3.5 Stars

Wren Greenwood finally gives into her best friend’s Jax’s advice and begins using a dating app to find potential matches. Wren finds herself drawn to the profile of a man who isn’t conventionally handsome, but really appeals to her. Wren and Adam meet up and start seeing each other regularly. Things go great between them for three months, and Wren finds herself telling Adam things about her past that she hasn’t told anyone. Out of nowhere, he texts her saying he’s sorry, but something has happened and he has to go. Wren refuses to be ghosted by the man she thought could be her soulmate and wants answers. However, when handsome private detective Bailey Kirk shows up at Wren’s door, she begins to question whether she ever knew Adam at all.

This story is told mostly in the present from Wren’s point-of-view with some flashbacks to her childhood as well as stories from other women. These flashbacks provide some useful information about the characters, but sometimes slow the pace of the current story. Some of the current chapters are narrated in the second person as if Wren were speaking directly to Adam. That takes some time to get used to, but was fine once I did. It was interesting seeing the relationship between Wren and Adam grow and then reading about the immediate aftermath when he leaves.

Things get really intriguing when Bailey arrives on the scene with information that Wren isn’t the first girl Adam has ghosted. I like the friendship between Jax and Wren and they way the two childhood friends are there for each other. Wren also secretly writes an advice column and does a corresponding podcast and I really like that aspect of the story. Wren frequently references another friend from her childhood, Robin, and I was disappointed when the backstory to that friendship is revealed. The revelation about Robin and some of the other events that happen toward the end make the book less enjoyable than I thought it would be. It just became too much and too hard to relate to. However, this dark and sometimes strange story is a dramatic, compelling read that fans of this author should enjoy.

~ Christine

Wren has a date tonight. She is not a big dater. But, the guy on the Torch app quoted from one of her favorite authors. Adam is not a jock, like you usually see. He looks normal and just right for her. These two become an item…until Wren is ghosted. Then a private detective shows up. He is sure Adam is responsible for some other missing girls.

Wren is a character with a tragic past. Wren changed her name after the tragedy that took her family. She now has created a famous advice column/podcast called Dear Birdie. She also thinks she has her past well hidden. But, she is not as protected as she thought.

Bailey Kirk, the private detective, knows exactly who she is and he knows her past. He is determined to track down Adam. But, things go wrong! Very, very wrong!

This is the best book by this author…hands down! There are so many layers and twists and turns. I swear…I could not stop reading and when I could not read it for…well life…I was thinking about it.

Need a FANTASTIC thriller! RUN…DON’T WALK to get this one!

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Wren Greenwood is an emotionally scarred woman whose traumatic childhood left her guilt-ridden and grief-stricken. Her father, Luke, was once a good and decent man, but military service changed him. When he returned from Iraq, he descended into alcoholism, and regularly beat his wife and son. He did not physically harm Wren, whom he nicknamed "Little Bird." In fact, he taught her to hunt and become comfortable with the natural world. Luke became a survivalist who moved his family to his childhood home to live off-the-grid. Those days are long gone. Wren is twenty-nine and she makes a good living as a popular advice columnist. What few of her acquaintances know is that she has gone to a great deal of trouble to bury the details of her grim past.

When Wren, who lives in Manhattan, spots Adam Harper on a dating website, she is attracted to his seriousness and intensity. The two meet and Adam accomplishes what no other man has succeeded in doing—breaking down Wren's defenses. Wren trusts Adam enough to reveal some of her personal history, and she finds herself falling in love with a man she barely knows. Suddenly, Adam "ghosts" Wren; he disappears and is no longer reachable. Further complications ensue when a private investigator, Bailey Kirk, shows up and asks Wren pointed questions about Adam.

Unger's heroine is intelligent and spirited, but she is also lonely and insecure. She has been seeing a therapist for years but, even with counseling, Wren still struggles with feelings of hurt, betrayal, and remorse. She resolves to track down Adam, and teams up with Bailey to solve a heartbreaking mystery. Although this tale is predictable, Unger's flashbacks add layers of meaning to Wren's story, and the atmosphere throughout the book is suspenseful and menacing. Unger delves into the minds of paranoid individuals who mistrust the government and of severely damaged souls who inflict misery on their unfortunate victims. Wren struggles mightily to find peace in a chaotic, dangerous, and unjust world, and in the process, makes foolish and dangerous choices. "Last Girl Ghosted" has a bit too much melodrama and is weakened by its cliché-ridden plot, but in spite of its flaws, it is a heartbreaking and compelling work of fiction.

