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meganlee96's review against another edition
2.0
This book was so repetitive, on every single page Megan was crying, she thought little about the family she did have and constantly shut them out. I was happy with the ending but felt that it was lacking..in everything. There was no revelation, nothing shocking. The child went missing so early in the book that we lack any real connection with her and the relationship she had with her mother. There were also a huge number of plot holes. It also lacked in the aftermath, how Megan's husband and children felt at the end of the book was totally overlooked. Overall, not an awful book, but wouldn't recommend
jan1234's review against another edition
4.0
A very moving story. Thought it was going to be sad, and in parts it was. Nothing is black and white in this story. Well worth the read. I couldn't put it down. Looking forward to reading the next book.
purplesky02's review against another edition
1.0
I found this book frustrating. The novel begins as Megan's three year old daughter Emma goes missing one afternoon when she is playing outside of her house. Flash forward two years later and Megan and her family are still distraught (obviously). Megan and her husband Peter's marriage is in shambles, and Megan has never given up hope that one day Emma will come home.
And then we meet Jack and Dottie and their five year old granddaughter, Emmie.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It was obvious to me from the beginning that Emma and Emmie are the same person. Dottie is suffering from memory loss and dementia, while Jack struggles to care for Emmie and Dottie. He often makes mention of being tired or having body aches and pains. Under Dottie's watchful eye, Emmie is not allowed to interact with any other children (or anyone for that matter). Slowly, Dottie allows her to play with the new neighbors, who have a daughter Emmie's age. Though really it was clear that Dottie didn't want that to happen, and she was suffering from the symptoms of dementia when they are allowed to play.
Jack believes that Emmie is the daughter of their daughter Mary. Dottie brings Emmie to the house one day and Jack has no further questions.
CLEARLY, this is a crock of BS. Jack doesn't ask more questions when his wife who is suffering from dementia and memory loss randomly brings home a child? What?
Throughout the novel, we see Megan suffering. Her husband has given up hope of ever finding Emma and thinks his wife is a loon for still having hope. What a jerk! It's only been two years and he's acting like she's crazy because she still looks for Emma in the crowds. And Peter may or may not be having an affair with his co-worker. And Megan may or may not have had an affair with the detective assigned to work Emma's case. Peter gets annoyed when the detective brings by age updated sketches of what she would look like now. I'm not sure why Peter was so annoyed?
Plus, we are supposed to sympathize with the kidnappers. WHAT? This woman stole a child from her parents and actively worked to keep her away from the world where she may be recognized. In her moments of clarity, it was obvious that Dottie was still trying to hide her deception.
Megan and Emma are finally reunited after Megan snaps a photo at a carnival and recognizes Emma in the background. This was one of the few times Jack and Dottie took Emma out. Dottie won't even allow Emma to be introduced to Jack's friends. Even when Megan recognizes Emma in the photo, her husband still thinks she is imagining things. Even when the police officer working the case calls to ask them to come to Jack and Dottie's farmhouse (although he won't say exactly why? What?), Peter tells Megan it's probably just so Megan can move on and let go and realize they will never find Emma. WHAT A JERK!
Then we get some weird thoughts from the police detective who confirms what Peter said and it isn't normal operating procedure, but he wants Megan to see this isn't her daughter and to move on. Except it is her daughter. Emma is staying with the neighbors because Dottie has a stroke and was taken to the hospital.
So many things about this book annoyed me. The idiot neighbor who sees a flyer with Emma's picture under missing (the picture has been age updated). She thinks it looks a lot like Emma. Except her hair is different, and she's missing a tooth, so it must not be her. What? She finally thinks to say something as the officer who was questioning her about the little girl next door is leaving. At the carnival where Megan snaps the photo, she actually talks to a woman who is supposed to be Dottie? Who knows? The woman identifies herself as Josie, but Dottie and Jack are also there with Emma and this couple also has a little blond girl with them. If it actually is Dottie, it's even worse because she lies about her name. It would be way to coincidental for it be some other random older woman there with her granddaughter and husband.
At the very end the author has a note that begins, "did you fall in love with Jack and Dottie as much as I did?" NO! They were kidnappers! Dottie stole a child and Jack didn't ask any questions at all about a random child coming home one day with his wife who is likely going senile.
I didn't like this book at all. I know there are a few sequels, but I have no intention of reading more about kidnappers who I most definitely didn't fall in love with.
And then we meet Jack and Dottie and their five year old granddaughter, Emmie.
SPOILERS AHEAD
It was obvious to me from the beginning that Emma and Emmie are the same person. Dottie is suffering from memory loss and dementia, while Jack struggles to care for Emmie and Dottie. He often makes mention of being tired or having body aches and pains. Under Dottie's watchful eye, Emmie is not allowed to interact with any other children (or anyone for that matter). Slowly, Dottie allows her to play with the new neighbors, who have a daughter Emmie's age. Though really it was clear that Dottie didn't want that to happen, and she was suffering from the symptoms of dementia when they are allowed to play.
Jack believes that Emmie is the daughter of their daughter Mary. Dottie brings Emmie to the house one day and Jack has no further questions.
