There's a lot going on in this book-- too much, if you ask me.

Violet's mother, a pilot, has disappeared while flying home from Brazil. I think that's enough of a plotline, but Urgo felt the need to add a love interest (the lines about the love interest were so cringey), a sibling spat, a finding-one's-voice through a play storyline... it was exhausting.

And with only sub par writing, the competing plotlines made it a tough read. I'm giving it 2 stars rather than 1 because the missing mother plotline was interesting and different. It was overshadowed (obviously), but it was refreshing.

Incredible voice, I loved the mystery, I love the MC and also the tension and atmosphere was really good too! This is one to pick up definitely.

Loved this mystery novel, definitely a must read for those that love a great mystery. Can’t wait for it to be released and you get a chance to read this amazing novel.

Violet's mother never misses her performances. So why isn't she in the audience? Once the curtain closes, Violet is told heart-stopping news: Flight 133 has disappeared. Her mother is the pilot. Suddenly, social media is full of conspiracy theories, the news is on her front lawn and her priority is finding out what really happened. There is no way her mother crashed the plane on purpose. So why did her mother leave a note and box of letters behind for Violet's eyes only?

The author took a great risk in writing about a disappeared flight. We all remember the mystery of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that disappeared in March 2014. Now we have the fictional Flight 133 that disappeared over the ocean, with no wreckage, no distress signal, no bodies. It was obvious that Marisa Urgo researched and learned the lingo while writing in a young adult voice. Very well done!

As if the disappearance isn't a big enough plot, there are a couple captivating side stories! There is nothing like a twist that comes out of nowhere yet makes perfect sense. There was a certain point I wanted the story to move along faster but that was my own impatience at Violet finding out the truth.

I recommend the appropriately titled The Gravity of Missing Things for all Bookhearts. I savored reading it over the course of five (5) days only to have it test the definitions of closure and a satisfying ending. Yet here I am still thinking about it. This is what I call a successful debut novel!

Happy Early Pub Day, Marisa Urgo! The Gravity of Missing Things will be available Tuesday, June 7.

~LiteraryMarie

Violets life upends itself when the flight her mother is piloting disappears without a trace. As people start to blame her mother, Violet goes sleuthing to try to clear her mother’s name. However, Violet ends up finding a lot more than she was supposed to.

4.5/5

This was a great ARC I received from Netgalley. It was a little bit mystery, a little bit romance and little bit coming of age. Perfect for getting out of a reading slump. I really liked how this book captured the aspects of high school and incorporated the issues of growing up differently and with split parents. Definitely recommend!

⚠️ Content Warning ⚠️

- Self harm

When a plane disappears everyone assumes the pilot, Violet’s mother, is to blame. So Violet goes on a mission to clear her mom’s name and find the plane, but in doing so she turns up answers that are much more personal.

I loved Violet so much. She is the heart and soul of this book and boy does she steal your heart. Her struggles are so real and her determination is inspiring.

The relationships in this book were so complex and interesting. And the twists had me guessing the entire time.

I would definitely recommend having some Kleenex nearby while reading this one, because it will hit you in the feels - in the best way possible!

I absolutely loved this book and did not want to put it down. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys heartfelt YA and mystery and suspense.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and statements are my own.

Sooo, about “The Gravity of Missing Things” by Marisa Urgo💜
I noticed this book because of its beautiful cover and the name sounded really interesting. I wouldn’t say that it has stolen my heart, but it wasn’t bad. I love the diverse characters- Violet, Alex and Savannah, they were really bright. Also, the couple of Violet and Landon was very fluffy and I enjoyed the romance even though I haven’t expected it to be here. If you like soft mystery stories, you’ll definitely enjoy reading this one)
Spoiler ahead: I was so happy to see Dr. Bryant watching Violet’s performance, it was really warm and cozy^^

"When every truth you know is a lie"

With all honesty, I read this book because of the cover but I wasn't expecting that this will make me devastated. I know it's about grief based on the blurb, but this is a painful one?! It's about loss, pain, and, acceptance. It's a sad and painful book but at the same time, it's mysterious and will make you want to read more.

