to NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an ARC to read and review.

I received a free copy from NetGalley. Not going anywhere for spring break now she's sure something bad happened after getting drunk the night before but she's not sure who she was with even after a video of her rape gets sent to several people. Now she's out for revenge and the difference between money and no money in our society comes very much into play. It was a very difficult topic to have in your face for the length of the book.

Review of Uncorrected Digital Galley

Claudia Castro, a freshman at New York University, seems to lead a privileged life. She comes from a famous family, has a huge trust fund, has attracted mega-followers on Instagram. But beneath the glitz, her family is less than perfect and life is messy. She has decided to use her college time to find her way toward something positive, something meaningful.

But after a night out [and too much to drink], she discovers her phone is missing, her memory is hazy, and she doesn’t remember much of the events of the previous evening. But she’s relatively certain she knows what happened . . . and the video sent to her phone confirms her worst fears.

When she misses the birth of her sister’s first child, Claudia believes her sister is angry with her and decides to stay away from her family.

And then she disappears.

Dark and disturbing, this narrative speaks to the way society views victims as it explores the aftermath of a gruesome assault. From the outset, the narrative pulls the reader into the telling of the tale and the propulsive action keeps the pages turning. Despite the troubling subject matter, readers will find it difficult to set this book aside before reaching the final page.

With characters that are believable [but not necessarily likable], the unfolding story takes several twists and turns as it moves in unexpected directions. There are some surprises along the way, but at its heart, this is a story of consequences, of obsessive revenge, of entitlement and privilege.

It is interesting to note that most of the characters in this absorbing tale are uber-wealthy and tend toward cliché. Claudia has access to almost unlimited funds. And as for the young men involved in the assault, one comes from a rich and privileged family, the other stands on the verge of a mega-record deal. An implied entitlement here appears to give the young men a pass despite their horrific attack on Claudia. This, then, is an important aspect of the narrative, allowing for an examination of the power wielded by rich, connected individuals.

But, in seeking redress, Claudia also acts from a position of affluent power. Is vindication dependent upon wealth? How is using wealth for retaliation different from using wealth for power and privilege? And does retaliation “balance the scale?” Is it acceptable because it comes only as a response to the attack? Are the attackers and the victim all lacking a moral compass or do money and privilege cancel out moral rightness?

Obviously, there is much to consider here, but the highlights of the unfolding story are the overcoming of a devastating attack and a family’s realization that they are stronger together, supporting each other.

Highly recommended.

I received a free copy of this eBook from St. Martin’s Press / Minotaur Books and NetGalley
#TheMissingHours #NetGalley

Compelling story about a young art student at NYU. The story moves along quickly and makes you want to keep reading. A lot of disturbing content especially for parents of college students and the dangers that lurk for young women. I would caution anyone that is triggered by sexual assault to avoid this book. Positive messages would be the the reaction from the Claudia's family after they learned what had happened to her. Timely, taut, gripping.

This book was well written enough to keep my attention and make me want to hurry to the ending. But I give it 3 stars for the unbelievable storyline. It's like everyone is a self-absorbed cliché character (bad rich boy, smitten "good" guy, rich jerk lawyer, out-of-control rich girl, etc.) who doesn't consider the consequences of anything they do.

CW: sexual assault

This book was a rollercoaster ride for me. I'm going to try to make sense of my thoughts, but sick with me!

I felt very conflicted at many points in this story. I was pissed off about what Claudia had to go through, I was annoyed with the stupid jerks, and I just couldn't stop reading.

I'm thankful there was intrigue and mystery woven into the way the story was told. If it hadn't been told the way it was, I probably wouldn't have read it. Although it was frustrating at times (due to its realistic themes), I reminded myself that way too many people have lived through similar stories, and that it was good to sit in the discomfort.

Ultimately, I enjoyed the book and feel that it may shed some light on the topics and make others feel less alone.

4.5 stars raised to a 5. Claudia is a freshman at NYU. She is also the child of rich, self serving parents. One night she gets high and drunk and while in that state is videoed by an equally rich and entitled young man having sex with him and another male dorm mate of hers. He sends both of them the video and she, when she recovers the next day, decides to get even. The book is about her discovering what happened, dealing with it and dealing with the young man and his enabling father. It is very well written and plotted. Many of the characters are not forgettable nor is behaving stupidly. Thanks to Net Galley and Minotaur for an ARC for an honest review.

Privileged Claudia Castro, freshman at NYU, wakes up in a fog one morning, and has no recollection of the previous evening. She is hungover and one look in the mirror shows a split lip and the beginnings of a black eye. What the heck happened?

Thus begins this story. Claudia has lost her phone, missed the birth of her niece and feels in her gut that something terrible happened. When she receives a video from an old acquaintance of her that night, she knows exactly what happened. Full of shame and fear, she disappears in order to preserve her dignity and to plan what will do next. She even hides from her family, too distraught to think straight. This gritty story could have been pulled from the headlines. It is the classic case of misplaced shame and devastating situations that present themselves far too often at U.S. colleges.

The story unfolds throughout the book and affects not only Claudia, but her family and friends as well. The writing portrayed the devastating consequences of the one night clearly. The twist towards revenge surprised me. Unfortunately, in my opinion, the character development was lacking, and I never felt overly vested in any of the characters. That is not to say that I wasn’t outraged by the story or felt sympathetic toward Claudia. I just didn’t know enough about her to understand the motivation for her decisions. The same could be said for Trevor. The book felt disjointed at times, yet this story is an important one that needs to be shared. The book is a fast-paced read that gives the reader much to ponder.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advance copy to read and review. Pub date: 9/14/21.

Genre: Mystery/Thrillers
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press
Pub. Date: September 14, 2021

To start with, I have been reviewing mystery and thrillers lately. I have yet to like one. Maybe it is me. Here, a female freshman at NYU is missing. She is the privileged daughter of a famous family. To be fair, the author does not hold back any punches when describing a sexual/rape video of the young woman that goes viral. You will feel the young woman’s physical pain as well as her humiliation. The author lost me with the unbelievable revenge scenes. If anyone knows of a literary thriller such as The “Talented Mr. Ripley,” by Patricia Highsmith, please let me know.

I received this book as an ARC and here is my review. I absolutely loved this book! The author parses out information bit by bit and you find out what has happened as the story develops. This could easily be turned into a screenplay! The pace is rapid and the characters are multi-dimensional. I totally recommend this book to anyone who relishes dark psychological thrillers with plot twists and clever outcomes.

Thank you NetGalley for an ARC of this book. What a great read! I was hooked when Claudia wakes up and finds a video of herself having sex with two men. She was drunk. She is rich. So are they. Claudia enlists the help of a fellow student at NYU to help her. I wanted to skip to the end so badly and I’m glad I didn’t. This should be read by mom and daughters everywhere. It would make a great read for a book group. If anyone is listening out there, snap up the rights and make it a movie!!!!!