joyceedb's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.0
narniaru's review
4.0
This was one of those books you don't want to put down, especially when you feel like you need to keep reading so as to help some characters. Unfortunately I had to knock it a star because the ending felt a little too contrived.
creaseinthespinebooks's review
2.0
⭐️⭐️
The book kept my interest but it was hard to relate to the characters, why they are who they are. The whole story was lackluster
The book kept my interest but it was hard to relate to the characters, why they are who they are. The whole story was lackluster
illusie's review against another edition
4.0
This is about Mel who's family goes missing. The question is "what happened to them?". This is a very intriguing story and is a real page turner. I was hooked from page one. I like all the turns and twists in the plot. I like that we get to hear the story from the point of view of both Mel and her Husband. This way you know both sides of the story.
mistylyn's review against another edition
3.0
How far would you go to protect your children? That is the question that propels the plot of this fast-paced, though clumsy, novel. A recently widowed father, Luke, reunites with his estranged family just before meeting Mel, a bunny boiler who turns his life upside down. The problem for me was that I just never liked Luke. Although he is painted as the grieving widower, for me he appeared both spineless and immature. His self-centered global view, though certainly heavily tainted by loss, just left me wanting to bitch-slap him and scream “grow up”! In fact, I don’t think there was a single character here whom I could actually say I liked. Each is so wrought with deep-seated character flaws that I was simply left racing through in a herculean effort to just finish it and find another read. Good writer, just not my cuppa.
vandana_onmyshelf's review against another edition
3.0
After reading rave reviews of Love you gone I really thought I was in for a treat and had high hopes going in. Have you ever read a book with great anticipation only to be disappointed? The only thing going for the book was the fast pace. It’s the fastest book I have read in recent times. Around six hours, more or less. Here’s the plotline:
Luke is a widower with two kids. He is at loss for living his life after the death of his wife. He is estranged from his parents and haven’t a clue how to bring up his children.
Mel is in her late thirties and a successful business woman. But she desperately wants a child. So when Luke comes in her life she sees the perfect opportunity to step into the role of a mum as well as try to have a child of her own.
After a series of problems they decide to go on a holiday to sort things with each other only to find Luke and the kids missing, once Mel arrives. What happened to them? How can they just disappear?
Luke is a widower with two kids. He is at loss for living his life after the death of his wife. He is estranged from his parents and haven’t a clue how to bring up his children.
Mel is in her late thirties and a successful business woman. But she desperately wants a child. So when Luke comes in her life she sees the perfect opportunity to step into the role of a mum as well as try to have a child of her own.
After a series of problems they decide to go on a holiday to sort things with each other only to find Luke and the kids missing, once Mel arrives. What happened to them? How can they just disappear?
robinlovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
Please see all of my reviews on my blog at www.robinlovesreading.com.
My rating: 4.5 Stars
Mel has a very serious issue. She is going to a holiday escape with her husband, Luke, and their children with the primary purpose of trying to restore some happiness in her family. But she is greatly disturbed. When she gets there the cottage is empty. They went ahead of her because she was detained by work. She is very concerned but she notices that the car is in the driveway and there is a note saying that they went for a walk.
She does what she can to relax. At the very least she can start a fire so that the cottage will be comfortable when the family gets home. But after several hours she has no choice but to call the police and even mountain rescue to try and locate her family. After talking to the police she feels that they will be found relatively soon.
However, the police turned up nothing. So they continue going back-and-forth speaking to Mel to try to find out what information they can. Mel starts filling them in on certain details bit by bit making them rather curious about what really is going on.
Meanwhile another perspective is introduced into the story and it is done from the past working its way to the present. The reader, and definitely the police, begins to see that things were not as they seem in the marriage. There were problems, very deep problems.
The story turns from an intense psychological thriller into a very dramatic family drama. There are circumstances that Mel and Luke are dealing with that are very traumatic, so much so that things begin to make sense.
I was on the edge of my seat while reading the story. Not only did I want the family to be safe, I wanted resolution for the problems that Mel and Luke were dealing with in the marriage. Especially since there were two children that were very much affected by everything that was happening.
This was an incredible story written very well. There is drama, as well as secrets and an incredible family dynamic. This riveting story completed itself with a surprising conclusion.
