I loved this book of friendship and love with Emlyn and Janessa. I loved the back and forth of time and how the story unfolded for Emlyn. Her struggles with life, love and Tyler. The story is about a hike through the wilderness, through the tragedy of friendship, through the valleys of love lost. As Emlyn works through her past trauma she discovers herself and her ability to see past her past mistakes.

First of all, thank you NetGalley for the Arc. This is my first book by Kimi Cunningham. My interest in this book stemmed from the title and description. If there is any sort of hiking in a book I’m immediately interested. So, when I read the description, not only did hiking happen, but so did a mystery disappearance of a childhood friend, I was HOOKED.

Overall, I absolutely devoured this book and read it in any/all the free time I had. I was left constantly wanting to know what happened next. I would give this book a 3/3.5. I found the ending predictable but thought it concluded very nicely.

The themes of this book are what made the book for me.
Emlyn has a past she'd rather keep there. Now living a simple life in her airstream in rural Idaho, her closest friends are a handsome park ranger and elderly woman who acts as an innkeeper and town reverend. She works as a flyfishing tour guide and keeps isolated as much as possible. But one day, Tyler, the love of her life (or is he?) who broke her heart and quite literally abandoned her in the wilderness reappears to request her help in finding their friend, Janessa, a friend Emlyn only recently slowly integrating back into her life.
The intrigue comes in with what happened between Emlyn and Tyler, with Emlyn and Janessa? And where is Janessa? Is she hurt, in danger, really missing at all? We learn of the past Emlyn was escaping through flashbacks. These flashback scenes at first interrupted the flow of the story for me and slowed the pacing. However, they did add the emotional attachment to understand conflicting emotions and also put together the elements ultimately lead to the climax of the plot. Janessa and their friendship, how she and Tyler were as a couple, Emlyn's childhood. I also had a hard time trying to like the two girls until nearly the end though. Janessa was fierce, but demanding, and I wasn't always sure she could be trusted or if she had ulterior motives. Emlyn, who we find out has abandonment issues from childhood, latches on to her a little too tightly. Same with Tyler, who I adored but was weary of as well. He just seemed too good to be true, so of course we want to know how that relationship ended so traumatically. So overall the characters weren't what connected me to this story but the themes of friendship, love, and forgiveness.
I really loved the rural setting and nature as well as survival descriptions. This was my first book by this author and I intend to read more of them for those reasons. This book did tug at my heartstrings and made me angry and sad but happy as well so well done to the author for creating emotional connection through these topics, though I overall was not surprised by the plot twists. I think the lead-up and the flashback memories built the puzzle pieces well enough to see the whole picture that Emlyn was missing and needed to see for herself.

This is the first book I've delved into by Kimi Cunningham Grant. It's also my first time scoring an advanced reader's copy, so I'm aiming to dodge any grammar errors I spot. My review? Purely based on Grant's storytelling.

I enjoyed parts of this book, but it didn’t fully feel like a thriller. It started a bit rough and very slow. A lot of thrillers start off strong and hook you right after the first few chapters - this one did not. It took some time to be invested in the main character, Emlyn. I am very much a character based reader. If the character development isn’t there I’m usually out. This was part of my issue. I was never truly invested in Emlyn’s story.

I was getting concerned that I wouldn’t finish, but around half way through the story, for me, it really picked up.

Emlyn’s best friend is in trouble and her ex (lots of backstory here) enlists her help to find her and bring her home. The story itself is a bit predictable, but fun. My favorite part was actually how descriptive Grant was in writing about the wilderness. You could easily picture yourself amongst these characters.

I would recommend based on the second half and would give another Grant book a shot.

Saving her friend, her lover and herself. This story is simple but complex in the timelines described. You will want to keep reading this diary of a young girl who becomes a very strong wilderness survivor and savior.

Enjoy the forest and the trees.

The Nature of Disappearing was a captivating read that had me desperate to see how everything unfolded. Kimi Cunnigham Grant crafted a mesmerizing story through her exceptional writing and vivid description of the wilderness. The Nature of Disappearing is well-paced and through the use of alternating timelines, we see Emlyn's past and present unfold beautifully.

The story follows Emlyn, a 28-year-old wilderness guide who has worked hard to distance herself from her troublesome past. A past that has had her building up walls, and in some ways impedes her people skills concerning her job though she excels at all other aspects. Emlyn has found a tentative peace, despite her past, that is quickly disrupted when she sees an old friend has gone missing and her ex-boyfriend shows up desperate for her help in tracking her down. I felt drawn to Emlyn's character and really liked how she chose words to describe people's "essence". These little tidbits of information, mirrored with how she viewed herself had me longing to understand her. The whole cast of characters was intriguing and I felt that the story unfolded beautifully. I cannot wait to read more by this author.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the advanced copy, all opinions expressed are my own. Check out The Nature of Disappearing when it releases June 18, 2024.

