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Member Reviews
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Since She's Been Gone was a suspenseful and exciting ride. I was hooked from the beginning. I found it truly intriguing. I just needed to know the outcome. Is this a thriller, in my opinion no. There are some triggers so make sure to check them before reading.
There is a huge focus on eating disorders and mental health. I did truly find it interesting, it kept me invested. It was definitely a fast paced read switching from past to present.
I unfortunately did miss the thriller aspect as that is what I was expecting while reading, but I think if you take that out it's a truly interesting and well done read.
🎧 The narration by Ann Sprinkle was very well done, she did a fantastic job with all the characters and emotions. She kept me invested.
✨️Thank you to @netgalley & @highbridgeaudio for my free ALC in exchange for an honest review
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I would say half of this storyline is really good. The other half, the flashback half, was way overdone. There was too much talk about eating disorders, so much so that the eating order was a person almost like a character in the book. The main storyline kept me interested.
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For me, a dual-time story often means I will connect more with one timeline and that was the case for me with Since She’s Been Gone..
Beatrice (“Beans”) is a divorced psychologist. Her mother was killed in a hit-and-run when she was 15 and in her grief she then succumbed to a severe case of anorexia. Her recovery eventually led her to a career as a clinical psychologist. Her mother was also a psychologist, one who specialized in patients dealing with addictions.
One day a new patient comes in and tells Beatrice that her mother is still alive but in great danger. What follows is an effort by Beatrice to uncover the truth, which winds up putting herself in danger, as well as her boyfriend and his young daughter. There’s a lot of talk about opioid addiction and the evil family/company behind the pills (pretty much a stand-in for the Sackler family and Purdue Pharma). There were too many extremely unlikely events - like finding people who lived somewhere many years before and remembered her mother, etc.
I was way more interested in and fascinated by the journey of the teenage Beatrice. The author writes convincingly about anorexia and how powerful a hold ED (eating disorder) can have on people. The time jumps were clearly labeled (thankfully!) so there was no confusion. At times, it read a bit more like a non-fiction book about ED, but I did learn a lot. This was a debut novel and perhaps the author will mature and refine her style with her next book.
Unfortunately, the present-day timeline didn’t engage me nearly as much, but that’s just me. Others will likely be on the edge of their seats to see how it all turns out.
I bounced between the audiobook and the ebook for this title, which was very convenient. The audiobook was narrated beautifully by a new-to-me narrator, Ann Sprinkles.
Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance reader copy of this book and to HighBridge Audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to an advance copy of this audiobook. All opinions are my own.
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This was such an adrenaline-fueled, action-filled, and emotion-evoking novel! This was slightly different from the normal storylines that I read when it comes to thrillers, but it was a very enjoyable story. There are dual timelines, and they were both so well thought out and intrinsic that I was fully invested in both storylines.
This is the first book I have read that discusses the various struggles that come along with an eating disorder, and it was extremely insightful. The way the author delicately addressed this topic was beautiful and eye-opening for me. There were so many educational nuggets that will stay with me for a long time.
This was a beautifully written story that has all the makings of a great thriller. The narrator did a great job bringing this story to life.
Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest and voluntary review.
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This book explores some really touch subjects and is darker than I was expecting. I didn't know going in that this book involved some difficult subjects including eating disorders and miscarriage. These topics weren't of concern to read about (or listen to) for me, but these topics may be a sensitive area for some readers, so I suggest you consult trigger warnings for this book before reading. The author handles the topics with respect and with the gentleness needed in this book.
Since She's Been Gone is a bingeable audiobook to listen to and I also enjoyed the narrator. This is a book about family, mental health, secrets, and much more. There are many ups and downs and twists and turns in this novel and you are right there with the main character. This an emotional and suspenseful thriller novel. This book shifts between past and present. I found that with the short chapters, this made the time jumps and the switch back and forth in time to be a bit of a choppy transition.
This book ends on a hopeful note with an epilogue and a glimpse into the future for Beatrice and her relationship with Eddie and his daughter.