In the space of one week Violet’s world drastically changes as she learns her mom’s plane has disappeared and too many people want to believe it was intentional. Finding a note her mom left her, Violet is determined to search for the truth and hope her mom is alive. Along the way she discovers truths about herself and those closest to her, but not always the truth she wants to find.
Well written plot and believable characters make this a YA book that is worth reading.

Wow, this book was amazing. Picking up the pieces after such a tragic event can be difficult for anyone, especially a teen. There were no loose ends and the story pacing was comfortable. The secrets revealed happened at the perfect times throughout the book. This story is definitely a page turner..

The serious subject matter of self harming was not appropriately handled in terms of professional help. The cover does not fit the story narrative.

I enjoyed reading this and was thoroughly engrossed, reading for hours at a time. I loved the relationship between sisters Violet and Savannah - at each other's throats one minute and then locking hands and laying in bed together the next. The Dad was really was great, as was the best friend Alex. Love interest, Landon, was really sweet. I did think there was A LOT thrown in here though, (ie Savannah having had cancer, Violet cutting herself, Savannah and Alex getting together, etc). Like, I understand why some of those things had to have happened to make the story work, but it just got to be a bit much at times. Also, and I understand this is an advanced copy so hopefully this is fixed for the final release, there were some clear placement(?) issues. For instance, there was one part where Violet says she's sitting outside with Onion reading internet comments. Then on the next page it says her dad knocks on her bedroom door. When did she go inside?
Overall, this is a worthy debut title and I look forward to seeing what Urgo comes out with next.

A story about loss, pain and love. So well written. It touches issues such as self harm, thought os self harm. So be mindful is that’s something that might be triggering for you. Some of the plot twists were a bit predictable but I still think it was a solid debut.

This is a story about a young woman holding out hope against the odds for word from her mother. While waiting, Violet is in the process of finding herself and her place in her family amidst her mom’s disappearance.

It’s hard to review this without spoiling anything, so I want to be careful with my words. I enjoyed the representation in this, the overarching storyline, and the inclusion and accuracy of mental health issues. But what was so utterly bizarre to me is that Violet’s father and her sister Savannah were planning a memorial on day 2 of her mother’s disappearance. Day 2! Like, we’re supposed to think during day 1, they grieved, accepted, and were ready enough to move onto the planning stages of saying goodbye. As others have mentioned, the cover really has nothing to do with the overall arching theme of the story, but that is because of the publisher and not the author. Overall, this is a quick read with a good message for its readers. Thank you, Entangled Publishing, for sending this along.

Overall a great book, but I feel like this book was missing a bit of spark to make it a truly outstanding one. I do like the scenes talking about family, etc. But I feel like some scenes could have really integrated emotion better so the reader can feel alongside Violet, such as when she finds out the truth about her mother. Even though the emotions where shock and being unsure how to even feel, I think things could have been depicted in a more powerful way, especially for these most important scenes. Nonetheless, it was a good book.

The premise was interesting, the characterizations well done, and the story was well written. I did have questions however.....

POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD

It did seem a bit rushed though, and in my opinion, had a few plot holes. I didn't understand why Violet's father was in such a rush to have her mother declared legally dead. Yes, I know he said it was because of money, but the fact that he was looking into this a mere five days after his wife's disappearance was unrealistic. In real life circumstances this would likely have made him look like a suspect in her disappearance/death. Bills would not have been piling up within 5 days, and if they were as freshly separated as the book claims, then it is unlikely their finances would have been separated. In addition, if his income was so low and fragile, how was Jenny going to give him full custody and expect him to take care of the girls? This entire scenario did not seem to be well thought out by the author, or at all realistic.

In addition, the father starts thinking about a memorial service within 3-5 days of his wife's disappearance? Also highly unlikely, unless, again, he was a participant in her disappearance.

Violet was actually one of the few characters who made sense. Yes, she fell into conspiracy theories, but it was in keeping with her personality. In addition, she was one of very few characters who was not immediately ready to move on. The way everyone around her immediately jumped to her mother being dead and referring to her mother in the past tense felt rushed.

Overall, the story was solid and the inconsistencies could be addressed by stretching out the timeline.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you so much Entangled Publishing and NetGalley for this opportunity.

