The narrator did a great job in presenting the story.
This story makes it clear the hurt that can be the result of a breakup of a marriage when a child is involved. This turns into a heart breaking story when the mother just takes off with her three year old daughter and breaks all contact with the father and the rest of the family.
The father Alan never gets over the separation and the loss of his daughter.
Gran is overly trusting and sees only the good in people and keeps hoping for the return of the child.
Aunt Paula is a good example on how meaning well we tend to overreact when it concerns an elderly parent of grandparents.
It seems like everybody has a secret in their past.
Have the child turn up as an adult creates some other problems within the family dynamics.
The story has many twists and turns and will keep you engaged through the book.

bit of a strange one, i did mange to finish it and the plot is plausible but the characters are a bit unbelievable. A lot of family secrets and lies are uncovered as a girl claiming to be a long lost family member arrives on the scene. Questions need answers once the renewal of connection is made. Lots of why's and what if''s. Intriguing and emotional journey. Thank you #NetGalley for the audiobook to review.

This was a good book with lots of twist and turns but it was not my favorite. I felt like it was too slow and took forever to get to the meat and potatoes of the book. The ending was nice though.

When Sara's mum left her Dad Alan and disappeared it broke her Gran Ruth's heart, Sara was only three years old and her Gran never gave up hope of seeing her again someday

Twenty years later Paula , Alans younger sister is sitting in a cafe with Gran when a young woman approaches
claiming to be the long lost Sara Paula’s not convinced of her identity and although her gran and brother are happy to welcome Sara back to the family when things start to go missing Paula starts to investigate Sara and the past
This opens the addictive storyline with its many twists and turns and you wonder what can possibly happen next but the whole story builds throughout the book is Sara really who she says she is ?

You will need to read it to find out the end

Great listen

I was unable to complete this book. I listened to the first 12 chapters, about 20%, of the book and I just couldn’t get into it. Just my opinion, I know others have enjoyed this one.

The narrator of this audiobook is excellent and she really brought the characters alive for me. It was easy to follow and I was completely absorbed in both the clever plotting with numerous unexpected twists and the smooth narration.

It is hard to review this without spoilers. Gran is completely believable and her desire to open her home up to all manner of 'outsiders' eases Sarah's passage back into the family fold. The characters and family dynamics are enchanting and authentic - no-one is totally flawless! The flashbacks reveal a hidden past far deeper than anything I expected, and that ending! Totally unexpected and worth the read. Don't miss this!

In a Nutshell: See that appealing cover and read the blurb. Is your mind clear about what to expect from the book? Good. Now junk those expectations in the dustbin because they are all WRONG!

Story Synopsis:
Paula, married to a local doctor Will, mother to 8 year old Hannah, volunteer in the local art studio. Her great-grandma Ruth, passionate about helping the homeless. Paula’s brother Adam, devastated after his divorce. All these people have a secret. Now yet another secret has returned from the past. Sara, Adam’s daughter, has reentered their lives. This new appearance leads to many changes in the family situation and lots of revelations.
The story is narrated in the first person perspective of the ladies from three generations: great-grandmother Ruth, grand-daughter Paula and great-granddaughter Sara. Paula gets the major chunk of the narration.

Where the book worked for me:
✔ Ruth was nice. Ruth’s story arc was nice.
✔ The title suits the book in multiple ways, though not in the way the blurb suggests.
✔ It is fast. (At least, it felt like that in the audio version.)
✔ I had the audiobook, so I didn’t have to work too hard to reach the finish line.


Where the book didn’t work for me:
❌ Paula is among the most annoying characters I have ever seen in fiction. A busybody, she loves to interfere in everyone’s lives and pass moral judgement, while she herself indulges in the same activities. Ever heard of the pot calling the kettle black, Paula?
❌ Usually, when there are children in a story, I feel a great connect to them. But enter Hannah, the 8 year old who is eight just in name and in a few convenient scenes. Oh my! I have never read such an irritating child character, nor have I seen such an unrealistic and inconsistent depiction of an eight year old. Aargh!
❌ The rest of the characters are flat and boring.
❌ The blurb suggests the idea that Sara was kidnapped. (Whoever worded that blurb was very cunning!) I thought this would be a “missing girl reunited with family” kind of story. The actual background of “Sara’s disappearance” is so different that the whole genre of the story changes.
❌ The blurb also suggests that Sara’s reappearance creates some kind of havoc in the Turner family. But hardly any chapters, especially in the first half, cover the impact of Sara’s re-entry. Most of the so-called secrets have nothing to do with Sara. It was mere correlation-causation in effect.
❌ Most of the story contains Paula's ramblings about various topics such as the lack of spark in her marriage, her husband's aloofness, her attraction to a new life model in the art studio, her daughter's social issues... Too many subplots, most of them uninteresting.
❌ The ending is over-simplified and too perfect.

