I was fortunate enough to have an ARC of this one. Baart creates a story of a mother and daughter who become social media influencers as they travel the country. However, as the daughter matures, she has the usual mother/daughter issues. When the daughter disappears, the mother panics as she finds herself a suspect. The mother questions her motives for what she and her daughter created in social media. Set in the present, the novel makes the reader question relationships--those that are in person or virtual. The daughter matures through the story and the reader finds that danger does lurk around us. A good read and Baart's prose and descriptions are on point for good reading.

Very strong start, bizarre middle and flaked out ending. Books like this are very hard for me to give a rating. What I liked: Eva growing up and away. Charlie learning to let go but still trust her gut instincts as a Mom. What I didn't like...the middle! Can't give it away for everyone though. The end was too neat and tidy for my tastes and for the real.world.since the book was divided into 3 I think 3 stars is appropriate.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Long Way Back was a great suspense thriller that drew me in quickly. It’s a dual point of view that starts with Charlie’s side and her love for Eva and the struggle with her daughter growing up. The disappearance of Eva becomes the main focus quickly and I felt for Charlie and the fear she was going through. Being a parent and grandparent myself, I can only imagine what she was going through and just how far I would go put in the same circumstances.
Then switching to Eva’s point of view, you see the struggles that Eva went through growing up and her ties to social media fame as the story progresses. Don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll leave you in suspense with Eva.

The IG posts they make through their travels and Eva’s college applications become a guide for the novel as you move along and are a wonderful touch to bring everything together in this beautifully written novel. This is a must read and my only issue with this novel is that I enjoyed it so much that I’m afraid my next read doesn’t stand a chance. “Always take the long way back” #thelongwayback

This was definitely not what I was expecting! What began as a story about a missing daughter and a mother desperate to find her took a huge turn midway. Without being preachy or pushy, Baart has crafted a captivating novel that works both as a suspenseful and intense story and as a commentary on life in today's world.

Social media, going viral, bullying, and extreme hate are all found in these pages. But, impressively, the book is not a downer, nor is it depressing. There's a joy within the pages, and hope. It's a simple tale that will keep you reading until your eyes are out of focus.

And you won't be the same once the final page turns.

I received an advance copy from the publisher. My review was not solicited in any way.

**Some mild language, drinking, and mentions of drugs, and one scene depicts an assault

Compulsively readable, beautifully written and just pure escape. Nicole Baart can just plain write.

Loved it

After reading Everything We Didn't Say when it was a Book of the Month pick in 2021, I've been waiting for what Nicole Baart would write next! I am so thankful I was given an early copy thanks to Nicole and Atria books!

This book was WILD! I expected the typical 'girl goes missing' trope with a predictable ending, but I would have NEVER seen all of the craziness that was coming in this story! Eva and her mom, Charlie are famous Instagram influencers and when Eva suddenly goes missing, the whole country seems to take notice and take sides!

I loved how some of the chapters were written as Instagram posts, gossip colums/podcasts, essays, etc- it really helped make the story EXTRA bingeable.

There's so much I want to say but even making book comparisons would take away from some of the surprise and I hope all readers are as shocked as I was by the storyline! It was fun and unique and I think this will be a big hit come publication day on June 13th!

I was given at ARC in exchange for my honest feedback on this book. This was not my first ARC, but it was my best experience! Thank you, Nicole Baart, for connecting with the ARC readers.

There were many components of this book that I just loved. First, the setting. The setting is Duluth, Minnesota, and some towns north of Duluth. I had family in Duluth until just a few years ago, so I have been there during every season and explored every corner. Reading about a place so close to my heart was so much fun. I have read many books that take place in big cities across the globe, so it was a nice change of pace to have a story take place in Duluth.

Second, I loved the format of the book. Part of the book was from the mother's perspective, and part from the daughter's perspective. Throughout the book, Instagram posts, essays that Eva had written, and news articles and text messages were sprinkled throughout the book. I found that the variety helped my reading stamina. Normally I check my phone between chapters, but I didn't have the desire to do that with all the variety of styles.

Third, I connected with the story. As a mother of two children, I could feel Charlie's angst. I understood her connection to her daughter. The struggle to know what to do with each phase of your child's life is real! I loved how Charlie always tried to be the best parent she could be and was willing to change.

That doesn't tell much about the story, but I don't want to spoil anything! The jacket cover gives a great overview without ruining anything.

I've loved all of this authors books, but it seems she's really hit her stride. This book was thought provoking, but also a fast, page turning read. As a parent to a tween, thoughts of cell phone usage and social media are regular thoughts I regularly contemplate. This book had social media at the forefront. Baart writes eloquently in this book, bringing two worlds far apart, all collapsing into one page turning read. The characters are well developed, easy to visualize. As with each of her books, I took away several quotes that stayed with me. I loved the lessons, loved the characters travels, loved the fast paced, page turning qualities. An absolute perfect summer read!

This book was so well done from start to finish. It drew me in and was impossible to put down. The characters were easy to relate to and sympathize with and honestly I’m sad it’s over. This is a must read book and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

This is a look at the relationship between mothers and daughters and asks how well mothers know their daughters and how well daughters understand their mothers no matter how close their relationship appears to be. For the mother and daughter duo in this story the truth is revealed when the daughter disappears.