The queen of psychological suspense, (favorite author), Lisa Unger, returns following Confessions on the 7:45 (interview here) with a dark, dangerous, and haunting twisted game of cat-and-mouse.

LAST GIRL GHOSTED is one heck of a spine-tingler!

PREDATOR OR PREY? Hunter or the hunted?

Lisa cleverly transports readers back to THE HOLLOWS, where it all began. If you are a massive fan of the author and series (as I), you will love returning to this dark and eerie setting off the grid where secrets hide.

Wren Greenwood secretly has a DEAR BIRDIE column. Her former name was Robin (get all the bird names)? Only the beginning.

Her best friend Jax knows of her past, and she also has a podcast and works with her. But no one else knows. She plans on keeping her past a secret for many reasons and does not want anyone to know she is Dear Birdie. She reads of other's tragedies and tries to help them make the best decisions.

Her BFF Jax thinks she needs to get out there and have some fun and recommends, Torch, the dating app for hooking up. After a few dates, she meets Adam online through the app. He is not the best looking, but something about him draws her in. He intrigues her.

They are getting along great, and then she spills some of her past. Soon thereafter, he "ghosts" her. Why? Too much? She becomes obsessed with why he left and he may be equally obsessed with her.

Then PI, Bailey Kirk shows up, and she soon learns he has done this to other girls and women, and they go missing and are never to be found again, plus their money goes away.

She is the fourth girl, but right now, she has her money. All the women have something in common, and they come from a traumatic dark past, are vulnerable, and well off financially.

How can Adam be gone, and no one can find him? (Better get "Dog the Bounty Hunter" on the trail).

The father of one of the missing girls hired Kirk and he thinks Wren is the key to finding the other girls. He will follow her and she could lead him to Adam (or the many other names he uses). Kirk knows more about Wren and her past than she could imagine.

Adam texts with cryptic messages. She is determined to find him and the other girls. However, what if he is leading her into a trap?

Multi-layered and action-packed, the past is slowly revealed. Wren had an imaginary friend growing up, named Robin (her name). Their dad had to go off to war and came back a different man.

The dad hates the world. (he is one scary man) He is abusive, filled with rage, PTSD, violence, drinking, and wanting to live off the grid. He talks his wife into moving to THE HOLLOWS in their old family home and live off the land.

Robin/Wren and older brother Jay are forced to give up their friends and live life out in the wilderness. Their mother goes along with it, but the dad is abusive and violent, and he believes the world is an evil place. He can be nice but he has an evil side.

The dad has a hidden bunker filled with ammunition and weapons and enough food to survive. But Wren and Jay both know he will kill someone, (or them) if they cannot escape his clutches). She tips off the cops, but unfortunately, it does end the way she planned.

She never wanted to return to this horrible place and the nightmares. One of the girls is also from The Hollows. Similar to her father, Adam has left no digital footprint. Can she find him, and if she does, can she outsmart him?

Who is the cat, and who is the mouse? Visitors come to THE HOLLOWS to escape the city and its stresses, but bad things happen in The Hollows, and the locals hide their secrets all too well.

From past to present, both storylines are equally as compelling. A woman must now confront her past and untangle the truth of tragedy and the outcome. The mom and Wren may have more in common than they may know with the men in their lives turning to the dark side.

Contemporary psychological suspense thriller meets chilling Gothic horror!

The mysteries of childhood and chasing or being chased by monsters. A smart, wickedly plotted psychological thriller brimming with dark surprises at each page turn.

INTENSE! Unger's deeply wrought broken characters experience harrowing situations, and through it all, they seem to be able to survive the storm and heal. Wren's courage to confront, both psychologically and physically, an evil that once again may entrap her.

I loved Bailey and Jax!

Propulsive, timely, and innovative, Lisa Unger is at the Top of her Game! Lyrical, emotional, and expressive, her superb storytelling will keep readers turning the pages into the wee hours of the morning, making it a must-read fall 2021 thriller.

Looking for a Halloween read 🦇- YOU GOT IT!

A special thank you to #NetGalley and #Parkrow for an advanced reading copy. Also, pre-0rderd the hardcover.