3.5/5
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Entertaining and immersive. A recommended purchase in all formats for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.
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This was a wonderful debut book from Sagit Schwartz. I had been wanting to read this book since I first saw it and couldn't wait to get my hands on it. Thankfully I was able to read the Audiobook. I have now heard so many good things on TikTok from some people I follow and my favorite mystery author J.L .Hyde was one of them! So when I heard her approve I knew I had to get this. This book gave me a whole new look at people with eating disorders. I think this book was so well written. I absolutely loved listening to Ann Sprinkle tell this story. If you want a book that will hold you attention through out then this is a MUST READ!! I also have to say I LOVE the cover of this book. I can't wait to read more of her books after this one. I can't recommend this book enough!! Grab a cup of coffee and sit down with this book. Enjoy!!
Thank you NetGalley and High Bridge Audio for allowing me to listen to this ARC in advance for my honest opinion.
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What. A. Debut.
Since She's Been Gone by Sagit Schwartz (https://sagitschwartz.com)
Before I get into my review, I want to mention the trigger-warnings that you should know about if you would like to read/listen to this book:
Eating disorder, mental health, miscarriage, substance abuse
“That’s the problem with secrets. They don’t stay in small corners. They permeate the air, smoldering until they engulf everything like a Malibu fire.”
-Since She's Been Gone
This book is not what I was expecting. I went into this without knowing the premise, like I try to do, so I was expecting a "girl gone missing" story. And that was wrong ! That is what happens when assumptions are made, asses and all.....
I honestly don't want to spoil it for you. If you want to know the premise before you start the book then don't look at my review, read someone else's with their synopsis and quick notes about the book. I think it's better going into this book not knowing what is going on, but if you have read my other reviews, you know that is my opinion on most books.
I enjoyed this book with the inside look at the aspects of mental health. It gives a very good insight to what an eating disorder really looks like. The actual mental health aspects of it, which I think is often overlooked. It did such a good job of showing how it consumes all aspects of life, not just food. I found it incredibly well done. The pain it causes you, as well as the pain it causes others. And often mysteries and thrillers don't seem to dive deep into aspects of life, and I appreciate that it was added to this story to make it more realistic. I guess I would call this "realistic thriller"?
It does work out nicely in the end, more nicely than it probably would have in real life, but it is nice having a sweet ending and that there is genuine love in thrillers now and then.
I would have enjoyed this book a little more if the narrator didn't sound like a robot. She was very difficult to listen to. I would have really, really enjoyed this audiobook with a better narrator. I would have sobbed like a baby if it had been read by a human. (and yes it was read by a human).
A HUGE thank you to #HighBridge Audio and #Netgalley for an advanced copy of this audiobook. All my opinions were my own.
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I really enjoyed the story and character development of the main character. However the narration on the audio version didn’t do the story justice in my opinion. Sometimes the narrator captures your attention with their tone and just the way they have the ability to make you feel the words they are reading, that wasn’t the case here.
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It is hard to believe this one is a debut, it was very well done and had an incredible tie in of how a childhood trauma can cause an eating disorder (ED) that will haunt our protagonist Beatrice “Beans” Bennett all of her life. Her mother died when she was 15 from a hit-and-run accident and Beans was left devastated. The result was the aforementioned ED that she struggled with and her subsequent recovery led her to become a clinical psychologist in her adult life. One day a new patient arrives and tells her that her mother is not only in fact alive, but she is in danger. This sets Beans down a path to find the truth, but her ED is right there with her, ready to rear its ugly head as she does so.
I have not read a thriller like this before, there are obvious trigger warnings in here and I thought the use of ED in a story such as this was both very well and smartly done. Often in thrillers significant trauma occurs but is brushed over until the ‘killer is found’ or the story wraps up, and rarely do we deal with the stress they go through so I loved this perspective and thought it only enhanced the overall plot of what was going on with Beans’ mother.
