This is the story of a missing 15 year old girl named Ellie, how her family (especially her mother, Laurel) copes with her being missing, how Ellie came to disappear, and how, 10 years later, a child with an uncanny resemblance to Ellie comes into Laurel's life.

This is part family drama, part mystery with an unusual plot. At the end the author says she was going for a bizarre story and she certainly achieved that.

People who like unusual villains, family drama and don't need fast-paced action.

Ellie and Poppy's characters. I loved them both. Poppy stole my heart right away, whereas Ellie really grabbed it in a way I can't really share without spoiling the story... but her courage and sacrificial love were two major elements of that.

Oh and I liked Blue, Laurel's son's wife. I especially liked her assessment of Poppy: "Poppy is like a rainbow. Poppy is everything. But she needs to get away from her father before he starts taking her colors away." page 314

Laurel's character. Her resentment of her other daughter really rubbed me the wrong way, as did her treatment of her husband. Her continuing to date Poppy's father after there was clear evidence that he was not a stand up guy bothered me. The only things I liked about her were how she loved Poppy and how she made things as right as possible with her family in the end.

Also, while at some points the writing was very good, at others it was tedious and could definitely have been a lot more concise.

Make the word safer for children everywhere. Granted, I feel this way a lot and it's something I care about deeply anyway.

Tense, irritated and absolutely dismayed at times. But also, really happy for Poppy and Hannah at points.

Is a "New York Times" bestselling author with several other hit novels.

I borrowed the hardcover edition of this book from my local library.

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Created Sep 20, 2019 at 7:04pm • Submit your own review...