PS. Speaking of birds/crows, and Halloween, check out Lisa's HOUSE OF CROWS A four-part serial (audible or e-book) 5 STARS

Blog Review:
#JDCMustReadBooks
@JudithDCollins
My Rating: 🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃
Top Books 2021
Pub Date: Oct 5, 2021

She met him through a dating app. She fell for him HARD. But then, just as things were getting real, he disappeared—profiles deleted, phone disconnected. She was ghosted.

I was really excited for this book, but it just didn’t fully work for me. The story and concept itself was a good idea, total relevant for today's world.

It started out strong with 5 stars, I was hooked in the first part. Wren’s back story was so dark.

Then it just felt like it started to drag on, I didn't want to pick it up to read. There wasn't much build up or shock with the twists in this book.

There was a small pick-up where I started to get interested again, then the ending just let me down.

This was my first Lisa Unger book, and I will still pick up another book by her.

Expected Publication: October 5, 2021

Huge thanks to NetGalley for an arc copy in return for an honest review.

This book almost felt like a "choose your own adventure" book, but for the author. At so many points during this book I could feel the different directions the story could go in. Luckily for us, the author followed the path she did. Twisty turny plots, twisty turny characters, a few surprises, a whole lot of wondering all combined for a very enjoyable page turner of a read. I enjoyed the balance between the action and the character development as Wren had a deep and twisty history. I wouldn't have minded learning a bit more about a few of the other characters, but it wasn't necessary for the story. This book also made me very thankful to have dated in a world before all the swiping, etc. So, um, swipe right on Last Girl Ghosted!

Wren meets Adam on a dating app and they quickly become inseparable until....she tells him her dark secret (no spoilers). He ghosts her the very next day and she's unable to find him. Then Bailey Kirk, a detective, turns up; he's looking for Mia, who also dated Adam but who went missing herself. Wren, an advice columnist (not an investigative journalist by any means) starts to look for information and finds that they are not the only ones who fell into the mysterious Adam's orbit. You can sort of guess how this is going to go until it doesn't. Unger has thrown in a nice twist. I liked Wren and her friend Jax (who, btw, is the one who got her onto the app) as well as Kirk. The back stories come out slowly and they are dark! Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read.

WHY is this the first Lisa Unger book I’ve ever read??? She has 18 other books and I’m going on a spending spree to binge all of them!!! Of course I love the first person perspective. I love the nonlinear timeline. But this had what is becoming my other favorite thing, which is second person. She’s talking to someone. It makes it feel more intimate and REAL! I usually look for little clues throughout and there were definitely a few… but I honestly could not theorize as I normally do and I honestly did not mind at all because I was just enjoying the ride! I loved every delicious twist and reveal and bump and then I especially gasped, teared up, gasped some more, and just absolutely freaking loved the way this book ended! Five flames from me!!! Super excited to read all of Lisa’s other books!

The book started out very strongly although I didn't really relate to the character and found the dialogue unrealistic. Midway the story began to lose even more steam and I grew bored with the past narrative.

Sorry, this book wasn't for me, I simply did not connect to it.

Oh.... the world of online dating.... going down the rabbit hole with dating.

I have to say.... I've had some weird experiences with online dating but I found my husband on there and am thankful for that <3.

I read Confessions on the 7:45 and loved it! I was eager to get my hands on Unger's newest book!

Wren starts a profile on popular dating app and meets a handsome jock type named Adam. She meets him and out of the blue he ghosts her and she never hears from him again.

Wren isn't going to let him go and takes matters into her own hands and hires a PI. I was sucked into Wren's world and am addicted to Unger's writing.

Unfortunately, I didn't enjoy this one as much as her last one. I was really disappointed in the ending and felt the conclusion with the characters and their actions, the plot, and epilogue was a bit corny.

I found myself to be a bit of an outlier on this one. But, I know many have loved this one.

I will always be looking forward to her new releases and can't wait to find out what she has coming next year!!

Overall, 3 stars

Huge thank you to Netgalley and Park Row for my copy in exchange for an honest review.

Pub date: 10/5/21
Published to GR: 10/3/21

This is the perfect dark and eerie thriller to read for Halloween! Last Girl Ghosted is about a compassionate young woman who connects with a guy on a dating app. Just when she start to think their relationship is going somewhere, he suddenly disappears - not just him but his entire online presence.. and suspicious things keep popping up in the shadows. That is only the beginning.. this was a very intriguing story which almost gave me whiplash with so many possible theories of what was going on, and switching back and forth between the past and present. It also has fantastic characters with complex relationships. I loved seeing their friendships develop and how they dealt with past trauma. And kudos to Lisa Unger on how she handled COVID in this book.. it is set before we knew how big the pandemic was going to be, when there was just news of a virus in China and possible shutdowns in Europe but the news permeates throughout the book in a way that doesn't overtake the main story but adds to the spooky atmosphere.

