Where I Left Her by Amber Garza was one of those books which kept me on my toes from start to finish. This not being my first time reading the author's work I looked forward to her latest release. I soon found myself slipping into this twisted and engaging story.

Amber Garza’s latest release introduces Whitney, an overprotective mom. At least that’s what the reader was led to believe. Then she went and did the craziest thing. She dropped her daughter, Amelia, at a friend’s house with knowing anything about the friend. To make the situation worse, she paid scant attention to where she let her off.

Seriously, can she be anymore careless? It took her daughter not returning home for her to realize her lack of vigilance. This is where things got dicey. Whitney, recognizing she should have been more aware, conducts her own search. In conducting her investigation, she uncovers lies and discovers troubling things about her daughter. It is said ‘ the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree’, so Whitney should not be surprised by the things she discovered.

The interesting thing about the story are the main characters. Unreliable and unlikeable. Amelia’s actions bordered on obnoxious, and Whitney had no backbone in dealing with her daughter’s behavior.

The reader didn’t know what to believe, with so many versions of the truth being played out, all of which came from Whitney’s perspective. It became clear she had secrets from her past. Secrets she wouldn’t want to see the light of day. The question in the reader’s mind was what role did these secrets play in Amelia’s disappearance? The deeper into the story the reader went, the more the dislike for the characters grew, especially in relation to Whitney.

Despite the reader’s dislike of the characters, which one suspect was the author’s intent, the story proved difficult to set aside. The drama, twists and red herrings made Where I Left her a riveting read. The story moved between Whitney’s past, the time before the drop off and the present. This helped the reader to get a better understanding of the characters’ state of mind.
The story ended on a shocking note. However, it would have been nice to have answers to questions which arose as a result.

Conclusion/Recommendation
Where I Left Her is a riveting tale which shows that there are usually several sides to a story.  In addition, figuring out which side is the right one can prove a challenge. Fans of psychological thrillers should add this to their reading list.

I was supposed to have my review up earlier this week, but I was a bit late in finishing the book, so here I am, sharing my thoughts today! Where I Left Her is a very intriguing mystery. It mostly follows the point of view of Whitney, a single mom who is pretty overprotective when it comes to her only child, Amelia. Of course, when Amelia goes missing after spending the night at a friend’s house, it seems like Whitney should have held a bit tighter.

Interspersed with Whitney’s third-person point of view is a first person point of view that seems as if they are looking back on something that happened. I went back and forth on who I thought this mysterious person was, and in the end, one of my guesses was correct. The actual reveal definitely made me rethink those parts of the book though and it definitely changes how you see certain characters.

Where I Left Her was a good mystery but it was definitely a bit of a slow build. There’s plenty of suspense and past memories and secrets coming to light, keeping you reading and wondering how things would all end up but it never felt like something I had to keep reading. Regardless of that, I’m very glad that I did read this book and I thought the conclusion was just…woah! Seriously. It’s one that I wish I could talk to people about, so if you read the book, let me know! We can discuss!

All in all, Where I Left Her was an enjoyable mystery and perfectly made for a book club!

The most compelling aspect of Where I Left Her by Amber Garza is the author's depiction of a parent's anguish at the thought that her child is missing. I hope no parent ever feels that, but I can relate. The book takes me along for an adventure ride. The ending does leave me wondering about what happens next. It provides a conclusion as to what happened but definitely leaves an opening as to what comes next. Wonder if a sequel might be coming?

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2021/09/where-i-left-her.html

Reviewed for NetGalley and the HTP Mystery/Thriller Summer 2021 tour

Overall this was an interesting thriller. I really love Garza’s writing, her concepts are always amazing and her characters are also top-notch. Other reviewers have mentioned that the characters are rather unlikable and I’m going to have to disagree with that. It was not hard for me to relate to the characters in this novel, despite their actions sometimes being rather annoying/horrendous. Sometimes I really enjoy just being in the head of a character who isn’t exactly good.

