I really liked the other book I read from this author and I was excited to pick this one up. It sure didn't disappoint! This was a short, dark, and engaging read that I finished in less than 24 hours. It centers on Nic, whose life has been a mess since her sister Kasey disappeared 7 years ago. She meets Jenna, whose sister Jules also disappeared under similar circumstances, and (reluctantly) starts working with her to see if they can uncover any clues that would bring attention to reopening the case.

Most of the book focuses on their investigation into people that both Kasey and Jules knew and trying to build the connections. This was interesting and fast-paced, and gave us a good glimpse into the lives these women led while also providing a few good surprises. The book takes a surprise turn at the end that I couldn't have predicted in a million years (and can't say anything more about because I don't want to spoil). I really liked the way it ended and was floored by the surprise. Also, I felt these characters were built out very well, especially for a book that wasn't very long and didn't have a lot of space to commit to characterization. There were a couple loose ends that weren't tied up at the end- I think at least one of them was intentional but there was another one where I couldn't decide if I had just missed something.

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and love when I am totally surprised. I would recommend to those who enjoy psychological thrillers and mysteries. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Yep! That was a twisty rollercoaster ride of a read! Well, at the end. But the reveals earlier in the book come slower as the story is built up and the characters are developed. At points the pace did lag a bit because of this but you could always feel the promise of things to come. And, with the book being so short, there wasn't too much time to lag. I think I would have preferred some extra pages and a deeper look at the four women involved, but was page turning and wondering the entire time! Made for a really good read!

Oh my goodness- this book was exactly what I needed to get out of my slump! After setting the story up this book was a non stop page clicker for me! Great storyline, multiple twist and I would have never guessed the ending!, Thank you @netgalley for the opportunity to read this book!

Wow, I absolutely loved this book. The Missing Half completely pulled me in from the very first page and didn’t let go.
The story follows two women who share a heartbreaking connection: both of their sisters went missing just two weeks apart back in 2012. Their bodies were never found, and the disappearances left their families shattered. Years later, the two surviving sisters finally decide to team up and find out the truth for themselves.

I honestly thought I had it all figured out so many times — but Ashley Flowers kept surprising me, twist after twist. Every time I got comfortable, something else would happen, and I was right back on the edge of my seat.
The characters felt so real, and the emotions throughout the story really hit me. It’s the kind of book you stay up late reading because you have to know what happens next.

If you’re looking for a mystery that’s full of heart, packed with surprises, and impossible to put down, The Missing Half is absolutely worth picking up.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine for letting me read and review this one early!

The Missing Half is a quick, page-turning mystery that will definitely keep you guessing! Nic Monroe's life has been a disaster since her sister, Kasey, disappeared seven years ago. Nic is working a dead-end job and dealing with a suspended license and alcohol abuse. When Jenna Connor, whose sister also disappeared around the time Kasey went missing, approaches her about that summer, Nic agrees to launch an investigation into the vanishing of their sisters. Together, Nic and Jenna dig deep until they uncover multiple family secrets. I thought I knew where things were headed, but I was still surprised by the ending; I really enjoyed the journey to the big reveal, and the writing is top-notch. Recommended for fans of slow-burn mysteries about dysfunctional families. Thanks to Netgalley, Random House, and author Ashley Flowers for the librarian preview copy.

Two missing women, their sisters connect and work to solve the disappearances.
This was a quick thriller with a twist, but ended a bit abruptly. Overall a good read!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for access to this eARC.

Having loved her debut, I think my expectations were set too high for this one. There were a couple of times I had to remind myself that this is just a story and not reality. Putting that aside, I was pulled right into this and raced through it to see the outcome. I would have liked more development in the sisters and exploring their past as a family. This was a four star for me until the ending. It's one of those endings that I think readers will either love or hate. It was unexpected, and I enjoyed it to a point. Still worth the read and highly intriguing as I was reading it, I give this one three and a half stars.

Thank you, Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for this ARC.

I had to have this one. I really liked Ashley’s first book and this one sounded so good. The audio was done well, the narrator did a great job with this one! The story grabbed my attention right away as the book’s intensity ramped up. It was definitely twisty, and some reveals surprised me while other parts were predictable. Overall, I enjoyed it but the ending left me wanting more. I will still look forward to reading this author in the future!

Very pleasantly surprised by this book. It was fast paced, and the short chapters kept you coming back for more and more. I thought the author did an excellent job with the characters and loved the “amateur” detective plot line throughout the book. The twists were also well done, and while I did see some of them coming, I was still surprised at the ending and how everything came together. Would recommend this to all! Thanks to NetGalley for early access. 4.25/5 Stars

"The Missing Half" by Ashley Flowers follows the deeply flawed Nic Monroe as she moves through her life in despair after her sister goes missing. Nic is angry and has managed the last seven years with alcohol and isolation. She works a dead end job and is truly struggling after a DUI when Jenna Connor comes into her life. Like Nic, Jenna's sister also mysteriously disappeared seven years ago under similar circumstances and Jenna is determined to find out what happened. Together they work to uncover what their sister's were hiding, retracing the last weeks before they disappeared. However, the town and the families involved have dark secrets and they aren't too keen on all the digging...

