Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
Wasn't too fond of the way the main character let everyone dictate the way she thinks, feels, and talked. Was obvious from the beginning what the end was going to be like, but there was a SLIGHT twist with it so didn't make it terrible.
Have I read this before?! Was running around in my brain. I could not for the life of me figure out if I had read this book before or seen an adaptation of it somewhere. Even the name Laurel Logan is familiar to me (now after I’ve read it, I guess?) I’m so confused.
Laurel Logan was abducted when she was six years old, after 13 years of being gone she is returned to the place that she was kidnaped from. (You should always look at the pace that you have lost an item from). The book follows the Logan family, in the voice of Faith the younger daughter and how they deal with the news of the disappeared sister being found.
I loved how the book deals with having Laurel back, and how the family coped and how they came together. But. For me, I have felt like I have seen it all before. It might be true that all families act the same when their missing child of thirteen years has finally appeared back in the lives, but I just felt déjà vu throughout the book. It’s as if Clarke had found a template online and just put her own spin on it. Nevertheless, I still very much enjoyed the book. Clarke is a fantastic writer and it showed through this book. I was gripped by her words and eager to read the next page and the next page.
I was expecting a twist, obviously because without a twist this book would have been boring. However, I was not surprised by the twist. I figured it out pretty early on (okay not the entire twist but the majority of it) and felt a bit disappointed with the fact that the characters, especially Faith didn’t think much of the clues (but then again I understand how her world was turned upside down with her big sister being back) but then again I was also disappointed with Clarke for giving out the same clue over and over again (although I understand why she had to do it) okay I will stop analysing everybody’s decisions.
Now let’s get to the romance bit of the book, my archnemesis in YA novels. What I hate more than shitty romance in YA, is filler romance in YA. Thomas was a filler and not a good one at that. Clarke made us think of him as this perfect, bird-like, emotional boy to this imperfect and selfish and horrible person back to being a wonderful boyfriend yet again. Even Faith’s friendship seemed quite forced at times. It’s hard to figure out a balance between what is going on in Faith’s life with Laurel being back and having to juggle her friend and boyfriend and I don’t think Clarke found that balance at certain points in the book which is a shame.
Also just want to point out what an amazing job Clarke did with juggling Faith’s feelings throughout the book. She was a great character!
Laurel Logan was abducted when she was six years old, after 13 years of being gone she is returned to the place that she was kidnaped from. (You should always look at the pace that you have lost an item from). The book follows the Logan family, in the voice of Faith the younger daughter and how they deal with the news of the disappeared sister being found.
I loved how the book deals with having Laurel back, and how the family coped and how they came together. But. For me, I have felt like I have seen it all before. It might be true that all families act the same when their missing child of thirteen years has finally appeared back in the lives, but I just felt déjà vu throughout the book. It’s as if Clarke had found a template online and just put her own spin on it. Nevertheless, I still very much enjoyed the book. Clarke is a fantastic writer and it showed through this book. I was gripped by her words and eager to read the next page and the next page.
I was expecting a twist, obviously because without a twist this book would have been boring. However, I was not surprised by the twist. I figured it out pretty early on (okay not the entire twist but the majority of it) and felt a bit disappointed with the fact that the characters, especially Faith didn’t think much of the clues (but then again I understand how her world was turned upside down with her big sister being back) but then again I was also disappointed with Clarke for giving out the same clue over and over again (although I understand why she had to do it) okay I will stop analysing everybody’s decisions.
Now let’s get to the romance bit of the book, my archnemesis in YA novels. What I hate more than shitty romance in YA, is filler romance in YA. Thomas was a filler and not a good one at that. Clarke made us think of him as this perfect, bird-like, emotional boy to this imperfect and selfish and horrible person back to being a wonderful boyfriend yet again. Even Faith’s friendship seemed quite forced at times. It’s hard to figure out a balance between what is going on in Faith’s life with Laurel being back and having to juggle her friend and boyfriend and I don’t think Clarke found that balance at certain points in the book which is a shame.
Also just want to point out what an amazing job Clarke did with juggling Faith’s feelings throughout the book. She was a great character!
Spoiler
Now to the ending twist, I liked it. I didn’t think it was very original, but it was carried out brilliantly. The thing which I loved and hated at the same time was the extract from the journalist’s book. Which talked about Sadie’s mother. I feel like we had this clear motive for Sadie, and we were able to feel bad for her and understand her decisions for what she did only for it all to be taken away. I want to know more about this and there’s this bit hanging over the book which could lead to another book which is driving me insane.
I'm almost speechless about this one. It was good and I enjoyed reading it. but all in all, it left me sad and a little defeated.
So many kids go missing each year - each month, each day. And it all just hurts my heart. So to read a book about a child, abducted, it just heartbreaking. But we aren't with Laurel - the girl who was taken and, against all odds, comes back home. No, we're with Faith.
