This is a phenomenal account of sexual assault in the digital post-#MeToo age. It is intensely written, honest and brutal in parts but so important and thoughtful. This is definitely a book you will race through in one sitting, it will make you feel uncomfortable at times but this challenge so worth it. Recommend.

This was one of those rare 'I can't put this down' books. So much so that I read it and was behind posting the review, and I read it again to post today. I loved this book, and it was just as good at the second reading.

I thank the publisher, and Netgalley for my opportunity to review this book.

This was a definite one setting read and quite thought provoking as told from multiple point of views. I always enjoy books by this author and this one was no disappointment.

I was given a free copy by netgalley and the publishers but the review is entirely my own.

Absolutely this is addictive one sit read! As soon as you start, you never want to put it down! So you’d better cancel everything in your life if you have quality time with this mind numbing, truly soul shaking, intense story!

Brand new author for me and wont be the last I pick up from them.

4 stars

The download date was unfortunately missed, I would be happy to re-review if it became available again. I have awarded stars for the book cover and description as they both appeal to me. I would be more than happy to re-read and review if a download becomes available. If you would like me to re-review please feel free to contact me at thesecretbookreview@gmail.com or via social media The_secret_bookreview (Instagram) or Secret_bookblog (Twitter). Thank you.

A fast paced thriller about the aftermath of the brutal rape of a privileged student. It held my interest til the end as the issues involved were relevant in today's immersive and self focussed social media world.

Interesting thriller to read. It was fast paced. Well written and flowed well. Good plot to get your teeth into

This is a really important book and one that I have found difficult, but felt compelled to read.

A story about a sexual assault set in the aftermath of the #metoomovement, this book really hits in the nail on the head I think when it comes to exploring how so much, yet so little has changed.

This was the interesting book because I didn't actually feel a deep connection with the victim. It was clearly that she had few friends and that her status made people too envious, suspicious or nervous to get close to her. However putting us in that position as readers reminds us that a victim's background, personality or reaction is irrelevant, they still deserve to be believed and supported through their trauma.

The only character I truly felt connection with was the misguided hero of the story, Trevor.

Overall, a gripping and important story about longlasting trauma and how appearances can be deceiving.

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

"Every night for the rest of her life she was going to close her eyes and get it from one side or the other: what they did and what she did. One side would press and the other side would press, and eventually her brain would break."

Strong 5/5. What a talent! Even better is this is the writer’s 4th book so just ordered the first three which looked ok like a series set in the same place as this: a play on the #metoo movement and the difference between the rich and the poor.

From the blurb i expected this to be quite an intense and dramatic thriller but it was more on the slow side and lacking a bit of that drama, I did expect quite a bit more from this

The Missing Hours is a phenomenal thriller from start to finish. Filled to the brim with twists and a captivating plot, this one is sure to keep readers hooked. The characters are well-developed. The story is incredibly fast-paced. This is one not to be missed! Highly recommended! Be sure to check out The Missing Hours asap.

Unfortunately this book was not for me, it was a bit slower than I would like and it just didn't hold my attention. I am sure other people will love it!

DNF at 30%. It’s a bad sign when I hate all the characters from the beginning and after a while I didn’t even care what happened to Claudia or why.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy.

"He was like the wind: If he wanted in, he was getting in, whether the door was open or not."

Okay so I'm struggling a little, rating and reviewing this one.. I loved the first half I was sucked into the story, but the second half was kinda ehh for me.. It seemed like a completely different book to me. The writer went in a whole other direction and I'm still not sure how I feel about it. Suddenly I felt like it was more about revenge and how retaliation is easier to achieve when you have all the money in the world (class differences suck). So yeah... Julia Dahl kinda lost me there. She did tackle the subject of sexual assault and the aftermath of it well, though it might be a little too graphic, raw and triggering for some people. The multiple POVs makes it a quick read and they did add to the story, though I did feel like some chapters were unnecessary

Even though I felt like the second half was a bit ehh, the book still managed to intrigue me. A great premise that definitely had more potential, but it was still a 3 star read.

