Then You Were Gone

And can Julian Dakota's boyfriend help Adrienne figure it out, or does he know more than he's letting on? This is not my first book by this author. The thing I love about this author is that her main characters are NOT perfect. Sometimes you literally want to smack the girl. But at the same time they are like real freaking people. Because in real life people don't act the way you want them to. They don't make all the same choices you would've made. Heck who knows what choices you would make unless you're in that moment anyway right??

The other thing about both these books is that the author is not afraid of teen sexuality. And I love that sex is a big issue in this book, but at the same time it's not like preachy or lesson-ey So in this book you have Adrienne, who I'm not going to lie, got on my nerves a lot.

It's like once she found out her friend that she doesn't even talk to anymore is missing, she starts wanting to be her. Honestly I felt sad and embarrassed for her. I wanted to shake her and be like "quit being a god-damned poser, and just be yourself!!! I felt bad for her friend Kate and especially her boyfriend Lee. Man she was harsh to him!! But I get it. I SO get it. Because you can, because he's there, because what you really need isn't some guy catering to you. It doesn't make sense, but I so know what this is like. What I love about this author's writing is I swear she's the queen of short, amazing chapters.

I've never read books with so many 1 or 2 page chapters and felt like they were the perfect length. This author doesn't waste scenes. The characters are somewhere, the point is made And it adds to the over addictiveness of her books. This is not going to be a book that everyone will like. I think you have to identify with or relate to something going on in the book to be able to like it.

For me I totally know what it's like to be in a friendship where one person is dominant over the other one. I had a friend like that once. She was rich and cool and had more experience with guys than I did. She got mad easily, and I became a weaker person because I didn't want her to get mad and leave me.

And that's sort of how Adrienne and Dakota were, so I was feeling it. I could have lived without Adrienne leaving all her sentences off in the middle though. For instance here is a typical dialogue for Adrienne: I wanted a bigger thing and I didn't really understand what all went down. YES to more Lauren Strasnick!! Her books aren't for everybody, but they're for me. This book is about mystery and friendship- good and bad.

Jan 03, Debbie Narh rated it did not like it Shelves: Although my hopes were high for this novel and I was very disappointed, I think that it might be able to touch someone's heart. But it could also annoy the crap out of them just like it did me. Then You Were Gone is told from the perspective of Adrienne, a girl who seems to be freaking out over the disappearance of her ex-best friend. Everyone around her has told her again and again to forget about her, yet she can't. At first, I really liked the writing style.

Very short chapters, and short sen Although my hopes were high for this novel and I was very disappointed, I think that it might be able to touch someone's heart. Very short chapters, and short sentences too. But after awhile I realized that there isn't much description of things and that the writing just jumps from one thing to another with no smooth transitioning. Which also explains the characters. The characters in the story are all very annoying and shallow. I understand that Dakota is supposed to be mysterious and that everyone hates her but secretly envy her but I would have enjoyed a lot more information about her.

The only flashback or memory told in the story is from a few years ago when they were pretty good friends. What annoys me even more is that this same memory is repeated throughout the book but with a little more information every time. There isn't much if any at all backgrounds or personalities for the characters which left me frustrated. Because of this, it was very hard for me to get through much reading because Adrienne didn't pull anything out of me.

All she seems to do is complain, whine, or piss off the people who care about her. Another thing that bothered me is that the book is rushed a lot. Don't get me wrong, I love a book that's fast paced and full of emotions but this is not the case. It jumps from two girls who don't talk any more to one of them gone and the other going berserk like her life depends on finding her. It doesn't fit, it's too confusing and too odd. There are quite a few relationships in this book and one of them is the relationship with Lee.

At first, it's cute and all, the right amount of affection in the writing to keep it interesting. But after a few chapters, everything just changes and leaves behind a big mess of things. It's all disorganized and odd, Adrienne doesn't seem to do anything while Lee doesn't either. They're written like stick figures trying to go together which left me kind of annoyed. I was looking for a relationship that went with the story, not something that leaves it in a mess. To be honest, I wouldn't recommend this story to anyone just because I couldn't even finish it. But if you're up for it, give it a try.