Sadly the creepiness of Garza’s original thriller did not make the transition to this novel. That was my main positive from that book and seeing it missing made me a little sad. The plot of this one was also more disjointed-seeming than that book, but I’m not sure if that is something that was just covered up by the creepiness that kept me interested in the plot of When I Was You.

I think this was a fun read that I definitely enjoyed, but not as much as When I Was You. I am definitely still interested in further works from this author and I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is looking for a domestic thriller with an interesting concept, that stays near the path expected from a thriller but still subverts in some ways.

Thank you again to the publisher for the review copy. What is your favourite thriller from this summer? Leave a comment and chat with me below! Happy Reading!

4 stars.

Mom Whitney drops her teenage daughter Amelia off at a friend's house for a sleepover without her usual checking up on the parents because Amelia didn't want to be humiliated by her over-protective mother. But when Whitney comes back the next day to pick up her daughter, she finds that the owners of the house don't know what she's talking about. There are no teens in the house at all and they have no knowledge of any teenage girls staying there!

Well, color me surprised! Lying teenagers -- you'd would think that Mother Whitney would know better considering her helicopter parent tendencies. And in reality, Whitney does know better because she's got her own secrets to keep, which are revealed throughout the book in flashbacks.

As Whitney looks for her daughter, she uncovers the depths of Amelia's lying and deception. It's eye-opening in many ways for Whitney, and brings back her own past indiscretions and lies. Talk about unreliable narrators!

There are the prerequisite twists and turns and many coincidences in this suspenseful story and even though the characters were often unlikable , I wanted to keep reading to see just how the mysteries would be resolved.

Overall, I enjoyed this psychological thriller. Whitney was a terrific unreliable narrator who contributed to the overall story and the many lies that were told all the way around. It kept me guessing like a good suspense should

A twisty, nightmare-come-true , rollercoaster of a story! As a parent, this one hooked me from the beginning. It was twisty and oh so fun… until it wasn’t. I didn’t find the ending to be very believable and it got a bit convoluted. However, I sure enjoyed the ride there! 3.5 stars. My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

This was an interesting story and could be hard for me to follow at times. Whitney is a single divorced mom and very protective of her 16 year old daughter. We learn a little about Whitney and a little about her daughter and her friend. Then her daughter does not come home from a sleepover. Whitney goes crazy like any parent would. At this point the story gets crazier and crazier. I was very surprised by what happens in the end. I loved this part of the book. I really did not like any of the characters very well. I received a copy of this book from Harlequin for a fair and honest review that I gave of my own free will.

This story was a bit of a wild ride. Whitney is a single mother and adores her teenage daughter, Amelia. Whitney did not have a beautiful, perfect childhood. Oh, her childhood started out just nicely. She had two doting parents who loved her very much. However, when a sick sibling entered into her life, everything changed. She was no longer the center of attention and she did not take it well. Moving back to her current time, Whitney was determined to raise Amelia to be protected and loved. At times (well, always) Whitney was overbearing. She was a helicopter parent. Whitney had to know the parents of her daughter's friends before she could go over and spend time at their house. She had to be the one who dropped her daughter off for sleepovers and playdates. One day, Amelia talks her mom into dropping her off at her new friend's home for a sleepover. Amelia and Lauren are new, but strong friends. The friendship felt off, but Whitney did not know why. After not hearing from her daughter the next morning, Whitney gets worried and goes back to the house where she dropped Amelia off at. Only... was this the right house? They all looked the same. However, this one was the only one with these particular rosebushes. These are the same roses as last night. But where is Amelia? Why is her phone off? Who are these strange people answering the door? Whitney starts to panic and her life begins to unravel. Long buried secrets can not stay down deep for long. But what was the true? The real truth? Where did this all begin and how did Whitney get to be here in this part of her life?
As someone once told me; there are three sides to every story: one side, the other side, and the truth.
This was a great book! It kept me enthralled throughout the entire ride. The ending was good, but I generally do not favor books that leave you hanging without a proper conclusion. I could not wait to get time at the end of the day to continue with this story, even sneaking in some reading on my lunch breaks. This was an excellent story and I cannot wait to see what the author writes next.

