4.5/5

Thank you Delightfully Booked and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
A stranger makes a last minute appointment with clinical psychologist Beatrice (Beans to friends and family) to tell her that her mother is still alive and in danger.

I cried so much at the end of this book. Some may say it’s due to being very jet lagged as this is unheard of for me for a thriller book! 😂 I however, put it down to the amazing writing of the author!

The book was a little slow to start and there were parts of the story I could see coming, but apart from that, this is an amazing book! There are two timelines and I loved them both and found them so easy to follow.

UK friends, I don’t think a physical copy is going to be an easy or cheap one to get your hands on, but if you do decide to buy it - it’ll be money well spent!

Wow. What a truly adrenaline-fueled yet emotional tale. From the outset, Since She’s Been Gone seemed to drip with poignancy, suspense, and unrivaled twists. Trust me when I say that this is not one that you’re likely to forget. After all, it had very real Alfred Hitchcock vibes with a breathtaking cat-and-mouse chase and one stunning double-cross after another.

Told via dual timelines that portrayed the epic race against time versus Beans’s hard-fought battle against her eating disorder decades ago, it was gripping to the extreme. Add in the short chapters and fast pace and this one kept me flipping the pages late into the night. I mean, I could’ve easily binged this in one day had I not had an actual life. Although, I do have to admit, there were quite a few chores I’ve overlooked for the past twenty-four hours.

The shining star in this dynamite debut, however, was twofold. Between the twists that morphed the story time and again and the raw, emotional view into anorexia, I was totally won over. Don’t get me wrong, there was a minor fly in the ointment as I had to suspend all disbelief to buy into the plot. Once I did that, however, I was spellbound for sure, only putting down the book when I was forced to (all the while kicking and screaming).

Between the moving family drama and the epic levels of suspense, this psychological thriller had all of the pieces to make a sure fire splash in the genre. Quite frankly, I’m shocked that this was Schwartz’s first foray and look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. So if you’re looking for your next book, look no further. Both wholly original, but also with plenty of the expected thrills and chills, Since She’s Been Gone will check every box, no doubt about it. Rating of 4 stars.

Note: Just be forewarned, if you have firsthand experience with an eating disorder or addiction, this book might hit just a bit too close to home. After all, it describes both all too clearly, even if it was done so in an honest and compassionate manner.

4.5 stars rounded up

What an incredibly well written, compelling, and tense thriller #sinceshesbeengone is!! This debut pulled me in immediately. Was it superbly paced? Yes. Was it tense? Absolutely! Did it have dual timelines? Yip! But what it had in buckets was a main character that will tug at your heartstrings as she fights her demons.

Schwartz has a superb skill for conveying emotion through the written word - my black heart ached for “Beans” and what she had to fight through, in terms of her recovery and the heartache of the mystery around her mother. It’s been a while since I was so thoroughly invested in a character!!

@sagitschwartz makes it very clear from the beginning that there are trigger warnings for eating disorders ⚠️ so tread carefully, although it is handled respectfully and with raw honesty.

Beatrice or "Beans" as she's affectionately known can't believe it when she finds out her mother may actually be alive. Losing her at age 15 was the worst thing for Beans, propelling her mental health on a downward spiral. Can she search for her mother while keeping safe from her inner demons and those on her tail?

I really enjoyed this book. The dual timelines worked really well and I appreciated hearing about Beans' past with her eating disorder and treatment and how it related to the way she was feeling in the present. The storyline was gripping. I kept thinking Beans was in danger and was stunned at how brave she was to tackle the situation as eagerly as she did. This was a great debut by Sagit Schwartz. I look forward to seeing what she comes out with next.

𝗢𝗛 𝗠𝗬 𝗚𝗢𝗢𝗗𝗡𝗘𝗦𝗦! 😳 I can’t believe this is a debut! I binged this in one day because it’s just that darn good 👏🏼
As someone who struggled with an eating disorder for 7 years (I’m now 15 years in recovery) growing up, I appreciated the talk of ED as I feel like it’s not something that’s openly talked about it in this time.
This is a dual timeline that’s 𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗬 fast moving with some edge of your seat action throughout that really kept me on my toes! I highly enjoyed the quick chapters, the character development, and how the story unfolded.
This is perfect for all thriller lovers out there but 𝗣𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗦𝗘 check those trigger warnings beforehand! ⚠️
I’m 💯 looking forward to more from this author!

