Member Reviews
I really enjoyed it. It was a bit slow in the beginning, but once I found my rhythm, I enjoyed the journey. This is a very character focused novel, so if that's not your thing, just be aware of that going in. I did want a little bit more from the ending. Quite frankly, I wanted the mystery to be something a little more harrowing and not to wrap up so quickly and one of the twists was very obvious. But I still thought the book was well written and interesting.
The premise of this book immediately drew me in. As the main character Emlyn searches for her missing "van life" friend Janessa with the help of Tyler, a guy she had once been involved with but now struggles to trust, the narrative cleverly weaves between past and present. This dual timeline beautifully depicts Emlyn's relationship with Janessa and her tumultuous history with Tyler.
The author's vivid descriptions of the wilderness setting were enchanting, making me long for summer weekends spent camping in the woods. Although the pacing felt a bit slow at times, especially given the urgency of a missing person plot, the flashback chapters were a highlight. They allowed the mystery to unfold gradually, maintaining a high level of intrigue throughout the book.
The friendship between Janessa and Emlyn was particularly captivating. I found myself deeply invested in their journey and rooting for them to have a chance to heal their differences. The ending was unexpected, but it felt just right.
Overall, this book masterfully combines elements of suspense and personal growth, set against a backdrop that is both beautiful and treacherous. The slow reveal of backstory through flashbacks adds depth and keeps the reader engaged, making it a compelling read despite the slower pacing.
I was really excited to read this book, since I loved Grant's THESE SILENT WOODS. Unfortunately, I just didn't connect with this book at all.
Although I didn't love the story, the one part that I loved was the sweeping backdrop of the Idaho wilderness. I felt transported there and I think Grant's writing of the landscape was captivating.
What fell flat was the story - Emlyn was a very frustrating main character. I wanted to shake her half the time. The "mystery" was just okay for me, too. This book is dubbed as a thriller and it certainly is NOT at all. It's more contemporary mystery and much slower than you think..
Despite all of this, I will definitely try Grant's next book.
This is a new to me author. I was intrigued by the premise of the story and excited to read it. The description of the placed in the story were detailed and made you feel like you were there. However, I found the pacing to be very slow and for some reason I just could not connect with the characters.
I am a big fan of thrillers that portray the natural world and its beauty and danger.
What I did love about The Nature of Disappearing: Grant's beautiful depictions of the beauty and danger of life in the backcountry and her lovely writing.
What I loved less: considering there were only 7-8 characters, there was a LOT going on.
As main character Emlyn searches for her missing "van life" friend Janessa with the help of Tyler, a guy Emlyn had been involved with but can no longer trust, there is a past-present narrative depicting Emlyn's relationship with Janessa and another one chronicling Emlyn's rocky past with Tyler.
I am not always a fan of a past-present storyline and in this case it offered information I didn't want to know. I wish there had been more backcountry and less drama in the past. Emlyn is supposed to be a skilled tracker and backcountry guide and I wanted to see some of that and less of how she's such a "mess" in her personal life. Compartmentalize and get it together, girl!
I absolutely loved this book! The mystery of what happened to Janessa, along with the slow bit-by-bit reveal of how Tyler came to abandon Emlyn in the woods years ago, made for a tension-packed 'I don't know who to trust' mystery that kept me on the edge of my seat until the very end.
I love Kimi Cunningham Grant's writing. The beautiful description of the wilderness and the dual timeline building the background of Tyler, Emlyn, and Janessa's relationship swept me into the story completely. I especially loved the friendship between Janessa and Emlyn, and was rooting for them to have a chance to heal their differences. The ending was unexpected, but perfect.
I listened to the audio version of the novel, and Emily Pike Stewart's narration was the perfect voice for Emlyn. The book lends itself to audio, and this one kept me going on longer, more frequent walks because I enjoyed it so much.
Thank you to Netgalley, Macmillan Audio, and St. Martin's Press for the digital ARC and audio ARC of The Nature of Disappearing by Kimi Cunningham Grant. The opinions in this review are my own.