May 22, Ari rated it did not like it Shelves: The story could have been interesting but I couldn't get past the writing style. It felt like a movie script with commentaries and it played in my mind like some movie flashbacks: Not much character development - maybe because it was quite short, maybe because of the way it was written.

Didn't care much about the characters, didn't relate to the girl's grief at all and I really wanted to punch Dakota in the face. I d The story could have been interesting but I couldn't get past the writing style. I didn't get the connection with Julian either but I support Lee in his decision to take a break, a final one, because it was obvious that Adrienne didn't give a damn about him anyways not like he was a perfect boyfriend, because I didn't even like him - too shallow, to egocentric, didn't impress me at all I assume many people might like this one, unfortunately it was not really for me.

Have fun reading guys, maybe you'll have better luck than I did ; Dec 11, Jacquelyn rated it it was ok. I thought it was going to be a great mystery book but I don't even think the main point of the book was the mystery. In the end, view spoiler [the entire mystery and the finding of Dakota all happened so fast and I felt as if there was no build up whatsoever.

The characters weren't my favorite and I don't find this book to b Actual Rating: The characters weren't my favorite and I don't find this book to be memorable. I was really let down by this one. I was hoping for it to be a great and thrilling mystery but it definitely wasn't. Dec 08, Isamlq rated it liked it. And for some reason, I feel there could have been more to her for all the characters in fact.

The turn out is almost a let down the way it stands. Would it have been more interesting to let things continue on with the idea of the other being gone? And see, this is my problem: Jun 25, WJ rated it it was ok Shelves: This book was actually a really short read and nothing at all like how I imagined it would've been. The premise was intriguing and it seemed to be a realistic portrayal of how friendships can break down, how opportunities missed can lead to regret.

Unfortunately the book didn't live up to my expectations of it and had quite a few messed up messages interwoven into it First of all, the self-destructive tendencies about Adrienne. She doesn't seem like a person who likes herself very much, not wi This book was actually a really short read and nothing at all like how I imagined it would've been. She doesn't seem like a person who likes herself very much, not with her obsession over Dakota and how to be more like her, how to look more like her.

I didn't like the way she wrecked the relationship with Lee and she later downplayed it as being due to her grief about Dakota. I didn't really like how nothing much changed about this aspect of her personality throughout. Furthermore Strasnick's characterization a leave a lot to be desired. After I finished the book I honestly couldn't remember anyone's name because there were any distinctive characteristics about them.

All of them, especially the protagonist, seemed to be cardboard cut-outs whose motivations were either unclear or ridiculous. I'm not claiming that all female friendships have to be supportive and strong but that is one messed up relationship being presented here. Despite how badly she's been treated by Dakota, Strasnick writes as though Adrienne would've gone running back to Dakota if at any point Dakota gave her a little bit of attention.

The fact that he got away with it was incredibly messed up too. You mean the only repercussion he had to face was to give Adrienne better grades than she would deserve? And it's okay for Adrienne to get away with blackmail? How and why did any of that get published. Strasnick needs to work on the messages that she would like to send to YA readers and create more captivating characters.

Her publishers have done a great job with the blurb but she needs to live up to expectations. Aug 17, Angela rated it it was ok Shelves: Then You Were Gone is a very fast paced book, and incredibly short. I read this in one sitting and in not even two hours. None of the characters were developed very well, but this is a very short book so I guess that's why. I didn't like Adrienne because she was focused on all the wrong things. Her relationships were weird, if you can even call it a relationship. Lee was an oka Actual rating: Lee was an okay character, and I felt sort of bad for him. But gosh, he sure moves on fast.

And Julian wasn't much of a character. I can't say I see the purpose of his being there. I had a huge problem with the story. Dakota's missing, and possibly dead, yet it's more focused on Adrienne and her relationships. I thought this was going to be about how Dakota's suicide note and her call affects Adrienne, and about grief and coping or whatnot.