4.5 Stars - Amelia is your typical, more than often, ungrateful teenager, who thinks her mother is always wrong, worries too much and keeps her from having fun. Whitney is a divorced single mother who knows what it was like to be a teenager. She recalls her parents not paying much attention to her when she needed it most. Whitney vowed things would never be that way between her and Amelia. When Amelia asks if she can spend the night at her new friend’s house, Whitney insists that she drop her off. Satisfied after she waved to her daughter as she pulled away, she looked forward to a quiet night at home on her couch enjoying a movie. After not receiving any return calls or texts the next day, she realizes something wasn’t quite right. Whitney decided to go back to the house and pick her up. Perhaps they just lost track of time - you know how teenage girls can be! When she knocks on the door she is greeted an older couple. They explain she has the wrong house and that they all look alike so it’s easy to make that mistake. After driving around again, she finds herself at the same house. Again, they tell her she’s is mistaken. Where is her daughter? She encounters a few leads to her whereabouts, but none are successful. After 24 hours she files a missing persons report with the police. When results were not coming quick enough, she does her own investigating. When Whitney recollects back to the times before the disappearance to try and understand what could have happened, she begins to revisit her own past experiences. Is she possibly the cause of her daughter’s disappearance? Could she have done something differently? She never stops being the overprotective mother. Nothing will stand in the way of her finding Amelia. The Author, Amber Garza, does a great job of keeping you in suspense! Two times I thought I had it all figured out. I was not even close both times. Not predictable at all! That’s when you know you have a good book. If you like suspenseful, thrillers - check it out!

~Christina💜

Thank you Harlequin and NetGalley for an early copy of Where I Left Her. WOW! How does an author think like this????? Very Twisted But could Not put it down. There was a far fetched part of the book and if that wasn’t in it, this novel would get five stars but it ruined that rating. Very Suspenseful and truly I couldn’t put this book down. My mind is still spinning. Truly a Great Sick read.

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
Psychological Thriller

Whitney is trying her best to raise her daughter, Amelia, through the rebellious teenage years. Whitney is a divorcee who is struggling with how to connect with her daughter and not be the pushy mom who is overbearing. But because Whitney has a past that includes behaviors she's starting to see in her own daughter, it makes Whitney want to hold on that much stronger to her little girl.

Amelia is a sixteen-year-old brat. In all honesty, I disliked her character right away. She's entitled, spoiled, whiny, and somewhat annoying. I felt sorry for Whitney's character at the beginning of the story because Amelia had no respect for her mom.

This is a story told on two different timelines. I found the format somewhat choppy and difficult to read, but I think that's just personal preference. You get to see Whitney's life in parallel with what's happening currently with her own daughter's life.

As the story unfolds, you'll wonder who is telling the truth. It's a twisty, turning road that you'll find yourself wandering. Whitney will have flashbacks to her past, Amelia will see a different path, and Lauren... well, Lauren will give you a whole different perspective.

Once you read the conclusion, you'll be left wondering how one lie can snowball into a lifetime of choices and lies. Is that really all it takes? At times, this book felt like it was dragging on. I understand needing the background, but it was a lot of back and forth. Overall, it was a good psychological thriller and even though I guessed the ending, it didn't detract from the story at all.

TRIGGER WARNING: While there are a few triggers in this book, I am only going to warn about one: PPD. It doesn't play a huge role in the majority of the story, but it is a theme throughout. I am only warning about this one because to warn about the others would be to spoil the surprise.

Whitney is living every mother’s nightmare. Dropping stroppy teenage daughter Amelia off at her new friend Lauren’s house for a sleepover, she expects nothing more than a quiet night at home. But when Amelia doesn’t call for a pickup the following morning, and her phone is switched off, Whitney begins to worry. And when she goes back to where she left her daughter, the unthinkable happens… the couple who live in the house have no idea who she’s talking about.