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Beatrice lost her mom to a hit and run accident at the tender age of 15 yrs old and as a result of this horrible event, she began to limit her eating and became anorexic. This disease change her whole life and her relationship with her father when he had no choice but to admit her to a rehabilitation clinic for eating disorders. Fast forward to today, and Beatrice is doing well and is a practicing Psychologist who is in a new relationship with a widowed father of a young daughter. Things seem to be going great for Beatrice until she gets a knock on her door one early morning and the young woman is frantic and really needs to see Beatrice insisting it is an emergency. After letting the young woman in, the words spoken "Your mother is alive and she is running out of time" changes the whole course of Beatrice's life as she can't believe what she is hearing. Is her mom really still alive? If so, why would she leave her only daughter? As Beatrice starts to dig into her mother's past, she finds it difficult to not take care of herself and slowly starts to pick up bad habits that landed her in Rehab all those years ago.....will her past repeat itself or will she find the answers that she is looking for in time? .....Enjoy!!!

Thank you to @thrillerbooklovers @sagitschwartz @crookedlanebooks for the #gifted copy.

What an amazing debut! This book. So DAMN GOOD! I binged this in one evening. Told in dual timeline lines it centers a lot around Beatrice's aka Beans eating disorder (ED). As someone who sturggled with eating in my teens, I appreciated the candid talk around ED. Gut wrenching, twisty, emotional and edge of my seat definitely sums up this book! Don't miss it. Out February 6, 2024!

Since She's Been Gone by Sagit Schwartz was a gripping story. This book got me out of my reading slump.
A suspenseful and entertaining read that was fast paced and totally enjoyable.
This book had me hooked from the beginning.
The suspense, unique plot and unexpected twists and turns makes this a wild ride! I was completely engrossed from the beginning and could not stop reading. I absolutely enjoyed this book so much.
I cannot wait to read more books by this author and I highly recommend.

Thank You NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

🖤𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝚂𝙷𝙴’𝚂 𝙱𝙴𝙴𝙽 𝙶𝙾𝙽𝙴🖤
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: 𝚂𝚞𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚗𝚜𝚎
𝙿𝚞𝚋 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎: 𝙵𝚎𝚋𝚛𝚞𝚊𝚛𝚢 𝟼, 𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟺 (🗓️𝚜𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚍𝚊𝚝𝚎!)
𝙼𝚢 𝚛𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 𝟺.𝟻 𝚜𝚝𝚊𝚛𝚜! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (rounding up for GR & netgalley)

🤏𝚃𝚎𝚎𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚒𝚍𝚋𝚒𝚝:
A clinical psychologist is thrown into her dark past as she races to uncover the truth about her mother’s death while struggling with her own mental health.

💭𝙼𝚢 𝚝𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜
This one was fabulous!! 👏Some heavy topics(eating disorders, exercise compulsion, miscarriage, addiction, etc) are hit on in this book, but it’s done so in a beautiful way(if that’s possible). I now have more empathy towards these other traumas people endure daily…even after their recovery. This novel was fast paced chocked full of these big important topics. It had some family drama with dual timelines that flowed flawlessly together. It starts with a bang, has a super unique plot & will have you emotionally invested too. 🥺 It’s a must read for sure! 👏

Thanks to @thrillerbookloverspromotions
@crookedlanebooks and @sagitschwartz for this advanced copy! I had fun! 🥳💜

I enjoyed the dual time lines of past and present. Beatrice suffers from ED(eating disorder) and this is done with vivid detail about the struggle with food and mental health. It was eye opening and gut wrenching at the same time. Beatrice lost her mom when she was 15 and now she learns she maybe alive.

She starts to realize she didn’t know a lot about her mother. She goes back to New York to try and learn about her mother and uncovers a big scandal. Along the way she learns about herself and what she wants in life.

I liked the mental health representation in this book and found family. Hard to believe this was a debut novel.

What an emotional rollercoaster ride of a book! It was fast paced and captivating right from the get go.

I loved the dual timelines and the short chapters. The past timeline with Beans’ struggle with ED was absolutely heartbreaking and insightful. My knowledge of ED mostly stems from media and having this book dive so deeply into it really opened my eyes.

