3.5⭐ I'm not sure how I feel about this story... Emlyn has left her painful past behind and is starting fresh as a mountain guide in Idaho. However, her tentative peace is disrupted when her ex-boyfriend Tyler visits her, asking for help in finding their friend Janessa.

Janessa has become a social media influencer by sharing her vanlife adventures with her rugged survivalist boyfriend. One day, Tyler arrives with some alarming news – Janessa is missing. She hasn't posted anything lately and when she does, it's from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be. Emlyn and Janessa barely speak and Tyler, the man Emlyn considered to be the love of her life, left her freezing and half-dead in the woods three years ago. However, Janessa's safety is crucial now and she must move on from the past ... So, they pack up and head for the last place where Janessa was supposed to be.

If you're a nature lover, you'll appreciate this book that vividly describes the woods, its surroundings, and survival elements. However, I didn't feel connected to the characters or the storyline. It failed to be a thriller or even a suspenseful story. The plot revolves around friendship and how many times one must hit a wall to realize one needs to change direction. At times, I felt sorry for Emilyn I think she deserves better even from Janessa. The story lacks twists and turns, nothing happens until the very end. Nonetheless, it is undoubtedly well-written and makes for an engaging read that one can breeze through.

Thank You NetGalley and Publisher for the eARC.

I loved These Silent Woods by the same author and was thrilled to be approved for an ARC of her new book. I loved the setting for this one, the authors knowledge of the various parks, etc. was really impressive, she has a perfect way of giving you the ability to feel the surroundings. I had a bit of a slow start with this one but it really picked up after a few chapters and I read through the rest quickly.

While some of the characters didn't feel all that well developed, I felt like Emlyn was done really well. There are lots of different themes in this one, romance, friendship, drug addiction and even some criminal behavior. I suspected this one was going to be based off the headline grabbing #vanlife story that came out a few years ago, luckily it strayed away from that and became it's own story of bravery, adventure and survival.

Many thank to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Thank you Netgalley for this e-ARC.

Unfortunately I'm unable to finish this one bc it has animal death and suffering in it and my heart just can't handle that, even in fiction.

What I did get through was suspenseful and I'm now left very curious as to what happened, but I'm giving up bc of my triggers. If it's something others can handle, I do think it's a very good book that would be enjoyable if it weren't for the animal deaths.

I liked the premise of this book. The nature descriptions had me right in the Idaho wilderness. I liked Emlyn as a character. Yet all the other characters fell flat for me. The mystery wasn’t all that compelling. But I did want to keep reading. This one wasn’t for me overall, but may be for you!

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for providing me with the digital reviewer copy of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was a fun romp into the wilderness. I thought the character's background was well fleshed out, although Tyler's interaction with Emlyn felt a little over-enthused and saccharine. The plot line of the old loves going to look for the lost friend was good, and I liked the eventual twist as the storylines merged. The back and forth timeline felt a little disjointed at times, and I had to remind myself where we were in the story.

The authors descriptive writing of the wilderness, woods, trailers and overall settings was thorough, and I was easily placed in the story.
I enjoyed this read. I could easily see this as a movie or series come to life.

It is so easy to get completely swept up in this author’s novels and her newest is no exception! I could not put this down. I loved the wilderness aspects (especially in the context of the author’s note) and thought this was such a unique story.

This book completely took me by surprise. Originally, I thought it was a thriller and it definitely has some aspects of that but more than that, it's a book about a young woman who is trying to find her way. Grant does a really good job of the character development (especially Tyler, iykyk) and each chapter kept me wanting more. I also really enjoyed the fact that this book is set in the wilderness. There is something so hauntingly beautiful about it that really kept me engaged.

The Nature of Disappearing
by Kimi Cunningham Grant
Pub Date: June 18, 2024
Thanks to the author, publisher and Net Galley for the ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest opinion.
In this captivating novel of suspense from the USA Today bestselling author of These Silent Woods, a wilderness guide must team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when the friend who introduced them goes missing.
Her new life is simple and safe. She works as a fishing and hunting guide, spending her days in Idaho’s endless woods and scenic rivers. She lives alone in her Airstream trailer, her closest friends a handsome and kind Forest Service ranger and the community’s makeshift reverend, who took her in at her lowest.
Poignant, suspenseful, and unforgettable, THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING explores what it takes to start over―and the cost of letting the past pull you back in.
I loved the descriptions of the wilderness and the premise of the story was promising, however, it never came together in a believable way.

I did like the book, though I didn’t love it.

