Thank you, NetGalley and MacMillan Audio for this advanced audiobook. This was a fun ride. Emlyn and Janessa were best friends, but not anymore. Not since Emlyn and Tyler hit it off and started dating. Jenessa told her it wasn't a good idea and to back off, but Emlyn didn't listen, and it fractured their friendship. Tyler and Emlyn broke up after a fateful hiking trip when Tyler abandoned Emlyn in the cold on a side of a mountain and she would have died had someone not found her time. Now Tyler comes to Emlyn saying he needs her help to find Janessa as she has gone missing while hiking, but things seem suspicious as her last tagged photo is not anywhere near where she was hiking. This was a fast and fun thriller as Emlyn searches for her lost friend, while realizing maybe she might have put herself in danger along the way.

#TheNatureOfDisappearing:⁣
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Thank you @minotaur_books @macmillan.audio #MacAudio2024 for my gifted copy!⁣
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“But it’s in the wilderness that you grow.” Varden continues, “in ways that you couldn’t anywhere else, if that makes sense. And the thing you can’t forget is that the wilderness isn’t the destination. It’s not the final chapter, it might feel that way. It might seem like you’re so deep in it that you’ll never get out”⁣
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The Nature of Disappearing was such a good slow burn mystery. All of you (at least 45 of you, no exaggeration) have tried to get me to read These Silent Woods. I mean, I even bought it and it just hangs on my shelf. After this, I’ll have to finally give in. ⁣
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This gave me the Alice Henderson vibes that I love and obsess over. So much love and respect for the wilderness, but also gives the gritty reality of what can really happen when you’re out there. The allure of the wild is so haunting and I think the author did a great job bringing it to life.⁣
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The audio was wonderful. I definitely recommend on audio for you listeners out there. The book has multiple timelines, and I think it played well on audio to where you’re not confused and can go along with the story.⁣
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Overall, I enjoyed it. It was a bit more complex than what I was expecting, so I really enjoyed this one. Out tomorrow, 6/18! ⁣
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I went on my long run Saturday and it was the worst. But, I did see a deer just hanging out, so that was nice. ⁣
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QOTD: If we went camping, what would be your role? I think I would be the tent setter. I make a mean tent. Or, the smores fixer 😂

I loved this book! It drew me in from the very beginning. I was captivated by the characters and especially by Emlynn. The author not only gives you characters that are complex and who you are drawn and interested in but with the atmosphere and setting of the wilderness. This story is layered and slowly builds and leads you to the ultimate climax and the unfolding of all the secrets you that you feel are coming. I enjoyed having the story told from multiple time periods in the main character Emlynn's life as it connected me and invested me more in the story as it evolved. I enjoyed this book so much and really did not want it to end. I highly recommend and will look forward to reading more books by this author.
Thank you, Net Galley, the publisher, the author for the advanced copy.

The Nature of Disappearing
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Kimi Cunningham Grant

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press and Macmillan Audio and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: Emlyn doesn’t let herself think about the past.

How she and her best friend, Janessa, barely speak anymore. How Tyler, the man she thought was the love of her life, left her freezing and half-dead on the side of the road three years ago.

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.

But when Tyler shows up with the news that Janessa is missing, Emlyn is propelled back into the world she worked so hard to forget. Janessa, it turns out, has become a social media star, documenting her #vanlife adventures with her rugged survivalist boyfriend. But she hasn’t posted lately, and when she does, it’s from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be. In spite of their fractured history, Emlyn knows she might be the only one with the knowledge and tracking skills to save her friend, so she reluctantly teams up with Tyler. As the two trace Janessa’s path through miles of wild country, Emlyn can’t deny there’s still chemistry crackling between them. But the deeper they press into the wilderness, the more she begins to suspect that a darker truth lies in the woods―and that Janessa isn’t the only one in danger.

My Thoughts: This was a really slow burn novel, still captivating. Emlyn and Janessa was thick as thieves growing up, even through college and into adult life. However, a falling out a few years ago and they have only had surface level talk. Her new life is simple. She works as a fishing and hunting guide is Idaho. She lives alone and her closed friends are Varden, Forest Service ranger and Rev, the community’s makeshift reverend, who really made a different in her life when she was at her darkest moments. Then out of the blue appears Tyler, with news that Janessa is missing. She and Tyler did not part on amicable terms. Emlyn knows she might be the only one who can track Janessa. So they team up to locate Janessa. As they press on in the search, Emlyn soon learns that maybe Janessa is not the only one in danger.

This is narrated by Emlyn, in her POV, in alternating past and present timelines. Emlyn is reserved, cautious, and keeps her heart guarded. Janessa is a carefree spirit, who is full of life, and loyal to those so loves. Then we have Tyler, and his backstory is just perfection for this atmospheric claustrophobic suspenseful setting. The characters are flawed, but authentic, and unreliable narrators. Emlyn makes a fantastic female heroine for this classic ride. The characters were created with depth, were mysterious, dark, laced with betrayal, and intriguing. The author’s writing style was similar to the prior novel, it was complex, suspenseful, twisty, compelling, and engaging. The broken love story weaves into the mystery surrounding Janessa’s disappearance and adds a level of authenticity. The characters were built up through their backstories, the plot was developed into twisty layers, almost like an onion, peeling back the layers and the ending was outstanding with its own plot twists. The author’s knowledge of wilderness survival skills really comes through this novel as a shiny star. The details provided to set the scene were surreal and really make you feel like you were making that hike with Emlyn.

