First and foremost, thank you to the publisher for providing an e-ARC of this title. I absolutely love this author—her storytelling always pulls me in, whether on the page or through her podcast. As a longtime fan of Crime Junkie, I was especially excited to dive into her written work, and it did not disappoint. Her knack for suspense, pacing, and building tension shines just as strongly here as it does in the episodes I’ve come to love. I cannot wait to see what this author writes next.

This wasn't my favorite. I didn't really like the characters, and i felt the mystery was a little slow, and the ending just was flat for me.

It’s a gripping read that will leave most people emotionally drained. The story focuses on two women who are bound together in the trauma of losing a sister. There are chilling twists, emotional weight of grief, and a self-destructing main character, all powerfully written.

I'm a sucker for stories about sisters. The Missing Half was sad, twisty, even humorous at times, and I had to finish in one evening.

Some of the writing was a little generic for me, or lacking, and at times it felt like two different people worked on it, which I realized later was the case.

I wish we had gotten a little more about Jenna and Jules for them to feel more real to me. (However, if the point was to make us forget about Jules at times, like Jenna tells Nic happened in the media, that was low-key brilliant and psychologically interesting to realize was happening for me as I read.)

All in all, a solid fast-paced thriller!

SO GOOD. Couldn’t stop listening!!!! Nearly immediately I was drawn into the story of Nic and Kasey. Nic’s pain and loss is palpable, jumping off the page. Once Jenna enters the picture I was flying through the book trying to inhale the story. I was not disappointed, in fact, I was very surprised by the twists in the story.

Advanced reader copy provided by Ballantine and NetGalley but all opinions are my own.

3.5 stars. The Missing Half follows two women searching for answers to the disappearances of their sisters. Not a ground breaking mystery, but it was entertaining. I think it would make a good weekend read. I did like it more than Ashley Flowers first novel but still would’ve liked more suspense.

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing for an advanced copy of The Missing Half. If you’re a fan of Crime Junkies then I recommend this book. It follows the story of Nic, she’s is a at a dead end job, has a crappy apartment and is lonely. Ever since she lost her sister Kasey 7 years earlier, her life has been a downward spiral. She’s given up hope in figuring out what happened to her sister . But then Jenna walks into her life. Jenna’s sister Jules went missing just a few weeks before Kasey. Jenna tells Nic that she has some new information that could lead them to solving the case of both sisters. Soon Nic realizes that there are things about her sister that she never knew. Can Jenna and Nic solve the case of both sisters? This book started slow, but still kept me interested. About halfway through it sped up, and I could not put it down.

The first thing potential readers should know about this book is that it has two INSANE twists. I think I said “woah… holy sh*t” a few times after reading the first one and the second nearly made my head explode. So, if you like twisty thrillers… YOU WILL WANT THIS BOOK. The lead up was a little slow. Not bad by any means but I didn’t find the majority of the novel to be too tense or suspenseful. However, the slow burn was worth it to get to those twists! There’s a bunch of breadcrumbs sprinkled throughout the novel too, but you won’t realize it until the end. It was really clever!

Overall, I really liked this one. While I prefer her debut, I still had a fun time with this one. It’s a slow burn thriller that will leave your head spinning!

𝗠𝗬 𝗥𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗡𝗚: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I feel like this would be a great choice if you’re in a book slump and you want something to pull you out of it. I raced through it, the pacing was fast and there were some twists and turns that kept me engaged. I found I didn’t want to put it down when I needed to, always a great sign! I absolutely loved the ending and I can be super picky about them, but this was just a really strong and solid read for me across the board. I enjoyed the authors previous release but I liked this one even more, it was more nuanced and complex and it really felt like she found her stride.

As a Crime Junkie- this author is already on my auto-buy list- but this book sealed the deal. The contemporary writing and relatable characters makes this a page turner. Just when you think you have the twist nailed down, Flowers throws you for a loop with an ending you never saw coming.

Nic Monroe’s life has been a bit of a mess, since her sister disappeared 7 years ago. She drinks heavily, recently lost her license because of a DWI, goes to work at her job cooking pizzas and waiting on children’s birthday parties (a job she only has because of a family friend), dwells on her broken relationships with her family, and her only social interaction comes from her AA group and mandatory volunteering at the local animal shelter. Until Jenna shows up at her door. Like Nic, Jenna’s sister disappeared 7 years prior, just 2 weeks before Nic’s sister. Jenna and Nic know their sisters’ disappearances are connected…but how? And can they connect the dots in order to bring the person responsible to justice?

This book was a slow burn. I wasn’t super engaged in the first 2/3, but I was hoping for a good plot twist! I thought I had predicted the twist, and was pleasantly surprised by the end! I didn’t see all of it coming! I enjoyed All Good People Here a bit better than this Ashley Flowers novel, but I will keep reading her books!

Read if you enjoy:
🧐 whodunnit mystery
👮🏼‍♂️ true crime
❓ unsolved cold cases
☝🏼 single POV

I read this book via Kindle format, courtesy of @NetGalley!