The audiobook experience:
The only reason I completed the book is Emma Stansfield, the narrator of this 10 hour long audiobook. She was pitch-perfect for every character and emotion. Had I been reading this book, I either would have skimmed through more than half of it or simply DNFed it.

Well, if you want to look at the face of a reader who succumbed to a cute cover and an intriguing blurb, just peek at my profile pic while I go sulk in the corner. Utterly disappointed with the book and with myself.

2 stars.

My thanks to Bookouture Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “Long Lost Girl”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook. Sorry this didn’t work out.

It’s hard to know how much I liked this book. My enjoyment was impacted by the narrator. I wasn’t taken with her performance. Her voice was somewhat one note and lacked theatrics. I sometimes zoned out because of it. As a result, I missed chunks of the plot and would have to rewind with hopes of finding my spot. I did like the reveal at the end.

I recommend this book to others but would suggest the written format rather than audio. A gracious thank you to Bookouture Audio and Netgalley for an advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review.

Sara's Return

Sometimes marriages do not work out. when Alan's wife left and took their young daughter Sara with her he was devastated as was his mother Sara's grandmother. She constantly waits in hopes that someday Sara will return.

One day while eating in a food court Sara does return and introduces herself to her grandmother. Alan's sister is not convinced that she is the real deal even when her daughter Hannah is infatuated with her. When things in her grandmother's home go missing she goes on a mission to discover who this girl really is. Be careful what you wish for. A DNA test done could tear the family apart.

This was a good story, a bit slow in the beginning but worked into a great mystery and a lot of suspense. The secrets were not all on one side, the grandmother had secrets of her own.

I enjoyed the audio book. The narrator did a fantastic job, easy to understand and pleasant voice.
You will enjoy this mystery as it keeps you guessing until the end.

Thanks to Jill Childs for writing a great mystery, to Emma Stansfield for a great narration of the story , to Bookouture Audio for publishing it and to NetGalley for providing me with a copy to read and review.

This was my first book by Jill Childs and what a pleasant surprise.
It turned out something completely different than I expected it to be. But in a positive way.
So, basically, as you know it is about the disappearing of a little girl. Years later she suddenly returns.
What, why, how?? Just dive into this story and get as sucked in by the Turner family as I did!
I particularly enjoyed the narration by Emma Stansfield
Thanks #NetGalley #Bookouture Audio for the advanced audio version!!!

3.5⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Thankyou #netgalley #jillchilds #bookcouture for the arc copy of this book for a honest review.
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Honestly, I do have high hopes at first for this book. It started very strong , but in each chapter it goes , the rating is going down.
The reunion of each individual in this story doesn’t make any sense. I go back in each line, just to make sure I do understand but I don’t .
The story was amazing though but it did not deliver the beauty of it.
So it’s a mishap for me.


❤️Shaye.reads

I had such high hopes for this one. The idea of a long lost child showing up as an adult was so promising. However, the reunion and subsequent storyline left me wanting more. The characters fell flat for me and I could not believe in their reactions. It could have been so much more. On the upside, the narration was great.

Thankyou to Netgalley and Bookouture Audiofor the ARC.