The ending was full of twists and turns that I was not expecting and I thought it wrapped up beautifully.

This was also the authors debut novel and I cannot wait to see what she comes out with next.

If you’re looking for a fast paced suspense that will keep you on your toes and make you shed a tear, then definitely check this one out.

4.5✨
Thank you to @thrillerbookloverspromotions And @crookedlanebooks

Since She’s Been Gone is a unique thriller that had me absolutely captivated! It’s a thriller but with a mix of suspense and how a parents death can forever change their family. We get a deep dive of the aftermath with Beatrice and how now as adult she’s finding new things out that change her world again! I love the suspense and the gut wrenching feeling the story brought up! The complexity and how everything comes together was great! I can’t believe this is a debut and I can’t wait for more from her!

TW: ED it is discussed in depth through the whole book. Please if you have questions about Dm me

After losing her mother at the age of 15, Beatrice aka Beans, struggled for many years with an eating disorder. Now a therapist herself, Beans is shocked when a client one day informs her that her mother is still alive, before abruptly disappearing.

In her attempt to uncover the truth, Beans soon finds herself pitted against not only a fabricated past, but a complicated present, discovering the machinations of Big Pharma and handling the resurgence of her eating disorder whilst trying to rescue her mother from a situation that she is desperate to keep her boyfriend and his daughter away from.

This book comes with a lot of trigger warnings, not least for those with eating disorders. But it is a fast-paced and suspenseful read that thriller readers will enjoy, and an impressive debut.

4.5/5 stars rounded up to 5 on here)

Thank you Thrillerbookloverspromotions, Sagit Schwartz, and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
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Losing her mother to a hit-and-run at age 15 threw Beatrice “Beans” Bennett’s life into turmoil. Bereft, she developed a life-threatening eating disorder, and went through a challenging recovery process which paved the way for her work as a clinical psychologist decades later. 

When a new patient arrives at her office and insists that Beans’s mother is still alive—and in danger—Beans is forced to revisit her past in order to uncover the truth. She learns the “patient” is a member of a notorious family that owns a drug company largely responsible for the national opioid epidemic, and that her mother was once tangled in their web. In a race against time—and her mother’s assailants—while once again facing the disorder she thought she’d put behind her, Beans discovers that, like herself, her mother had a devastating secret. 
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This book kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time and I’m still in shock that this is the authors debut novel! It has a dual timeline in which it goes back to the MC past to explore how it’s relating to the current events that are unfolding in front of her. I feel like the writing was immersive and just brings the reader into the story and you feel like you are with Beans the entire step of her journey! This is one that I would definitely recommend!! Of note, there are some TW for this book, so make sure to look those up if that is something that you need to do!

Since She’s Been Gone is fast-paced, heavy on dark subjects, and action packed. I enjoyed the dual timelines, the insight on someone who is struggling with an eating disorder, the challenges they face even years later in recovery, and the fight against Big Pharma. I thought it was a really great debut thriller and can’t wait to read more from this author.

This one was full of heavy topics, so check your trigger warnings if you have triggers. Many thanks to the author Sagit Schwartz, Crooked Lane Books and Thriller Book Lover Promos for my review copy. Since She’s Been Gone will be published February 6th.

"𝑨𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏? 𝑴𝒚 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒊𝒔 𝒂𝒍𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒂𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏?"

➡️ swipe for synopsis 👉🏼

Wow.....wow. WOW!
This book 👏🏼blew. 👏🏼me. 👏🏼away! This is probably the first thriller that's had an emotional hold on me throughout the book. It deals with some very serious and very triggering topics (both mentally and physically). It also deals with some very prominent current topics.

PLEASE check the trigger ⚠️ warnings at the beginning of this book!

This was such a suspenseful book😲. It's starts with a BANG💥! Beatrice "Beans" has a "vlient" drop some shocking news on her - then literally RUN AWAY😱! Then, the story hits the ground running. It's a constant cat🐈 and mouse🐁 game for Beans that goes across the United States🌎, while she's trying to find out if her mom is actually dead - or possibly still alive. If she IS alive, she needs to tell her it's not safe......but she needs to find out why because why would her mom not be safe?! All this happens while Beans is trying not only to stay alive, but trying to keep her boyfriend and his daughter safe from harms way.

