Thank you Simon & Schuster Audio for the ALC and Atria Books #partner, for the advanced copy of The Long Way Back in exchange for my honest review.
Publisher: Atria Books/ Simon & Schuster ALC
Published: June 13, 2023
Summary:
When an Instagram-famous teenager mysteriously disappears, her mother grapples with the revelation of dark secrets in this twisty, atmospheric thriller—from the author of the “poignant, riveting” (Wendy Walker, author of Don’t Look for Me) Everything We Didn’t Say.
Mother and daughter Charlie and Eva never sought social media fame, but when a stunning photo of Eva went viral, fame found them. Now, after more than two years documenting life on the road in their vintage Airstream trailer, the duo has temporarily settled on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Eva is happily finishing her senior year of high school and applying to college, but Charlie longs for the adventures they left behind.
When Eva goes missing less than a week before her graduation, it’s Charlie who is immediately suspected of foul play—not just by their fans, but also by the police and the FBI. As a fight about one more road trip comes to light, and the truth about their relationship is questioned, Charlie realizes the rosy facade they portrayed online hid a complicated and potentially dangerous reality. Now, to clear her name and find out what has happened to her daughter, she’ll have to confront her own role in Eva’s disappearance—and whether she knows her daughter at all.
My thoughts:
I first discovered Nicole Baart’s books when I read her last book, Everything We Didn’t Say. I loved that one and knew I would be reading more from her, so when I saw this one, I had to read it and it lived up to all my expectations and then some!
This is the type of book where it’s hard to say too much without giving anything away. I was definitely intrigued by the synopsis – but don’t be fooled into thinking this is just a missing girl story because it is so much more than that. I loved how this one really delves into the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters and how while you think you know that person you spend so much time with, you really don’t know them as much as you think you do.
I also loved the mixed way this story was told, with bits of Instagram posts, essays, interviews and podcast transcripts mixed in with the traditional chapters. It really made for such a dynamic way of telling the story, and even though I listened to this one, it still came across effectively.
If you like stories that are filled with secrets, unexpected twists, and dual points of view, this one is for you. I loved how it kept me guessing all the way through. This one is best to go into as blind as possible, so I’m not going to say much more, but I highly recommend it. It does start off a little slow, but about halfway through, it takes off and doesn’t stop until the end. This is a great book to add to your summer reading list!
Audio thoughts:
This was a phenomenal audio book. It was narrated by Cassandra Campbell and Rebekkah Ross, who really did a fantastic job with their respective parts. I found myself completely engaged and unable to tear myself away, listening to this one in a day!
