Digital Reads Reviews

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My review

What did I just read — I don’t know

Where were the 11 missed calls — I don’t know

How did I manage to finish — I don’t know

Why did I read this — I don’t know

Whew… A lot of ‘don’t knows’ in this book. The story had a beautiful premise Anna/Annie’s mother has been missing for 30 years cloaked under a lot of mystery while on a holiday at Tenerife, and this fact has obsessed Anna for three decades – to find her mother Debbie. Till an email comes to step-mother Monica and that steamrolls the entire story….

The book which sounded so good at the synopsis failed to deliver due to the following points

  • Two timelines 1986 and 2017
  • Two POV Debbie and Anna
  • An unknown voice making a sudden narration
  • Everything is in first person, if I forgot to see the title heading, I wouldn’t have known if it is the daughter or mother’s POV as both are weird
  • Horribly characterized characters
  • Reasons at the end made no sense, it was anti-climatic
  • 11 missed calls as title sounded so exciting but there were no calls, only the stepmother received 11 missed calls in one scene in the book from an unknown caller (I was not told who that was)
  • Stepmother was mother’s best friend who became father’s best friend and married him after the mother’s disappearance.
  • Lack of intrigue and suspense
  • Too many ramblings of the mind with no clear solution
  • The twist was people who appeared negative became saints at the end, all reasons justified
  • Bridges of relationship built overnight
  • Private investigator hired found two dead bodies but that was a different story (again not told to me, and the investigator discovered nothing, and she was the only good character in the book)
  • Infidelity as a running theme in the story, but in the end everyone was goody-two-shoes. Everybody cried and made up. Yayyyy

Why am I sounding so happy

The book is over and done with, and I don’t ever have to read it again. It is deleted from my kindle. Vamoosh!!

I received an ARC from NetGalley and publisher Avon, and this is my honest and unbiased opinion.

My review : 2 stars (one for synopsis and one for me for finishing it)

About the Author

Libby Carpenter lives in Preston with her family. She completed a BA in English Literature and Language with the Open University in 2011.
Libby was awarded a Northern Writers’ New Fiction award, and was longlisted for Yeovil Literary Prize (2015 and 2016) and the MsLexia Women’s Novel award (2015). She loves living in the north of England and sets most of her stories in the area. She currently works as a book keeper. Her first novel, 99 Red Balloons, became a bestseller in 2017.

Book blurb

Anna has always believed that her mother, Debbie, died 30 years ago on the night she disappeared.

But when her father gets a strange note, she realises that she’s never been told the full story of what happened that night on the cliff.

Confused and upset, Anna turns to her husband Jack – but when she finds a love letter from another woman in his wallet, she realises there’s no-one left to help her, least of all her family.

And then a body is found…

Product Details

Publication date : 26rh July, 2018

Publisher : Avon

Language : English

Available on Amazon

37 Responses

  1. And this, Shalini, is why you are such a great reviewer! You’re not afraid to point out issues that a lot of people don’t even notice (or care about). I, too, like to read books that make sense and are believable. This one sounds like it was a confusing mess. I’m guessing this author didn’t have a great beta reader like you. 🙂 Thanks for sharing!

    1. Hahaha yayy. Must tell Avon Books, Leslie, that they need me urgently 😉😉😘😘
      It took me 4 long days… There was one time last night I thought I should start from the end… But I am glad I didn’t. I would have still not understood

        1. Yayyy…. That’s so cool. Do you want to do blog tours with me. I am organizing a few of them. I am searching for good people who can help… No force totally your choice.
          Sorry asked you here. I am too blatant

          1. Maybe. I signed up for one, but couldn’t finish the book in time. Can you send me an email (lmok964@gmail.com) with the books you’re organizing the tours for?

  2. That was not said in jest. Every author would benefit from a good beta reader, yet I’m surprised by how many authors don’t even know what a beta reader is. People like you make books better. Avon should definitely hire you! 🙂

    1. Can I just say here, that I would rather stick with you as you understand me totally and I would rather see that I can help your books be a roaring success.

      One author like you is worth your weight in gold. <3

  3. You’re too kind, Shalini. Though I would like to be selfish, I will gladly share you with others and shout to the rooftops to all authors that they should hire you. You’re simply the best, and I mean that sincerely. You rock, girl! 🙂

    1. Hahaha thank you Leslie. You can be selfless and share me. But you know you come at the top for me. Your concern, your love comes through in your comments. Life has to be about love. 💜❤️😘

    1. Omg… Hahaha… I hope that was a compliment. I got the book for the title and the cover and I had to keep searching for those 11 missed call – just one scene and few lines… That was the biggest suspense

  4. Uhhh….I take it you didn’t really care for this one. 😂 I was cracking up reading your review, Shalini. Thanks for letting us in on this one in advance.

    1. Hahaha you could guess that from my review??
      I kept searching for the missed calls. Only one scene 2 lines. The screen of the phone showed 11 missed calls. I wonder even now from whom were they? Maybe that was the suspense… 😏🙄😉😂

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