Still Missing

Wow. Hm. Not sure where to start with this one, or what there is to say that hasn't already been said. This book reads like a Lifetime movie script. Not a compliment. It wasn't the worst book I've ever read, but the good did not outweigh the bad in my opinion, making it a two star read. This review will contain major spoilers.

It does feel unfair that I began this right after finishing Kanae Minato's books, which were so good I was afraid I'd never like another book. I did try to forget about that while I read this, and I don't think my review is too influenced by it...

For the things I liked: I liked Past Annie, and I liked the scenes that took place in the cabin. She was intelligent, was good at reading her captor, and I liked her insight. I also liked the details that made her feel more human: her love of yellow, her love for her dog, her worry for her friend. I didn't hate the framing of the story, but it could have been done better.

Now for the things I did not like so much. This may be extensive.

Starting from the top: the cover. What on Earth is happening here? I actually just looked closer and saw the cabin in the bottom left corner. Never noticed that before. This, along with a strange shattered glass effect are overlaid on top of Annie's collar bone. Something about it reminds me of Speak...

Next, we open with Annie talking to a therapist, maybe a psychiatrist? I don't know, she calls her "doc" the whole time. It irks me a bit. She's gruff and brash, but assures the psych that she "hasn't always been this much of a bitch."

Here's the thing. Traumatic experiences can change someone, and they may show this type of behavior. In this novel it comes off as trying too hard, and that's not the authors intent. It makes me cringe a bit. Annie is also very inconsistent. Not sure if that's a product of poor writing or her trauma. Guess we'll never know.

I did not care for the surprise pregnancy. I think it would have been more effective if this book wasn't a past vs present type of story. If the novel simply followed her year captive, that would have been a more interesting plot point. The worst thing about it was how weirdly pro-life it came off, in terms of Annie's thoughts around the pregnancy and baby when she was born.

I hated the relationship with Gary. Sorry, no, I hated the sex scene. I thought their dynamic was great, and the sex scene truly added nothing of value. One could argue that it showed Annie having agency over her body... but that was never the point of the story. The point of the story was the random "big" plot twist of who was behind the whole kidnapping.

I'm not sure if the end felt rushed, or if I just rushed through it trying to finish the damn thing, but it really seemed thrown together. The motive and plan were so random, despite the set up. Also, the mom not knowing what kidnapping is... bruh.

I actually have nothing else to say about this. I wanted to know what happened, so I finished it. Meh.

Really enjoyed this but it messed with my head. Details of a woman abducted and raped. I had to read it quickly. It was too much.