Meh. Beginning a bit slow but readable. Middle was just bizarre. Ending too pat and predictable. Not her best.
I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️: 4.5/5

Charlie and her daughter Eva became Instagram famous through their account, Eva Explores, documenting their travels through the country in their Airstream. Now, they’ve settled in Charlie’s hometown for Eva’s senior year of high school. When Eva goes missing, Charlie becomes the main suspect, and begins to learn that Eva had secrets, and the two weren’t as close as she may have thought.

I’m a big fan of Nicole Baart, and this is the third book I’ve read by her. It was admittedly a bit of a slow start for a missing person themed thriller, because it felt like nothing was happening and no big reveals were occurring for about the first third, but wow did it it end up picking up! The plot went in an entirely different direction in Part 2 than I could have ever predicted, and I was so invested that I didn’t put it down from that point until I finished it. I loved the way that Part 1 was all Charlie’s POV, which really set up some plot twists due to her limited knowledge of pertinent things, and then Part 2 was all Eva’s POV, which is where things really got interesting. Through Part 1, I was honestly pretty frustrated with Eva, since I found her stupid and spoiled in a stereotypically teenage way, so I’m really glad we got to hear from her POV before any judgements could be set in stone. The Instagram post captions and descriptions, the college essays, and the other extra content interspersed between the chapters was also a really interesting and fun way of providing flashbacks and context to the book, making it not just super suspenseful, but also full of heart, with the focus on the fraught and misunderstood relationships between mothers and daughters.

Thank you to @netgalley and @atriabooks for this eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

Charlie and Eva hit unexpected Instagram fame with a photo of teenage Eva by a waterfall. Their newfound fame allows them to hit the road for over two years in their Airstream trailer, spending all their time together. But now they are back in Charlie's Minnesota hometown, where Eva is attending her senior year of high school. Charlie dreams of one last trip before Eva heads off to college, but Eva is ready for stability. Then everything changes when Eva disappears while the two are boating. Suddenly, it seems their Instagram fans and the police suspect Charlie of hurting her own daughter...

This was a great read--beautifully written, suspenseful, and a total page-turner! Baart does a wonderful job exploring motherhood and parenthood alongside the mystery of what happened to Eva. Charlie struggles with returning home--she's famous not only for her Instagram and traveling with Eva, but for being the daughter of the town drunk in small town. She holds so much baggage from her past and clings to the idea that traveling on the road with Eva will keep her close and prevent her from having secrets.

But, wow, secrets abound in LONG! There are some amazing twists in this book! While so much of the story focuses on the potential benefits and dangers of social media (are you exposing your child while traveling around, or putting your adventures on social media, or giving her memorable adventures that she couldn't find elsewhere), there are other dark turns too--and it's best to go in blind.

Told from both Charlie and Eva's point of view, THE LONG WAY BACK shows a mother struggling to let her daughter go and a daughter itching to be set free. It delves deeply into familial relationships of all types and the power of social media in our divisive world. It keeps you reading with its immersive tale and beautiful prose. It presents a fascinating mystery along with a thoughtful story.

I was fortunate enough to have an ARC of this one. Baart creates a story of a mother and daughter who become social media influencers as they travel the country. However, as the daughter matures, she has the usual mother/daughter issues. When the daughter disappears, the mother panics as she finds herself a suspect. The mother questions her motives for what she and her daughter created in social media. Set in the present, the novel makes the reader question relationships--those that are in person or virtual. The daughter matures through the story and the reader finds that danger does lurk around us. A good read and Baart's prose and descriptions are on point for good reading.

Very strong start, bizarre middle and flaked out ending. Books like this are very hard for me to give a rating. What I liked: Eva growing up and away. Charlie learning to let go but still trust her gut instincts as a Mom. What I didn't like...the middle! Can't give it away for everyone though. The end was too neat and tidy for my tastes and for the real.world.since the book was divided into 3 I think 3 stars is appropriate.
Thank you to the author, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Long Way Back was a great suspense thriller that drew me in quickly. It’s a dual point of view that starts with Charlie’s side and her love for Eva and the struggle with her daughter growing up. The disappearance of Eva becomes the main focus quickly and I felt for Charlie and the fear she was going through. Being a parent and grandparent myself, I can only imagine what she was going through and just how far I would go put in the same circumstances.
Then switching to Eva’s point of view, you see the struggles that Eva went through growing up and her ties to social media fame as the story progresses. Don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll leave you in suspense with Eva.