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
My rating: 4.5 Stars
Mel has a very serious issue. She is going to a holiday escape with her husband, Luke, and their children with the primary purpose of trying to restore some happiness in her family. But she is greatly disturbed. When she gets there the cottage is empty. They went ahead of her because she was detained by work. She is very concerned but she notices that the car is in the driveway and there is a note saying that they went for a walk.
She does what she can to relax. At the very least she can start a fire so that the cottage will be comfortable when the family gets home. But after several hours she has no choice but to call the police and even mountain rescue to try and locate her family. After talking to the police she feels that they will be found relatively soon.
However, the police turned up nothing. So they continue going back-and-forth speaking to Mel to try to find out what information they can. Mel starts filling them in on certain details bit by bit making them rather curious about what really is going on.
Meanwhile another perspective is introduced into the story and it is done from the past working its way to the present. The reader, and definitely the police, begins to see that things were not as they seem in the marriage. There were problems, very deep problems.
The story turns from an intense psychological thriller into a very dramatic family drama. There are circumstances that Mel and Luke are dealing with that are very traumatic, so much so that things begin to make sense.
I was on the edge of my seat while reading the story. Not only did I want the family to be safe, I wanted resolution for the problems that Mel and Luke were dealing with in the marriage. Especially since there were two children that were very much affected by everything that was happening.
This was an incredible story written very well. There is drama, as well as secrets and an incredible family dynamic. This riveting story completed itself with a surprising conclusion.
Many thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for this ARC to review in exchange for my honest opinion.
creaseinthespinebooks's review against another edition
2.0
⭐️⭐️
The book kept my interest but it was hard to relate to the characters, why they are who they are. The whole story was lackluster
The book kept my interest but it was hard to relate to the characters, why they are who they are. The whole story was lackluster
sarahs_bookish_life's review against another edition
5.0
This is going to be such a hard review to write as the least you know about this story the better!
The opening chapters of Mel getting to the holiday home to find her husband and children missing had my interest piqued straight away. How could they just disappear? The police as well as Mel seem to be totally baffled. Then comes the secrets and lies. This is where I want to start screaming and shouting with excitement with all the OMG's as they just kept coming at me and I blooming well loved it!
I'm not going to say anything else about the actual story line as believe me, to do so, would just spoil it for anyone else. What I will say is, that if you love a psychological thriller that is seriously going to mess with your head, well here it is.
Love You Gone is a story that totally took me by surprise. No way could I ever envision the wonderful dark and twistedness of what was inside. From picking the book up I only put it down as I needed sleep, then was first thing I picked up the next morning not putting it down until I finished it. This book is going to send the reader spiralling through lots of emotions as the twists and turns keep coming. The adrenaline was coursing through my body as the thrill of what I was reading just intensified. A book that is definitely worthy of shouting about. Loved it!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
The opening chapters of Mel getting to the holiday home to find her husband and children missing had my interest piqued straight away. How could they just disappear? The police as well as Mel seem to be totally baffled. Then comes the secrets and lies. This is where I want to start screaming and shouting with excitement with all the OMG's as they just kept coming at me and I blooming well loved it!
I'm not going to say anything else about the actual story line as believe me, to do so, would just spoil it for anyone else. What I will say is, that if you love a psychological thriller that is seriously going to mess with your head, well here it is.
Love You Gone is a story that totally took me by surprise. No way could I ever envision the wonderful dark and twistedness of what was inside. From picking the book up I only put it down as I needed sleep, then was first thing I picked up the next morning not putting it down until I finished it. This book is going to send the reader spiralling through lots of emotions as the twists and turns keep coming. The adrenaline was coursing through my body as the thrill of what I was reading just intensified. A book that is definitely worthy of shouting about. Loved it!
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for an advanced readers copy of this book. All opinions are my own and not biased in anyway.
ginaardito's review against another edition
4.0
Mel and Luke seem like the perfect couple, but like every "perfect" couple, they've hit a rocky patch. A family vacation is just what they need to get back on track. But when Mel arrives at the rental cabin after work, Luke and the kids are gone. And suddenly, the perfect veneer slips, giving us a peek into a story of domestic abuse, drug dealing, and power dynamics gone awry. The beginning is a little slow, but once the story picks up speed, it really picks up. I don't know if I'd go so far as to say it's "gripping" or that the twist is, in fact, "incredible." But all in all, a decent, fast-paced read.