The story is told in several different timelines, with events from a few weeks before Amelia’s disappearance and a third timeline featuring a girl called ‘Millie’ and her friend… which turns out to be Whitney, over twenty years earlier. There are a few red herrings thrown in as Whitney desperately searches for answers, but the other timelines slowly reveal what’s going on, and that Whitney’s past is coming back to haunt her.

When we eventually catch up with Amelia and Lauren and discover what they’ve been up to and why, Whitney’s forced to reveal some truths to her daughter she’s been hiding for a very long time. I admit I totally saw the final twist coming, and there was just enough of an open end to the story to leave me feeling deeply creeped out about what might happen next.

I’m not entirely sure that sixteen years ago, it’s really plausible that Whitney could have pulled off what she did. That’s post-millennium. The age of security cameras. She had to pull off not one but two significant actions with absolutely nobody noticing or questioning what she was up to, all while she herself was in a shocked and traumatised state. I don’t think I quite buy it, though it is truly an intriguing concept, because Whitney would have to be a sociopath to pull it off and that’s not really how she’s portrayed in the rest of the book.

Readers should be aware that trigger warnings apply for domestic violence, drug overdose, sexual assault and sudden infant death syndrome.

I enjoyed the read, but the implausible nature of the actions which laid the foundation for the story did get to me a bit. I’ll give it four stars overall.

I finished "Where I Left Her" by Amber Garza last night and boy, that ending was a kicker!
The beginning was promising - showed the dynamics between and mother and daughter - a dynamic I can understand and appreciate with 3 of my own.
I found myself sympathizing with both the characters - understanding the drive and desire to always protect a child and being able to see how the teenager might see the mom as controlling, dominating...it's a tight line we walk as parents, that's for sure.
There were a lot of twists, twists I didn't see, didn't expect and some I did. The plot was entwined with the past, mainly between the mother and daughter, and I often found myself wishing that it would go deeper, past the need to give more of a history and understanding.
There's also a second storyline woven in, one that leaves you often questioning which characters you're really reading about - in a good way.
Do I recommend Where I left her? Yes. If you like a good domestic suspense with a twist, if you want an ending that isn't all wrapped in a bow...then you'll enjoy this book, like I did.

I’m happy to take part in the blog tour for this thriller about a mom dropping off her daughter, but when she returns there the next day, her daughter is only not there, but the people in the house don’t know what she is talking about!

If you like a suspenseful read, don’t miss it!

Thank you for making me part of the tour and for my galley!

I really enjoyed this book. I think it had all the things I like in a thriller. It kept me wanting to know what was going on. Except I did figure out part of what Whitney did. Not all of it though. But that just didn't take away from the story for me.

This is a very complex book about a mother/daughter. With a back story of two best friends. When Whitney's daughter, Amelia, goes missing things take a somewhat dark turn. Secrets begin to come out. Things that should have been kept in the past are found out. But are they true? Did it really happen the way it's explained? This book really kept me turning the pages and had me guessing about a lot of things.

I did enjoy this book. Both the story of Amelia going missing and the back story of Whitney's life. The things that happened in Whitney's life were awful in so many ways. Her friendship with Millie. It was not as great as it appeared to me. It seemed like Millie was trouble waiting to happen. Whitney just wanted to be accepted completely and to not be replaced by anyone. Not even Millie's boyfriend. But friendships are not always as tight as they seem. For reasons that only they know things can go wrong.

This story is about loss. Loss of a child. Worry. Worrying about whether your child is safe. Wondering if she is going to be ok. If you will ever see her again. It brings out the emotions you know you will feel when it comes to a teen who is missing. The fears you will have. Is someone doing horrible things to my child. Is she safe...