• And Then You Were Gone;
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But that's not at all what this book is about. What was up with that? I mean, seriously, why did she even leave in the first place then? This book could have turned out so much better if Dakota never called in the end, and was actually DEAD. The sentences were choppy and short. A lot were only a few words long and were very weird to read.

Oh, and Nick Murphy is so messed up. And when you're married and expecting a child? What sort of person does that? I am not going to re-read this again, and I wouldn't recommend it. I guess in more than a thousand ways, that's the main message of this book. And that tears me up, mainly because we don't get a lot of books that revolve around the importance and beauty of friendship. I really don't know, and the fact that I don't know makes me even sadder because the world of books is a mystery and we actually don't know anything about what this book is about.

But what I can tell you is that this is a crazy mystery that will leave your head spinning. I honestly didn't even have a close feeling to what was going to happen next. The author added over 20 plot twists and 'suspense moments' where I was unable to put the book down and let what else was going to happen stop from happening. That's a definite good sign, people. I recommend reading this because it gave me such an enjoyment and I loved almost everything about it.

The story began when Adrienne met Dakota. They were inseparable for ages, until they freakishly torn apart and didn't talk again for more ages. They were two completely different people, almost nothing alike. And of course at the same time, they both had shocking secrets that they didn't dare to tell one another.

Who's secrets hurt and ruined the most was Dakota's, and now she's missing, all because Adrienne didn't pick up a phone call from her ex-best friend. Adrienne has never cared as much before, and she's on the lookout to find out what really happened and where the girl who changed everything is. But who can blame Adrienne? She hasn't spoken to this "freak" for years, and suddenly she calls her and tells her she needs her when it's all her fault for letting the friendship go to the roots?

Those thoughts were circling my head until I found out the truth, and then I understood why Adrienne was why. I'd be a wreck if you put me in their situation. Now you see, the real magic of these kinds of books is that you tend to imagine yourself in the protagonist's situation over and over again.

At least, that's me. The concept of this book was gorgeous and simple at the same time. In the end, all of the questions were answered but I was a little bit upset with the way everything turned out. I wish I got more of a surprise and something heart-stopping. It was just a loaf of bread and butter. Where was the jam and honey? As I began reading, I was taken away into this world very quickly, and I left quickly as well because this was such a quick read.

A quick mystery, as well. But as you'll figure out the ending, you'll find yourself surprised because this turned out to be a total contemporary with some drama mixed in. The positive here was that it was all fast-paced. That was Adrienne for you. At first, she didn't care at all. But as the mystery evolved and the police began to question her and ask her about the events prior to her disappearance, I guess you can say we all saw Adrienne going into the situation because she felt like she had to.

She was a selfish person at times, and tended to do whatever it takes to prove herself right. She blocked out her romantic relationship when her boyfriend really loved her, and her friendships with others as well. All on her mind was Dakota, and that was pretty awesome if you ask me. The contemporary was there, but the mystery really wasn't.

I wish that I could completely demolish the ending and make it my own. But other than that, the rest of the novel was promising and pleasing. I'll be sure to be looking for more by Lauren Strasnick in the future! This review can also be found on A Thousand Lives Lived, check it out for more reviews! Sep 20, Renae rated it did not like it Shelves: The thing when writing a book that deals with serious issues is that, well, you have to deal with the issue well.

Then You Were Gone is not a respectful book; Lauren Strasnick does not deal well with the issues she chose to write about. Beneath a tired, overdone concept, this book trivializes suicide and makes rape look like a joke. This book is insensitive and thoughtless. It give The thing when writing a book that deals with serious issues is that, well, you have to deal with the issue well. It gives awful people a happy end and makes the rape victim look like a whore who deserved what she got. She has just found out that her former friend, Dakota, has gone missing. Dakota led and Adrienne followed, blindly, without question.

