This is the first book I’ve read by this author and I will definitely be reading more. Long Lost Child is an emotional and gripping domestic drama. There is much more going on in this book than the return many years later of the child who,was taken from her family when she was only three years old. It’s full of secrets and it really kept my attention throughout.

I’m always drawn to novels about missing children and even more so if the children are found. This book had a lot of potential and shild I did enjoy it I found it rather slow and predictable.

Thank you NetGalley for the audio copy in exchange for a honest review. Sara was just three years old when her mother took her away from them all. Years later Paula has taken her Gran and daughter out for lunch when a girl approaches them claiming to be Sara. Is she really back in their lives after all these years? A cleverly written story of suspense with a unexpected twist.

so from the blurb about the book, it sounded sooo good and I really wanted to like this book but there were sooo many things that I just could get into
The characters were annoying, flat and boring to me
The blurb and the book are 2 completely different things
It was so hard from me to get into and connect with this book couldn't wait for it to be over

Thank u NetGalley for the ARC, the above comments are my own honest and volendary.

I really enjoyed this book, which is about a girl called Sara who comes back to her family after being away from them for years. But is she really who she says she is? I loved all of the book, and I was quite surprised by the ending, which uncovered many secrets.

The audiobook narrator was well suited to the book, and she did a good job. This is a great read, which I highly recommend!

Many thanks to NetGalley, the author, the narrator and the publisher for this book.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio-ARC of Long Lost Girl by Jill Childs.
This book was not what I expected. It isn't about a child that is abducted, but rather about a family with too many dark secrets. The book held my interest, and the narrator did a fine job, but it wasn't a wow read. There were several places I was waiting for a twist or unexpected conclusion but in reality the book was predictable.

It isn’t often that a book gets me hooked and keeps me hooked from the get-go. I stayed up long into the night to find out what happened! It definitely had my attention. I will say the story between Gran, Sara and Paula were great. As usual, the ending could have had a tiny bit more, but overall was well done, IMO.

For once, the unputdownable trope was pretty darn true for me! It sucked me right in. This is a 4.5 star read for me. Debating between 4 and 5 since I can’t do 4.5 like I want! Please try this book out.

Thank you to NetGalley for a copy.

The story within the pages of Long Lost Girl did not turn out the way I would’ve expected it to! Little Sara was taken from the family’s life when she was only three years old. Years later, a woman who claims to be Sara returns to them. Some of the family members accept her with open arms and some, like her aunt Paula, question her identity a bit. For me, I don’t think I would just accept her word immediately. I feel like I would need some proof like Paula felt she needed.

There are definitely some mysteries to keep your mind working as the story progresses. Obviously, who actually is Sara is the biggest one. Strange things do begin to happen when she arrives, so we are left trying to figure out what her end game is.

And then the kicker….the big twist was definitely not one that I saw coming and it was such a great way to culminate the story! This is a story with some mystery, some family drama, and some emotional moments all mixed together! You don’t want to miss this one!

Thanks to NetGalley, Bookouture Audio, and Jill Childs for this #gifted review copy, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!

Wow this story had me hooked and totally fooled - already recommended to friends and family as a great winter read!

This book was so slow and hard to follow in the beginning, I could not stick with it. Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy.

Towards the beginning of this book you believe that you have guessed which way it is going. However, without wanting to spoil it for you, you may not be quite right. There are twists and turns along the way. The characters are well thought out and believable. However, I was concerned that Gran should have got attention and been checked over earlier for her 'turns'. No real person would leave their grandmother alone when she was obviously so unwell....a tad annoying!

I'm sure Childs has a big following who enjoy her writing style, but this book was not for me. I found the story line boring and didn't end up finishing this audiobook.

Long Lost Girl
By Jill Child’s

So for awhile, I was in a slump of listening to stories that I couldn’t get into. I am in a roll now with this story. I truly enjoyed this story and am excited to read other stories by Jill Child’s.

Sara was taken from this family when she was a 3 year old toddler by her mother. No one knows why mother took the child and fled but they left heartbreak in their wake.

Years later, Sara is back! Some are apprehensive, while other welcome her with open arms. What is the real story? Why did this girl come back after all these years? What secrets does she hold? Or what secrets are opened up with her return? “Every marriage has secrets”

Thank you to NetGalley and Booktouture for the advanced copy of this story for my honest review.

