Then she was gone book summary by Lisa Jewell

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Cooking doesn’t just nurture the recipient, it nurtures the chef.

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Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell tells the heart-wrenching story of Laurel Mack, a mother whose world falls apart when her daughter, Ellie, vanishes without a trace. Even after ten years, Laurel is still trying to put her life back together. Ellie’s disappearance and the question of what happened to her keep coming back to haunt her. We go along with Laurel on her emotional journey as the story goes on. She is sad, has a lot of questions, and really wants to find peace. It’s a tale of loss, love, and the lengths a mother will go to for the truth.

I enjoyed this new storytelling style of author, and now I understand why Lisa Jewell is so popular. Our comprehensive book summary and review will unravel the secrets of this book, exploring the characters, synopsis, and hidden clues that make this book a must-read.

Then She Was Gone Plot Summary

Then She Was Gone follows Laurel Mack, who is coping with the loss of her youngest daughter, Ellie Mack. Ellie was about 15 years old when she seemingly disappeared without a trace one morning. Ten years later, Laurel’s marriage has fallen apart, she is now divorced, and she has a very strained relationship with her other two children. It almost feels as though a part of Laurel died when Ellie went missing. Then, Laurel meets a man named Floyd. He is charismatic, charming, and very good-looking. For the first time since Ellie’s disappearance, Laurel starts to allow herself a bit of peace and happiness, quickly falling into a relationship with Floyd.

Laurel meets Floyd’s children. One of them is a girl named Poppy. Poppy looks a lot like Ellie. This is just one of the eerie coincidences that Laurel encounters throughout her journey of dealing with grief, loss, and trying to reconnect with her loved ones.

Book review “Then She Was Gone”

Then She Was Gone is divided into five major parts, and we get to see different points of view from several main characters. It also alternates between “then” and “now”—the “then” refers to the time around Ellie’s disappearance, and the “now” takes place a decade later when Laurel starts her relationship with Floyd. Lisa Jewell did a great job of engaging the reader by reminding us of the core storyline—Ellie’s disappearance—and gradually revealing what happened.

Now, onto a few cons. I have seen this mentioned in other reviews, but I also found Then She Was Gone to be quite predictable. For me, it wasn’t much of a suspense novel because I could guess what was going to happen. That said, I still enjoyed listening to the story and seeing how it wrapped up, but I was hoping for a twist that would catch me off guard. Unfortunately, it proceeded precisely how I expected, which was a bit disappointing from a suspense viewpoint.

I also didn’t like how some parts of the plot were left unfinished. People talked about certain people in passing, but they never brought them up again. These points seemed to be added solely to confuse the reader, but they left me feeling unsettled and wondering why they weren’t addressed later in the novel.

What is the book Then She Was Gone about

Then She Was Gone” is a mystery book by Lisa Jewell. It’s about a mother named Laurel Mack. Her daughter Ellie disappeared 10 years ago, and Laurel is still trying to understand what happened. Laurel starts to feel better about her life. Then she meets a man named Floyd. Floyd has a daughter called Poppy. Poppy looks very much like Ellie, Laurel’s missing daughter.

Then She Was Gone Characters

• Laurel Mack: A mother searching for answers about her missing daughter, Ellie.
• Ellie Mack: Laurel’s daughter, whose disappearance fuels the story’s mystery.
• Floyd: Laurel’s new partner, who complicates the story with his mysterious connections.
• Poppy: Floyd’s daughter, whose striking resemblance to Ellie prompts Laurel’s investigation into the past.

Books similar to Then She Was Gone

Here are five books similar to Then She Was Gone:

1. The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins – A psychological thriller involving a missing person and unreliable narration, with a focus on memory and perception.
2. The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen – A twisty tale of love, deception, and obsession, where appearances are misleading.
3. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – A dark, gripping story about a missing wife and the secrets within a troubled marriage.
4. The Couple Next Door by Shari Lapena – A suspenseful domestic thriller about a missing baby and the unraveling of a seemingly perfect couple’s lives.
5. Behind Closed Doors by B.A. Paris – A chilling story about the dark secrets hidden in a seemingly ideal marriage, filled with tension and surprises.

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Author: Lisa Jewell

Date Published: July 27, 2017

Pages: 359 pages, Paperback

Goodreads Rating: 4/5

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Conclusion

Then She Was Gone, Lisa Jewell blends a good story and an enjoyable listen, but it lacked the suspense I was hoping for. Yet it felt to me like a story about grief, loss, and coincidences. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for an easy, engaging audiobook or for someone just getting into the suspense genre, as this book is a good way to test your ability to predict twists.

Then She Was Gone: Ending Explained (Spoilers Ahead)

The Discovery:
Laurel learns that her daughter, Ellie, was kidnapped by her former tutor, Noelle. Noelle’s intention was to use Ellie as a surrogate to have a child of her own.

Ellie’s Fate:
Ellie attempted to escape after being held captive but tragically died during the process, leading to Noelle covering up her death.

Poppy’s Origins:
Poppy, Floyd’s daughter, is revealed to be Ellie’s biological child, born from the surrogacy, and was raised by Noelle until her death.

Laurel’s Closure:
Though devastated by the truth, Laurel finds some closure, finally understanding what happened to Ellie after ten long years of mystery.