"He was not going to take anything else from her. She was hard now, she was careening; maybe she always would be. But she was not going to give up sunny days on the water. She was not going to let him steal that, too."

Thank you to Netgalley and Faber and Faber for my e-ARC.

Overall rating: ★★★

The Missing Hours is a fast paced thriller which takes an interesting look at sexual violence and the objectification of women within todays modern world. The story follows Claudia who wakes up in pain with a multitude of serious injuries and a terrible fear of what happened in the missing hours of the night before. Suddenly when Claudia sees a graphic video of herself see realises just how bad things really were.

The story is fast paced and switches from different points of view which really holds your attention. Dahl looks at just how long-lasting and damaging the added effects of the viral violence that is now routinely carried out against women in the form of revenge porn and it was really interesting to see that storyline fleshed out.

The story towards takes a turn towards a revenge thriller and while it was still a gripping read I did feel it lost a little bit of authenticity because of that.

Overall an interesting face paced read with a different take.

This was a dark thriller with echoes of contemporary criminal cases in the American college system. Claudia Castro is a well-off student with everything going for her in life. This is a nuanced and complex story about how sexual crimes affect the survivor and everyone around the crime. It starts quite slowly but does pick up in pace. The family are expecting an exciting event, because Claudia’s sister is pregnant and due to give birth. When she goes into labour she wants Claudia there, but Claudia doesn’t answer her phone. Her social media shows that she’s out drinking. But her family don’t know the truth of what has happened. Claudia has woken up with no clear memories of the night.

Claudia turns to fellow student Trevor, because she feels she can’t tell friends or her family. Trevor is quiet and unassuming, and she does find him comforting. When she’s sent a video of the night before, she knows that the worst scenario she suspected, is now a reality. She continues to get support from Trevor, as her family desperately look for her and she plots revenge on those who’ve assaulted her.

Claudia is a likeable character, and there’s a clear distinction of a before and after. Claudia was privileged and confident, but the events of that night have ripped the her confidence from her and have shown her that privilege doesn’t count for anything. She has lost her sense of power and feels some sort of revenge is the only way to get it back. I felt for Trevor who is clearly attracted to Claudia but hasn’t had the sort of money to be in her circle. He is restful to be with, possibly because he doesn’t have the same bravado and sense of entitlement that the rich boys display. When the video appears Claudia knows who has attacked her, and Trevor is simply dragged along because of his feelings for her.

This is an interesting contemporary thriller that shows the ripples of emotion that radiate from someone who has experienced trauma. Claudia is the primary survivor, but everyone is affected which gives an opportunity for sisterhood and hope. This was a really absorbing read which I definitely recommend.

I'm afraid I didn't really engage with the main character of this one which keen on some of the revenge turns it took.always hampers my enjoyment of a book. Nevertheless this is sensitively written aboit a tough subject but I wasn't

My thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

The Missing hours by Julia Dahl.
She doesn't remember. He won't let her forget.From a distance, Claudia Castro has it all: the famous family, the trust fund, thousands of Instagram followers, and a spot in NYU's freshman class. But then one drunken night everything changes.Her memory hazy, Claudia cuts herself off from her family, seeking solace in a new friendship, but when the rest of school comes back from spring break, Claudia is missing.
A good read with good characters. I did like Claudia. Interaction and different. 4*.

Claudia Castro comes from a rich family and seems to have a charmed life.
Claudia wakes up one morning to see that she has been beaten but cannot remember anything. Turning to another freshman, Claudia discovers that she has been raped and there is a video to prove it.
Meanwhile, Claudia is not contactable by her family , and the worry continues for them, whilst her sister has gone into labour and it is a birth that Claudia promised to be at.
This story has you turning the pages while it is told from 3 different angles.
Good page turning read.

It's very fast moving book which I enjoyed but I found I knew what was coming.

It still enjoyable,very well written.