Watch Me Disappear was an interesting read for me. I was simultaneously drawn in by the story and completely repulsed by the main character. Everything about this story expect for Billie worked for me. The mystery, the slow-burn pace, the way we discovery truths at the same time as the characters, and even the over-arching story line worked for me. What didn't work for me was the complete selfishness of Billie. I finished this book and threw it against the wall, but I still couldn't stop thinking about it days later.

I've read and enjoyed previous Jennifer Jaynes novels, so it was a treat to be approved for "Watch Me Disappear". The characters were terrific, well-developed and realistic. The problem is that this book moved too slowly. The first two chapters I zipped through, but after that I kept finding reasons to not pick the book back up.

This is never a good sign for a reader, and though I forced myself to finish this book it certainly took the scenic route getting to the end. The resolution to this story was ok, but nothing to crow about.

Such a good book! This is a real page turner! I give it 5 stars and a strong recommendation!

Watch Me Disappear by Janelle Brown immediately pulls the reader into an interesting story but before you realize it you have a difficult time putting down the book. Watch Me Disappear becomes a compelling page turner. I definitely want to read more by Ms Brown. I was given an early copy to review.

.3.5. Stars
I loved the prose! I loved the premise! I loved the pace of the plot...until I didn't.

Watch Me Disappear is an enticing read! The suspenseful storyline was engaging. I was thoroughly immersed in the clever plot. The dynamic, multi dimensional characters were authentic and each voice distinct and believable.The author's writing style was so very enjoyable; her word choice and vivid imagery was delightfully beautiful. The denouement was satisfying and non predictable. The exceptional skill of the author is evident in the denouement. Outstanding ending!

Having said that, I must say this: at the 50% point in reading, I felt the pace slow to a crawl; enough of the twists and red herrings; get on with it! And that was a problem- too MUCH detail and irrelevant sub plots did nothing to push the plot forward, and my interest stagnated. I skipped to the 80% point, and didn't feel I had " missed" anything; I was able to resume reading with clarity and understanding.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this novel in exchange for an honest review.

At last, a story I can whole-heartedly recommend! A father and daughter must cope with the disappearance and probable death of their larger-than-life wife and mother. An image of Billie is revealed through alternating chapters told by the father and daughter. At first impression Billie seems like the cliche of every woman of literature who dazzles her awestruck family by her spontaneity, her boldness and her uncompromising principles. Soon, however the facade begins to crack. The reader begins to suspect Billie's actions and motives. The author does a superb job of revealing just enough information to keep the reader engaged and looking for answers. Right up to the last sentence the story unfolds in ways that will keep you guessing. A very entertaining story with characters who grow and leave you hopeful.

This was not one of my favorite books. I found it to be very slow-moving story of Billie (a mother/wife) who disappears while hiking alone. She has been missing for a year without a trace. At this point, the husband would like her legally declared dead so that he can move on, and so that he may collect the life insurance because he and his daughter have hardly any money left. It is at this point that the daughter, Olive begins seeing her mother in visions from beyond. (I am not into this psychic stuff.)
Having said that, I did feel that the book started to move along and become more interesting as we started to find out more about Billie's past life. I truly appreciated the ending since it really did explain how everyone was coping and what truly happened to Billie. I didn't see that coming!

I found myself stopping and starting this book often. For me, it didn't really pick up until chapter three; once the possibility that the wife may have had an affair. I feel like this book could be about 50 or 60 pages shorter if some of the excess is trimmed away. There was so many details (like Olive realizing she's gay) that don't lead the reader anywhere important, nor do they help develop the characters.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

I really enjoyed this book! It was more of a 4.5, for me. Its about a mom that goes missing and just before the one year anniversary of her disappearance, the daughter starts having visions of her mom and believes she is still alive and wants her daughter to find her. The story takes so many unseen twists and keeps you guessing to the very end. It causes you to ponder how much one actually knows about a spouses past. You will not be able to put this book down, simply because, you just have to know...

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book held my interest and is very well written. I recommend it highly.

This was a page turner! I loved the relationship between the father and his daughter - very real for a teenager in crisis! Hope there is a sequel to this one. Thanks for a fun read!

The prologue of this story sets the tone and lets you know that you are in for an interesting ride. Small bits of foreshadowing along the way begin to chip away at the belief that everyone has lived with for the past year. The two main characters, Jonathan and his daughter Olive, each work on different theories as they continue to investigate the disappearance of Billie. Olive is haunted by cryptic visions of her mother while Jonathan uncovers gaps and inconsistencies in Billie's past, casting doubt on whether or not he actually really knew his wife at all. The whole situation has put an enormous strain on Jonathan and Olive's relationship, complicated by the fact that Olive is a typical teenager and Jonathan is somewhat clueless as to how to deal with her.

