By: Jen Craven
Narrator: Amelia Sciandra
ISBN: 9781836180081
Publisher: Bookouture
Publication Date: 09/25/2024
Format: Other
My Rating: 5 Starts (ARC)
SEPT 2024 MUST-READ BOOKS BLOG TOUR HOST SEP 25
Clutching my husband’s hand, I screech with delight as the rollercoaster loops through the air. I feel young and free for the first time in years, but as we roll to a stop and I look for our three beloved children in the crowd, I panic. I can only see two. Where is my daughter?
Today was meant to be special. A final fun family day out before five-year-old Summer joins her big siblings at school. But in an instant, we’re plunged into a nightmare. We scream her name as we frantically search the amusement park for a glimpse of her flaming red hair.
When the police ask about strangers, grudges and enemies, I have no answers, just questions. Why did I think I could leave my children alone, even for a minute? What kind of mother am I?
I feel in my heart that Summer is out there somewhere. But as I obsess about finding her, my family is falling apart. My eldest daughter Merritt is withdrawn. My son Gus is angry. And after seventeen years of marriage, my husband has never felt more like a stranger. Where does he go when he says he’s working late? Who is he constantly messaging?
I must fight to hold my family together, but I’m terrified Summer’s disappearance will destroy us all. Will I ever forgive myself for letting her out of my sight? Will I ever hold her tiny hand in mine again?
A completely gripping and emotional page-turner about every parent’s darkest fear. Perfect for fans of Jodi Picoult, Jojo Moyes and Kate Hewitt.
Blog Tour Stop
Sept 25, 2024
My Review
Master storyteller Jen Craven returns following Her Daughter with her latest, THE DAY SHE VANISHED — a harrowing, emotional, and heartfelt tale. Every parent's nightmare—a missing child in one split second. One decision changes everything for this family.
A life-changing tragedy.
About...
The book opens in Erie, Pennsylvania, with a scene that resonates with every family day out at an amusement park. Wade and Greta Goodman and their three children, Merritt, Gus, and Summer, enjoy a fun day. It's the end of summer break, and all three kids will soon be in school, with Summer starting kindergarten.
Then, after the kids ride, Greta decides she wants to ride the rollercoaster with her husband for a quick, fun thrill and instructs Merritt to watch the two younger siblings.
All was fine until they exited the ride and found Summer missing. Merritt and Gus were in the same spot, but Summer was gone. Merritt was looking at her phone, distracted for a split second.
Realizing Summer is missing leads to all-out panic and fear. It was a frightful and fearful event, wondering what happened to their little girl. The longer she is gone, the more worried they are. Only five years old, soon, the authorities are called in, and no one can locate their precious little girl.
What if someone has taken her to Canada? What if she is harmed? Greta feels like a bad mom for leaving her daughter with her eleven-year-old daughter.
From here, the book takes us through the days, hours, and minutes of Summer's absence. We witness a family in turmoil, grappling with blame, guilt, regret, hurt, resentment, and anger. Will their family ever be the same?
Where is Summer? A kidnapping? Motive? Who has her and will they find her?
My thoughts...
THE DAY SHE VANISHED is a gripping and powerful novel that delves into the complex dynamics of a family and the aftermath of a heart-stopping crisis.
One mother's desperate search for her daughter—a compelling and thought-provoking family drama that showcases all the emotions of a mom, dad, sister, and brother and how each reacts to the disappearance and the strain on a marriage.
As always, the author brilliantly showcases the intimate lives of a family in crisis and how each person handles those emotions differently in this well-written domestic drama.
An ideal book club pick for further discussions. Questions included.
Recs...
THE DAY SHE VANISHED is for fans of the author, and those who enjoy Jodi Picoult, Rea Frey, Alice Hoffman, and Emma Robinson.
Blog Tour...
Join me on my blog on Sept 25 (pub day) for a Blog Tour Stop to learn more about the book and this talented author.
Thanks to Bookouture for an advanced digital review copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: Sept 25, 2024
My Rating: 5 Stars
About the Author
Hi, I’m Jen.
Lover of…
Books that make me cry
Dark chocolate in all its forms
True crime podcasts
Putting monograms on everything
Scouring thrift shops
Stories where one decision changes everything.
Have you ever found yourself in a “what would I do” situation? One where you had to make a split-second decision either following your head or your heart? I love exploring these complicated moments in my novels. Domestic suspense is very much about identity—how much we know about ourselves and those closest to us. My books feature emotionally-charged, page-turning plots and characters faced with impossible choices. There are secrets and lies and gasp-worthy twists…all perfect for your next binge read or book club pick.
Thanks for being here, following along, and supporting my writing journey!
