beelovesreading's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to read The Lost Girls.
This book will likely stay with me for a long while. I've always loved stories that go from one era to the next in the form of journals and diaries, so I really enjoyed this. Emily's disappearance will have you second-guessing yourself as to who had a hand in her fate. I will say that it affected me more than I realised when (the night I finished the book) I had a nightmare about my daughter in which she died. I woke up and just spent the morning sobbing.
I loved reading of Lucy's past and I loved reading about Justine's present. There were so many complicated characters but it worked so so well. I recommend this to everyone.
This book will likely stay with me for a long while. I've always loved stories that go from one era to the next in the form of journals and diaries, so I really enjoyed this. Emily's disappearance will have you second-guessing yourself as to who had a hand in her fate. I will say that it affected me more than I realised when (the night I finished the book) I had a nightmare about my daughter in which she died. I woke up and just spent the morning sobbing.
I loved reading of Lucy's past and I loved reading about Justine's present. There were so many complicated characters but it worked so so well. I recommend this to everyone.
novelesque_life's review against another edition
3.0
RATING: 3 STARS
2016; William Morrow/Harper Collins
I went into this novel thinking it was more of a suspense thriller than a fiction book with a mystery. Right off the bat, I will admit other than the young girls, Melanie and Angela, I didn't really connect with the characters. While what happened to Emily was plausible, it seemed a bit too flippant. Almost like, oh right, Emily died and we have to give some sort of ending. There were certain plotlines that Young was trying to hint at without saying but it seemed too much in your face. I'd rather have just known right out about the secrets. The dancing around the secret got a bit tedious and then I just didn't care when it was revealed as it felt like you already knew. Even the description above is more of a summary than a synopsis (it is why I went with the publisher's synopsis as it seems to give away 2/3 of the novel).
It took me a bit to get into the novel as the story takes awhile to heat up. It is one of the reason why there is no real suspense. There was a mystery but even that wasn't mentioned as much as I thought it would. BUT I am glad I stuck with it as I dis enjoy Young's writing and her intentions from this novel. While her characters seem either very harsh and out for themselves or quiet pushovers - I did not feel any connection - good or bad towards them. I am interested in seeing what Young writes next...I will try not to have expectations of a certain genre.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
My Novelesque Blog
2016; William Morrow/Harper Collins
I went into this novel thinking it was more of a suspense thriller than a fiction book with a mystery. Right off the bat, I will admit other than the young girls, Melanie and Angela, I didn't really connect with the characters. While what happened to Emily was plausible, it seemed a bit too flippant. Almost like, oh right, Emily died and we have to give some sort of ending. There were certain plotlines that Young was trying to hint at without saying but it seemed too much in your face. I'd rather have just known right out about the secrets. The dancing around the secret got a bit tedious and then I just didn't care when it was revealed as it felt like you already knew. Even the description above is more of a summary than a synopsis (it is why I went with the publisher's synopsis as it seems to give away 2/3 of the novel).
It took me a bit to get into the novel as the story takes awhile to heat up. It is one of the reason why there is no real suspense. There was a mystery but even that wasn't mentioned as much as I thought it would. BUT I am glad I stuck with it as I dis enjoy Young's writing and her intentions from this novel. While her characters seem either very harsh and out for themselves or quiet pushovers - I did not feel any connection - good or bad towards them. I am interested in seeing what Young writes next...I will try not to have expectations of a certain genre.
***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through Edelweiss. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***
My Novelesque Blog
lemon_'s review against another edition
3.0
Strong writing, strong story, and it hits home with a strong moral ending that makes you question your own values.
lydaalexander's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
bunnieslikediamonds's review against another edition
2.0
Very, very slow going in this mystery. The mystery wasn't that hard to figure out if you're an avid reader, so the slow pacing felt excruciating. One of the two main characters finds it impossible to speak her mind, leading to deeply annoying storylines. Bleak and dark, without the teeniest bit of humour.
aprilbethp's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
drarieple's review against another edition
1.0
Awful. I kept reading thinking it would get better. Spoiler... it didn’t. Very slow development of unlikeable characters. The ending was haphazardly thrown together. I don’t understand the great reviews. At all.
katiekmac's review against another edition
4.0
4.5 stars from me. Loved the dual timelines. Sat down with the book at 6pm one night and couldn't put it down. Had it finished by 4pm the next day. It's interesting though, I didn't particularly like any of the characters. They all annoyed me a little in some capacity, but all of their flaws are what drives the story.
bibliophile24's review against another edition
5.0
A lake house plus a creepy/possible stalker ex boyfriend, and long buried family secrets equal housework ignored and sleep lost to read all about it. Heather Young's next book is already on my 'to read' list before it's been published.
mrspenningalovesbooks's review against another edition
4.0
“The things we do for love are the hardest things to regret.” A beautiful combination of tragedy and love, past and present, and beauty and ugliness. What a great lesson in what it means to stand with courage, for our own story as well as those who have loved and lived before us. A tragically haunting read, yet there is peace & love in this story of the lost sisters.