This was my second book by Kimi Cunningham Grant, and I have absolutely loved both of them! Everything about this book is right up my alley - the setting, relationships, mystery, suspense, and faith. I love nature, hiking, and camping, and those are all prominent in this book. While I definitely had my suspicions about what was going to happen, there were surprises and suspense that kept me turning pages long after my bedtime. Even more than the mystery though, I absolutely loved how Grant wrote characters that felt so incredibly real and relatable, that grew and developed as the story unfolded.

One thing about this book that was so intriguing was how the main character, Emlyn, defined others and herself with just one word. It’s interesting to see how one word can seem to shape a person, and I felt so much empathy for Emlyn when she viewed herself as less than her true worth. Both of Grant’s books that I have read have themes of redemption and forgiveness that are woven seamlessly into the story without feeling heavyhanded or didactic. Her writing is compelling, her characters are deep and relatable, and I look forward to reading more from her!

Thanks to NetGalley for this eARC! All opinions expressed are my own. The Nature of Disappearing releases on June 18, but you can preorder now! I’ll post the link in my stories.

📖 Adult fiction, suitable also for older teens. No language. Clean romance. Addiction. An unwed couple lives together. Substance abuse (alcohol, oxy). Mild violence.

The Nature of Disappearing was a great read for me. It kept me engaged and wanting to read more. I started it without having read what it was about (I enjoyed her previous book that much that I knew I would like this one, too) and it didn’t disappoint.

Emlyn and Janessa become close friends during college, despite their different backgrounds and personalities. Emlyn is insecure and Janessa is the opposite but they hit it off. Then Emlyn falls for Tyler, Janessa’s best friend from childhood, and things change between them. Fast forward several years, Emlyn lives in Idaho, away from everything and everyone she knew before, until one day Janessa seemingly goes missing while camping, and Emlyn goes searching for her with Tyler, who ruined her life.
Told in alternating time lines, the story follows Emlyn’s life from childhood. It explores how conflict and experiences influence who we become as adults and how it changes the lens through which we see ourselves, life and others. I thought that part was interesting and nicely executed.
I also really enjoyed the author’s description of the outdoors, hiking and surviving in the wild.
Ultimately, the story is about love and friendship, and about how true friends will always show up and be there for us.
This was a 4-star read for me and I would recommend it to others.
Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press/Minotaur Books for my ARC.

This one snuck up on me. It started out slow. I didn’t really like this first chapter and was worried it was going to slog to get through. But it built up and really grew on me.

This story follows Emlyn, who has found a safe place far from crowds and relationship drama, working as a nature guide in the Idaho wilderness. The story follows present day with some chapters flashback to Emlyn’s childhood and when she meets her now missing friend. There were some disturbing parallels to a vanlife influencer’s disappearance that captured national attention in recent years. But eventually it turns and is certainly not as tragic as the real-life story.

In terms of a suspense story, this may leave something to be desired. It certainly had some good settings and situations for suspense, but I don’t think it leaned into those too much. The shining star of this story is Emlyn’s journey. Despite having experienced some heartbreaking situations, it ends on a hopeful and promising note that made it feel like a worthwhile read.

<i>Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a chance to read and review this book. Views are my own.

What a stunningly beautiful book!

In the authors note, she says: ‘ I aspired to ferry the reader through mountains and valleys, fields and streams. I wanted them to experience both beauty and unique challenges of a physical wilderness, but also the loneliness and mistress of a more metaphorical, spiritual wilderness.’

That is EXACTLY what she delivered! I was there in the mountains and valley with Emyln. Not only that I felt her ups and downs like they were happening to me. The prose of this book is as beautiful as These Silent woods.

For me this is essentially a love story, of heartbreak and growth from said heartbreak. This is the story of friendship and how far you can go to protect and save that friend even when you aren’t exactly ‘friends’ anymore.

Thankyou NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC copy. It was a pleasure reading it!

This book starts off great and grabs your attentions right away. The story goes between past and present of the main character Emlyn and how she ended up where she is today. Emlyn is moving on with her life when her ex-boyfriend, that left her to die in the woods, shows up and asks for her help to locate their missing friend, Janessa. Emlyn doesn't want to go with her ex but she wants to make sure Janessa is safe and to reconcile their friendship. You get to see how Emlyn got to where she is now and why she has the quirks she has, which are endearing. The book stays great for the first three quarters and then starts to get a little off track for the last quarter of the book. The trip through the woods to track her friend is gripping and page turning and at times you are on the edge of your seat. Then when the ending gets close I feel like the author just rushed it a bit. I enjoyed how this book also showed that people from completely different lifestyle can be the best of friends.