In the present, Adrienne has healthy friendships, a good boyfriend, and is doing well in school. So why does she self-destruct when she finds out that Dakota is missing? The majority of the book features Adrienne acting like a spoiled brat, which she definitely is. She resides in a well-to-do section of L. Finally, we learn what really happened to Dakota hint: Turns out, Dakota faked her suicide and ran away because she was pregnant. So Dakota is a rape victim and she needs help and compassion. Does she get that? No, of course not.

In what world is the victim of rape a slut? Dakota was a child who had sex with an adult. And maybe she thought she wanted it at some point, but she was a child, and she was the victim. Dakota was a victim. What she needs from Adrienne is compassion; what she needs is professional help.

There is no world where that is acceptable or conscionable. He walks away completely free. Again, are you kidding me? Because guess what, that rapist will probably go after another student. What Lauren Strasnick did with this book is disgusting. Her protagonist is a self-centered, slut-shaming idiot who gets a happy ending with her dream boy.

The rape victim is a crazy whore who got what she deserved. What the hell was this author thinking? Then You Were Gone is a terrible, nauseating, horrifying book. There are no words for how angry I am. Jan 07, Nicole rated it did not like it Shelves: I understand that authors write these conflicted novels for one reason or another but there should be some clear cause and effect to explain why a teen could stumble down a dark path. Without that clarity, the book looses its purpose. Adrienne and Dakota were "friends" growing up and by "friends" I mean Adrienne followed Dakota like a cowed puppy.

She didn't make her own decisions and wasn't her own person. Even though Dakota was selfish and manipulative, Adrienne worshipped the ground she walked on. Then after Dakota breaks all ties on their "friendship" Adrienne still obsesses over her from a distance. I really couldn't understand this relationship, or Dakota's appeal. Yeah sure, we all have friends who may have the more dominant personality, or who we secretly envy a little for being skinnier, or prettier, or whatever, but a true friendship implies trust and caring and some level of equality.

But Dakota selfish and and controlling. How did Adrienne fall in love with her? The whole dynamic seemed extremely unhealthy and unjustified. When Dakota disappears, Adrienne falls apart and destroys what semblance of a life she has made for herself since she broke up with Dakota. Adrienne is convinced that Dakota wouldn't kill herself despite the suicide note and washed up boot. But this isn't a mystery novel. It was so frustrating to read through. She makes bad decision after bad decision like the entire reason for her existence was Dakota.

She stopped going to school.

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She dressed and acted different. She even slept with her boyfriend just to distract herself. I didn't understand her reaction at all. I would understand sadness and I would understand a desire to know what happened for closure. But that didn't seem to be what compelled Adrienne. It was more like she still felt rejected over being dumped 2 years ago, and not having Dakota to fixate over anymore. Again, I couldn't understand why Adrienne became so unstable, even with the information we get at the end of the novel. Maybe if I did, I wouldn't be so harsh on this book, but I probably still wouldn't like it.

To top it all off. The writing and dialogue was choppy and unnatural. People do not speak every sentence in three words or less. It drove me crazy. I don't know if the author was going for an informal style but whatever it was meant to be, i didn't like it. I hate to say it, but I can't recommend this novel. As I reflected back on this read I had to reduce my initial 2 star rating to 1 star. I just didn't like it and I was confused the entire time. This novel is neither suspenseful nor heart-wrenching.

Rather, it represents poor decision making and unhealthy behaviors. If you would like to form your own opinion, at least I can say that this book is a very quick read. Aug 03, Kelsey rated it really liked it Shelves: Each of these books deals with heavy subject matter and Strasnick is a very strong contemporary writer. All of her characters feel extremely real and her writing is fantastic. Adrienne is such a complex character and she had a lot on her plate.

I'm sure people will find a way to relate to at least one character in this b This is my second book by Lauren Strasnick, the first being Nothing Like You. I'm sure people will find a way to relate to at least one character in this book and even though this was just over pages, we got to see them each develop in various ways.

Then You Were Gone was a quick read, not only because of the low page count and short chapters, but because of the fast-paced plot. Adrienne's childhood friend went missing after leaving her a voicemail, and Adrienne is left trying to piece together what happened to Dakota. Adrienne learns a lot not only about Dakota, but about herself, as well. Adrienne doesn't always make the best decisions, but she is very determined and independent throughout the book.

