I really enjoyed the suspense aspect to the story. But I had trouble keeping track of the characters (which child belonged which mom, who was the one who worked at the radio station, etc.), in the beginning especially. A lot of names flying around at once, and that made it harder to care about what was happening to each of them. And because we never saw or got to know Kristin (she's missing from the beginning), it took awhile for me to connect with their concern for her.

That being said, each of the individual subplots were really emotionally engaging. I did really feel for Izzy (the one who worked at the radio station, as it happens) and her dilemma with her sister and Josh.

I like the way the author wove the story around this small neighborhood group. Izzy was my favorite character and I could feel her loneliness. The ending was somewhat expected but I was glad to find out all the details when revealed.

A group of women from the neighborhood get together one Saturday night, taking a much needed break around the fire pit. They drink wine and talk, maybe over-indulging a bit. They all head home, a little fuzzy, but happy to have had the time together. Then, on Monday, one of the women is missing, and so are her children. Did she leave on her own, or did she have help? When her soon-to-be ex moves back into the house, more questions are raised. The more time passes, the women wonder how well they actually knew their neighbor...or each other.
This was an interesting read that kept me turning pages as quickly as I could. Strawser wrote a compelling story with interesting, well-developed characters. I was kept guessing and couldn’t wait to see what happened next. This is one that shouldn’t be missed.
#GoodreadsGiveaway #St.Martin’sPress #NetGalley #NotthatIcouldtell

I so wanted to like this book. I started off blown away by the writing. I was intrigued and excited to see what happens right off the bat. Unfortunately, after the beginning, nothing happens, I mean nothing. Was the writing great? Yes, it was. Easy to read? Yep, even with that many characters, I felt like the story flowed well, and the characters were well developed. Did it keep me interested? No, unfortunately not. I kept waiting for something to happen, and it didn’t. Was it predictable? Yes, I had the whole thing figured out from pretty early on. Would I read something else from this author? Yes, I would.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review.

I had read Strawser's debut novel, Almost Missed You, last year and really enjoyed it so I was excited to see her next book available for review. Strawser's second book Not That I Could Tell is a great book with a lot to enjoy. The plot line had plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. I especially liked how the narrator / POV was continually changing, every time I felt myself growing a little restless with the story we'd switch the POV and I'd be back and engaged in the story. And I really loved how multi-faceted all the characters were, and how quirky and likable all the women were. There were a couple things in the book that happened that I found to be "unfair" (one example is the chastising speech Izzy gets from her Dad, while he may have been right it was painful still) but life is also unfair and it added to the drama and build up of the story line. I have to say I didn't see the ending for this one coming, it took me completely by surprise. That being said I'm not sure that I ended up overall satisfied with how it ended. And I think as a reader I would've liked more details about Kristen's back story (other than just the one event) to try and understand more of what she went through leading up to this. Overall though I really liked this book and I would recommend it, this would be a great vacation/beach read!

This book was selected by Book of the Month, and it’s no wonder. This book appeals to a specific audience, those who loved reading The Husbands Secret by Liane Moriarty should select this book. I read this in a long stream of books with characters who were terribly flawed, so much of it bled together for me, but it is worthy of your reading time.

One Saturday night, a group of women get together on a backyard to have a few drinks and relax. They are neighbors and look forward to taking a break from the routine. However, a couple of days later they are all shocked to learn that Kristin -one of the women that went to the bonfire- is missing.

The novel explores how each of the neighbors deals with Kristin's disappearance, specially Clara, a wife and mother, and Izzy, the newest person to have moved into the neighborhood.

The novel takes place in Yellow Springs, OH and is narrated from different points of view. I was interested in reading the book because the description sounded like it would be a mystery, but it's more like women's fiction. It is slow paced and character driven.

Overall it was ok. I recommend it to readers of contemporary fiction.

