Cover of Then She Was Gone By Lisa Jewell Book

Then She Was Gone By Lisa Jewell Book Review

Have you ever read a book that is both a mystery and a sad story? Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell is both. It has a mystery, but it also talks about love, loss, and moving forward. I just finished reading it, and I really want to share it with you. If you like books that make you feel many emotions, this one is for you!

Ok then, let’s dive into Then She Was Gone summary and review to understand why this book is so good.

Then She Was Gone Plot Summary

The story is about Ellie Mack. She is 15 years old. She is smart, popular, and has a family that loves her. But one day, Ellie goes missing. She disappears on her way to the library. Even though many people search for her, no one can find her. Her family’s life changes forever.

Ten years later, Ellie’s mom, Laurel, is still sad. She has lost her daughter. Her marriage broke down, and she is not close to her other children. Laurel meets Floyd, a nice man. He makes her feel better. He seems perfect. But is he?

The big surprise happens when Laurel meets Floyd’s daughter, Poppy. Poppy is smart and a little strange. She looks just like Ellie, even moving like her. Laurel starts to wonder: How is Poppy connected to Ellie? And what does Floyd know about Ellie’s disappearance?

The story goes back and forth. We see Ellie’s life before she went missing. She trusts her tutor, Noelle Donnelly. But Noelle has bad plans. We also see Laurel’s search for answers. She starts to uncover the truth. It’s full of surprises and dark secrets.

Themes in Then She Was Gone

Grief and Loss: The book is mostly about how hard it is to lose someone. Laurel is a mom who lost her daughter. She is still sad, and the book shows how grief can change people’s lives. 

Laurel’s family is also affected. Her marriage is over, and she isn’t close to her other kids. The book shows how hard it is to move on when you don’t know what happened.

Hope and Healing: Even though the story is sad, there is hope. Laurel’s journey is not just about finding out what happened to Ellie. It’s also about learning how to live again. Meeting Floyd and Poppy gives her a little happiness. By the end of the book, we see that it’s possible to find peace, even when the past can’t be changed.

Obsession and Control: The book shows how obsession can be dangerous. Noelle becomes obsessed with Ellie. She wants to control her in a bad way. Floyd also hides a dark side. These characters show how obsession can hurt people, just like The Wife Between Us.

Writing Style in Then She Was Gone

Lisa Jewell writes in a way that is easy to read but also full of feelings. She keeps you hooked from the start to the end.

Dual Timeline: Jewell tells the story in two timelines. We see Ellie’s life before she disappeared, and we see Laurel’s life ten years later. This makes the story exciting because we learn things slowly, and it makes you want to keep reading.

Character-Driven Story: The characters feel real. We understand how Laurel feels sad. We see Ellie’s innocence. Noelle’s loneliness and Floyd’s charm are clear. Jewell helps us feel their emotions. We really care about what happens to them.

Simple but Powerful Words: Jewell uses easy words, but they still make us feel the characters’ emotions. She doesn’t use hard words. She makes us feel what the characters feel, like Laurel’s sadness or Ellie’s fear.

Atmosphere: Jewell creates a feeling of tension. Even in normal scenes, there is a sense of something being wrong. The pacing is just right. The story moves forward, but it doesn’t rush, similar to The Guest List. Jewell knows when to reveal important details.

Then She Was Gone Review

Then She Was Gone is an emotional thriller. It mixes mystery with the sadness of losing someone. Lisa Jewell tells a powerful story about a mother searching for answers. I was hooked from the first page. I felt Laurel’s pain, confusion, and hope as she tried to find out what happened to Ellie.

One thing that makes this book special is how deep the emotions are. Many thrillers focus only on the mystery. But Jewell makes us feel the characters’ emotions. We really feel Laurel’s grief. Her sadness isn’t just told to us—it’s shown in a way that makes us feel it too.

The pacing is perfect. The book has slow parts where we learn about the characters. But it also has fast parts that keep us excited. Just when we think we know what’s going to happen, a new twist surprises us.

The twists in the story are what make it unforgettable. The connection between Ellie’s disappearance, Floyd, and Noelle is scary but well done. Jewell builds tension by developing the characters, not just through shocks.

The characters are complicated but real. Laurel is a mom who is trying to find peace. Floyd seems nice but hides a dark side. Noelle, the tutor, becomes a scary character because of her obsession with Ellie. Even smaller characters, like Poppy, feel important.

The emotional payoff is what makes this book stand out. It’s not just about solving the mystery. It’s about how people deal with loss. The ending is both sad and hopeful. Life doesn’t always give us clear answers, and Jewell shows that perfectly.

Compare Then She Was Gone to Other Thrillers

If you liked The Girl on the Train or The Silent Wife, you’ll love Then She Was Gone. But this book focuses more on the people, not just the mystery. It’s softer but just as exciting. Jewell’s writing is more personal.

Then She Was Gone Final Thoughts

Then She Was Gone is not just a mystery. It’s about love, loss, and healing. It will make you sad, then slowly help you feel better. If you want a book that makes you think and also makes your heart feel, go read it. You won’t regret it!