
Member Reviews

Thank you to NetGalley for the E-arc of this title. This was my first read from this author and I was not disappointed. I will have to read more of her stuff. The story has not only suspense, but also sadness. Was not sure where the story was going and it went somewhere I wouldn’t have thought. This was hard to put down. Great read!

I want to thank NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!
Wow. I was actually blown away by this one. I expected and thought this was going to be a creepy thriller but instead it was about survival. Found family.. it was heartbreaking to say the least. The snowstorm scene is what dragged me in from the beginning. I love a thriller story that has a good raging snowstorm. It really was not what I expected but I loved it anyway. Felix being missing and no trace of him to be found.. Sadie being the bravest ever taking in those 2 boys in the middle of the storm while frantically searching for her husband but not being able to do much because of the storm.. it was all gripping.. there were parts I couldn’t stop reading and had to continue to find out their next move. Well done.

Where He Left Me drew me in from its very first Wrinkle In Time-esque first line. It felt like time stood still until I found myself ugly crying at the end of the novel. Wow. This is a Must Read.
As is quite common with this type of thriller, it is told in dual timelines that alternate between the present, first-person narrative, and the flashback in deep third-person perspective. This contrast gives us both a slow-burning thriller and the emotional weight of literary fiction. As a result, suspense and heartbreak abound.
I especially appreciated the complexity of the 40-something protagonist, which can be a rare and refreshing voice in a genre often centered on younger women. Her emotional journey, paired with themes of found family, grief, and grace, made this one of the most powerful books I’ve read in a long time.
I’ll be digging into Nicole Baart’s backlist. For sure.

What a wonderful atmospheric novel. Sadie is a strong female lead left in a very moody area in Washinton. The author writes evocative prose to keep us guessing what will happen next. I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Where He Left Me
This book was beautifully written! I went into it relatively blind, thinking it was a thriller/paranormal sort of book, but it was so much more than that! Sadie’s husband leaves for a work trip but then goes missing while she is at their super remote house (AND it’s winter 🥶 - no thanks!!!) As if that’s not already bad enough, nobody believes that her husband is missing + she has two trespassers at this remote house. The story really gets going from there, and we also get a little bit of part/present POV as it unfolds further. I spent a lot of time confused as to where it was going but kept reading. Super worth it when all the pieces fit together! Such a good story, and I really liked Sadie’s character!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you @netgalley for the chance to read and review this ahead of time!
Releases November 4, 2025 ✏️ 🗓️

"Where He Left Me" is an engaging and suspenseful read filled with unexpected twists. The story centers around Sadie Sheridan, an English professor who unexpectedly finds love and marries a science professor. Initially, she believed that love and marriage were far from her future. However, just a year into their marriage, her husband fails to return home after attending a conference, leaving Sadie isolated on a mountain in Washington State. Compounding her situation, she notices two mysterious figures appearing on the outdoor camera, and a snowstorm is approaching. This creates a thrilling backdrop for a gripping narrative. As Sadie begins to question everything she knows about her husband and his family, she discovers unsettling truths that suggest danger is lurking nearby. This is a book that should undoubtedly be on your reading list!

A suspenful story about a wife trying to make it after her husband left for a business trip and didn't return, not knowing where he was or if he'll return. It was a gripping story with plenty of twists, danger, found family ,grief, and survival. I truly was captivated throughout the read in following the characters to see what was going to happen next. Great fast read. I recommend reading if you love suspense.
Thank you, Nicole Baart and Netgalley, for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

What a unique read! I was so intrigued on how this story would wrap up, I couldn’t read fast enough! I deff did not predict that ending, my mouth is still hanging open! What a story, those boys went through so much. I am still not happy with his character. All that astrology bit lost me in parts but I understand why it was kept in!
This is a new author for me, and I’m happy to have this book!

Nicole Baart does a phenomenal job of bringing her characters to life. It’s my favorite thing about her books. In Where He Left Me, we meet Sadie and Felix. A sort of unlikely pair, who have married and moved to Felix’s childhood home, Hemlock House. The name Hemlock House alone should give you creepy vibes.
One day Felix leaves for a work trip and doesn’t return. Sadie is left alone, in the house he grew up in with all of its secret. Alone, until the trail cameras she thought were disabled pick up two figures at the edge of the property.
The story that unfolds after is not at all what I thought it would be. Where He Left Me is a story of love, survival, and the importance of believing in someone with your whole self, even when it makes more sense not to. The creepy factor was just enough to make me not want to read at night, but the rest of the story was so good that I couldn’t stop myself.
5 stars.

I could not put this down! It was full of shocks, lies, and secrets that would destroy. I finished this in one setting because it was that good! I will most definitely be purchasing this book for my shelf!

I have loved Nicole Baarts previous novels so.much but this one...she out did herself! Twisty...creepy and mysterious storyline with wonderful twists and turns.