I received an ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

I was not lucky enough to come across Jessica Strawser sooner and that is so disappointing because I loved this book. Not that I could tell won me over with amazing cover art visually and won me over with every page I turned. We all have a group of girls who we trust who we love to hang with but what happens when you spend a Saturday around a fire pit with friends and wake up the next day and one of them is missing and no one remembers what happen. Everyone doesn’t know what to think. Were Kristen and her twins kidnapped? Did she run away from the perfect husband? Is he perfect did he do it? The story is told from duel perspectives One chapter is told by Clara a married mother and one being Izzy the only single woman in the group. I felt emotionally connected to all the girls and loved that. I found myself feeling bad for Izzy because I felt that she wanted to be happy so bad that she forgot to live. I felt that the author wrapped things up nice building up to an awesome ending. I want to thank Netgalley and all parties for my advanced reader copy this came out yesterday go get it!

Rating: 2.5. I was really disappointed in this. The synopsis sounded right up my alley--I love domestic thrillers. However, of the 3oo+ pages of this book about 85% of it was sooooo boring. NOTHING happens except in the last 2 chapters. We spent so much time on the back stories of useless side characters especially Lexie (who was the worst). I did really like Clara and Benny. Their relationship was a lot more developed. Overall, not a fan. I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for a digital ARC. This one did not do it for me. I’m just not into the twisty mystery thing. Part of it was the characters did not engage me at all. Not the missing person nor her friends. I didn’t find their various challenges or back stories interesting. I just didn’t care. And the reveal at the end wasn’t that jaw dropping. I stuck with the book to see what happened but kind of sorry I did.

Another book featuring a group of women living in close proximity together. Another book with a desperate housewives vibe, though this one does have a serious subject underlying the surface goings on in this neighborhood. I wish I could say I connected with this story, but the truth is I did not. One of the woman and her two children disappear. Is it foul play, she was getting a divorce, or was she on the run to or from something?

Interesting concept, but I had a hard time keeping these women separate, they all seemed somewhat the same. For a good part of the book, there was alot of guessing, hinting and talking, without much actually happening. I'm probably not the fairest reviewer for this type of book, not my favorite get re to begin with and then add in the fact that I have read more than one these type of books lately.

The last third of the book did see more things happening and redeemed itself somewhat by revealing a few surprises, afee things I didn't see coming. Many others have loved this book so was I said I am probably not the right audience, reader, so seek out other reviews and read for yourself, see where you fall.

ARC from Netgalley

One year ago today, I reviewed Strawser’s debut novel, Almost Missed You. When I received an invitation to read and review this, her second novel of suspense, I privately wondered whether she had written the same story all over again: missing spouse, missing kids, and is it foul play or a voluntary departure? But although there are many common elements, possibly what will become a signature aspect of her work, I can promise you that this is a very different story. Thanks go to Net Galley and St. Martin’s Press for letting me read it free and early. This book is for sale now.

Our setting is Yellow Springs, Ohio, and our protagonists are the women of the neighborhood, primarily Izzy, who comes in search of a fresh start after her sister marries the man she had her heart set on, and Clara, a stay-home mom that also recovering from a traumatic past event that is alluded to frequently but whose particulars are withheld till near the story’s climax. And we have Kristen, college administrator and estranged wife of Doctor Paul. All are close neighbors, and these women--along with other women in the neighborhood--form a tight bond.

At the outset I feel as if I’m the wrong reader for this story. It’s all so light and fluffy; I don’t need to know the name of every child in the neighborhood, nor what everyone is wearing. But I also remember that I felt that way at the start of Strawser’s last novel, and I didn’t feel at all that way further into the book, and so I keep reading. Sure enough, the adverbs drop, the wardrobes and cute kiddies fade into the background, and the tone darkens nicely (said the evil book blogger with a sinister smile).