Every chapter left me wanting to read more because Adrienne was discovering something new or figuring out a new clue about what Dakota's life was really like. Strasnick tackled a variety of issues in Then You Were Gone and she seems to truly understand teenagers. Strasnick did not try and make Adrienne something that she wasn't and it made her a very believable and realistic character. I liked the mystery angle of Then You Were Gone, but I felt like everything was leading up to a big revelation which never happened.

Things felt a bit abrupt and I was hoping for something more. And Then You Were Gone will keep you reading—and leave you wanting more! Average rating from members. See all member reviews. Featured Reviews Rosemary S, Librarian. Emily suffers from bipolar disorder, but with education and medication, she finally has it under control. Until an idyllic boat cruise with her boyfriend Paolo turns into a nightmare. She wakes up in the morning o discover Paolo is gone. As Emily tries to find out what happened to her lover, her illness begins to spiral out of control.

As Emily wonders whether Paolo could have been murdered, police are wondering the same thing, and Emily is their prime suspect. I read this is one sitting, chewing my fingernails down to the quick on my right hand. Thanks, RJ Jacobs -you owe me a manicure! Was this review helpful? I love books with flawed main characters.

I read this book one one sitting because it was so gripping and fast. If you can't save yourself how can you save anyone else? Emily Firestone has struggled to gain control over her bipolar disorder and she has finally reached her comfort zone with a new career, a new man Paolo, and her own place. When Paolo offers to go on a sailing trip she's ready to pack the wine and cheese and head off. It was truly magical until she woke up and couldn't find Paolo. When she becomes a person of interest in his murder everything hits the fan.

This man was a perfect strong swimmer, he couldn't have drowned. Where could he possibly have gone and why? Clearing her name, holding on to her sanity, finding Paolo and bringing him back is all she ever wanted Love it all by RJ Jacobs. Add this one to your TBR! And Then You Were Gone is a dramatic story about megalomaniac greed in microbiology. Lest that sound dull or impossible, I assure you it is not, as the megalomania, or just plain mania, is about the rush to bring a vaccine for a deadly flu virus to market, not caring what shortcuts you take or who you just might have to kill along the way.

The book itself was right up my alley — full of mystery and intrigue. Although I was able to guess almost from the beginning how the story would end, I still enjoyed getting there. Four instance, at one point it said it was 7: There were a few others as well — one of which changed a two week period of time into two months — and then back to two weeks.

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Regardless, this was a pretty good read. Thanks netgalley for the advanced copy: Jacobs Emily is on a boat trip with her boyfriend Paolo, after a night drinking she wakes up in the morning to find him gone. The police think that he fell overboard but Emily can't remember anything. Emily has bipolar disorder and is struggling to cope with this and will do anything to find out the truth of what happened to Paolo. This was a good thriller but a little confusing in parts. I would like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my e-book in exchange for an honest review.

This mystery kept my interest from the beginning and had me on the edge of my seat towards the end of the book. Pretty dang good for a debut thriller. Emily and her boyfriend, Paolo, spend a romantic evening on a rented boat. They have some wine, a little bread and cheese and Emily falls into a deep slumber. When she wakes up in the morning, Paolo is nowhere to be found. She has no idea what has happened to him.

Eventually she figures out how to start the engine and drive the boat into the dock at the rental marina. The police are called and investigate the matter. Of course, the main suspect turns out to be Emily. To make things worse, Emily has a bipolar diagnosis and works as a psychologist. The story is electrifying, full of anxiety-producing twists and richly drawn characters. Hats off to R. On his bio, it says this is part of a series, and I have no idea how that will play out, because this book had everything wrapped up in a nice package with a fancy bow on top.