When three-year-old Sara disappeared from their lives, it tore the Turner family apart. Years later, a young woman reappears claiming to be Sara. Is this really their long-lost girl?
The girl is welcomed by her great-grandmother Ruth and loved by her young cousin Hannah but aunt Paula doesn’t trust this stranger.
The story is quite slow, and whilst it is clear from the start that something isn’t quite what it seems, it is only towards the end of the book that all the strands combine and everything become clear. The reader will assume that they know what’s going on, and be surprised!
Essentially this is a story of three-generations, each with their own secrets and priorities. Whilst I didn’t really warm to most of the characters, I did find Paula the most realistic in terms of the way she reacted to the situations. She was protective of her 8 yr old daughter, and sceptical about whether this stranger was the long lost Sara …
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator suited the story, though I think I would have found it easier to keep track of the different characters/storylines had I read a printed copy.

Wow. This is completely amazingly-written. The twist toward the end brings about so much thought and left me feeling all the emotions. #JillChilds is a fantastic c new writer to add to my favorites.
Emma Stansfield is so fantastic as the narrator.

Thank you, Jill Childs, Bookouture & NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to listen to this audio book in return for an honest review.

Synopsis

The little girl you lost is back... but who is she really?

When three-year-old Sara disappeared from their lives, it tore the Turner family apart. Years later, they are still startling at every knock, convinced it is Sara at the door. But the only trace of the cherished little girl is a fading photo in the hall, a single white knitted baby shoe tucked behind the frame.

Then, one day, as they pick at sandwiches in a crowded local café, a beautiful girl approaches, 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?

Soon, Sara is turning up for Sunday lunch, and then moving her things into the little bedroom upstairs. But as Sara makes herself at home, not everyone is happy that she’s back in their lives once more. Long-held secrets are threatening to surface, and someone in this tight-knit family doesn’t want them to be told…

A gripping and emotional read about three generations of family secrets. Fans of Jodi Picoult, Kelly Rimmer and Kerry Fisher won’t be able to put this book down.

This is a brilliant read. I was thoroughly absorbed in the characters throughout. They are all fully developed, believable and relatable. The storyline is gripping, I was completely immersed and desperate to know what would become of the family. Gripping, thrilling, emotive and heartwarming. It’s beautifully written and wonderfully narrated. #Jorecommends

4.5⭐️
Jill Childs can write! I had no idea this was going to have all these twists and turns. I felt everything during the duration of this novel. I was scared, mad and shocked. I thought it was well done and highly recommend it.
I chose to listen to this book on audio and the narrator was Emma Stansfield and she did a great job.
Thanks Bookouture via NetGalley.

Paula was just a child when her brothers wife took their daughter Sarah and left. Paula got on with life, but Gran always hoped that one day her long lost Great grandchild would return. Out of the blue on a shopping trip Sarah comes back into their lives and Paula refuses to believe everything that this girl tells them. Untrusting from the start Paula finds herself following her niece and looking for holes in everything she says. I expected this book to be a person comes back and is not who they claim to be, but this book was just so much more. I doubted Sarah, then I doubted Paula then I doubted all the other characters until the end unwound beautifully and the whole story became clear. This was so well written, running in present time and in the past with a character called Ruth whom I adored. This is a story of family secrets, betrayals and whopping plot twists that you just don’t see coming.

**please note due to low rating I will not be leaving a public review for this book as I have not paid for it.**

Narrator 5 stars
Great voice

Story 2.5 stars
I liked this book up til the 50% mark. The way that all the characters (especially the father) dealt with situations were beyond frustrating and unrealistic.

This is my first time trying this author and even though I didn't enjoy the book I would try this author again.

I had the ARC audio of this book. I was led to believe this was a story of a missing child but it isn’t really. Sara’s mum moves away with her when she is 3. Years later a woman turns up claiming to be Sara.

The story is told via three generations; great grandmother, Ruth, granddaughter Paula and great granddaughter Sara. It isn’t always easy to tell which person the story is about at first. I preferred the Great Grand Mothers chapters.

The granddaughter, Paula was quite annoying and assumed anyone homeless or trying to make a living by door selling are evil and out to steal and molest and murder. Her tedious paranoia over her husband added nothing to the story, nor did Hugo and their conversations. The ‘twist’ of what her husband was doing was something I saw coming very early on.

I think Paula forgave her husband too easily which just added to the mediocre story.

I would have preferred the whole story on Ruth, the great grandmother.

Never read Jill Child’s before and enjoyed this experience as an audio book - feel the Narrator was also excellent and made it a very enjoyable take with many twists and turns