Skip to main content

Member Reviews

Great YA read! I have loved this author since the Good Girls Guide to Murder trilogy, so was excited to read this one. Not as thriller as I like but good for the YA genera.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the fast paced writing. This is a page-turner for sure. Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist would throw everything off again. This was very well done and I’m happy that it’s a new mystery and not a reprise of past works. I would recommend students and will be purchasing for my classroom.

Was this review helpful?

This was an okay read. The beginning of the book hooked me and I was invested in uncovering the mystery surrounding Rachel Price. I did find Bel a bit annoying but still it was a good storyline. The second half of the book revealed lots of twists. Which was fun but I must admit the ending of this book was really underwhelming. Overall just okay.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Children's for the E-ARC.

All thoughts and opinions are honest and my own.

Was this review helpful?

My first Holly Jackson book!!
Read it in just one sitting, VERY thrilling! Loved the main character and the plot twists.

Was this review helpful?

Bel’s family is in the midst of filming a documentary focusing on the disappearance of her mother, Rachel, when on a random afternoon Rachel suddenly turns back up. Bel is suspicious that her mom is not being completely honest about where she has been for the past 16 years. Since no one believes her, Bel decides to take matters into her own hands to unearth whatever it is that Rachel is hiding.

This was definitely a bit of a slow start, but I thoroughly enjoyed every single page of this book. It takes a bit of time for Rachel to reappear, but not only does the book poke meta jokes at itself about it, but it also creates a lot of tension and allows us to see how this family has been functioning all this time. When Rachel does come back, the reader can feel just how big a shift this is on Bel’s world.

I genuinely had no idea where this was going at any point, making it a delightful reading experience. At times, I agreed with Bel’s theories, and at other points I wondered if she was trying to find something that simply wasn’t there. Jackson did an incredible job with throwing in “red herrings,” but I air quote it because instead of it being a true red herring it was more like a clue that we were told meant one thing when it really meant another. It was just genius how she set this up, and all the hard work she put into this mystery really shows on the page.

Bel is probably the least likable of all of Jackson’s protagonists (Pip and Red), but simply because of how she’s had to harden herself because of her mom’s disappearance. Her character growth throughout the novel takes time, but it feels realistic. By the end, she has changed, but there’s still remnants of her old self in there, too. Safe to say Bel’s character was masterfully crafted and was an excellent vehicle for the reader to experience the story through.

I could truly go on and on about this book. It might just be better than AGGGTM to me… that’s how much I loved it! I’m already planning a future re-read, knowing all I know now. If you haven’t picked this up yet, take this as your sign to make it your next read!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Children for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

I couldn’t get into the story just as I thought. Not disappointed but need more depth, I think. I can't remember when was the last time when I read a book in which the whole plot was 100% equal to what was written in the blurb and nothing more. There was no surprise there, no resolution to any of the plot threads and the whole story was blatantly predictable and painfully dull.

Was this review helpful?

Somewhere between a 3.5 and a 4.

I love Holly Jackson. I devoured the GGGTM trilogy (and am firmly on the side that the third one was GENIUS, thank you very much) and have highly enjoyed her first standalone. The writing style and character voice in both standalones is very, VERY different from Good Girls Guide. I personally love the range, but know that it could be polarizing, especially since our MC is unreliable and kind of a jerk. I love an unlikable girl, and considering the trauma she's gone through, it makes sense.

I think the main things keeping this from being a five star read is that the ending feels convoluted. The story is trying to do so much and I think it needs to be doing a little bit less! Particularly with her cousin [who clearly has an ED and many family issues that felt like they were going somewhere but were barely addressed. (hide spoiler)] But overall, it's a really fun read still and I recommend for anyone who wants a quick thriller.

Was this review helpful?

The Reappearance of Rachel Price was a a classic Holly Jackson. It kept me guessing until the end and enjoyed the style of it. I think this will be an obvious grab for teen readers and thriller lovers.

Was this review helpful?

Holly Jackson never disappoints. You can think that you know exactly where the story is going and then you'll be hit with at least three plot twists/reveals and it is so satisfying every time. I love her willingness to write complex, and even unlikeable, female characters. All of her characters are very thought-out and nothing about her writing is flat.

Was this review helpful?

I loved the good girls guide to murder series so was super excited to get this book. It was good has twists I didn’t see coming. agggtm was hard to beat bit this was enjoyable.

Was this review helpful?