A masterpiece of suspense. Boyfriend disappears, girlfriend pushes aside all her own many problems to try and find him, whether dead or alive, refusing to. My only criticism is the author's tendency to repetitiveness I. Heroine not sleeping, forgetting to take her meds, more of not sleeping. Otherwise, a story that will truly leave you begging for more. This book was a very suspenseful read. While reading I felt as if I was alongside the characters trying to figure out what was to come next and my adventure was going to take me to find out what had happened on the boat.

I knew that she hadn't committed the crime yet how was I to be sure and prove this. A great page Turner for sure.. You think you're the only one who knows what's going on. It has such a gripping story that you can help but keep reading to figure out what really happened that night. The author writes in such beautiful detail that it feels like you are apart of the story. The only criticism I have about this book is some of the conversations the characters have with each other seem unrealistic or unnatural.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the early review copy. This book is full of intrigue and twists. A woman wakes up to discover her boyfriend has disappeared, and the police find her explanation of events questionable. There was a lot going on in this story, it was meaty and mysterious.

I found myself really rooting for the protagonist even though she made some questionable decisions! The writing was good, the story flowed nicely even with flashbacks thrown in, and the conclusion was satisfying. I really enjoyed it. This was the first book I've read from this author not sure if he has more or not.. This was my first book by R. Jacobs and I throughly enjoyed it! I really enjoyed Emily as a main character especially. With her character flaws and honesty, I found her endearing as we rooted her on to find out what happened to her boyfriend. Great read that kept me turning the pages and interested in all the bits and pieces.

And then you were gone by R. Jacobs is an awesome book! Not the typical made psychological thriller but it is great! Thank you to Netgalley and the Publisher for an arc copy of them you were gone in exchange for an honest review. I love this genre of books. I was sucked in by page 10! I look forward to reading the rest of it! I like the authors writing style. This is going to be one of those books I can't put down! This book began as quite the page turner - they started us off with wondering what had happened to Paolo and progressed into us wondering what would happen next, which is a sign of a good novel, in my opinion.

It held my attention and despite having somewhat predicted the ending by the halfway point, it didn't make me want to finish less. The writing itself was also great, allowing me to picture each scene as if it were familiar to me. I looked up the author after reading and learned that he's a psychologist, which explains the accurate portrayal of bipolar disorder. Regardless, it's a great thing, as people typically misunderstand these disorders or see them as purely negative. In the story, while suffering, the main character is able to use her disorder to her advantage. Overall the book was a page turner and definitely captivated my attention and I"ll certainly look for further works by this author in the future.

This book was different and fun! There were lots of twists and turns. I thought the beginning was slow, but as i read on, all tied together. I love books that keep me up at night! Thanks netgalley for an a copy in exchange for honest review! The life of Emily and her quirks that the author made very believable you were on her side from the start through all her bumps I stayed up almost all nigh reading I could not wait to see what happened to Matt and continue to cheer for Emily through think and thin. The book kept you engaged throughout. I read books a week and this was a wonderful first book.

I can tell you poured your heart into this book and thank you for it. Is the flower delivery by 1: I would give this book 5 stars!!! This book begged to be read in one setting but life has a way of not allowing that to happen. The character of Emily was spot on. Her feelings on being bi-polar are explored during the story. Manic episodes are sometimes an issue when meds are nit taken and she explains her struggle throughout the story. By the end I think my heart was beating faster than normal as I related to her fear.

Definitely a book I would recommend to anyone who likes suspense and thrilling books. I just finished reading this book by R. Jacobs and I absolutely loved it! Jacobs has done and it shows in his writing. The setting is in Nashville, the plot involves psychology and of course, murder. Emily is a very likable character, although she is really pushing the boundaries on most of her interactions with other characters.

And Then You Were Gone

She is bipolar and somewhat manic in all she does, but that is what makes her so likable. I failed to mention that there is also romance between Rachel and her boyfriend Paulo. He disappears from a yacht, and the police suspect she has murdered him. She spends the rest of the book trying to prove she is not guilty.

Her sleuthing takes her through many venues and she is always a step ahead. I spent a lot of time trying to figure out who was guilty of the murders. I must admit that I had two characters in mind and I was wrong on both. It does end well and all the loose strings are tied up. I was so into the book that I read it in one sitting. I hope there will be other future books from this author. A solid 5 stars.

