Reviews with content warning for Suicide attempt - Before She Was Found

Hmmm...I almost could have liked this one, but I just can't get behind mental illness as a plot twist. If I finish something in one day, I struggle to rate it below three stars — obviously, the story gripped me and I kept going, never quite sure where things were heading — but this is a 2.5-star read for me, rounded up mostly due to the superb audiobook narration.

Unfortunately, things headed to a place I really didn't care for. False accusations about a teacher who was, frankly, acting creepy? No thanks. Cora's mental illness being the villain all along? Ugh. Weird plot point with the older sister and random friend catfishing Cora? Truly out of nowhere and wildly glossed over (mostly the friend telling a preteen to stand topless in front of a window and leaving random gifts and notes for her...like what in the absolute fuck). Did I mention the creepy teacher? I'm gonna again! Casually touching young girls, giving them your cell number, and trying to befriend them is horrifying and just such a massive boundary violation that I was honestly shocked he was painted as some innocent guy who had his life ruined. Sorry bro, you suck.

Anyway. I'm deeply unsatisfied with this plot and ending. I also have to assume this was very loosely based on the Slenderman attack, and in light of that, Cora's attack on herself feels pretty disrespectful and fucked up? Sigh. Maybe it's time to take a break from this genre for a bit.

Content Warnings