Although I found Violet, the main character, a bit inconsistent with some of her actions, I liked how she handled her loss and how she matured during the book.

In my opinion, the LGBTQ sphere has been handled very well. Violet is bi, and her sister Savannah is figuring out her sexuality.

I would have loved this book if I had read it when I was 16/17 years old. At first, it seems like a light novel, where we have the MC who does everything to find out the truth about her mother, but this book also deals with themes that are fundamental for teenagers to face. Self-harm, anxiety, grief, and mental health are all issues that are never addressed at this age, and we very often find ourselves managing them alone and then making big mistakes.

Writing is straightforward and smooth, so I was able to read the first 100 pages in one sitting.

3,75

First and foremost, special thanks go to NetGalley and Entangled Teen for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest review.

I requested a digital review copy of this book because the fact that it revolved around trying to discover the truth behind a plane crash felt fresh and different to me. But unfortunately, from the very first pages, the story just seemed to fall flat.

The beginning was rather slow, so I put this down and picked it back up multiple times in an effort to get into it. And each time, I was never fully absorbed. Because, like I read in other reviews, the main character was frustrating, to say the least. Now, I understand that she was going through an insanely difficult time, unlike anything I’ve ever gone through, but she got one note from her mom and thought she knew everything. And that everyone else, even professionals, knew nothing, which continues for the entirety of the book. Again, I get that she’s processing and grieving and that everyone does that in their own way, but when her dad and sister didn’t do those things in the same way she did, she assumed they didn’t care.

The only redeeming character in this whole book was Landon, who was so, so sweet to Violet. I mean, that line about McDonald’s being romantic because she was with him? Adorable.

Because of Landon, and because this book included bi representation in addition to anxiety, depression, and cutting representation, I gave it 3 stars.

3.5 ⭐️
Not saying it was necessarily bad but I don’t think this one was meant for me. I feel like it I were in my early teen years I would’ve really enjoyed it.
I feel like the main character was a little annoying like she was very mature for her age and then she acted like a little kid. I know this happens with grief and such but it was a little hard to continue reading with that.
I enjoyed the whole LGBTQ area of this book. I liked how the main character was bisexual and her sister was figuring out her sexuality. I thought it was cute and done well.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

I wanted to like this book more than I actually did. It's the story of 16-year-old Violet and her family, and how they deal with the rumors and secrets that come out after Flight 113, in which her mother is the pilot, disappears. There is a lot going on in the book, but that's not altogether a bad thing. The book deals with self-harm as well as the stages of grief as Violet waits to find out what happened to her mother.

I thought the representation of LGBTIA characters in this book was done extremely well. Violet is bisexual. Her sister is figuring out her sexuality. In both cases, it wasn't made to be a whole plot, but instead, just introduced as another facet of who the girls are, and I liked that a lot. In this arena, I felt like Violet was very mature. In other areas, however, she wasn't.

I thought the characters in this book were inconsistent. The dad, for instance, bothers me. His character just seems slightly off, and not just offbeat. I can't put my finger on it exactly, but it didn't add up for me. Violet herself is very inconsistent. I know she's dealing with grief and loss, and scared, but one minute she acts her age, and then the next she's throwing tantrums like a 10-year-old. She goes from acting mature and reasonable (which I know, teens fluctuate) to overreacting and buyring her head in the sand. A lot of it is denial, but it did make it a struggle to read.

Overall, this book was about a 3.5 for me.

Violet is dealing with a lot. She is almost to her 50 day “safety” mark after self-harming for years, she is going to school, her older sister is leaving to go across the country for college, and her parents recently split up and divorce is on the horizon for them.. Then the night of her school play her mom, an airline pilot, does not make it to the school and Violet and her family learn that her plane has gone missing over the Atlantic Ocean and the time on the clock begins ticking.
The chapters of this book are broken out by day and time of day starting from the planes abrupt disappearance. Our cast of characters is small, mainly Violet, her sister Savannah, Landon, and their dad.
Violet, our protagonist, takes us through the stages of grief she went through, and her determination to defend and clear her mother’s name.
A wild ride with a bit of a twisted ending.