I literally BINGED this book. It's fast paced, and very well written. The ending made me tear 🥺 up a bit with the thoughts of if this happened to me and my mom. The whole story is the cruel reality for many people out there. I hope this books shares that there is hope!🫶🏻

QOTD ❓️⁉️❓️ What was the last book that moved you emotionally?

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#thrillerbooks #suspensethriller #thrillerreader #thrillerlover #thrillerobsessed #bookrecs #bookreview #bookstagram #bookaholic #booklover #bookstagrammer #booklove #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookworm #booksbooksbooks #booksofig #booksofinstagram #bookish #bookishfeatures #tbr #tbrpile #bookbuzz #mysteryandthrills #BookstaBFF23 #thrillerbooklovers #sinceshesbeengone #SagitSchwartz
#triggerwarning
#emotionalthriller
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A wonderfully, twisted thriller loaded with suspense. I loved the focus on the main character Beatrice and the way Schwartz told her story through dual timelines at pivotal moments in her life, including her struggle with anorexia. With how character-driven this book is, I fell so deep into Beatrice's head that I had to keep turning the page to find out how her story would end because I genuinely cared about her journey. I highly recommend this book to all thriller fans.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early access copy of this book.

I enjoyed the present-day timeline of this book a lot! It was action-packed, and reminded me a lot of The Last Thing He Told Me.

As a reader, I prefer when dual timelines overlap. There was very little of that in this storyline, and was mostly there as backstory. I’m also a very visual reader, and found the dialogue with strangers/people she hadn’t seen in a long time really short and convenient.

Overall I enjoyed the book and kept wanting to read more!

Since She’s Been Gone, by Sagit Schwartz

Short Take: Like sitting through a lecture I never signed up for.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

Important note - I tapped out on this one at the 20% mark. It just couldn’t hold my interest.

This book was described as a thriller, it is not. Not even remotely. It’s about a woman and her eating disorder. Which is fine, recovery memoirs can be super interesting. This book’s treatment of the main character’s eating disorder, however, is not interesting.

The author can’t decide how she wants to approach the topic, and is all over the map with it. She goes into great depth about eating disorders in general, bashing the reader over the head with facts about eating disorders (referred to as ED), often switching tense and tone in a single chapter. We get a few sentences (in first person) about Beatrice’s struggle with eating a meal in a treatment center, then a page-long third-person breakdown of why ED patients are pushed to eat communally, the effects on the body of eating after a period of starvation, how their caloric needs change, etc. Then back to Beatrice struggling.

It’s the focal point of every other chapter. Dual timelines are cool, but there’s nothing about this info dump that moves anything along. It’s 100% the author trying to show off what an expert she is on eating disorders. It’s a serious topic and deserves serious treatment, but it just doesn’t work in a book pretending to be a fictional work with a whole plot and everything. I mean, Beatrice is torn between ED, and her fiance whose name is (gawd I wish I was joking) Eddie. Like, seriously??? I’m sure if Ms. Schwartz tried, she could hit us over the head harder with it, but I don’t see how.

And every so often there’s some bit about her mother who may or may not be dead and what might have happened to her, but there’s just not enough story there. I give up. Based on other ratings, there’s a real audience for this blend of condescension and navel-gazing, but I’m not it.

The Nerd’s Rating: ONE HAPPY NEURON (and vodka, STAT. And a better book, please.)

Beatrice Bennett, fondly known as “Beans” has endured her fair share of lifelong struggles but is currently living contently. She’s a clinical psychologist and is loved by her partner and his young daughter. When she was fifteen years old, she tragically lost her mother due to a hit and run driver. In order to gain control of her life, she developed an eating disorder that continues to follow her decades later.

One morning, she meets a new patient at her office who delivers shocking news: Beans’ mother is still alive! This new knowledge, propels Beans into investigative mode where she will have to face her past demons.

This novel is an exciting and heartbreaking journey that travels from the present back to when Beans’ life fell apart. Reading the author’s note regarding content warnings and her own experience with eating disorders, gave me a better view into the issues that formed Beans. I felt the raw emotions that Beans was experiencing both when she lost her mom and again when she was searching for the truth into that loss. I loved that the storyline wove in current events, psychological disorders and a compelling storyline into this captivating thriller.