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mihini_123's review
inspiring
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
dariai's review
4.0
The Gaps is a book about 16 year old Yin's abduction - or at least that mystery is the underlying plot. More importantly, it is a story about friendships, family, privilege, growing up, and self-discovery.
The writing is easy to read while also being smart, insightful, and incredibly enjoyable. We follow two perspectives - one is a popular girl at school with a close connection to Yin, while the other is a girl who is relatively new to their school and a bit of an outsider - and a diverse cast of characters. As a result you get to see different perspectives to the situation and different people's reactions to Yin's abduction, which also adds something more to a seemingly simple plot and keeps The Gaps compelling to read.
Overall, I found The Gaps to be relatable (it's always great to read Australian books), as well as thought provoking and moving (I may have shed a tear at the end).
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
The writing is easy to read while also being smart, insightful, and incredibly enjoyable. We follow two perspectives - one is a popular girl at school with a close connection to Yin, while the other is a girl who is relatively new to their school and a bit of an outsider - and a diverse cast of characters. As a result you get to see different perspectives to the situation and different people's reactions to Yin's abduction, which also adds something more to a seemingly simple plot and keeps The Gaps compelling to read.
Overall, I found The Gaps to be relatable (it's always great to read Australian books), as well as thought provoking and moving (I may have shed a tear at the end).
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
_mercury_'s review
3.0
2.5 STARS
Letdown is the word I use to describe this book. Why did the author have to build all that suspense with the connected past disappearances and abductions if she was going to end it like that? No closure.
Letdown is the word I use to describe this book. Why did the author have to build all that suspense with the connected past disappearances and abductions if she was going to end it like that? No closure.
ashleyholstrom's review
“Leanne Hall’s exploratory novel The Gaps is about what it feels like to be left behind after tragedy strikes.”
Reviewed for Foreword Reviews.
Reviewed for Foreword Reviews.
katelynjaynexx's review
5.0
How to describe this book? Whilst yes it does centre around a mystery of a missing girl The Gaps is really so much more than a mystery novel. The story is more about the girls that are left behind and how they must handle the fear and grief that comes with a friend being abducted.
The characters in this book were engaging and Leanne Hall has such a talent for writing complex and interesting characters that also stay true to actual teenagers. This book blew me away, I just couldn't put it down, the writing was so captivating and engaging I found myself reading this in a day.
At first I thought this was going to be a YA mystery, but the mystery is actually a subplot, the real beauty of this book is that it touches on the realities of being female, and the feelings of vulnerability and fragility we feel in terms of our own lives and safety.
I think this book had really great characters, it shares the POVs of Natalia and Chloe, who probably couldn't be more different but their characters and differences really complemented each other and added to my overall enjoyment whilst reading this book.
Thanks again to Text Publishing and Net Galley for the advance reading copy of this wonderful book
The characters in this book were engaging and Leanne Hall has such a talent for writing complex and interesting characters that also stay true to actual teenagers. This book blew me away, I just couldn't put it down, the writing was so captivating and engaging I found myself reading this in a day.
At first I thought this was going to be a YA mystery, but the mystery is actually a subplot, the real beauty of this book is that it touches on the realities of being female, and the feelings of vulnerability and fragility we feel in terms of our own lives and safety.
I think this book had really great characters, it shares the POVs of Natalia and Chloe, who probably couldn't be more different but their characters and differences really complemented each other and added to my overall enjoyment whilst reading this book.
Thanks again to Text Publishing and Net Galley for the advance reading copy of this wonderful book
amrawinter's review
4.0
A haunting, layered exploration of how people change when faced by a traumatic event. When teenager Yin goes missing, her loss reverberates around her community. Unlikely friends Natalia and Chloe, from whose perspectives the story is woven, must explore their fears and understanding of the world around them, and of friendship and grief.
trisha_thomas's review
4.0
"Was she scared of anything? Yes. I can almost hear the thoughts of every single girl in my year level. We're all scared, of almost everything."
This book was a surprised. The cover is pretty but kind of quiet - darker colors with muted definitions. But the story is explosive, tackling things like race and socioeconomic struggles. The biggest subject tackled, though, is violence against women. It's an undercurrent in the whole story -because Yin is missing. And every young girl at this school knows it. It's in the silence in the halls, the gaps in text messages, the slight pause before they list girl's names.
"Where do they go, these girls that accidentally fall through a gap in the universe?"
The story is told from two POV. Each of the points are struggling with the disappearance for different reasons because one knew the girl and one didn't. The female friendships and struggles, the layers of racism in the hierarchy, the rich vs the poor - all are tackled with grace and respect. I really enjoyed this story and appreciated the nuances and layers.
This book was a surprised. The cover is pretty but kind of quiet - darker colors with muted definitions. But the story is explosive, tackling things like race and socioeconomic struggles. The biggest subject tackled, though, is violence against women. It's an undercurrent in the whole story -because Yin is missing. And every young girl at this school knows it. It's in the silence in the halls, the gaps in text messages, the slight pause before they list girl's names.
"Where do they go, these girls that accidentally fall through a gap in the universe?"
The story is told from two POV. Each of the points are struggling with the disappearance for different reasons because one knew the girl and one didn't. The female friendships and struggles, the layers of racism in the hierarchy, the rich vs the poor - all are tackled with grace and respect. I really enjoyed this story and appreciated the nuances and layers.
cec_loves_to_read_books's review
4.0
I was instantly pulled into this YA novel as the story feels so real and its characters are very cleverly drawn. The dual narration expertly weaves a connection between the reader and the girls of Balmoral Ladies College. You will truly inhabit Chloe and Natalia’s worlds as they navigate painful paths to determine the truth about friendship, identity and trust.
Thoroughly recommend. Suitable for 14+.
wdianasheppard's review
4.0
“If women hold up half the sky, then why are we so disposable?”
This slow-burn, intense YA thriller wasn't interested in spooks and scares so much as it was interested in microaggressions and the societal prejudices that make some victims worth pursuing, and others... not. "The Gaps" follows the tale of two girls who react to a missing classmate's abduction. "The Gaps" is a subtle, careful work, hyper-aware of how privilege and race infiltrate true crime. It was definitely a slower-paced novel - it took me a bit to get into it - but once I was into it, the rest of the book went by so quickly. Highly recommended to anyone who wants a thoughtful reaction to violence against women, rather than a pure who-dun-it.
This slow-burn, intense YA thriller wasn't interested in spooks and scares so much as it was interested in microaggressions and the societal prejudices that make some victims worth pursuing, and others... not. "The Gaps" follows the tale of two girls who react to a missing classmate's abduction. "The Gaps" is a subtle, careful work, hyper-aware of how privilege and race infiltrate true crime. It was definitely a slower-paced novel - it took me a bit to get into it - but once I was into it, the rest of the book went by so quickly. Highly recommended to anyone who wants a thoughtful reaction to violence against women, rather than a pure who-dun-it.
missarnold's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0