After a lovely fall evening spent bonding with friends around a backyard bonfire, Kristen and the twins have disappeared. The police take a hard look at Paul, who is seeking half of the hefty sum in Kristen’s savings account in the divorce proceedings, but nobody can prove anything. There are no bodies; she may have taken the kiddies and left. Some things are missing that make us think she’s taken off voluntarily, and yet other aspects of her absence send up flags.

Paul, for instance, is a smooth operator, but he isn’t a nice guy.

Strawser weaves a complex, credible plot with a strong feminist subtext, one that tells us there needs to be greater support for victims of domestic violence, and also that for some of us, happy endings are capable without romantic relationships. In addition, it is heartening to see a strong work of fiction that mostly features women characters.

I recommend this novel to women and those that love them, and I look forward to seeing more of Strawser’s feminist fiction in the future.

Read my 4-star review of Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

I generally love a good suspense novel, but one that revolves around a group of female neighbors and their missing friend? I am ALLLL about that! There's just something about a female cast that really gets a suspense novel going. I think it has a little to do with the fact that they all gossip a decent amount and try to solve the disappearance themselves. The women in this novel were all extremely likable and I found myself getting very invested in their outcomes.

There were a few moments that felt a little predictable, but they didn't ruin the novel for me. It felt more like the author was trying to lead the reader along the correct path rather than just handing them the answers and I really enjoyed that. I also thoroughly enjoyed the pacing of the novel. It was very well written and had the perfect amount of suspense and excitement.

All in all, Not That I Could Tell was an excellent suspense novel and I would highly recommend it to readers who enjoyed Big Little Lies. I look forward to reading more from Strawser in the future! Thank you so much to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Rating 4/5

This was a three star book for me. If you like domestic thrillers this is average. It's not bad, I just found it predictable. Maybe it's me. Maybe I need to take a break from this genre, even though it is my favorite. Thanks to Netgalley for giving me this book in exchange for an honest review.

Izzy is waking up realizing she drank too much last night and blabbed too much to her new neighbors. Since it’s Sunday and pouring rain, she decides to stay in bed. Izzy is the producer of a morning radio show.

Neighbors Clara and Benny have a new patio so the women “christened” it Saturday night by sitting, chatting, and drinking. They are the parents of two small children.

Neighbor Natalie has a 12-year-old daughter, Hallie, who helps Clara after school.

Other neighbors are a happy and loving lesbian couple with a baby daughter.

Neighbors Kristin and Paul, who is an OB-GYN, and parents of twins, have recently separated. The twins are from Kristin’s first husband who died. Now, Kristen has not shown up for work on Monday, the twins are not at school, and Paul is worried. Suitcases and clothes are missing, but things are left as if they will be right back. So, Paul calls the police.
All six of these women had been together Saturday night having a good time. Now, there’s just five of them.

Soon, the press is stationed outside their houses trying to talk to one of them and the police come to question them as well.

The story follows each of the women in their everyday lives with their spouses and children. Paul is living in Kristin’s house hoping she will contact him or return home.

This book started out promising to be a thriller but failed to achieve that goal. I couldn’t get over the pre-school Clara’s son was attending and their “attitude.” (Can’t say more as it’s a spoiler.) I never could figure out Izzy’s “relationship” with Josh. Huh? (Again, a spoiler.) The ending let me down too. I just was not impressed by this book. However, as this is the first book by this author that I have read, I am interested in reading more of her books. Perhaps, this was just a one off for me.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Jessica Strawser's novel Almost Missed You was a very impressive debut last year, and her latest release Not That I Could Tell doesn't disappoint either.
This novel of domestic suspense explores the effects on a group of women who had enjoyed a neighborly backyard get together but the following morning one of them is gone.
What happened to Kristin, the respected doctor's wife and busy mother of young twins? And where are the children?
Rather than focusing on the mystery or the police investigation involved, the story unfolds mostly from the alternating points of view of two of the neighborhood women.
The reader becomes closely familiar with Kristin's best friend, Clara, and how the aftermath of Kristin's disappearance affects her and her family. Then there is Izzy, the only single woman in the group. She has been dealing with her own personal nightmare and the happenings in the neighborhood force her to re-evaluate her own life.
These neighborhood novels seem to be en vogue currently. I've certainly read a few of them recently, and Not That I Could Tell ranks among the better ones. One of the strong points here is definitely Ms. Strawser's skillful characterization of all the players involved. They are believable. They are relatable. The characters evoke emotions.
However, if you're expecting a fast-paced, suspenseful thrill, you will probably be disappointed. This is much more about relationships, parenting and life in the suburbs. Not dissimilar to Liane Moriarty.
Overall, it was an enjoyable and interesting read but I wasn't completely gripped by it.
I would recommend this to anybody who enjoys general contemporary women's fiction.
3.5 stars rounded up.
I received an ARC via NetGalley.