Big fan of this book! Unlike the typical page turning thriller, this story wasn't all scares and surprises in every chapter. It was a carefully thought out story, crafted around a woman who narrowly, unknowingly escapes almost certain death, and the horrific past that she has lived through and has had to reckon with her entire life.

The main character is strong and gutsy without being unrealistic, and her weaknesses are actually what make you root for her against all odds. I read this book very quickly because I couldn't put it down, but it was because the story was so compelling, and the characters so complete that I couldn't wait to finish it. No gimmicks here, just a fantastic book.

An engaging thriller that is hard to step away from. Full of Lisa Unger's trademark suspense and action-packed story arcs. Thanks, Netgalley, for my arc.

This book is certainly one that will make you think twice about bringing home your online dates!

I loved the first half of Last Girl Ghosted. Woman gets ghosted by an internet date, only to find out he’s involved in some sketchy stuff? Sign me up! The beginning was extremely suspenseful, and I couldn’t wait to figure out what Adam’s deal was. The second half moved a little slowly and I was a little frustrated by the decisions of some characters, but it was still very enjoyable.

The dual timelines were a great way to tell this story, although I did wish I had a physical copy of the book so I could flip back and remind myself what was going on. Wren’s past was fascinating, and I really enjoyed how it tied in with current events. I’m not sure how I thought about the second-person narrative: I usually don’t like it, but I think it worked in this context to let the reader really get inside Wren’s head. I think I would have liked it even more if I listened to this one as an audiobook.

Overall, this is a suspenseful, fascinating thriller to add to your TBR this October!

Lisa Unger is a master at contemporary domestic thrillers. Last Girl Ghosted is no different. Covering so many topics: PTSD, social media, online dating, mental illness, grief, guilt, trauma and death among many other topics, this is the story of unconventional families and love.

Wren is a successful writer, living in Brooklyn. She has an advice column, a podcast and owns her townhouse. Encouraged by her best friend, she joined an online dating service and meets Adam. They meet and quickly fall in love. Then...one night, Adam disappears.

Bailey Kirk is a private investigator. He's looking for Mia Thorpe. She was dating someone, and then went missing after clearing out her bank accounts, turning off her phone and cutting off all communication.

Bailey connects with Wren because Adam and Mia's boyfriend are the same person...and this isn't the first time he's done this.

This story is....insane. What I wrote above is the most simplified plot summary of 10% of this book. I couldn't put this book down. I read through my lunch breaks, past my bedtime and during my normal evening TV times.

It's another hit for Lisa Unger.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger is a very highly recommended psychological thriller that begins with an online dating match.

Wren Greenwood, who writes the advice column "Dear Birdie," is talked into trying the dating app Torch by her best friend, Jax. She meets a few forgettable men but then she meets Adam Harper, an IT executive, and the two immediately have a connection. Three months later Adam doesn't show up for a date, deletes all of his contact information, and ghosts Wren. She has no idea why he would do this as she thought they were in a serious relationship. Then she learns that Adam may not be who he said he is and is contacted by Bailey Kirk, a private detective who is looking for Adam. Kirk is investigating the disappearance of three other women who also met Adam, although he was using different names, through Torch.

Wren's secret, disturbing background is hinted at in the beginning of the novel but more information is disclosed once Kirk enters the picture and the search for Adam becomes more intense. Chapters set in the present day are offset by chapters set in Wren's past when she was a child and are all written in the first-person. The chapters from her troubled childhood help establish who and why Wren is the woman she is today. There are many dark secrets in her past and several of them are unexpected. It becomes clear that Adam's ghosting of her is indicative of some future plans he may have, but he may not fully realize what strength Wren can pull from her past experiences.

Last Girl Ghosted is a totally engrossing well written novel. The evolution of how Wren handled the ghosting, beginning with blaming herself, and how this began to change when Kirk showed up was believable and riveting. As more information about Wren's background is disclosed, it becomes clear that there is more to her than the ability to give good advice to troubled people. She is an engaging character who has depth, resourcefulness, intelligence, and an inner strength. All the characters are fully realized and credible.