Emlyn is a 28 year old adventure guide, working for a river outfitter in a national forest and living out of her airstream trailer. She is great at the technical part of her job but has difficulty with her people skills. She is alarmed when she sees on TV that an old friend has gone missing while camping, and reluctantly meets an old boyfriend to help find out what happened to her. Thus begins our mystery with the reader gradually learning what happened between the three friends with chapters alternating between current and past timelines.

I found the story compelling and I had no trouble following the alternating timelines although I felt that some suspension of reality was required to stay immersed in the story. Never the less I thought it was a worthwhile read and an interesting story with a great sense of place.

Thanks to net galley and the publisher for this e galley in exchange for an honest review.

I loved These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant so much. This book also did NOT disappoint. Kimi Cunningham Grant is an amazing author! Get ready for a wild, wilderness adventure. Friendship. Relationships. Secrets. Dishonesty. Fear. Lies. Suspense. Deception. This book has it all. I highly recommend this. It comes out this summer and would be the perfect summer non-romcom read to suck you in from the beginning.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for an early copy of this book.

Wilderness. That was the original title of this story and it’s very fitting.

First, I loved the nature aspect of this book, the descriptions and the setting. The cinematography of a movie adaption of this book would be breathtaking.

I also really enjoyed the story itself. It had a twist and wrapped up nicely at the end. In the first 2/3 of the book, the main character, Emlyn, is searching for her old best friend, Janessa, who has disappeared off the grid and Emyln fears something may have happened to her.

Emlyn sets off with her ex boyfriend, Tyler, who has also expressed concern, as Janessa is one of his oldest friends, to search for Janessa and her partner.

The story alternates between the past, filling the reader in on the history between Janessa, Tyler, and Emlyn, and the present, Emlyn and Tyler on their search for their missing friend.

The final chapters of the book keep you guessing on who the “bad guy” might be, how the characters will escape the middle of the woods, and if Emlyn will find peace.

Overall, an enjoyable read that felt a little slow at parts but kept me going to find out what happened to Janessa.

Wow. I loved everything about this book. The stellar writing, all of the relatable characters--both well-meaning or deceptive, the deep understanding the author has of nature in the wilderness and the nature of human frailties. I loved the multi-layered plotting, the emotion, the pacing…every single element. The Nature of Disappearing is one of those books that can make us feel deeply and recognize relationships we've had in our own lives that didn't turn out as we hoped but led us to something better. Stronger. Healthier. The Nature of Disappearing is not a story to race through, but a novel to savor. Highly recommended.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St Martins Press for providing an advance copy of this book to read and review. This review will post to Bayside Book Reviews at https://baysidebookreviews.com and its Instagram page on release day. Follow us! *NetGalley Top Reviewer*

3.5⭐ I'm not sure how I feel about this story... Emlyn has left her painful past behind and is starting fresh as a mountain guide in Idaho. However, her tentative peace is disrupted when her ex-boyfriend Tyler visits her, asking for help in finding their friend Janessa.

Janessa has become a social media influencer by sharing her vanlife adventures with her rugged survivalist boyfriend. One day, Tyler arrives with some alarming news – Janessa is missing. She hasn't posted anything lately and when she does, it's from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be. Emlyn and Janessa barely speak and Tyler, the man Emlyn considered to be the love of her life, left her freezing and half-dead in the woods three years ago. However, Janessa's safety is crucial now and she must move on from the past ... So, they pack up and head for the last place where Janessa was supposed to be.

If you're a nature lover, you'll appreciate this book that vividly describes the woods, its surroundings, and survival elements. However, I didn't feel connected to the characters or the storyline. It failed to be a thriller or even a suspenseful story. The plot revolves around friendship and how many times one must hit a wall to realize one needs to change direction. At times, I felt sorry for Emilyn I think she deserves better even from Janessa. The story lacks twists and turns, nothing happens until the very end. Nonetheless, it is undoubtedly well-written and makes for an engaging read that one can breeze through.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

I loved These Silent Woods by the same author and was thrilled to be approved for an ARC of her new book. I loved the setting for this one, the authors knowledge of the various parks, etc. was really impressive, she has a perfect way of giving you the ability to feel the surroundings. I had a bit of a slow start with this one but it really picked up after a few chapters and I read through the rest quickly.

While some of the characters didn't feel all that well developed, I felt like Emlyn was done really well. There are lots of different themes in this one, romance, friendship, drug addiction and even some criminal behavior. I suspected this one was going to be based off the headline grabbing #vanlife story that came out a few years ago, luckily it strayed away from that and became it's own story of bravery, adventure and survival.

