Jane greets us at the beginning of the book, and she is speaking directly to the 'Reader'. It felt so much like a real preface authors sometimes include in their books that I actually started to ask myself if Laurie had been kidnapped and was writing her story down. I quickly realized that it was only Jane, who, in an effort to keep her identity from the prying eyes of the world, changed all the names and places in the story. She became Jane Anonymous, letting us in to her broken mind. The book is told in chapters of Then and Now, separated as memories come back to present Jane, recounting her seven months locked away by a faceless monster.

What a great read! I think my students will love how this book parses out what happened to Jane between chapters of how Jane is dealing with her ordeal in the current time.

This book, about a teenage girl who is trying to “readjust” to life after 7 months in captivity, was a total mind-bender. I liked the framework of the story being that “Jane” is writing her memoirs but never reveals her identity or where she lives to us. So there is this interesting juxtaposition between the first person POV creating a sense of intimacy and trust with the reader, yet also keeping basic information from us.

Jane is an unreliable narrator. She’s deeply traumatized and in ways that even she cannot begin to grasp. But while on the surface we, the reader, are the only ones getting the “real story” (the one she doesn’t want to tell people in her life), it’s not really true. This book is best read with as little information as possible; instead, let the story unfold and go on this journey with Jane.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author but this certainly made me interested in reading more from her.

3.5 stars. This is my first book by this author and I enjoyed her style of writing. It flowed well and her development of the plot and characters kept my attention. I almost stopped reading it at the beginning because I am not a fan of fictitious kidnapping plot lines, esp if they go into detail of what the character endures while held captive. Although the main character is held captive the author keeps the story interesting without adding gratuitous details. With that said, Jane is still kidnapped and the story is told through her journal after she escapes. She goes back and forth between her time as a captive and after she escapes. It’s heartbreaking to read her thought process as she tries to make sense of her experience. She deals with shame, regret, guilt, anger and loneliness. You go on her journey of recovery and you are rooting for her the whole time.

Thank you #netgalley for the ARC of #JaneAnonymous

This was an amazing book to read but I have to admit it was out if of my ordinary reading preferences. At times the writing is clunky and sad as to be expected but it truly is eye opening. The twist was somewhat lacking but that can be due to me reading a ton of thrillers lol. All in all this was a pretty good read and the writer has a fantastic way with words.

Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for this copy of my ARC.

The story of Jane as she works through the trauma of a 7 month captivity. She tries to make sense of that experience and find a way to reenter the world she no longer feels a part of. Dark and raw, a powerful look at trauma and recovery.

In the vein of Ask Alice or Speak, Jane Anonymous tackles a difficult subject - life after abduction. Alternating between memories of the seven months she was kidnapped and modern day, Jane attempts to learn how to relive the life she left behind as she is now. I really enjoyed this novel, although I will admit that the Jane was a little immature and the book skirted some topics that could've been explored more in depth. Still, a good and important read!

A special thank you to Netgalley for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

It is very tricky of the author, to have the protagonist Jane Anonymous attend No Where High School in Anytown. It makes it more relatable. Perhaps the cover could be just a silhouette, to appeal to more readers.

The plot is tantalizing, although I skipped ahead to find out the truth about THAT GUY. And then I got pulled away from the book before the end. I will go back to it, though. I just have to,

This book totally sucked me in and I loved it! It was such a cool premise, a girl who was kidnapped and managed to escape, telling her story. The Then and Now back and forth really broke the story up and made it engaging. Seeing what Jane went through and how hard it would be to adjust was great. I also thought the way her parents, especially her mom, reacted seemed realistic. They tried to understand, but no one really can. Jane's mom just wanted her to get back to her life, but to do that when you're a completely different person and have been through trauma is hard, if not impossible. Jane had to come to terms with things and decide how her life is going to play out. Great story, highly recommend!

