A review by constantine2020
Last Seen Leaving by Caleb Roehrig

dark mysterious fast-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

3.5

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ½

Genre: Mystery Thriller + Young Adult + LGBTQ

Flynn Doherty is a well-known and admired teenager who has a gorgeous girlfriend named January. On the surface, it would appear that he had it all. But everything shifts when he returns home one day to find that January has completely disappeared. Flynn, distraught and determined to track her down, launches his own probe into the circumstances behind her disappearance.

Flynn finds out several things about January's life that she had been concealing from him as he goes deeper and deeper into her world. In addition to this, he comes to the conclusion that he may not have known the genuine January as well as he had previously believed. Flynn is forced to face some unsettling realities about the girl and their relationship as he continues to follow the trail of clues.

During the course of his search, Flynn must contend not only with the difficulties of attempting to locate January but also with his own internal conflicts and difficulties. Adding even another layer of complication to the narrative, he struggles with his sexuality and is unsure how to disclose it to his friends and family.

The novel is riveting and somehow exciting, as it delves into topics such as identity, self-discovery, and the intricacies of interpersonal relationships. I think that Caleb Roehrig excellently captured the difficulties of puberty as well as the inner upheaval experienced by a young kid who is searching not only for a missing person but also for himself. The characters are well-developed and the events are quite appealing, which made this mystery thriller an entertaining one. I liked it.