Absolutely loved this one--I could not put it down. Kimi Cunningham Grant is a new favorite; I've read two of her books and they are both now favorites. The Nature of Disappearing follows Emlyn through a dangerous expedition to find a missing friend, while flashing back to the past that led her there. It's so good. So satisfying, well-written, immersive. The plot and characters could have easily been overdramatized, but the author keeps everything grounded and realistic. I love the craft.
Thanks to @minotaur_books @kimicgrant @macmillan.audio and @netgalley for the advance copies of the book, as well as the fun swag that came with! I alternated between listening to the book and reading the ebook. The narrator was excellent.
Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing my review copy!
KCG writes exactly the type of book I wanna read. These Silent Woods was one of my favorite reads at the time it was released so I was excited to read The Nature of Disappearing. While this story didn’t quite touch me the same way, I enjoyed getting to know Emlyn and hear her story. I felt that she had a relationship with Janessa that many could relate to. My only real issue with this story was the Bush storyline. I guess I should have seen it coming, but his reveal felt a bit jarring. I’m excited to read Fallen Mountains and everything else KCG comes up with.
Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books, and Kimi Cunningham Grant for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.
I really enjoyed this one! I'm not much of an outdoorsy/camping gal but this one had me hooked from the very beginning and I couldn't put it down! 4 star read for me!
Kimi Cunningham Grant takes up deep into the wilderness of Idaho in The Nature of Disappearing.
"Emilyn is happy to be an outdoor guide and leave her old life behind. When the former love-of-her-life shows up and asks for her help tracking down her former best friend who's disappeared, she agrees. They set out to track her down. Emilyn begins to wonder though - who's really tracking who?"
I really liked this new book from Grant - even more than her previous buzzy book. I'm not really an outdoorsy, camping, fishing person so the idea of sleeping in the wilderness on the ground and trying to avoid the bears and mountain lions is pretty terrifying.
Emilyn is one of those characters that struggles to make the best choices, even ignoring the advice of her best friend. The consequences of that almost kill her. I did guess one twist (it was just a guess but I was right) There are two timelines. The past timeline is just the backstory of the main characters. The ending is wild and I liked the end of Emilyn's story.
Great story from Grant.
Unfortunately, I am unable to give this 5 stars like I did the author's previous book, These Silent Woods. This title almost felt like it was written by a completely different person. It was missing the intensity, suspense and tension, which made TSW truly wonderful. I desperately wanted to love this book and kept listening hoping that the next chapter would be the spark that ignited deep interest in where the story was going, but unfortunately that never happened.
I really loved the setting of this book and Emlyn's occupation and the found family she had in the community where she lived (the strongest parts of the book), but it kind of dissolved as soon as the book got going. It starts slow (not a deal breaker), but what quickly became apparent for me was I just didn't care about these characters. The expression "show me don't tell me" kept coming to mind. So must was repeated over and over, but I never was able to emotionally connect to the characters and what they were going through. I also didn't care for the part of the story told in the past. It broke me out of any suspense or mystery the book was working towards and kind of weakened the case for Emlyn being this in charge, focused, excellent tracker. It's hard to explain, but I felt that part of the book worked against present timeline.
The last thing I'll say is that the ending was kind of a letdown. I don't want to say more because I don't want to write any spoilers, but I'd be interested to see if other reviewers agree.
I'm trying to disconnect my feelings about the previous book and go with what this book provided and I'd say it was good, but not something I will remember for very long.
The audiobook was good - no complaints there. I think the narrator (this is the first time I've listened to her) did a great job with the text. I was able to listen a little faster than normal (2.4x) because she had a slower reading speed.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the gifted audiobook and Minotaur Books for the gifted egalley in exchange for an honest review.
