Then She Was Gone: A Novel
From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Family Upstairs and None of This Is True comes an “acutely observed family drama” (People) about the lingering aftermath of a young girl’s disappearance.
Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her.
And then she was gone.
Now, her mother, Laurel Mack, is trying to put her life back together. It’s been ten years since her youngest child disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie’s case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.
Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie.
Laurel is haunted by her long unanswered questions. What happened to Ellie? Did she run away from home, as the police have long suspected? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?
Ellie Mack was the perfect daughter. She was fifteen, beloved by her parents, friends, and teachers. She and her boyfriend made a teenaged golden couple. She was days away from an idyllic summer vacation, with her whole life ahead of her.
And then she was gone.
Now, her mother, Laurel Mack, is trying to put her life back together. It’s been ten years since her youngest child disappeared, seven years since her marriage ended, and only months since the last clue in Ellie’s case was unearthed. So when she meets an unexpectedly charming man in a café, no one is more surprised than Laurel at how quickly their flirtation develops into something deeper. Before she knows it, she’s meeting Floyd’s daughters—and his youngest, Poppy, takes Laurel’s breath away.
Because looking at Poppy is like looking at Ellie.
Laurel is haunted by her long unanswered questions. What happened to Ellie? Did she run away from home, as the police have long suspected? Who is Floyd, really? And why does his daughter remind Laurel so viscerally of her own missing girl?
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Readers say *Then She Was Gone* is a suspenseful, emotional novel exploring grief, family, and a mother’s hope. Many praise Jewell’s engaging writing,...
Why oh why do I keep reading Lisa Jewell’s books? I keep hoping I’ll read one and I’ll love it, but let's be real, it isn't fair to me nor Lisa Jewell that I keep reading her books.
It's not fair for me to read her books and rate them low or mediocrity, when she may not be the right author for me to read. I hate being a small contributing factor t an overall lower score when I know there's a 99% chance that I’m going to end her books feeling “meh.”
I will say, that it felt odd reading a book where the missing girl, has the same name as my daughter. 10/10 I don't recommend reading this book and picturing your daughter as the missing girl.
As far as the plot and “vibe” I got while reading this book and after finishing it, I just feel indifferent. I found the ending predictable and if it weren't for the main character having a memorable name (to me) I could've seen me easily forgetting this book, and I'm sure I will sooner rather than later.
It's not fair for me to read her books and rate them low or mediocrity, when she may not be the right author for me to read. I hate being a small contributing factor t an overall lower score when I know there's a 99% chance that I’m going to end her books feeling “meh.”
I will say, that it felt odd reading a book where the missing girl, has the same name as my daughter. 10/10 I don't recommend reading this book and picturing your daughter as the missing girl.
As far as the plot and “vibe” I got while reading this book and after finishing it, I just feel indifferent. I found the ending predictable and if it weren't for the main character having a memorable name (to me) I could've seen me easily forgetting this book, and I'm sure I will sooner rather than later.
Upgraded from 3.5 to 4 cause, well, half stars aren’t an option. Besides, up until the tail-end of the book I’d have given it 4.
The book held a nice pace for me, and again, I stayed immersed in the story and characters until the last couple of chapters when things began feeling a little wonky. It’s like it nearly came to a screeching halt, as tho there were only so many words allowably permitted to finish. I think I would have enjoyed for the ending to unfurl just a LITTLE bit more…
The book held a nice pace for me, and again, I stayed immersed in the story and characters until the last couple of chapters when things began feeling a little wonky. It’s like it nearly came to a screeching halt, as tho there were only so many words allowably permitted to finish. I think I would have enjoyed for the ending to unfurl just a LITTLE bit more…
This book was a slow burn. I think if the author would have dealt with the grief from the parents and siblings perspective, how Ellie felt being kidnapped and finding her remains.This would have been a great book.
"And I thought of the girl ... of her big brain and her perfect features, the honey of her hair tied so carelessly into a topknot, the socked feet tucked beneath her and elegant hands folded into her sleeves, the smell of her - of apples and toothpaste, of clean hair and girl - the keenness to learn, her gentleness, her perfection. She had a glow about her, a circle of light ... She was quite, quite lovely and quite, quite brilliant. And I have to confess, I became more than a little obsessed."
Genuinely good book. Certain parts were very predictable, but it was still a page-turner. Not much of a mystery/suspense reader normally, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
Genuinely good book. Certain parts were very predictable, but it was still a page-turner. Not much of a mystery/suspense reader normally, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book.
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