I still enjoyed this book and would definitely read another book by this author.

Thank you NetGalley and Minotaur Books for this ARC in return for an honest review.

5 stars for setting
4stars for description
3 for characters
2 Star plot
1 star ending
And a thriller...0 stars
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

This book was a wild walk thru the wilderness!!! Emlyn has lived in seclusion enjoying her peaceful existence after a tragic incident a year ago. Her Ex Tyler comes back into her life and they go on a trek to find Emlyn's best friend Janessa, deep in the wilderness.
This book provides a few twists and turns that I did not anticipate, but the ending warmed my heart. Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read this book for my opinion.

Duel timeline, 3.5 Stars

The story is a Slow Burn but I’m not sure a slow burn is the way to go for a Mystery/Thriller.

Emilyn is a fly fishing and hunting guide. The story starts with her teaching fly fishing in Idaho‘s wilderness. Five years ago Janessa and Emilyn were the best of friends. Now Emilyn’s ex-boyfriend, Tyler, has come to ask her to help find her ex-friend Janessa. He says he’s worried because he hasn’t heard from her and that’s unusual.

As the story goes back-and-forth between present and past we find out that Tyler left Emilyn in the Idaho wilderness five years ago, and she almost died. At the time he was high, and didn’t remember he had left her there. Now he says he’s clean, but he has said that many times before, and he always went back to it. Can he be trusted?

When Janessa is found and appears to be OK, you start to wonder was this just a trip down memory lane? There is more to the story but what was going on and who was involved became pretty obvious to me. You’ll have to read it yourself to find out what the mystery was. The story ends abruptly, and you do wish there was an epilogue.

I’d like to thank net galley for this complementary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Like in These Silent Woods, Cunningham Grant excels at writing about nature. In this story, Emlyn is making a life for herself as a fishing guide in Idaho when her former best friend possibly goes missing. Janessa is an influencer documenting #vanlife online when she suddenly stops posting. Is there a problem or not? Emlyn is pulled back into her past and we learn about it through flashbacks. I loved the pacing and tone of the book. Generally, I steer away from thrillers, since I don't like to spend hours on the edge of my seat. This book had a general feeling of unease throughout. It is very realistic and left you constantly questioning things. There is a slow unraveling of the characters' history. Everyone is multifaceted and Emlyn's own issues with self-worth makes it difficult to tell who is on her side or not. Despite it being less intense than many thrillers, it keeps you hooked throughout, and I read the book in a day. I also liked the themes of being lost and finding your way - both in the wilderness and in life.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6409281187

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

After having read These Silent Woods earlier this year, I was excited to see that a new book was coming out this coming summer by the author. I feel bad comparing The Nature of Disappearing to These Silent Woods, but having read them so close to each other it's hard to not instantly want to compare them, so here I am doing the comparing :)

The Nature of Disappearing centers around Emlyn who is approached by her ex-boyfriend, Tyler, to help search for their mutual friend Janessa who is an influencer for outdoorsy things. Janessa hasn't been heard from in a week and both Emlyn and Tyler are concerned. The story goes from there with chapters that alternate between following their search for Janessa and dealing with the past that describes what happened between the three of them to lose touch with each other.

The story had solid pacing and good story telling overall. I was let down by the driving force behind the present day story. It felt a little lame after the build up of the first half of the book which was really well done. While it was decent and worth the read, I'd have to say that it doesn't match up to the quiet power of These Silent Woods.

This was okay and I liked the ending. However, it was kind of slow and predictable. The climax was a bit far fetched.I liked the characters of Varden and Rev and would have liked to have learned more of that time in the main character's story. I liked the hiking and natural setting which is what attracted me to the book. Overall, not very exciting but some worthy moments.

Copy provided by the publisher and Netgalley

This story is of a woman named Emlyn who lives in Idaho, leading a simple life as an outdoors guide. Her past resurfaces when an old friend Janessa goes missing. She and Tyler, her old boyfriend and also longtime friend of Janessa, use her wilderness skills to help find out what happened to their friend.
This is a slow burn suspense read that never gets boring despite its unhurried unraveling of events.
I thought the characters and story were very realistic. I appreciated that despite the characters being in their 20’s, their conversations weren’t written in “young language” that isolated older readers.
I loved the scenery and wilderness described throughout. The simplicity of outdoor life and the mastery of survival skills were all pretty captivating.
One of Emyln’s traits is that she loves dictionary words and finds a single word to describe each person in her life. I liked this small quirky addition.
Drug addiction could be a trigger for some readers but overall anyone who likes a good thriller will enjoy this book. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martens Press for my ARC.