This book was an absolute page turner for me. As someone who works in academia, I really enjoyed the "academic ambition taken too far" plot line. I also thought the treatment of mental illness was compassionate. I was a bit concerned when I realized that the protagonist's bipolar diagnosis was going to be a major motivator of the story, but I think it was handled really thoughtfully, which isn't a surprise, given the author is a practicing psychologist.

I will definitely recommend it to friends! This is a great example of a thriller or mystery that delivers on the promise of keeping you guessing. I would review this book and recommend it completely. It was a book I wanted to read in one sitting, but forced myself to span out my reading. The characters felt pretty developed, the bits and pieces strung together well.

I felt like the first forty pages or so were fairly slow, but the pace picked up as the book progressed with several twists and turns. The formatting was also a strong and successful component as well. Psychological and well-written, this book drives the reader through from page to page. I enjoyed the elements of mental health woven in alongside the mystery element of the story. I was able to guess some of the 'twists' of the story but sometimes I think that comes from reading so many books.

However, I would be interested in reading future books by this author. Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Bipolar Emily has her act together, a job, a place to live and an adoring boyfriend, Paolo. Paolo suggests a day out on his boat on a lake and Emily jumps at the chance to spend some alone time with him as he's always working in his job as a micribiologist.

The following morning Emily wakes with a fuzzy head and a missing Paolo. In the ensuing story Emily becomes a person of interest in his disappearance and fights to clear her name and find out what happened and who is responsible. Missing sleep and pills in the process her thought processes become less than credible, although she enlists the help of someone else who happily goes along with it all.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and Emily was a great protagonist - I like a flawed heroine!

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This was a compelling read that had me hooked. The author has a beautiful way of writing that really engaged with me and I will highly recommend this book! I completed this book within the day. It was the cover that jumped out at me most upon choosing this book, then I went on to read the description and that caught my attention straight away.

Nice short chapters which i personally prefer in a book. Great book, presented well by the author. Great mystery with wonderfully like able characters. Quite a few twists and turns. The author has a great style of writing and I was guessing quite a lot throughout this book. This book read more like a cozy mystery, to me, than it did a psychological thriller. I happen to be a fan of cozies in addition to thrillers, so it did not bother this reader.

The amateur sleuth, Emily, struggles with bipolar disease and this is front and center to the narration. While I have little personal experience with this condition, I thoroughly appreciated the unreliability of the narrator due to her own questioning of her sanity and interpretation of events. During a romantic overnight trip on a boat, Emily's boyfriend mysteriously disappears. She becomes suspect number one, and sets off on a self-destructive quest to clear her name.

Due to some poor personal choices, she loses her job and ends up living at her mom's house, so she has plenty of time to conduct her own investigation. She finds a willing sidekick in a friend of her missing boyfriend. The majority of the violence happens off-screen. A boyfriend disappears, a body is discovered, and Emily hears secondhand about a potential serial killer in her area complete with some of the violence that has transpired.

For a plot-driven novel, there was a lot of inner monologue presented.

Then You Were Gone | Book by Lauren Strasnick | Official Publisher Page | Simon & Schuster

These thoughts provide a lot of the background to the story. I did not find these to be very distracting, but neither did I find them showing growth in Emily. I liked the solution to this mystery. There was a lovely red herring though! Overall, I thought this was a well-done debut novel. I read somewhere that this may be the beginning of a series, I hope that means we will get to see more of Emily in future installments. I will absolutely read the next book this author publishes.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy of this book. Best thriller full of twists and turns! I love the portrayal of mental illness, very spot on, and realistic. Exciting and not so crazy you were lost. Couldn't believe this was a first novel, look forward to more.

