3.5 stars.

I couldn’t put this book down. From the first page it grabbed me and didn’t let go.

The story is of Claudia Castro, an NYU student who wakes up to realize she was raped the night before. She had too much to drink and blacked out so she doesn’t remember what happened. She is putting it together through the book with some twists and turns and complicated family history.

For a mystery, the book is fairly well written. I mean, it’s definitely good enough to hold your attention throughout. This is about as good of a beach read as it gets - entertaining and completely mindless.

The reason I give it a 3.5 is because I’m probably going to forget about this book in 60 days. The story was good but not great and a bit cliche in certain elements. There weren’t any dramatic aha moments or any huge cliffhangers after the first page. It was simply a good read.

Sometimes, though, a good read is all you really need.

#netgalley #themissinghours

I read this book on NetGalley. Fast paced and timely, it takes a look at a college girl who suffers blackouts from drinking, After one such incident, the protagonist's life changes in very negative ways. In her search to discover what happened in her "lost hours" she experiences the wrath of social media. I read it in a single sitting. Would recommend this book.

Stancie CHamberlain

I felt this book could have been much more. It started off well but meandered and I eventually lost interest. Could not relate to any of the characters or the setting.

This book makes you think a lot about how our society looks at victims and how the rich can sometimes make bad things go away. Its kind of sad to see how much it reflects a good portion of the way our society thinks. The story is good. Just hard to give it 5 stars because the language was way too strong for my taste.

Language: strong
Sexual content: moderate/strong
Violence: Moderate

Trigger warning for rape.

If none of the above warning bother you, then I would recommend this book.

This book was very well written, I was hooked from the beginning. I was genuinely nervous at around 60% because of how the characters were handling everything. I loved the open ending!

Not suspenseful. Should be listed as a “young adult” book. A fast read, however I did not care for any of the characters.

This is a dark and disturbing book that nonetheless is compelling. At its core, it deals with the aftermath of a rape and the way society still shifts blame onto the victim.

Yet Claudia's initial attempts at revenge in response to this heinous act didn't always ring true.

Trevor was sort of a muddled character whose moral compass was muddied by his attraction to Claudia. There were a few characters that needed more depth, such as Chad's father and Claudia's mother.

Òn the whole I found this to be readable and would read books by this author again.

I was given a free copy of this book. I am leaving my honest review.

An interesting take on the aftermath of rape and the trauma it brings to the victim and those who care for her.

The Missing Hours by Julia Dahl is the fictional story, yet honest sounding story of Claudia.
Claudia was raped by two casual college friends, after they got her blackout drunk and filmed it.
This book tells the catastrophe results on everyone’s lives around her and how she tries to get her power back from these heartless young punks.
It broke my heart, but it made me more aware of the dangers of college drugging and rape.
**trigger warning**

The missing hours by Julia Dahl is incredible!! It kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I couldn’t put it down.

Although I finished this book, I found it distasteful. What happened to Claudia, a brutal rape with a video that went viral, is undeniably heinous and sickening. No one, no matter how high nor how drunk, should ever be taken advantage of., and certainly not in the way she was.

What transpires after that, though, is revenge and vengeance that spirals so out of control as to be unbelievable. There are so many fraught and strange and secret relationships that it’s impossible to make sense of them. The only character I had any empathy for was Lydia, a newborn infant who just needs to get her needs met (and her parents and grandparents are very good at that).

This story separates the haves and have nots in such stark relief it borders on farce. I would not recommend this book to anyone.

I received this book as an ARC from the publisher and NetGalley.

3.5*
Have you seen Claudia?

When Claudia Castro awakens in her dorm, she quickly realizes something is very wrong. A fast glance in the bathroom mirror confirms it. YUP! Split lip, black eye. No doubt something drastic happened last night…but what?!

As the fog of the evening in question clears and things become clearer, Claudia immediately goes dark. Off the grid, no sightings or social media. Question is, was that by choice or has something happened to her.

Her family is frantic to find her. Others are searching for her as well…although their intentions are highly questionable.

A few difficult themes through-out this book, that at times made reading difficult. The book blurb doesn’t reveal much so I’m keeping my review vague. You’re welcome!

The second book I’ve read by Julia Dahl. I enjoyed the first in her series, Invisible City and own the following two. This latest stand-alone has a very different feel than her previous series. More intense and a bit edgy.

Posted to: https://books-are-a-girls-best-friend...

Thank you to Minotaur Publishing via NetGalley and Goodreads giveaway for access to both a digital and physical copy to read and review

Honestly this book is so wild and will keep you wanting more. Every chapter you read unveils another clue into the missing hours of Cladia's life. Such a great mystery read!

Dark and taking on a compelling story. The first half of the book was riveting and full of emotion but the second half full a bit flat. I’m really hoping to a follow up to this one. I want justice.

Thank you NetGalley for this arc

THE MISSING HOURS is dark and compelling from the first page. Dahl wastes no time, immediately pulling the reader in. This is a good book if you enjoy suspenseful thrillers. The narrative is tightly plotted and mostly well executed.

I took off a star because I felt like the ending wasn't as satisfying as I'd hoped it would be. With a story like this, which is frustrating at times given how people behave so foolishly, I'm generally looking for justice or redemption at the end -- a sense that rightness has been restored, or at least mostly restored. This novel lacked any such satisfaction.

Considering the age of the characters, there's a young adult feeling to the story. This isn't necessarily a negative, just something to be aware of.

Holy cow, holy cow, holy cow, wow! First off, I would like to say if you’re one with triggers, this may be one to skip, as it’s one that could cause problems for you! If you’re like me and like deliciously dark, disturbing reads, then this book is for you! Well written, fast paced, and definitely unputdownable! Unique, riveting, and flawlessly written! Chills, thrills, twisty turns, and shocks entwined throughout this twisted web! Cannot recommend enough, grab today, clear schedule and prepare for not leaving until you finish!

Will buzz around platforms and use my low Amazon reviewer number!

This book had a lot of potential but it fell flat. The story line was good but never really had a climax of any kind. I think this #metoo book could resonate with a lot of people but for me it just didn’t quite do the trick.

Drew me right in tense chilling a true page turner.The characters care really well written come alive.A book I will be recommending,#netgalley#st.martinsbooks

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

I loved this one. Very fast paced, had me turning pages as I tore through it – I had to see how it would end. The characters were well rounded and the narrative felt believable. Gave me chills. Solid five

I struggled with this book for a number of reasons. First, the subject matter is intense (as implied by the description), but I wasn't prepared for how the reader is immediately thrown into it in the first chapter. That was tough for me, and as I continued to read, I couldn't click with the writing style. Multiple perspectives are either a win or a loss for me, and in this case they didn't help hold my attention.