Faith is the sister that was left behind. She's been forced to live with overbearing parents - worried what will happen to her out in the world - she's also had to endure the media and press, the sad parents, and her own guilt that her sister was taken and she was left behind. It's a grueling, difficult thing to read - but Faith has gotten by okay.
Until Laurel stumbles back into her life. And Faith isn't really sure who she is anymore. She doesn't have to be the angry, cynical, scared little sister that was left behind. Her sister is home and she can be a SISTER again. Their reunion and their stumbles are tough to get through because I think both Laurel, the parents and Faith all feel very real emotions and it shows through how tough it is to read.
Ultimately, the ending troubled me. There weren't a lot of surprises, only sadness that I don't think Faith is in a better place - either way. I wish there was more faith in Michel. It's a good book, one that will stay with me.
So many kids go missing each year - each month, each day. And it all just hurts my heart. So to read a book about a child, abducted, it just heartbreaking. But we aren't with Laurel - the girl who was taken and, against all odds, comes back home. No, we're with Faith.
Faith is the sister that was left behind. She's been forced to live with overbearing parents - worried what will happen to her out in the world - she's also had to endure the media and press, the sad parents, and her own guilt that her sister was taken and she was left behind. It's a grueling, difficult thing to read - but Faith has gotten by okay.
Until Laurel stumbles back into her life. And Faith isn't really sure who she is anymore. She doesn't have to be the angry, cynical, scared little sister that was left behind. Her sister is home and she can be a SISTER again. Their reunion and their stumbles are tough to get through because I think both Laurel, the parents and Faith all feel very real emotions and it shows through how tough it is to read.
Ultimately, the ending troubled me. There weren't a lot of surprises, only sadness that I don't think Faith is in a better place - either way. I wish there was more faith in Michel. It's a good book, one that will stay with me.
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I liked it, but it was so predictable. When "Laurel" made little mistakes about memories and what happened to her, I figured it out immediately that she was a fraud. The only really surprising part was that the sister's boyfriend was weirdly obsessed with Laurel's disappearance and only got with Faith to get closer to the case and Laurel. I felt bad for the girl who came back as Laurel because of all the trauma she endured, but it wasn't fair to give a family hope.
I've become a sucker for Cat Clarke's books and this is my favourite of them all. Faith's sister Laurel is abducted when she's six... now, thirteen years later, she comes back. But how do you cope with a sister you barely remember, who has taken over your life with her absence? Although there is some romance in the book, the focus is mostly on the relationship between two sisters and their family. And that ending! I loved it.
challenging
dark
emotional
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
The Lost and The Found was a book I was so excited to read. The synopsis gripped me from the moment I read it and for the most part it didn't disappoint. It was fast paced and I really enjoyed it. The only thing I didn't love me not was the fact that I guessed the plot twist within a few chapters so I kind of lost that suspense. I'm not sure wether the reason I guessed it is because I've read to many thrillers or because the ending was quite obvious? Nevertheless I did really enjoy it and I think this would be a great book to introduce someone into thrillers as a reading genre.
I love listening to Cat Clarke’s books on audio. They always focus on mainly one character and have quite a simple, and yet complex story. The plot itself is nothing complicated. When Faith was little, her six-year-old sister was kidnapped. Now, thirteen years later, she’s found wandering the streets, clutching her old teddy bear.
What was meant to be a happy reunion, is tainted by suspicion and a tinge of jealousy. Faith’s been dreaming about getting Laurel back, and yet, when it happens, she finds herself all sorts of paranoid. All the attention turning toward the family also makes her uncomfortable. It’s such a difficult situation. The joy of having her sister back, mixed with all the guilt. Because surely she should be just happy. Surely Laurel is just trying to catch up on all the missed years, missed opportunities to have friends, right? Surely she’s not after Faith’s boyfriend? Faith should just be happy her sister is not damaged beyond repair and is able to form bonds with others. No? You see? I told you, it’s complicated.
I loved the exploration into family dynamics, and especially the focus on sibling relationships.
What was meant to be a happy reunion, is tainted by suspicion and a tinge of jealousy. Faith’s been dreaming about getting Laurel back, and yet, when it happens, she finds herself all sorts of paranoid. All the attention turning toward the family also makes her uncomfortable. It’s such a difficult situation. The joy of having her sister back, mixed with all the guilt. Because surely she should be just happy. Surely Laurel is just trying to catch up on all the missed years, missed opportunities to have friends, right? Surely she’s not after Faith’s boyfriend? Faith should just be happy her sister is not damaged beyond repair and is able to form bonds with others. No? You see? I told you, it’s complicated.
I loved the exploration into family dynamics, and especially the focus on sibling relationships.
Couldn't put this down, a proper gripping page-turner. Very different to the other Cat Clarke book that I've read. I absolutely loved it.