It’s not that the book is awful. It’s not. The writing was great and the pages kept turning. It’s just...nothing happens in this book. Not a thing. Not. One. Thing. Happens. You’re basically reading about these types of people of their day to day lives.

I never really got fully invested with the characters. It was almost like there was just too much going on with all of them. I liked them- but the pacing of the story was just way too slow for me. When there is so much going on within a story and it moves at a slow pace it drowns all of the goodness out for me as a reader.

My favorite part of the entire book was the character development though. With as many characters as this book had it should have been hard to execute but the author really knocked that out of the park. The growth and the things going on with them was enough to keep my brain occupied for a while.

Not That I Could Tell was very underwhelming and predictable. If I had to think of two words to sum it up, those are if. It was really great until I finally realized that there were no twists. Mainly because I had guessed them all because the predictability was off the charts.

But if you’re looking for a women’s lit book and if you liked Big Little Lies you’ll truly devour this book in no time.

A group of neighborhood women gather on a Saturday night in the area where their backyards meet so that their baby monitors will still be active. They are rarely able to all get together without their kids so they are all happy to be there. They are all having wine, and their conversation becomes a little too revealing. Everyone in the group knows something about all the others. By Monday, Kristin has disappeared with her children. No one can fathom what happened--did she leave voluntarily or did something more sinister happen to her?. She worked at a college and was a doctor's wife but about to be divorced. Her husband Paul is at the center of the investigation. The neighborhood women begin to wonder how well any of them know the others.
I really enjoyed Almost Missed You by this same author and was excited to read her next book. The title of this book, Not That I Could Tell, summarizes the plot: what's going on behind closed doors isn't always obvious to those outside. From the outside, Kristen appears to have the perfect life, but in reality it is far from perfect. The story is told from the points of view of three primary characters: Kristen, Clara (Kristen's closest friend), and Izzy (the newcomer to the neighborhood). The characters are all well-developed and interesting. The book is fast-paced with a twist at the end that is unexpected.
I highly recommend this book along with Jessica Strawser's earlier book as well. I am looking forward to reading more from her and hope it isn't too long before her next book is available.

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser was a gripping psychological thriller that sent chills up my spine during the climax. The story focused around a neighborhood and a group of woman in the neighborhood who were sitting around a fire pit one night swapping stories and the next day one of them was gone. Gone, with her children, without any clues and a confused ex husband looking for her and the children. The rest of the woman were questioned again and again. Various theories were spouted but without evidence...there was no closure for the women.

The book is written in various voices mostly Clara and Izzy, although some of the thoughts are from Kristen (the missing mother). The story goes back and forth opening up various avenues for the reader to ponder. What I found most remarkable is that I was glad I was along for the ride. I was enjoying the story so much and was wondering so much about what was going to happen, that I really didn’t want the book to end and I read it very slowly (for me). It is a rare occurrence in my world to have that happen. I liked the slow reveal and the main characters. I

Not That I Could Tell by Jessica Strawser was a great read, with good writing, characters and a plotline that built suspense as the book moved along!