Many thank to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC.

Unfortunately I'm unable to finish this one bc it has animal death and suffering in it and my heart just can't handle that, even in fiction.

What I did get through was suspenseful and I'm now left very curious as to what happened, but I'm giving up bc of my triggers. If it's something others can handle, I do think it's a very good book that would be enjoyable if it weren't for the animal deaths.

I liked the premise of this book. The nature descriptions had me right in the Idaho wilderness. I liked Emlyn as a character. Yet all the other characters fell flat for me. The mystery wasn’t all that compelling. But I did want to keep reading. This one wasn’t for me overall, but may be for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing me with the digital reviewer copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun romp into the wilderness. I thought the character's background was well fleshed out, although Tyler's interaction with Emlyn felt a little over-enthused and saccharine. The plot line of the old loves going to look for the lost friend was good, and I liked the eventual twist as the storylines merged. The back and forth timeline felt a little disjointed at times, and I had to remind myself where we were in the story.

The authors descriptive writing of the wilderness, woods, trailers and overall settings was thorough, and I was easily placed in the story.
I enjoyed this read. I could easily see this as a movie or series come to life.

It is so easy to get completely swept up in this author’s novels and her newest is no exception! I could not put this down. I loved the wilderness aspects (especially in the context of the author’s note) and thought this was such a unique story.

This book completely took me by surprise. Originally, I thought it was a thriller and it definitely has some aspects of that but more than that, it's a book about a young woman who is trying to find her way. Grant does a really good job of the character development (especially Tyler, iykyk) and each chapter kept me wanting more. I also really enjoyed the fact that this book is set in the wilderness. There is something so hauntingly beautiful about it that really kept me engaged.

The Nature of Disappearing
by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Pub Date: June 18, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
In this captivating novel of suspense from the USA Today bestselling author of These Silent Woods, a wilderness guide must team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when the friend who introduced them goes missing.
Her new life is simple and safe. She works as a fishing and hunting guide, spending her days in Idaho’s endless woods and scenic rivers. She lives alone in her Airstream trailer, her closest friends a handsome and kind Forest Service ranger and the community’s makeshift reverend, who took her in at her lowest.
Poignant, suspenseful, and unforgettable, THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING explores what it takes to start over―and the cost of letting the past pull you back in.
I loved the descriptions of the wilderness and the premise of the story was promising, however, it never came together in a believable way.

I did like the book, though I didn’t love it.

This was my second book by Kimi Cunningham Grant, and I have absolutely loved both of them! Everything about this book is right up my alley - the setting, relationships, mystery, suspense, and faith. I love nature, hiking, and camping, and those are all prominent in this book. While I definitely had my suspicions about what was going to happen, there were surprises and suspense that kept me turning pages long after my bedtime. Even more than the mystery though, I absolutely loved how Grant wrote characters that felt so incredibly real and relatable, that grew and developed as the story unfolded.

One thing about this book that was so intriguing was how the main character, Emlyn, defined others and herself with just one word. It’s interesting to see how one word can seem to shape a person, and I felt so much empathy for Emlyn when she viewed herself as less than her true worth. Both of Grant’s books that I have read have themes of redemption and forgiveness that are woven seamlessly into the story without feeling heavyhanded or didactic. Her writing is compelling, her characters are deep and relatable, and I look forward to reading more from her!

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC! All opinions expressed are my own. The Nature of Disappearing releases on June 18, but you can preorder now! I’ll post the link in my stories.

📖 Adult fiction, suitable also for older teens. No language. Clean romance. Addiction. An unwed couple lives together. Substance abuse (alcohol, oxy). Mild violence.

The Nature of Disappearing was a great read for me. It kept me engaged and wanting to read more. I started it without having read what it was about (I enjoyed her previous book that much that I knew I would like this one, too) and it didn’t disappoint.

Emlyn and Janessa become close friends during college, despite their different backgrounds and personalities. Emlyn is insecure and Janessa is the opposite but they hit it off. Then Emlyn falls for Tyler, Janessa’s best friend from childhood, and things change between them. Fast forward several years, Emlyn lives in Idaho, away from everything and everyone she knew before, until one day Janessa seemingly goes missing while camping, and Emlyn goes searching for her with Tyler, who ruined her life.
Told in alternating time lines, the story follows Emlyn’s life from childhood. It explores how conflict and experiences influence who we become as adults and how it changes the lens through which we see ourselves, life and others. I thought that part was interesting and nicely executed.
I also really enjoyed the author’s description of the outdoors, hiking and surviving in the wild.
Ultimately, the story is about love and friendship, and about how true friends will always show up and be there for us.
This was a 4-star read for me and I would recommend it to others.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for my ARC.