If you are looking for a twisty, suspenseful, eerie vibe thriller, you have found it! Imagine your and your significant other have relocated to the desolate mountains. Your husband leaves one day and doesn't return. However, two strangers appear and are not with you in the house. Who exactly are these strangers? What dark secrets are they keeping? Does Sadie really know her husband like she thought she did? This book will leave you wanting the answers to these questions. I promise you will not be able to turn the pages fast enough!
The author does a great job developing the characters and keeping the plot realistic. She also did a great job tying up the questions I had lurking at the end. Overall, just a great thriller!
What. A. Ride! I could not wait to read this book and it exceeded my expectations. I am really looking forward to reading another book by Nicole Baart.
Thank you NetGalley, Nocole Baart, and Atria Books for eArc!
Publishing date: 11/4/25, go mark your calendar!
Do not wait to get your copy! Pre-Order NOW! You will not regret it.

I was immediately drawn into Where He Left Me, a moving and introspective novel that lingers long after the final page. Nicole Baart masterfully explores the fragile threads that tie love, grief, and forgiveness together, weaving a story that feels both intimate and universal. The characters are richly developed, their emotions raw and believable, and their journeys unfold with a quiet intensity that never feels forced. Baart’s writing is graceful and evocative, capturing small moments of pain and hope with equal care. Although the pacing drifts in places, those slower chapters give the reader space to reflect—just as the characters must do. This isn’t just a story about loss; it’s about what it takes to rebuild. Deeply human and full of heart, it’s a compelling read for fans of character-driven fiction.
Appreciation to NetGalley for providing the advance copy!

I enjoyed the story and build up of this book. I felt like I could not put this book down. I needed to know what was going to happen next. The way it all came together in the end was perfection!

I was so excited for this ARC and it did not disappoint!
Nicole Baart just has a way with words. “Where He Left Me” is domestic suspense at its finest. It is atmospheric and I found the setting kind of creepy and eerie. The twists were unexpected and although the book did seem to slow down at certain points, I still couldn’t stop reading. The characters are well-written and have a lot of depth to them. I really enjoyed this one and highly recommend adding it to your TBR!
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Beautifully written. I was thrilled to be chosen to receive this ARC because I enjoyed this author’s last book, Everything We Didn’t Say. And, really, I liked this one too! While I do think the middle drug out a bit too much, I loved the flashbacks and wished there were more! It was atmospheric and I recommend reading this one in the winter, under a blanket, with a warm drink!
Thank you Simon & Schuster, Nicole Baart, and NetGalley for this ARC!

Nicole Barrt writes a great compelling book. In this tale of love, deprivation, and forgiveness Barrt unravels a complex story with her relatable characters. She uses beautifully descriptive writing.
Sadie is a teacher at university, where she meets her future husband Felix who also teaches about all this astronomy related. After Sadie and Felix are wed, he whisks her away on sabbatical to the home he grew up in. Felix leaves for a conference. He doesn’t return when he promised. Sadie is left alone. She ponders, how well do I know my husband?
Storms come and Sadie is still alone in their home that feels as if it is haunted. She sees two men on trail cameras. What is she to do? Do these men mean her harm? Should she approach these strangers? Will her husband ever return? As Sadie battles many questions, and the storm. We learn important lessons.
No spoilers here!
Some sections of the story slow done. However, Barrt has a wonderful plot, and lessons we can apply to our own lives.
Happy Reading,
Crystal Eubanks
booked_in_mississippi

Where He Left Me" by Nicole Baart is a twisty, atmospheric suspense novel that masterfully weaves together dark secrets, haunting settings, and complex relationships. When Sadie Sheridan's husband Felix disappears, she's left isolated at Hemlock House, a remote mountain homestead in Washington's North Cascades. As Sadie navigates threats from outside and within, she uncovers shocking secrets that make her question her husband's true identity. With its heart-racing plot and poetic prose, this novel delivers a thrilling page-turning experience. Baart's writing shines in this gripping thriller, making it a standout in the genre

I received this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.
TLDR: It has potential
Pros: beautifully written, nice descriptions, writing style is on par with other popular authors, liked the back and forth between past and present
Cons: got very stagnant in the middle, most of the good stuff happened all squished up in the end. It seemed like the wrong parts of the story were drawn out. I got bored in the middle but kept going

Sadie’s husband Felix goes on a work trip but he doesn’t returned. Sadie is stranded in the remote cabin her husband grew up in. Where is Felix? So many secrets, twists and turns. Does Sadie really know Felix at all?
This book was so good! I was on the edge of my seat and my heart was pounding!
Thank you NetGalley, Nicole and Atria Books for the eARC!
Rating: ✨✨ ✨✨
Publication Date: November 4 2025