As the story progresses, more secrets come to light. Jonathan and Olive begin to grow closer together as they convince each other that things are not as they once seemed, and their beliefs start to coincide as their investigations continue to uncover more strange happenings from the past and present.

There is an alternate storyline that focuses on a memoir that Jonathan is writing about his life and times with Billie. From this we get glimpses into how their relationship was formed and shaped, but as the story progresses Jonathan begins to question the certainty of it all. The character development in this novel is slow and methodical. Every detail is perfectly placed, keeping you guessing until the very end.

I would recommend this book to fans of mysteries and thrillers. I received this as a free ARC from Spiegel & Grau, Random House, on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Well paced missing person thriller with multiple surprise twists. Started slow but gained momentum quickly and kept my interest to the very end. Besides the thrills, the author does a great job of exploring social and relationship themes through well developed chararacters.

I did recommend this book as a book for reader advisory groups because it is thought provoking, however, the story dragged on and I was expecting a little more suspense.

Absolute roller coaster of a read! I am not sure where to start on this one as I do not want to give away too much of the story!
The book revolves around Olive, a young girl who has just lost her mother. Or has she? Olive starts having visions of her mother being alive and sets out on a mission to find the truth.
This book will have you laughing and crying often on the same page. You will want to 'disappear' into the pages until the finish. A great summer read for the beach.
Janelle Brown really has a way to tell a story and get readers to feel truly involved in the characters lives!

I received an ARC from NetGalley for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. I am used to fast paced thrillers with short chapters and an energy that keeps me wanting more. This book was the opposite of that - and it was refreshing. The story builds at a pace that is more realistic as a family investigates what happened with a family member that disappeared one day.

Many of the chapters were followed by chapters from a novel that one of the main characters was writing. It was an interesting juxtaposition to compare their current grief and characters attitudes to the reflection of the past.

The ending surprised me, and I can't wait to read more from this author!

Billie Flanagan is a seemingly happy wife and mom who disappears on a hike, leaving her grieving husband and daughter to mourn and question her death. They find our she was not the person they thought she was, leaving them even more confused and devastated. There are enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Are any of us what we present to the world, or is there more than what we outwardly project? A most satisfying read!

The husband is always the last to know.

Billie is a restless soul, married to a lovely man who works around the clock to provide for his family and has a fifteen year daughter, Olive, who is naturally pulling away from her parents to establish her own identity and struggling with some pretty heavy issues.


Billie is also needy and constantly in search of center stage, something to add excitement and pulse to her mundane life as a trendy northern California housewife whose role as class mom is swiftly coming to an end. She is also a quintessential introvert, one that requires a decent amount of alone time to recharge.

Billie plans a solo hiking trip to a place in a place called Desolation Valley. When she fails to return home, she is declared dead and Jonathan and Olive must adjust to a life without her.

Jonathan decides to quit his job and write his and Billie’s love story but he is forced to face the possibility that their idyllic life was not at all as it seemed when facts about Billie’s past surface and the woman he married is called into question.

The husband is always the last to know.

Billie has been harboring several world rocking secrets, a few of them imparted to Jonathan by way of Billie’s best friend Harmony, a clingy woman who makes a very obvious play for Jonathan’s affections after Billie is out of the picture. In addition to this Olive has been having visions of her mother leading her on a quest to find her.

Watch Me Disappear is full of twists as the reader is led on a path to wanting to learn the truth about a very complex character and the truth about what happened to her. The pacing is even and suspense is built slowly till the final pages leading up to a satisfying finale.

BRB Rating: Read It

Billie- mother who went backpacking to have time alone along Pacific Coast Trail.
She never came back down- becoming classified "missing, presumed dead."

1 year later daughter, Olive and husband, Jonathon are still trying to live their lives.

Secrets are uncovered. Surprises are found.
Answers ...to leave or to die? ...

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to preview Watch Me Disappear.
Jonathan, Olive, and Bilie live in California - they are living a good life. Jonathan works as an IT guy, Olive attends a private school and is doing well, and Billie is a renagade mom who doesn't follow or live by the rules. All in all they have a good life. But Billie is restless and distant. She needs some alone time. One day, Billie goes on a hike and she never returns.
A year later, Jonathan is prepared to go to court to have Billie declared dead. One day, Olive starts to feel strange and gets and image of her mother telling Olive to "find her". The quest to find Billie begins, but in this search, Billie's life and past is disected by Jonathan. He starts to find that Billie was living a secret life and it is one he is not sure he wants to know about.
The book goes back and forth with Jonathan, Olive and Billie's POV. I like that type of writing as it lets you become engaged with the characters. This is a book about family secrets, reality, and the past and how it impacts personal dynamics. This is well written and I really liked the ending. Recommend.