Really enjoyed this audio book was a refreshing change from the thriller psychological type I’ve been listening to recently. I would highly recommend this book.

This book took forever to get going and really hook me. And in the last quarter, everything unspooled like a garden hose full of twists. The only truly predictable twist for me was the person behind the Lionboy screen name.

I listened to this on audiobook.

This was my second book that I’ve read/listened to by this author and I have to say she really is a good author, knows her stuff.

This was a highly enjoyable and intense (at times) story, lots happening, so pretty fast paced. I was very engaged with the story and all it’s characters, as the story progresses/evolves I was constantly thinking what’s going to happen next or how it that particular event going to play out. There were a couple of twists throughout, one of which I did guess at and so wasn’t surprised when this little twist appeared, but that said it didn’t ruin the story for me in any way.

The narrator was a new one to me but I thought she did a great job, I liked how she made each character voice different and unique, especially that of the Gran. I liked very much how the narrator told the story, was smooth and seamless.

Long Lost Girl by Jill Childs is an interesting listen. I enjoyed the narrator very much. And the story was unusual, but in a good way. When Sara is just a baby, she disappears from the family’s life. Now, as an adult, she is back. But things aren’t all they seem. More than one person in the family seems to be keeping secrets as well. I thought the book was good. I didn’t expect the ending at all, although there are a few parts I wish had been more fleshed out. I won’t say what though: I don’t want to ruin it for anyone else. All in all, it was a good book. Thanks to NetGalley for the chance to listen to it. All opinions are my own.

Reading Between the Wines book review #43/135 for 2022:
Rating: 2 🍷 🍷
Book 🎧: Long Lost Girl
Author: Jill Childs
Genre: General Fiction (Adult) | Women's Fiction
Available now!

Sipping thoughts: This book really fell short for me. That is partially my fault in the sense that I went into this book thinking it to be a thriller/mystery. It is not and was not labeled as such so I should have known better. It is more of a domestic drama and the story just fell flat for me.

Cheers and thank you to @BookoutureAudio and @NetGalley for an advanced copy of @LongLostGirl.

#LongLostGirl #JillChilds #BookoutureAudio #NetGalley #advancedreadercopy #ARC #Kindle #Booksofinstagram #readersofinstagram #bookstagram #nicoles_bookcellar #bookworm #bookdragon #booknerd #booklover #bookstagrammer #bookaholic #bookreview #bookreviewer #IHaveNoShelfControl #ReadingBetweenTheWines #fiction #GeneralFictionAdult #WomensFiction

I was so excited when I saw Jill had a new book out. I always find Jill writes from her heart and always writes with so much passion that will just draw you in to her latest book called Long Lost Girl; Narrated by: Emma Stansfield This was an excellent story, that really gripped me from start to finish. When a 3 year old called Sara disappeared from their lives, so many years ago. The only thing that was left of her was a photo and a single knitted shoe
which is tucked behind the frame. As Years past, a beautiful girl approaches them whilst in a cafe, claiming to be Sara. With her wide green eyes and soft, straight hair,

Could she really be their long-lost girl?

But where has she been all this time, and what happened to stop her from coming home?

Where is her mother?

WoW this was a gripping and emotional read/listen about three generations of family secrets.....with a superb ending.

The narrator Emma Stansfield was excellent throughout! xx

I highly recommend this book and all of Jill Childs books they are just amazing!

Big Thank you to NetGalley & Bookouture for this ARC.

Thank you Netgalley and Bookature Audio for this advance listener copy in exchange for my honest review.

DNF at 34%.

I really wanted to like this book, but I felt incredibly mislead by the synopsis. I thought I was going to be reading about a child who was kidnapped and then is returned/escapes years later. I was under the impression that this was a thriller or mystery of some kind, but it was a family drama. While I normally enjoy family dramas, I could not get into it. It was hard to place who each character was and for one of the first times ever, the alternating timelines did not work for me. I was confused and disinterested. And Paula? One of the most annoying, unrelatable characters I've ever read about. I found myself hoping it was a murder mystery and Paula was the first to go. Sadly, no murders.

I think my biggest issue with this book is the misleading synopsis. I don't know if I would have requested it if I knew what it was really about. The audio was great, but I just couldn't connect with the book.

I will not be reviewing on Goodreads or any other platform as I did not finish the book.