I enjoyed this book even though I did figure out what Whitney did. Not all of it, but the big part. Maybe the author meant for that to happen. I have no idea. But I did enjoy it so that is a big plus. It's very well written. Most of the characters are very likable and the plot kept me turning the pages. The scenes make you feel like you are there. In the apartment. In the cemetery. On the road. You feel the pain of a mother. It's told from the present and the back story of Whitney's life before Amelia. Before Dan. When she was best friends with Millie....

Thank you #NetGalley, #AmberGarza, #Harlequin for this ARC. This is my own true feelings about this book.

4/5 stars and I do recommend you read it. It's good.

I wish that publishers would hold off on calling books “thrilling” or “spine-tingling”. It gives the reader or listener an early expectation that the book has to live up too right off the bat. For me, this book isn’t exactly a thriller, it’s more of a drama IMO. I think being labeled a drama would have led me to expect the drama of the story and be ok that there were no thriller aspects to the story. I still enjoyed the story. I found the idea off dropping your daughter off at a new friends house only for there to be zero trace of her the next day terrifying.

I found myself relating to Whitney in some ways. I’m also a single mother that is somewhat overprotective. When I drop her off at a new friend’s house, I expect to meet the parents and would walk her to the door. The book thinks this is overprotective, I consider it responsible parenting. The narration is only from Whitney’s perspective. However, the timeline does bounce around between Whitney’s past and how many hours after drop off.

I found myself relating to Whitney and also not exactly sure of her. I enjoyed Amber Garza’s writing style. It’s a super intriguing storyline that will keep you wondering. It doesn’t have a lot of twists or “spine-tingling” moments. I feel like the ending was slightly rushed, like she reached her desired word count and stopped. I wish there had been a few more chapters that would have wrapped this up a tab more. Either way, I’m glad I read this and would give this a solid 3.5 stars.

Whitney goes to pick up her daughter Amelia, a 16-year-old with an inclination to be moody and a lot of attitude. She dropped her at her new friend Lauren’s house for a sleepover at 5 pm the day before, glad of a quiet night to herself, noticing the red roses around the front garden. Single mum, Whitney has just been shopping and she has a packet of sweets for Amelia as a treat on the car seat ready, but when she arrives at Lauren's and knocks on the door, an elderly woman answers. Believing the woman must be a grandparent of Lauren's, Whitney introduces herself and the woman is joined at the door by a man who informs her that she must have the wrong house. So begins a frantic search for Amelia.

This is a disturbing tale told via different timelines; the present, with flashbacks to the days and hours before Amelia's drop off, as well as flashbacks to Whitney’s childhood using diary entries. The story starts off on a really strong note and totally grabbed my attention with an alacritous pace that carries on for the majority of the way through. Whitney's unreliability as a narrator makes this tale a terrifically good, murky and unsettling read so the fact that I couldn't really relate to her became largely superfluous. Secrets, lies, concealments, and scheming abound as Whitney searches through Amelia's social media accounts and her inner circle, as well as her own damaged past, all eventually combining into an explosive conclusion. Very highly recommended.

A special thank you to MIRA Books and the author for a complimentary copy of this novel at my request received via NetGalley. This review is my unbiased opinion.

This is a thought-provoking story about mother-daughter relationships, friendships and abuse. Whitney and her daughter Amelia had always been close, but suddenly Amelia seems to be pulling away. Then, one day, when Whitney drops Amelia off at a friend’s house, Amelia disappears. This novel is about the desperate search of a mother for her child and her confrontation with the truth of her past. With two timelines, past and present, and a narrator who is omniscient, I never knew what to expect from one chapter to the next. There is a big reveal close to the end, and I certainly never guessed it! I enjoyed following the clues as I encouraged Whitney not to give up but to keep trying to find her missing daughter. The love between the two of them is evident, but teen rebellion is part of the story, too. I can’t say that the relationship between the two of them was particularly healthy, especially since Whitney seemed to cling to Amelia like a lifeline, but their relationship was symbiotic. I enjoyed the slow pealing back of the hidden facets of the characters and the slow reveal of what was really happening between Whitney and Amelia. Great story told in an original and creative way!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

The opening of Amber Garza's novel, Where I Left Her, will leave any parent's stomach in knots. Whitney drops her 16 year-old daughter Amelia off at her new friend Lauren's house for a sleepover. The next morning she texts Amelia asking what time to pick her up and Amelia does not answer.