Oh my goodness, the twists In this book I almost feel like she was more content living as a captured girl then living in her own home with her parents. This book is trigger some on so many levels but I could not put it down. I'm about 20 minutes from being done I am anticipating this ending like you wouldn't believe. Will have a finished review on my Goodreads so stay tuned and follow me on there.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was SO excited to get approved for this 2020 release. This book IS intense, but very well written. Jane writes her experiences with her kidnapping as a healing mechanism for her trauma. The book is split between then and now. **trigger warning ** there is NOT any sexual abuse detailed in this book but it could be interpreted that there was inappropriate touching.

Jane is a 17 year old girl with a loving set of parents, a best friend and a maybe boyfriend. When she is kidnapped, all of that life is not only on pause but she isn't the same girl when she rescues herself 7 months after she was taken.

I had suspicions somewhat early on into the book that Mason was an unreliable character. The things he was saying weren't adding up, his stories about trying to date in the outside world somewhat mirror Jane's memories before she was taken. He also attempted to reframe her relationships, something that struck me as manipulative. That he "befriended" Jane and was her only contact with another human for 7 months is a trauma most of us could not understand, which is why I had to remind myself, as smart as Jane is, she couldn't see what was blindingly obvious to the reader. Even after Jane escaped (I was cheering her on and practically biting my nails) she struggled with the aftermath, sleeping in her closet, feeling detached from her loved ones and having food issues. Volunteering at the animal shelter and rekindling her friendship with the lovely human Jack helped put Jane on the road to recovery, along with finally finding the right therapist. The only thing is I wish Jane would have verbalized that her stalker took her because of his obsession with her and maybe a little of his back story.

OH I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!!

I will have my main review coming later on Goodreads when I can get my thoughts together. BUT THIS book was so good. I highly recommend it. I will make sure I watch for other works by this author. Laurie did a great job and I loved the writing. There were moments I was holding my breath for the main character hoping she the best!!!

ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I love the dual timeline in this book. It not only gives a great picture of what happens to Jane, but also highlights the fallout of the kidnapping. My students are going to eat this up, and I look forward to booktalking it!

Laurie Faria Stolarz did not disappoint! This book kept me reading to the point that I read the entire book in one sit down. I just had to know if the theories I'd come up with were true or not. It was a well-crafted story that fans of suspense and mystery are sure to enjoy.

I really enjoyed Laurie Faria Stolars writing style. It kept me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out what happened. The characters were described well. I can't wait to read more by her.

I thought this book was really well done. Kidnapping and captivity are very sensitive subjects. I really liked the way this book covered both the period of Jane's captivity and the aftermath. It also dwelt on how her family and friends didn't understand why she wasn't happy and why she couldn't just return to her old life.

The only things that seemed out of tune were the fact that the Agent Thomas and her first therapist were unsympathetic. Agent Thomas was smug and triumphant and didn't seem to understand why she clung to her feelings for Mason. And Dr. White didn't grasp how deeply conflicted she might be and how hard it might be for her to venture outside her house.

This book sucked you in from the beginning and I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed how it went back and forth with the then and now, so you could see what happened and how Jane was dealing with the aftermath of her kidnapping.

Thank you so much to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book! I have loved Laurie Faria Stolarz since high school, when I picked up 'Blue is for Nightmares' on a whim, and was utterly and completely charmed by her knack for writing supernatural stories with an undeniable aftertaste of horror. To say I was excited to pick something up of hers again was an understatement. It felt like coming home to be wrapped in her words and the worlds she so effortlessly creates. I can happily say she has not lost her touch, and that this book stands up well to the rest of her works!

Jane greets us at the beginning of the book, and she is speaking directly to the 'Reader'. It felt so much like a real preface authors sometimes include in their books that I actually started to ask myself if Laurie had been kidnapped and was writing her story down. I quickly realized that it was only Jane, who, in an effort to keep her identity from the prying eyes of the world, changed all the names and places in the story. She became Jane Anonymous, letting us in to her broken mind. The book is told in chapters of Then and Now, separated as memories come back to present Jane, recounting her seven months locked away by a faceless monster.

