Publisher: Simon & Schuster Audio
Published: May 4, 2021
Source: Publisher
Summary:
We all have stories we never tell.
Before Owen Michaels disappears, he manages to smuggle a note to his beloved wife of one year: Protect her.
Despite her confusion and fear, Hannah Hall knows exactly to whom the note refers: Owen’s sixteen-year-old daughter, Bailey. Bailey, who lost her mother tragically as a child. Bailey, who wants absolutely nothing to do with her new stepmother.
As Hannah’s increasingly desperate calls to Owen go unanswered; as the FBI arrests Owen’s boss; as a US Marshal and FBI agents arrive at her Sausalito home unannounced, Hannah quickly realizes her husband isn’t who he said he was. And that Bailey just may hold the key to figuring out Owen’s true identity—and why he really disappeared.
Hannah and Bailey set out to discover the truth, together. But as they start putting together the pieces of Owen’s past, they soon realize they are also building a new future. One neither Hannah nor Bailey could have anticipated.
My thoughts:
I had read Laura Dave’s Eight Hundred Grapes a while back and really enjoyed it, so when I heard she had a new book out, I knew I had to get it…and I was glad I was able to get the audio version of it. And then to see it was selected as a Reese book club pick just made me even more excited to read it…and it totally delivered!
This is the perfect balance of mystery and thriller. While some parts are a little slow, it really kept me engaged the entire time. I loved the way the book was told, all through Hannah’s point of view, alternating between the past and the present. In the past, we learn about Hannah and Owen’s relationship and in the present we see the search for answers about what happened to Owen. I also loved that we see the evolution of Hannah and Bailey’s relationship happen throughout the book.
This book is so much more than just about a missing person. It’s also about family and doing all we can for those we love. I loved that this one really kept me on my toes because I needed to know what happened to Owen and if Hannah was going to figure things out. And let’s not forget that ending…that last line definitely got to me for sure!
I really enjoyed this book and am so excited that it is being adapted for TV…this is one show I will definitely be watching! In the meantime, I highly recommend picking this one up – you won’t be disappointed!
Audio thoughts:
I thought this book was made for audio – some books just translate so well and this is definitely one of them. Rebbeca Lowman does a fantastic job bringing the book to life, giving the characters their own voices and her pacing and intonation are spot on. She infused just the right amount of tension and emotion into her voice as needed.