Mother Charlie and daughter Eva have always been close -- it's always been just the two of them against the world. A picture that they post on social media goes viral and they end up creating an Instagram account called Eva Explores. They pack up an old airstream camper and travel around the country while keeping their fans updated on their travels. Eva tires of the travel and asks if they can settle down while she finishes her final year of high school and makes plans for college. They settle in a small town in Minnesota on Lake Superior and their relationship continues to be very close - or is it? When Charlie admits that she's tired of being settled down and wants a few more months of travel, Eva refuses. After much discussion, Eva relents but the next day, she disappears from the small boat that she and her mom were on while her mom was taking a nap. When Charlie is rescued, the police become involved and Charlie is the main suspect in her daughter's disappearance. Even as the FBI becomes involved, Charlie remains the main suspect. She knows that she is going to have to do some investigation on her own to clear her name and find her daughter. I really can't say much more about her investigation without spoiling the book for other readers but I will you tell you that the second half of the book was full of twists and turns that kept me rapidly turning pages.

The story is told from both Charlie and Eva's points of view and their chapters are interspersed with Instagram posts and college application essays that Eva has written. I thought the addition of the essays helped give much more depth and background to Eva's story.

This book was a look at two major issues -- the effects of a family living their lives on social media for the entire world to see and a look at the difficulty that some mothers have in realizing that their children are growing up and need to have a life of their own separate from them.

This was a definitely suspenseful read. It drew me in quickly and even though I found Charlie to be overbearing at times, I still hoped for a positive outcome after Eva's disappearance. You don't want to miss this one especially if social media is a major part of your life.

I received this book as an ARC. The Long Way Back by @nicolebaart checks all of my thriller boxes! Family struggles, setting as a character, and a twisty plot. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the many highlights from this book: "But the water that gives life can take it. The love that feels forever can fade. People are messy and broken and achingly beautiful , and life is never quite what it seems."

Thank you @nicolebaart and @atriabooks ! ✌🏼💚📚

#bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagrammer #peacelovebooksclub

As a mother, this book had my stomach in knots the entire time. Really made me think about social media and its impact. Great read!

I am a huge fan of Nicole Baart and I absoluely adored her book Everything We Didn't Say. Her new book The Long Way Back is told in three different parts and in my different ways. There are Instagram posts, forums, and typical chapters from different perspectives. Part one started off with a bang! I loved part one, which gave me incredibly high hopes for the rest of the book. Part two even starts off with great suspense and intrique. But as we get more and more into part two, things get weird, like why did they have to go that strange, and Baart kind off lost me for bit. Part three is a lot of the same weirdness, but the final big scene brought it back to a great thriller. Overall, I enjoyed it but wish it would have stayed with the same tone as part one. 3.5 stars.

Wow!! Nicole Baart never, ever lets me down! This relatable story of a mother and daughter made me laugh, cry, and shiver! The paths they take, both together and apart, thrilled me to my core! I enjoyed every single page of this book! I couldn’t wait to see how it ended! Another huge hit for Baart!

I’m torn on my review as I really enjoyed the book but not so much what I felt was a one sided view of what divides us. I am glad I read the authors note as I think she comes from a good place. I have mixed feelings but as always, she writes a good book and check it out for yourself. It was interesting to see the twist things took and how it all played out. I really enjoyed the mother and daughter adventures via airstream and the posts on their IG. Definitely a good read. Thanks to the author for the early read. All comments are my own.

Another solid book from Nicole Baart! I have read almost all of her books and this one in up there as one of my favorites of hers. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery surrounding this novel. It was suspenseful without being graphic. I like this mixed media of the book as well. There were Instagram posts and essays written by one of the characters which really added depth and complexity to the story.

Mother and daughter pair, Charlie and Eva, set out on adventures and find that sharing them through Instagram brings them a small bit of fame. Right before they are to start their final adventurous trek, Eva goes missing. The search for her will bring a new awareness of the true relationship between Charlie and Eva. This was a book I had trouble putting down! Loved it!!!

I have been a fan of Nicole Baart for sometime now. I love all her books but this one may be the best yet. I couldn't put down. I will recommending THE LONG WAY BACK to all my friends.

Many thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for my ARC!!

Charley and Eva incidentally become Instagram famous. The beginning was a little rough to get into with the instagram post reads but the rest of the book was fantastic! After getting a quarter of the way through this book I was able to wiz through the rest! Thank you Netgallery and publisher for allowing me to read this ARC for an honest review!

This book is unlike anything I have every read. When I started it, I thought that I had a pretty good idea where it was going. But about halfway through, it took a turn that I was not expecting. It starts out as a thought-provoking story about the complicated relationship between a mother and daughter. But by the end, it is so much more.

Charlie and Eva have a fairly decent following on Instagram through an account known as "Eva Explores" - I really thought that this was an interesting premise for a story. Charlie and Eva travel and share their journey on their Instagram account. After time on the road, they decide to settle at home so that Eva can finish her senior year of high school and graduate. They decide to spend the last summer on the road, and then Eva disappears.

This is where I thought I had a pretty good idea of what was to come. There is a twist that I didn't see coming. I will not spoil this for you, but this is where the real mystery begins.

The story is told through both Eva and Charlie's points of view, which I always enjoy. What I also like is that the story is also told through Instagram posts and Eva's college admissions essays. This was something new, and I really thought that it added to the story perfectly.

This book ended up really giving me a lot to think about. I enjoyed reading about Charlie and Eva's travels, and it was interesting to really think about what happens when you choose to share a big part of yourself online. This was a truly original book!

The author’s note is definitely worth the read. It is hopeful and left me with a lot of feelings. That’s what this book will do - it will leave you with a lot of feelings. For me, that was hope.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the advanced reader copy. This book was absolutely stunning, and I haven't stopped thinking about it. It really stays with you. This book publishes on June 13, 2023. Pick it up - it is the perfect book to enjoy on a summer afternoon. I highly recommend it!