I loved listening to the audio it was well done overall and I was glad I read it this way. It was a one day read for me as I needed to know what was going on and how it would end, and I was not disappointed. I definitely recommend this one, just be aware of the triggers related to ED.
Thank you to Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, Crooked Lane Books, and Macmillan Audio for the copies to review.
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Beatrice Bennett is a psychologist in Los Angeles. On one fateful morning, a mysterious stranger tells her that the mother that she lost as a teenager may still be alive. This revelation sparks Beatrice’s quest to learn more about her mother and why she may have disappeared. The dual timeline story details Beatrice’s struggle with an eating disorder as well as a pharmaceutical company’s connection with her mother.
This was a solid thriller debut! I very much enjoyed the twists and turns that the author presented. The story was fast-paced and interesting. I didn’t want to stop listening and am eager to read more from this author!
Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for an ALC of this title in exchange for my honest review.
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Sagit Schwartz is certainly a compelling author. Her first novel, "Since She's Been Gone," is well-written, emotionally fraught, and thoughtful. The story itself initially lured me in with the promise of mystery and thrill. It did not deliver in those elements at the level I hoped, but made up for it in a well-rounded story and a solid main character. The bits of the story which bored me were the many details regarding eating disorders. I understand it was illustrated to indicate Beatrice’s struggle with her disease, but I found the amount of time devoted to it overkill. I appreciate that the story was wrapped up in a pretty bow because Schwartz did a great job of allowing the reader to become invested in Beatrice’s life. Overall, I enjoyed this great story about love and compassion (especially for ourselves).
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Beatrice “Beans” Bennett was 15-years-old when she lost her mother in a hit-and-run accident. The loss she felt caused her to develop an eating disorder, which after a long recovery process, she was able to channel into becoming a clinical psychologist. When a patient turns up at her office saying her mother is still alive, and in danger, Beans will stop at nothing to find her.
Schwartz’s debut novel was fast paced and kept me on the edge of my seat. The dual timelines and short chapters made this book a page turner that I didn’t want to put down. It was interesting how she incorporated Beans’ ED (eating disorder) throughout the book, and the past chapters were very eye opening.
The present day chapters touched on tough topics including the opioid crisis which were very impactful in the way Schwartz wrote them. The twists and turns kept me guessing throughout, and I really had no idea how it would all come together. This action packed book is a must read for thriller lovers, and I can’t wait to see what Schwartz comes up with next.
I listened to the audiobook which was narrated by Ann Sprinkle. This was my first book narrated by her, and I thought she did a fantastic job of bringing Beans and her story to life.
Thank you to the author, Thriller Book Lovers Promotions, Crooked Lane Books, and HighBridge Audio for advanced copies in exchange for my honest review.
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Rating: 4/5 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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I went into this one blind and honestly, I am just such a huge fan of doing that because I was so pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this one. Since She’s been gone is told in a dual timeline of Bean’s teenage years and her present. I was so hooked on the entire story, but the past, wow that one was shocking. To see the trauma that she went through to end up fighting against an eating disorder was just gut wrenching. The present also addicting in its own way of the mystery itself. You cant help but root for Bean in both the past and the present.
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I felt so many different emotions during this read. Yes it’s a thriller, yes it is suspenseful and its a fast paced read but its also very emotional in the sense of loss and grief and even in the form of fighting an addiction whether it is an eating disorder or drug or alcohol and the obstacles overcoming said disorder. This was so very informative in many ways as well.
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I absolutely devoured this book in a day. It is so different than other thrillers lately which was like a breath of fresh air. I am definitely recommending this one to all of my friends.
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I listened to this one via audiobook and Ann Sprinkle was phenomenal. I loved everything about how she narrated this book and 10/10 recommend the audio!
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Since She’s Been Gone is being released on 2/6 - make sure you check this one out! Huge thank you to Netgalley, Sagit Scwartz and Highbridge Audio for the ALC in exchange for my honest review.