The IG posts they make through their travels and Eva’s college applications become a guide for the novel as you move along and are a wonderful touch to bring everything together in this beautifully written novel. This is a must read and my only issue with this novel is that I enjoyed it so much that I’m afraid my next read doesn’t stand a chance. “Always take the long way back” #thelongwayback

This was definitely not what I was expecting! What began as a story about a missing daughter and a mother desperate to find her took a huge turn midway. Without being preachy or pushy, Baart has crafted a captivating novel that works both as a suspenseful and intense story and as a commentary on life in today's world.

Social media, going viral, bullying, and extreme hate are all found in these pages. But, impressively, the book is not a downer, nor is it depressing. There's a joy within the pages, and hope. It's a simple tale that will keep you reading until your eyes are out of focus.

And you won't be the same once the final page turns.

I received an advance copy from the publisher. My review was not solicited in any way.

**Some mild language, drinking, and mentions of drugs, and one scene depicts an assault

Compulsively readable, beautifully written and just pure escape. Nicole Baart can just plain write.

Loved it

After reading Everything We Didn't Say when it was a Book of the Month pick in 2021, I've been waiting for what Nicole Baart would write next! I am so thankful I was given an early copy thanks to Nicole and Atria books!

This book was WILD! I expected the typical 'girl goes missing' trope with a predictable ending, but I would have NEVER seen all of the craziness that was coming in this story! Eva and her mom, Charlie are famous Instagram influencers and when Eva suddenly goes missing, the whole country seems to take notice and take sides!

I loved how some of the chapters were written as Instagram posts, gossip colums/podcasts, essays, etc- it really helped make the story EXTRA bingeable.

There's so much I want to say but even making book comparisons would take away from some of the surprise and I hope all readers are as shocked as I was by the storyline! It was fun and unique and I think this will be a big hit come publication day on June 13th!

I was given at ARC in exchange for my honest feedback on this book. This was not my first ARC, but it was my best experience! Thank you, Nicole Baart, for connecting with the ARC readers.

There were many components of this book that I just loved. First, the setting. The setting is Duluth, Minnesota, and some towns north of Duluth. I had family in Duluth until just a few years ago, so I have been there during every season and explored every corner. Reading about a place so close to my heart was so much fun. I have read many books that take place in big cities across the globe, so it was a nice change of pace to have a story take place in Duluth.

Second, I loved the format of the book. Part of the book was from the mother's perspective, and part from the daughter's perspective. Throughout the book, Instagram posts, essays that Eva had written, and news articles and text messages were sprinkled throughout the book. I found that the variety helped my reading stamina. Normally I check my phone between chapters, but I didn't have the desire to do that with all the variety of styles.

Third, I connected with the story. As a mother of two children, I could feel Charlie's angst. I understood her connection to her daughter. The struggle to know what to do with each phase of your child's life is real! I loved how Charlie always tried to be the best parent she could be and was willing to change.

That doesn't tell much about the story, but I don't want to spoil anything! The jacket cover gives a great overview without ruining anything.

I've loved all of this authors books, but it seems she's really hit her stride. This book was thought provoking, but also a fast, page turning read. As a parent to a tween, thoughts of cell phone usage and social media are regular thoughts I regularly contemplate. This book had social media at the forefront. Baart writes eloquently in this book, bringing two worlds far apart, all collapsing into one page turning read. The characters are well developed, easy to visualize. As with each of her books, I took away several quotes that stayed with me. I loved the lessons, loved the characters travels, loved the fast paced, page turning qualities. An absolute perfect summer read!

This book was so well done from start to finish. It drew me in and was impossible to put down. The characters were easy to relate to and sympathize with and honestly I’m sad it’s over. This is a must read book and I can’t wait to see what she writes next!