Flowers has a true knack for writing unique stories that catch the reader's attention and keep it the whole novel. Nic is a deeply flawed character and her relationship with Jenna is fragile. Uncovering both their family histories and what they would do to protect each other was a true journey. I never suspected the ending and it strung me along until the last page.

This book hooked me from the very beginning. Just when I thought I had it figured out, there was another twist then another turn-and holy moly the ending!

3.5 stars

Two girls from the same area disappearing within just weeks of each other. Police did searches but the cases went cold. Years later, their sisters dive into their disappearances, hoping to find new evidence that the police missed initially.

The storyline was good. The main character Nic’s life fell apart after her older sister Kasey disappeared years before. She’s struggling to get her life together. And when Jenna, the sister of another missing girl, approaches her with the idea of joining teams to look for new evidence on both missing girls, she was hesitant to open that door to the past up. Throughout the story, you see her struggle to get her footing, to try to be better than she had been. You see her character start to grow, but I felt like in the end, it was a letdown with the growth.

The story contains so many twists and turns. Just when you think you know who did it, you discover that you’re wrong.

But the last couple chapters left me shocked. I did not see that coming. It was unexpected and a little disappointing. I could see the story building and building and then it seemed to wrap up so quickly. And Nic who was not very likable to me at the beginning started to grow on me. Only for me to be disappointed with her character with the choices she makes.

It’s definitely a good read with unexpected twists but the ending was not my favorite.

A perfectly paced crime novel with the right amount of heart, mystery, and twist. The end really was a whirlwind but I was so engaged from the get-go. The clues dropped along the way were satisfying to try to piece together and I was even “right” about a few until the very end. This book was written in a way that made it almost conversational and very easy to read.

Thanks Netgalley for an ARC of this novel. I enjoyed this author’s first book and enjoyed this one too. This is the story of 2 women whose sisters went missing years ago. They decide to team up to try to solve the case that the police were unable to. I found myself wanting to pick up this book often & it’s a very easy and pretty fast read.

I didn’t love how it all wrapped up but it’s a good story & I’d recommend it.

I was a huge fan of all good people here and I absolutely love the podcast. With that being said, I was sooo excited when I saw this was coming out! It was no surprise to me at all that I ate this book up! Ashley is truly such a brilliant author and amazing storyteller. Just like in her first book, I did not see the ending at all! I will be recommending this all year.

Years after her sister goes missing, a stranger enters Nic's life, causing the past to come back up.

This was a good thriller! Here's what I liked:

Nic: I felt so bad for her for most of this. Her life is literally falling apart. You can see how things just crumbled for her after her sister disappeared. She's trying to pull it together but keeps hitting a wall. The mystery of what happened to her sister is really what keeps her going.

The twists: There were a few that I didn't see coming! The whole mystery is well laid out with some red herrings that keep you guessing. I enjoyed the ending of this one (something that I wasn't a fan of for Flower's first book).

All in all, this was a good thriller!

Thank you to the author and publisher for the gifted copy!

There are not many things that I would willingly lose sleep over, but this book was one of them. When I say I could not put this book down, I mean I was literally finding any excuse to stop what I was doing to read. The characters were each so complex and layered that I found myself putting myself in their shoes, having empathy for them, and thinking about them in the brief moments where I wasn't reading. I think that just goes to show the writing skill and level of the author. This story was clearly well thought out, the whole plot was so tightly woven, every loose end was tied up in a perfect bow, the twists were nonstop and never expected... I am in awe - just wow. This truly may be one of my new favorite thrillers, and I am left wanting more from whatever Ashley has to put out next. Absolutely no notes!!! Thank you so much NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group and Ashley Flowers for the opportunity to read this AMAZING novel "The Missing Half". You can find my review live on Goodreads on 4/24/25.

A gripping tale of missing persons. Following Nic through the trials of life and missing her sister. Meanwhile Jules contacts her to try to find what happened to their sisters. I loved the ending was completely surprised. Loved Ashley Flowers second tale and will be looking forward to more!

I enjoyed the story overall. It was a bit too slow at times. The characters were great. It was a rollercoaster with twists and turns. However, the ending fell a little flat. I was hoping for more.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this arc.

Thank you @netgalley and @ballantinebooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This was a story about two missing girls from northern Indiana! I was very excited to read this as I have heard amazing things about the Crime Junkie podcast and for the fact it was set in my home state. While it did take me awhile to get into it, once it picked up, IT PICKED UP! There were many times where I gasped out loud and had to know what happened next. This is the perfect book for readers who love a good missing persons story. For me, the ending was not at all what I was expecting, which ultimately why it didn't get 4 stars. Overall, this was a solid read and I would recommend it to a friend!