Publication Date: 06/18/2024
Review Date: 06/12/2024
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher, St. Martins for the free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
My Rating:
3.25 Stars (Rounded down)
My Opinion:
I was excited to read it because I have heard good things about the author and her other books. The pace of the book was very slow for me. I am very much a mood reader and the book didn't want me to pick it up. The twist was good but I could see it coming. After the twist, I felt the ending was rushed. I was felt wondering what happened. Give me one more chapter please. I am interested to check out her other book "These Silent Woods".
The first book I read by this author was amazing, "These Silent Woods." So, I could not wait to read this one! Emlyn is in search of her friend, Janessa. She teams up with Tyler, her past boyfriend.
If there's one thing her twenty-eight years have taught her, it's that there are people in this world who inspire loyalty and devotion, and there are people who are forgettable and leavable.
The past memories with her and Tyler are very emotional. They were so happy once and in love! Does she still have feelings for him? "I know there are so many things I should say to you. So many things I've wanted to say. Trust me, I've played through them a thousand times."
In the woods, Emlyn becomes someone else. She is brave, self-assured, intrepid. It's seeing someone you love splinter away from you, shard by shard. Knowing there are parts of him left, but never being sure just how much, and at what point a person is so far gone that you won't ever really get him back.
Emotional, Suspenseful, and Engaging! 3 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy! This book will be released 6/18/24.
This book kind of fell flat for me, I started reading and was intrigued but then picked it back up and just did not feel full invested in the story.
It was just a middle of the road thriller.
3/5
Emlyn now lives a very simple life in an Airstream trailer and is a fishing and hunting guide with the people who found her since her boyfriend Tyler left her for dead in the woods (he was a drug addict). Now Tyler is clean and has come back because Emlyn’s estranged best friend Janessa has gone missing and he needs her woodsy skills to find her. Janessa has become half of a social media couple living the vanlife out in the woods and has fallen off the grid and Tyler and Emlyn are concerned that something serious has happened to her. However the further into the woods they get the more they worry about their own lives as well.
I jumped into this one totally blind and really enjoyed it. I mainly listened to it and while sometimes it takes a bit to get into an audio, this one engaged me immediately. The backstory was told through flashbacks and it was not confusing at all. I hadn’t read anything else by the author and I have heard her other book is great and will definitely try to read it this summer. The twists were there, the story was compelling and it just held me the whole time, while not quite a thriller, it’s a great read!
Thanks to NetGalley and Minotaur Press for the ARC to review
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy. After loving These Silent Woods, I knew I needed to get my hands on The Nature of Disappearing. Emlyn is a wilderness guide who teams up with her ex to find her ex best friend. The Nature of Disappearing reminded me of the Gabby Petito case in the beginning. It parallel the case due to the fact that Emlyn was searching for her friend, Janessa, a social media star who travels around in her van with her boyfriend. Although there are similarities, it quickly takes a different direction. I could not put the book down. I wanted to know what would happen next.
This was a very middle of the road book for me. I didn't love it or hate it. I didn't find the plot particularly compelling and the twist was pretty obvious.
I liked the characters well enough and thought the writing was decent. The pace was just slow and I didn't really feel like the flashbacks added anything.
I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.
Kimi Cunningham Grant’s last novel These Silent Woods was an amazing five-star read for me, so I went into her newest novel with very high hopes! I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy, but unfortunately it did not live up to her last novel for me.
Nature and Wilderness is something that Kimi writes exceptionally well. When I read her books, I am instantly there in nature with the characters so much I swear I almost smell the trees and dirt! While the setting and the characters were great in this novel, I felt like the story-line and the whole reason they were out in the woods fell flat.
The Nature of Disappearing comes out June 18, 2024 and is about Emlyn, a wilderness guide is finally content in life when the man who destroyed her years early unexpectedly pops back into her life asking for help. Her best friend, Jannesa who is a van-life influencer, is missing in the deep woods of Idaho and they must find her before it is too late.
The book goes back and forth every other chapter from present day to the past 5 years so that you find out exactly what happened that derailed Emlyn’s life and why she has cut off communication with her ex and her best friend until now.