CLEARLY, this is a crock of BS. Jack doesn't ask more questions when his wife who is suffering from dementia and memory loss randomly brings home a child? What?
Throughout the novel, we see Megan suffering. Her husband has given up hope of ever finding Emma and thinks his wife is a loon for still having hope. What a jerk! It's only been two years and he's acting like she's crazy because she still looks for Emma in the crowds. And Peter may or may not be having an affair with his co-worker. And Megan may or may not have had an affair with the detective assigned to work Emma's case. Peter gets annoyed when the detective brings by age updated sketches of what she would look like now. I'm not sure why Peter was so annoyed?
Plus, we are supposed to sympathize with the kidnappers. WHAT? This woman stole a child from her parents and actively worked to keep her away from the world where she may be recognized. In her moments of clarity, it was obvious that Dottie was still trying to hide her deception.
Megan and Emma are finally reunited after Megan snaps a photo at a carnival and recognizes Emma in the background. This was one of the few times Jack and Dottie took Emma out. Dottie won't even allow Emma to be introduced to Jack's friends. Even when Megan recognizes Emma in the photo, her husband still thinks she is imagining things. Even when the police officer working the case calls to ask them to come to Jack and Dottie's farmhouse (although he won't say exactly why? What?), Peter tells Megan it's probably just so Megan can move on and let go and realize they will never find Emma. WHAT A JERK!
Then we get some weird thoughts from the police detective who confirms what Peter said and it isn't normal operating procedure, but he wants Megan to see this isn't her daughter and to move on. Except it is her daughter. Emma is staying with the neighbors because Dottie has a stroke and was taken to the hospital.
So many things about this book annoyed me. The idiot neighbor who sees a flyer with Emma's picture under missing (the picture has been age updated). She thinks it looks a lot like Emma. Except her hair is different, and she's missing a tooth, so it must not be her. What? She finally thinks to say something as the officer who was questioning her about the little girl next door is leaving. At the carnival where Megan snaps the photo, she actually talks to a woman who is supposed to be Dottie? Who knows? The woman identifies herself as Josie, but Dottie and Jack are also there with Emma and this couple also has a little blond girl with them. If it actually is Dottie, it's even worse because she lies about her name. It would be way to coincidental for it be some other random older woman there with her granddaughter and husband.
At the very end the author has a note that begins, "did you fall in love with Jack and Dottie as much as I did?" NO! They were kidnappers! Dottie stole a child and Jack didn't ask any questions at all about a random child coming home one day with his wife who is likely going senile.
I didn't like this book at all. I know there are a few sequels, but I have no intention of reading more about kidnappers who I most definitely didn't fall in love with.
blazybabushka's review against another edition
4.0
My feelings for this book are mixed. The story was wonderful. I disagree with some of the other reviewers that were unhappy with the predictability of it- I don't think the story needed mystery, I think that it was meant to depict the emotional struggle of Megan. The level of writing skill is definitely not the highest caliber that I have read, however, for a $4 book, I was very pleased. Definitely worth the little time it took to read, looking forward to part 2.
tania_1975's review against another edition
4.0
Loved this book. It's such a heart wrenching story and it kept me totally captivated. The characters are all wonderful. Looking forward to the sequel.
itssteena's review against another edition
3.0
This book is basically "Face on the Milk Carton." Almost identical story arc. Still enjoyed it.
mercbubble42's review against another edition
2.0
I enjoyed this book...for the most part...but it was very much like a young-adult book I read when I was a teenager and it wasn't written much better. To be fair, I'm not positive that the errors I noticed in grammar and consistency were the fault of the author and editor or if they were made in the conversion to an e-book (kind of want to go to a bookstore to find out). Either way, however, they were a real distraction from the story and my reading experience suffered as a result. The characters were good, though not all very developed, and the story itself was very interesting, if at times predictable. All in all, it is a decent easy read for someone interested in the topic and who isn't very nitpicky about the quality of writing. This would not be a good pick, though, for a lover of great literature - they would probably just find this infuriating.
barbaraskalberg's review against another edition
3.0
It's been years, but this reminded me quite a bit of Deep End of the Ocean. Enjoyable (if hard subject matter), quick read.
bellebookblog's review against another edition
5.0
Fell in love with Megan and her family as well as Dottie and Jack. Mind blowing
kdurham2's review against another edition
5.0
Check out the full review at Kritters Ramblings
There may be quite a few books about missing children, but this book tugged at my heart strings and made me think twice about missing children and the different outcomes that could occur from this tragedy. Megan is a mom of three children, two live currently under her roof and one has been missing for two long years. The book begins with Emma home, but quickly moves beyond the two years to a time where this family is falling apart at the seams. Each member of the family has been affected by Emma's disappearance.
There may be quite a few books about missing children, but this book tugged at my heart strings and made me think twice about missing children and the different outcomes that could occur from this tragedy. Megan is a mom of three children, two live currently under her roof and one has been missing for two long years. The book begins with Emma home, but quickly moves beyond the two years to a time where this family is falling apart at the seams. Each member of the family has been affected by Emma's disappearance.