The plot is compelling and held my attention throughout. Just when you think you know all the facts, there is some new twist in the plot that adds another layer of depth and complexity. After thinking I had things figured out, it became clear that I didn't have the complete picture. Almost no one is who they appear to be. All the twists and new revelations, even when surprising, are conceivable in the plot. It was fantastic to see Wren pull all her inner resources and knowledge to the forefront to assist her. (It also serves as a warning about using online dating apps.) The setting is in late 2019 into early 2020, which also serves to add to the tension as readers know what is coming in the future.
Disclosure: My review copy was courtesy of Park Row Books.
The review will be published on Barnes & Noble, Edelweiss, Google Books, and Amazon.

Lisa Unger has done it again with her new novel Last Girl Ghosted. Unger knows how to write a dark psychological thriller that you won’t want to put down. You will turn each page quickly to find out what happens next until there are no more pages to turn!! This book is filled with betrayal, trauma, secrets, grief, self destruction, family, loss and so so sooooo much more! She knows how to put all the right ingredients together to come up with a very disturbing story! She takes you on one very scary ride with many twist and turns that you better have yourself strapped in for and hold on tight!

What would you do if you fell for someone from an on-line dating app and just when everything is going well, they are gone!!! No where to be found and no sign of them…….Ghosted!!!!! Then you find out you are not the only one??? Determined to find out what happened brings about a past full of discontent that you would rather not have to face! I highly recommend this extremely addictive book……Unger never disappoints!!

Thank you NetGalley, Lisa Unger and Park Row for an advanced copy of this intriguing compulsive novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
#NetGalley #lastgirlghosted #lisaunger
#ParkRow #arc

Last Girl Ghosted was my first Lisa Unger book and now I'm excited to go back and read her backlist!

I don't want to give too much away in this dark and twisty thriller! Wren was convinced to try online dating by her best friend and after a few dates she's starting to fall for Adam. When he doesn't show up and isn't answering his phone and she realizes she's been ghosted. She wants to figure out why especially after she finds out his apartment was an airbnb and his online profiles are gone... this search gets her down a dangerous road and a dark past.

Lisa Unger had such a fabulous writing style that draws you in and these characters are so complex! If you like dark thrillers you'll love this book!

I had the pleasure of attending the chat with Lisa Unger. It was fun to hear the inspiration for the book! Thanks to @parkrowbooks and Tandem Literary for sending me a copy of the book. This cover is absolutely beautiful! It comes out on Tuesday - October 5th!

I was very excited to co-host my first @LoveArctually chat with @launger newest novel, Last Girl Ghosted! I really enjoyed Lisa’s last novel, Confessions on the 7:45 and I just knew I was going to love this one too.

As someone who online dated in NYC, this was definitely for me from the beginning. The book takes place with Wren starting to online date after her BFF Jax encourages her. She meets Adam and he’s such a good fit for her. She had a hard upbringing and the night after she confesses a deep secret, he just ghosts her. He deletes his dating app, his social media, and even his apartment is empty. Wren is shocked and really can’t fathom what happened until she’s approached by a private investigator. This isn’t the first time Adam has done this.

There’s sooooo much more to this story, but it’s hard not to give too much away. It delves deeper into Wren’s backstory and her family life. She goes on a chase to find Adam along with Bailey, the PI.

One of my favorite parts of the book were the side characters. My favorite is Jax, who is such a loyal and devoted friend. When Wren is chasing Adam and Jax knows Wren is in a dark place, she continuously checks on her with phone calls and texts and even threatens to come get her if necessary. I also loved Bailey- he was a gruff guy but definitely focused on the task. He continued on the case even after his bosses pulled him off. And lastly, there’s one small scene with a landlord that I just really enjoyed.

This book is definitely one of Lisa’s best and I very much enjoyed our chat with Lisa. It’s incredible how something so dark and twisted can come from the mind of someone so sweet and kind.

How safe are online dating services? How do you meet up with a date? How fast should it move ahead? Do you really know the person you're meeting? In Last Girl Ghosted podcaster/blogger Wren Greenwood leads a 'norma' adult life having left behind a tragic and shocking childhood that she doesn't share with many people. Joining the dating service Torch she meets up with Adam and the relationship proceeds all too fast. SHe opens up about her past then suddenly finds Adam unreachable. When she is approached by a PI who lets her know it has happened before and other women have gone missing she is resolved to find Adam and why he up and left. This psychological thriller with a focus on PTSD, mental health abuse and secrets galore follows Wren as she faces her past and present, 2021 COVID and all. Good fast paced read.