The first 65% of the book is gripping and keeps your attention very well, but the last part when everything starts to unravel just starts to fall flat. I almost wish there had been more drama or a much bigger reveal of why her best friend went missing in the first place.
Overall I would still rate it a 3-3.5 star book because everything else about the book I enjoyed. I loved the complexity of the characters and the scene of the wilderness. I even loved the setup of the back and forth giving you a little information at a time.
thank you Net Galley and Minotaur Books for allowing me the honor to get an Advanced Reader’s Copy of The Nature of Disappearing in exchange for an honest review. Well this one in particular fell a little flat, I still look forward to the future work of Kimi Cunningham Grant!
Kimi Cunningham Grant’s The Nature of Disappearing is an engrossing thriller that deftly blends suspense with emotional depth. This novel centers on Emlyn, a wilderness guide in Idaho, who must confront her traumatic past when Tyler, the man who once abandoned her, returns with the alarming news that their mutual friend Janessa has gone missing.
Emlyn's life in the vast, untamed wilderness is simple and secure. She spends her days guiding tourists through the scenic landscapes and lives in solitude in her Airstream trailer. Her closest companions are a compassionate Forest Service ranger and a reverend who offered her solace during her darkest times. However, Tyler’s sudden reappearance disrupts her peaceful existence, pulling her back into a world she had painstakingly left behind.
Janessa, now a social media sensation with her #vanlife adventures, has recently vanished, and her last post raises more questions than answers. Despite their fractured relationship, Emlyn feels compelled to help find her former best friend. Reluctantly teaming up with Tyler, she embarks on a treacherous journey through the wild, where old feelings and unresolved issues resurface.
As Emlyn and Tyler delve deeper into the wilderness, the chemistry between them rekindles, but so do suspicions about the true nature of Janessa’s disappearance. The narrative skillfully alternates between the present and the past, unraveling the complex history between the characters while heightening the tension with each chapter.
Grant’s writing is evocative and richly descriptive, bringing the wilderness to life in vivid detail. The atmospheric setting adds a layer of tension, making the Idaho wilderness almost a character in its own right. The story’s pacing is impeccable, maintaining a steady build-up of suspense that keeps the reader hooked until the very end.
Emlyn is a well-crafted protagonist, her resilience and vulnerability making her a relatable and compelling character. Her journey of self-discovery and redemption is as central to the story as the mystery itself. Tyler, despite his past mistakes, is portrayed with nuance, making their dynamic both realistic and engaging.
The plot twists are well-executed, leading to a satisfying and believable conclusion. Grant’s ability to weave complex character arcs with a gripping mystery sets this book apart. The Nature of Disappearing is not just a thriller; it’s a poignant exploration of forgiveness, trust, and the indelible impact of the past on the present.
In summary, Kimi Cunningham Grant has delivered a masterful novel that combines suspense, emotion, and stunning natural imagery. The Nature of Disappearing is a must-read for fans of thrillers and character-driven stories alike.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I really loved this one!! This book is a great slow burn suspense and introspective exploration sprinkled with a little bit of mystery. Grant’s writing is truly excellent, and the descriptions of and respect for nature were particular standouts for me. I also found Emlyn and Janessa’s friendship very compelling, honest, and well-developed. I really cared about both characters- both as individuals and as friends!
For me, things didn’t really pick up until ~75% of the way in. However, I didn’t mind this at all! I thought the set up was beautiful and it was completely worth it to spend that time getting to know Emlyn so well. Understanding everything Emlyn had gone through made all the little moments in the present timeline more resonant and meaningful. I really loved the ending and the final takeaways! I reached the last page feeling so hopeful but also sad that I had to leave Emlyn behind.
I would happily recommend this to all readers who love character driven books, mild suspense, and/or books set in nature/the wilderness! I know I’ll be picking up a finished copy of this one when it hits shelves next week.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review!
4.5 stars rounded up.