This is a look at the relationship between mothers and daughters and asks how well mothers know their daughters and how well daughters understand their mothers no matter how close their relationship appears to be. For the mother and daughter duo in this story the truth is revealed when the daughter disappears.

Mother Charlie and daughter Eva have always been close -- it's always been just the two of them against the world. A picture that they post on social media goes viral and they end up creating an Instagram account called Eva Explores. They pack up an old airstream camper and travel around the country while keeping their fans updated on their travels. Eva tires of the travel and asks if they can settle down while she finishes her final year of high school and makes plans for college. They settle in a small town in Minnesota on Lake Superior and their relationship continues to be very close - or is it? When Charlie admits that she's tired of being settled down and wants a few more months of travel, Eva refuses. After much discussion, Eva relents but the next day, she disappears from the small boat that she and her mom were on while her mom was taking a nap. When Charlie is rescued, the police become involved and Charlie is the main suspect in her daughter's disappearance. Even as the FBI becomes involved, Charlie remains the main suspect. She knows that she is going to have to do some investigation on her own to clear her name and find her daughter. I really can't say much more about her investigation without spoiling the book for other readers but I will you tell you that the second half of the book was full of twists and turns that kept me rapidly turning pages.

The story is told from both Charlie and Eva's points of view and their chapters are interspersed with Instagram posts and college application essays that Eva has written. I thought the addition of the essays helped give much more depth and background to Eva's story.

This book was a look at two major issues -- the effects of a family living their lives on social media for the entire world to see and a look at the difficulty that some mothers have in realizing that their children are growing up and need to have a life of their own separate from them.

This was a definitely suspenseful read. It drew me in quickly and even though I found Charlie to be overbearing at times, I still hoped for a positive outcome after Eva's disappearance. You don't want to miss this one especially if social media is a major part of your life.

I received this book as an ARC. The Long Way Back by @nicolebaart checks all of my thriller boxes! Family struggles, setting as a character, and a twisty plot. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the many highlights from this book: "But the water that gives life can take it. The love that feels forever can fade. People are messy and broken and achingly beautiful , and life is never quite what it seems."

Thank you @nicolebaart and @atriabooks ! ✌🏼💚📚

#bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookstagrammer #peacelovebooksclub

As a mother, this book had my stomach in knots the entire time. Really made me think about social media and its impact. Great read!

I am a huge fan of Nicole Baart and I absoluely adored her book Everything We Didn't Say. Her new book The Long Way Back is told in three different parts and in my different ways. There are Instagram posts, forums, and typical chapters from different perspectives. Part one started off with a bang! I loved part one, which gave me incredibly high hopes for the rest of the book. Part two even starts off with great suspense and intrique. But as we get more and more into part two, things get weird, like why did they have to go that strange, and Baart kind off lost me for bit. Part three is a lot of the same weirdness, but the final big scene brought it back to a great thriller. Overall, I enjoyed it but wish it would have stayed with the same tone as part one. 3.5 stars.

Wow!! Nicole Baart never, ever lets me down! This relatable story of a mother and daughter made me laugh, cry, and shiver! The paths they take, both together and apart, thrilled me to my core! I enjoyed every single page of this book! I couldn’t wait to see how it ended! Another huge hit for Baart!

I’m torn on my review as I really enjoyed the book but not so much what I felt was a one sided view of what divides us. I am glad I read the authors note as I think she comes from a good place. I have mixed feelings but as always, she writes a good book and check it out for yourself. It was interesting to see the twist things took and how it all played out. I really enjoyed the mother and daughter adventures via airstream and the posts on their IG. Definitely a good read. Thanks to the author for the early read. All comments are my own.

Another solid book from Nicole Baart! I have read almost all of her books and this one in up there as one of my favorites of hers. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery surrounding this novel. It was suspenseful without being graphic. I like this mixed media of the book as well. There were Instagram posts and essays written by one of the characters which really added depth and complexity to the story.

Mother and daughter pair, Charlie and Eva, set out on adventures and find that sharing them through Instagram brings them a small bit of fame. Right before they are to start their final adventurous trek, Eva goes missing. The search for her will bring a new awareness of the true relationship between Charlie and Eva. This was a book I had trouble putting down! Loved it!!!