This book gave me so many feelings and I loved the creepy vibes that it has. The way Rachel reappeared gave me the chills. Like everyone was saying it's literally the title of the book but it's still shocking. This book is not just a mystery thriller it's also come across the topics of trust and loyalty in the Prices family. My heart hurts for Rachel I wouldn't have survived what she had gone through. I loved the filming crew they were all likable. The rest of the family members you will find out about if you decide to read this because I can't say anything else without spoiling it all. I just want to say that this is the most satisfying ending I've read in a while. I enjoyed this a lot. The set-up is great. I loved the idea of a long unsolved mystery being explored afresh by a documentary film crew. I felt like Bel was a good sport about the doc and I did feel empathy for her in regards to everything she had to deal with in her life. The Price family is complicated and I do love a complicated family dynamic. I had fun getting to know the family and learning all of the details surrounding Rachel's disappearance.

Was this review helpful?

Another hit from Holly Jackson. Rachel and Bel were wonderful characters with a story that left us on edge!

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and Delacorte Press for providing me with a digital arc of this book!

First, let me start by emphasizing how long I sat with my computer in my lap, trying to make sense of what I just read so that I could write a review on it. This story starts off with the Price family working on a documentary about Rachel Price, the main character's mother, who disappeared 16 years ago. As they are filming the documentary, Rachel shows up, throwing everyone's world out of orbit, leaving Bel conflicted about whether or not her mother is telling the truth.

The end will shock you. There was legitimately one plot twist after the next, and I could not see where this story was going. I'm afraid to say this---please do not chase me down with pitchforks---but sometimes, when I reach a rut in a story, I skip around for the romance and end up accidentally reading too much. That is absolutely what happened here, but even when I thought I knew what was happening, Holly Jackson still found a way to one-up me.

That leads to a couple of my criticisms of this book, however. While I loved the plot twists, I am almost inclined to say there were too many of them. I felt that the sheer number took away from the gravity of each twist, and perhaps some editing was in store. Also, I found this story to be wholly unbelievable. I genuinely couldn't envision anything the author described happening in real life, but once you set that aside, it's a truly enjoyable experience. I wish I would have gotten around to it sooner. 3/5 stars.

Was this review helpful?

This wasn't my favorite Holly Jackson read. I felt the ending was dragged out a bit much. Really, overall, I felt the story was not executed and maybe was rushed/thrown together to meet a deadline.

Was this review helpful?

Holly Jackson writes the most addictive YA thrillers and I will die on that hill. THE REAPPEARANCE OF RACHEL PRICE was so interesting and had me hooked from start to finish!

Was this review helpful?

*4.5 Stars!

Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an e-arc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I've already purchased my own copy and a copy for school! My students will love this!

Very addicting! Very quick read!

This book follows the story of Bel. Her mother, Rachel, disappeared sixteen years ago. Completely vanished. No body knows what happened to Rachel. Some people think she ran away, others think her husband killed her. Rachel vanished without a trace. Now 16 years later, a documentary is being made about Rachel Prices' disappearance, and towards the end of the filming, Rachel shows up 16 years later walking down the street towards her house, wearing the same clothes she disappeared in saying she doesn't remember who took her.

Here begins the unraveling story of what happened to Rachel Price. The best part of this experience, is you never know who to trust. The writing in this book is so fun!! The chapters end on small cliffhangers and keep the reader wanting to read even more! But dang, this whole thing is so messed up! It will keep you on your toes for sure.

I recommend this high school students who like mysteries, but hold on tight. It's a crazy ride!

Was this review helpful?

As soon as you think you have the plot figured out, you realize you don’t! Shocking twists and turns kept me reading well past my bedtime. At times it was uncomfortable as the plot unfolded, but worth the read.

Was this review helpful?

I do love the interview style of many of HoJas thrillers. I find it keeps me engaged in the plot and makes me feel like a detective trying to find the clues. I knew Bel was right to immediately be turned off by inconsistencies, but felt like her dad’s harsh reaction was a dead giveaway. Could have been half as long and still packed a punch with the reveal at the end.

I received an advance review copy for free via Netgalley and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Was this review helpful?

Holly Jackson does it again. Her stories are the right amount of mystery/dark for me. I couldn’t guess what was going to happen next and I couldn’t put it down (very easily at least). Thanks NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC!

Was this review helpful?

Read an advance read copy and loved it! Cannot keep my copy on the shelf in my classroom! Holly Jackson’s books are always a hit!

Was this review helpful?