After hours of no contact with Amelia, Whitney checks Amelia's social media accounts and there is no activity, which is strange. Whitney then goes to what she believes is Lauren's house, and an older woman answers the door and tells her there is no Lauren or Amelia there, just her and her husband.

Now Whitney starts to panic. She calls Becca, Amelia's best friend who hasn't been around much lately. Becca tries to text Amelia to no avail. Becca reluctantly tells Whitney that Amelia has been seeing an older man but she doesn't know more than that.

Whitney contacts her ex-husband who is in Amsterdam when she learns that Amelia was planning on getting a passport to come visit him and his new young wife. She also discovers Amelia took all her money out the bank.

Now the police have been called, and Whitney is in true panic mode as any parent would be. When Whitney was a teenager, she got into some trouble with her best friend Millie, getting involved with some older boys. Could Amelia be following in her footsteps?

As Whitney delves deeper into her daughter's life, and more time goes by with no word from Amelia, she becomes more and more frightened.

Garza does a terrific job putting us into the head of a panicked parent. Any parent who has survived the teenager years will relate to trying to get information out them. Becca is less than forthcoming, trying to protect her friend. That so rang true.

The twist at the end of the book, while hinted at, took me by surprise. It is one that you will gasp at, and maybe even throw the book against the wall (in a good way) when it comes.

If twisty psychological thrillers that keep your heat pounding all the way through are your idea of a good read, definitely pick up Where I Left Her.

Thanks to Harlequin for putting me on their Summer 2021 Mystery/Thriller Tour.

Amber Garza has a talent for creating gripping plot lines and books that practically demand to be read in one sitting –and WHERE I LEFT HER is no exception. I took my time with this amazing and mind blowing story as I wanted to make it last. Garza reels in her readers with quite a hook. I am kicking myself for taking so long to finally pick this perfect book up!

Amber Garza starts by putting the reader on a crazy roller coaster ride of emotions. Whitney has always been close to her daughter, Amelia…until recently. Now, 16-year old Amelia has been pulling away, trying to strengthen her independence, and many times acting like a typical rotten teenager. When she wants to spend the night at her friend Lauren’s house, Whitney agrees to that, but only if she can drive her there. Whitney is such a helicopter mom and drops her off at Lauren’s, but when she comes back the next day, Amelia and her friend aren’t there. Did she run away? Now I’m thinking, who the heck kidnapped her?? My thoughts took a complete 180 degree turn!

WHERE I LEFT HER flows smoothly between the present and past. I was quickly caught up in the story-line and found it difficult to put down. This book just flew by! Both Whitney and Amelia have huge secrets they are keeping from one another. As the story continues, we find out a few secrets Whitney has been keeping about her past and how they might tie into why Amelia is missing and where she might be. As a mother, I can’t even imagine what Whitney is going through. WHERE I LEFT HER was such a thrilling ride for me! Yes, there are mixed reviews, but not every book is for every reader. Give it a try! You might just love it like I did!

WHERE I LEFT HER is a real page-turner. I couldn’t put it down until I knew what had happened. Fans of psychological mysteries will enjoy this one. WHERE I LEFT HER is so well written, that even though it jumps back and forth between the present and the past, it is still easy to follow. Whitney’s life, both the past and the present is interesting, and I was pulling for her to get to live a normal life with her daughter, after having lost so much and having been through so many struggles. WHERE I LEFT HER is a suspenseful tale that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final pages. I highly recommend WHERE I LEFT HER!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin Trade Publishing through Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.