4.5⭐️
when nic's sister disappears one august day- her life is turned upside down. attempting to go through the motions of life she is struggling. she just got a DUI and works a boring job just to get by. when jenna appears at her work one day they have something in common. jennas sister also went missing and she wants to work with nic to see if they can uncover what happened to their sisters and whew it's a wild ride.

Thank you Bantam for the gifted digital ARC!

3.5 stars rounded up.

For the most part, I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was well-done and while the female MC was hard to root for at times, I could understand why she made her decisions. It was super easy to binge this one, and that's a testament to how well it's written.

The final reveal is where it did lose me a little. I didn't totally love how everything wrapped up, for me it left something to be desired. That's all I really feel comfortable saying without spoiling anything!

The Missing Half pub date is May 6.

This was a fast-paced read that kept me on my toes while I was reading it.

It was an interesting concept for two girls from the same area to have gone missing and years later have their sisters begin working together to see if there were clues the investigators on the cases missed that could have connected them. Nic was a bit of a mess in her life (a bit might be being generous) since her sister’s disappearance. Her family basically fell apart and the preferred coping method was to ignore anything related to the loss. Jenna showed up in Nic’s life in a way that no longer made that an option. There were a lot of secrets the two of them uncovered all leading up to an ending I didn’t see coming.

I have to say though, much like Ashley Flowers’ first book, I was completely all in on this story until the end actually came. I have struggled with both of her book endings now, for different reasons but the struggle was there. That said, I didn’t feel like this one let the overall book down. It did very much surprise me even if I wasn’t fully on board with it.

Thank you Bantam via NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Missing Half is a deeply affecting psychological suspense novel that explores the emotional aftermath of unresolved trauma and the enduring power of sisterhood. At its core, the story follows two women—Nic Monroe and Jenna Connor—whose sisters disappeared within weeks of each other in 2012. Though their siblings’ bodies were never found, the emotional toll on both families has been devastating. What unfolds is not only a gripping mystery but also a poignant portrait of grief, addiction, and resilience.

Nic Monroe is a mess—personally, professionally, and emotionally—Her life mirrors the unresolved nature of her sister’s disappearance. Her character arc is a raw and honest depiction of someone trapped by loss and alcoholism, yet still possessing a flicker of determination that propels her forward when Jenna appears with new evidence. Their evolving partnership, built on shared pain and hard-earned trust, forms the emotional backbone of the narrative.

The narrative structure is carefully constructed, with each chapter ending in a subtle cliffhanger, keeping readers engaged while allowing space for reflection. Particularly compelling is how the author handles difficult themes—addiction, grief, family dysfunction—with sensitivity and emotional intelligence. The plot steadily builds toward a climax that is both unexpected and deeply affecting, even if some readers may find the final twist more emotionally resonant than shocking.

That said, the novel is not without its challenges. The pacing in the first half felt very slow and the suspense doesn’t fully ignite until later in the book. Additionally, while the misdirection is ambitious, it occasionally feels overdone, which may distract from the story’s emotional nuance. However, these elements do not diminish the overall impact of the novel.

What truly elevates The Missing Half is its thematic richness. It is not merely a thriller, but a story about the cost of unresolved trauma, the quiet strength of survivors, and the unbreakable ties that bind siblings—even across absence. It prompts reflection on how we grieve, how we cope, and how, sometimes, confronting the truth—no matter how painful—is the only path toward healing.

In summary:
The Missing Half is a masterful blend of literary emotion and psychological suspense. While the pacing may not appeal to all readers, the emotional payoff is profound. This novel will resonate with those who appreciate complex characters, layered storytelling, and mysteries that linger long after the final page. 4-4.25 stars.

Thank you Netgalley, Bantam/Random House for this uncorrected ebook copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was fantastic!! I totally thought I knew where this story was heading and I DID NOT….which is rare for me. I love the style of Ashley Flowers’ writing…her true crime background really comes through in how she crafts her stories and this one was sooo good! And while it does end without tying everything up into a bow, she does answer all the important questions about the mystery, which I appreciated, and the ending isn’t as abrupt as All Good People Here. I absolutely loved it!

Our library pre-purchased this book but i am very glad that it became available on NetGalley first. Although i read books in online and hardback form and usually have several going at the same time, i found myself opting to read this one above the others.

Thank you for this opportunity. I enjoyed it very much. Now, when our book comes in i can recommend it and hand it to an eager reader!!

Thanks netgalley and publisher for the ARC!

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I wish there was more in the ending, like a fast forward to a year later to show what happened after because I still had some questions unanswered, but overall 4 starts for this one!

The ending of this book shook me! I did not see it coming at all! Although there were slow points, I finished it in a day.

Two girls in small town Indiana go missing two weeks apart. Seven years later, Nic has done all she can to ignore the memories of Kasey and has become numb to it all. When the other missing girl’s sister, Jenna, shows up and begs her to help her look into the case, old wounds open up. The things Nic finds out, not only about Kasey, but about herself are shocking. What the girls uncover is not what either of them expected.

I loved it! Fast paced and kept you interested! I couldn’t put it down! The ending is not what I expected! Definitely a great twist at the end! This thriller is every I look for in a book!