Really enjoyed This story and would like to read more by the same author. Emily and her boyfriend plan a romantic sailing trip this is the best setting, so I was immediately excited , but then things go terribly wrong as they so often do in these books and her boyfriend Paolo goes missing. It felt a bit like books I had already read, but it painted a really enjoyable scene in my imagination so I kept reading. It was slow and there could have been more character development, but I couldn't put it down at the same time so obviously it accomplished its goal!

This is a story whose main character struggles with bipolar disorder and is the "unreliable narrator" of the book, which can sometimes frustrate me. If you're not a fan of these narratives, steer clear of this one. She is a flawed character, and although I don't have bipolar disorder, I did find her shortcomings relatable. Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I thought this was a very well written twisty psychological thriller that kept my interest from page 1.

I highly recommend this book to everyone. I really enjoyed reading this book enough to give it a 5-star rating, it was fast-paced and dramatic. The main character Emily, she made me frustrated at some parts of the book because of her poor decision making but when I thought about it maybe if I was in her position I might do the same thing so for me this book is realistic.

She also has a bipolar disorder and this book made me understand more about it. While reading it made me think of possible endings and scenarios, I was even highlighting some sentences and putting it on my notes as clues but in the end I was so wrong with my theories. I like that this book wowed me in the ending even if I feel like the explanations was a little rushed, it actually made me want more.

I read somewhere that this might be the beginning of a series? This is no doubt one of the best books that I have ever read! A gripping psychological thriller that takes you on a roller-coaster ride! There's Emily dealing with her bipolar issues. She's also a suspect in her boyfriend Paolo's mysterious disappearance. Although Paolo's family is convinced that he's no more, Emily does not lose hope; she knows that he's somewhere out there.

The police suspect Emily. And when she finds Sandy's dead body, the police are now sure that she is somehow involved in the murder. Cal, Paolo's softball teammate and friend, initially blames Emily for Paolo's issues in life. But he decides to help her when he realizes that Emily is telling the truth about her non-involvement in the tragedy. And in the middle of all this drama involving Sandy and Paolo, a mysterious murder in a remote town in Tennessee comes into the picture.

This is followed by another incident, where the victim was allegedly set on fire by the perp but the victim survived. The victim names Matt, Paolo's colleague at the lab, as the perp. Sandy was also killed because she mentioned Matt's involvement in Paolo's disappearance. So what is Matt's involvement in these murders and Paolo's disappearance?

After a couple of twists and shocking incidents, Emily's life is like a roller-coaster ride! I absolutely loved R. The author definitely knows how to keep his readers hooked on to the book till the end. The language is clear and concise. The story development is absolutely fantastic. The ending is superb and thrilling! There was a short twist in the end which made the story even more exciting.

And Then You Were Gone is a gripping and engaging page-turner and I highly recommend it to all those who love to read thrillers. And Then You Were Gone was excellent reading. I love it when an author weaves reality into a novel. Having a condition like bipolar does not stop the main character from having a normal, happy life. It has an effect on her life and how she lives it, but it is not the main focus. Emily's wonderful, handsome, successful medical-researcher boyfriend disappears while on a sailing trip with her. She can't believe she has become a suspect. Knowing she did nothing to Paolo, Emily must find the truth herself without getting killed!

I liked that the premise of the story was original to the types of thrillers I normally read and once the story picked up, I was looking forward to getting home at night to find out what was going to happen next. The beginning is a bit slow as the author sets up the storyline but once you are past that, it moves along nicely.

I would definitely keep this one on the list to read in ! Jacobs due March 13, Crooked Lane Books Emily Firestone, a child psychologist in the Nashville area is feeling much better these days. Her struggles with bipolar and mania are under control, she enjoys her work and has a supportive boyfriend, Paolo. Things are looking up.

Paolo is a successful scientist from Argentina working on developing a vaccine for the deadly H1-N24 virus. He suggests they spend a day together on his boat when they both have the same day free. A little while later Emily awakes to find the boat adrift and Paolo gone. They immediately suspect Emily is responsible for the murder Then another body is found, under suspicious circumstances that point to Emily as well. But is Emily responsible?? Is her mind playing tricks on her??

Could Paolo's murder be related to his scientific studies??