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I felt like this suspense was very predictable. I also just felt it was very mediocre. It was a quick listen but just not my favorite. I also didn't like how heavily this book focused on the eating disorder and even referring to it as "ED" as if it was a person.
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WOW what a debut novel from @sagit! Cannot wait to see what you’re writing next. The Audiobook was very well narrated!
Beatrice “Beans” Bennett was 15 years old when her mother was killed in a hit-and-run accident, sending Beans into a tailspin and on a path to a lifelong battle against ED (eating disorder). Now an adult firmly in recovery, Beans is stunned when a mysterious woman tells her not only is her mother still alive, but she’s in grave danger and needs Beans’s help. As Beans races to find out the truth about her mother, she finds herself down a rabbit hole of secrets, lies, and addiction, all linked to a Goliath pharmaceutical company responsible for the opioid crisis.
This dual timeline story will keep you on the edge of your seat as Beans searches for answers about what really happened to her mother in the present while her struggle against anorexia in the past breaks your heart. The writing is raw and emotional, and the author tackles some incredibly difficult topics with honesty and compassion. The mystery is tense and propulsive, but the poignant family drama and skillful mental health representation gripped me even more. Please read with care if ED, addiction, and miscarriage are triggers for you.
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This was a pleasant experience and I enjoyed listening to this on audio. It was very informative and i enjoyed the storyline. I liked how the author was realistic in regards to eating disorders & addiction. It almost read textbook style, which I found enjoyable. I’m excited to read more by this author.
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I listened to the audiobook and the narrator was great, clear voice and easy to understand. The synopsis looked intriguing but I found the story to be made up of like 85% of an eating disorder textbook with a little discussion of the promised mystery thrown in. I didn’t like the author’s writing style, a lot of repeating. I DNF at the 65% mark.
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I received a copy of this audiobook in exchange for a review. This fact does not change my review.
Y'ALL! This is a book I found very challenging to "put down". The narration was solid and the storyline was compelling. The unexpected twists and turns were very interesting.
As a professional counselor, I sometimes get nervous when the contents of a book are set in the psychology world. This was handled very well and very respectfully to the addiction and counseling community. I appreciate that the author showed the professionals as human.
There were some great twists and turns that were well written and unexpected!
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*Thank you to NetGalley and RB Media for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review.*
3.75 ⭐️ rounded up.
This book is one of those times where not reading the blurb has gotten me in trouble. I was definitely expecting more suspense and thriller vibes, but it didn't quite hit the mark of a thriller book for me. It seemed to focus more on Beatrice's eating disorder and search for her mother.
There was some suspenseful moments in the book, but it wasn't enough for me to satisfy my want for a thriller book. This would be better for someone looking for an emotional mystery book.
This was very well written. I feel like a learned more about how someone struggles with an eating disorder and I think that is a very important thing for more people to know. Beatrice was flawed and realistic, but she never gave up. She made sure she got the things she deserved and earned with all her hard work.
This really help put into focus that eating disorders are also a sort of addiction. I had never thought about it like that before, but I am glad that is something that I can think about now. This book was thought-provoking and can definitely help readers have more empathy for people in difficult places in their lives.
There was a point in the story where Beatrice felt like she lost her mother all over again and I felt that pain with her. I was hoping right along with her and when her heart broke again, so did mine.
I was so glad that when Beatrice found out some secrets that were kept from her, she didn't immediately take it out on the messenger/people around her like a lot of characters seem to do. She took her time to think about why those secrets were kept and how it would have made the person keeping them feel. She was such a good person/character.
After all the loss that Beatrice has suffered, I was so glad that she had Eddie in her corner to support her and love her. There was one point where he seemed to push her away, and I didn't think it made too much sense for his character and their dynamic, but all is well.
The plot and search for Beatrice's mom was fast-paced. It came in hot and never left me bored. She was always discovering new clues and meeting new people and learning more about her mother's past. It was an interesting, and sometimes scary, journey to take with Beatrice.
I am honestly stunned that this was a debut book. This is a new author that I will be keeping my eye on in the future.