I love supernatural tales and horror, but nothing is scarier than things that could conceivably happen. Jane is accosted by a man she doesn't recognize, who takes her by surprise and transports her via the trunk of his car to an unknown location. Once there, she is locked in a small room filled with her favorite food and supplies, and clothes that are just her size. She hears unspeakable things but is left alone the majority of the time. She rebels for a long time; not eating or showering and contemplating ways to escape, but after encountering another captive, she sees a ray of hope and decides to play the game.

What follows is Jane's complete unraveling, as should be expected from anyone in this situation. She is torn from her home and her life, and once she returns (which I won't spoil the HOW on this one!) it seems impossible for her to pick back up where she left off. It is so heartbreaking to read how she sleeps in her closet to feel safe, how she distances herself from her best friend, and how her parents are at their breaking point trying to figure out how to 'fix' her. It is a striking display of guilt on everyone's part, as you never think about the little decisions you make until something goes horribly wrong. The way her parents, friends, and curious onlookers respond to her is so diverse and takes my breath away. You really see each of their personalities in how they treat Jane. One of the things I related to most was how Jane took all this pain and guilt on herself. She felt as though it was her fault that she got captured, and that her whole sleepy town in New England State seemed to freeze until her return.

Laurie did such an amazing job of exploring trauma, and of how finding the perfect therapist for you is so important. The memoir writing style kept the stakes high, and my heart was in my throat as I was reading. Jane's body survived, but the girl she was the day she was kidnapped died, and it was so incredibly uplifting to watch her slowly reinvent herself and carve her own path through this new and terrifying world she finds herself in. It's a battle cry to the lost and the wounded, letting them know that they don't have to tell their story right now, but in time, opening their heart even more could stitch the hole for good. It's an addicting read, and I flew through it in one sitting! I couldn't leave one bit of Jane's story unread!

This was my first kidnap genre book (I have just discovered that this is a thing!) and while it sounds twisted to say, I enjoyed it. I thought it was compelling and captivating - the characters were grounded and real and I finished the book in a day and a half. The twist wasn't a real twist to me (you can see it coming) but I actually thought that strengthened the story quite a bit. Stolarz didn't go for cheap thrills (that with the thriller craze often times end up being not at all believable and ruin books for me). But instead she went for a thoughtful and realistic approach of Jane's being kidnapped and the aftermath. The one thing that I didn't really love was. the. writing. Some of this random punctuation that appeared throughout the book was an odd choice. Instead of punctuating thoughts it just kind of annoyed me and took away from the sentiment Jane was feeling. I also would've liked to see from the perspective of the kidnapper at least once to hear the other side of the story. But overall, it made for a good read.

This novel, while at times difficult to believe, paints a heartrending portrait of recovery after trauma that I couldn't help but appreciate on a deep and personal level.

The story of Jane Anonymous is a difficult one to tell. after being kidnapped and held captive for seven months, Jane is now home, at least in body. However, her spirit and self is stuck somewhere in the past, in the memories of her captivity. Giving snapshots of the past and present, Jane's story slowly expands, giving context where there was none, revealing truth and secrets where there was just doubt before. Seeing the story from the before, during, and after, Stolarz gives the reader just enough to sympathize, feel, and grow to love the story that unfolds, but, just as Jane is stuck with a bunch of broken pieces, not all of them making sense, so is the reader. The memories that are missing for Jane are also missing for the reader, truly depicting how confusing and disorienting the entire situation grows to become---a situation that is horrific for Jane, and a source of pity for the reader.

I can genuinely say I enjoyed the story that unfolded within the pages of Jane Anonymous, but I feel like something was missing. A sense of being unfinished, likely intentionally crafted---it makes the story feel more real. Honest.