I had the pleasure of having both the digital and audio ARCs of book, I leaned on the audio. The narrator, Emily Pike Stewart, was amazing. The voice variation across character distinction was perfection. The pitch and flow was spot on and allowed me to listen 2x speed without any issues keeping up. It has all of the amazing markings of a great thriller. It was captivating, compelling, gripping, dark, and engaging from cover to cover. This was just released and I highly recommend it to other readers.

Kimi Cunningham Grant, the author of These Silent Woods, is back with a thrilling new tale, THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING. This captivating mystery suspense novel follows a wilderness guide who is forced to confront her complex past when someone close to her goes missing.

About...

Emlyn lives alone in an Airstream trailer. She is a fishing and hunting guide in Idaho's wilderness, with endless forests and scenic rivers. Her life is simple, and she likes to keep it that way after her traumatic past. Her closest friends are the Forest Service ranger, Varden, and Reverend, who took her in when she was at her lowest.

But does she dare get close to anyone again? Can she ever trust again?

Emlyn and her best friend, Janessa, barely communicate anymore due to their past. Tyler left her in the woods for dead three years earlier. Her past returns to the surface when Tyler shows up with the news that Janessa is missing. Janessa has become a social media star documenting her #vanlife adventures with her survivalist boyfriend, Bush. But she hasn't posted lately, and when she does, it's from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be.

Emlyn, realizing her unique tracking skills may be the key to finding her friend, reluctantly joins forces with Tyler. As they delve deeper into the woods, a sense of unease grows, hinting at a more sinister presence lurking in the shadows.

My Thoughts...

THE NATURE OF DISAPPEARING is a masterfully crafted mystery that keeps you guessing. It features vivid descriptions of the wilderness, and the setting is atmospheric. From survival, adventure, and overcoming one's past. The slow burn builds tension, and the character-driven plot reveals the complex dynamics of past relationships. This book will stay with you long after you've turned the last page.

From past to present, there are secrets, lies, betrayal, and a web of deceit. From highly emotional topics of trauma, toxic relationships, abuse, drugs, social media, and addiction. Also, there is love, hope, self-discovery, identity, and second chances.

I enjoyed Emlyn's character and the lovely metaphors for the beauty, spirituality, challenges, and dangers of the wilderness, much like the characters who are in a wilderness and need to be uplifted and gain confidence. As usual, the author's writing is lyrical and evocative. Compelling, moving, and thought-provoking.

I loved the author's notes: "Wilderness is not the destination. It's not the final chapter. Your story goes on."

Audiobook...

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Emily Pike Stewart, delivering an outstanding performance and making the characters come alive.

Recs...

Fans of the author and those of Laura McHugh, Heather Gudenkauf, William Kent Krueger, Nicole Baart, Catherine Ryan Hyde, Allen Eskens, and Melissa Payne.

Thanks to Macmillan Audio, #MacAudio2024, Minotaur Books, and NetGalley for a gifted ARC and ALC for an honest opinion.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
Pub Date: June 18, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
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The suspense and plot twist was good, but I kept questioning and couldn't believe why Emlyn would not alert the authorities after finding the RV abandoned. I do think there could have been more mental health awareness and help for those in need stressed in the novel. Emlyn clearly needed just as much help as was invested in Tyler. Overall it was a nice easy summer read.

The story revolves around three characters - Emlyn, Janessa, and Tyler - who have a complicated history. When one goes missing in the wilderness, the other two must set aside their differences to find the missing person before time runs out.

If a setting ever felt like a character, Kimi Cunningham Grant nails it here. The wilderness looms large in The Nature of Disappearing. At times, it almost feels like a villain with its harsh unpredictability and unforgiving terrain. The writing emphasizes the vastness of the wildness that triggers a sense of loneliness and abandonment.

KCG's descriptions of the wilderness serve as a powerful metaphor for our main MC, Emlyn. At her core, Emlyn is lost in her own personal “wilderness.” She struggles with self-worth due to abandonment issues. I enjoyed watching her character grow as she applies her expert survivalist skills in nature to her personal journey. I added the audiobook while reading the physical. Emily Pike Stewart's narration really brings Emlyn and her journey to life.

The mystery of the missing person completely hooked me! The short, gripping chapters made it impossible for me to stop reading. I kept saying, 'Just one more.' I had so many theories, but then an unexpected twist completely threw me! I’m still undecided if I liked the twist or not. Regardless, I had a fun time discussing the book and the twist with my buddy readers.

Short synopsis: When Emlyn’s best friend (traveling influencer) Janessa disappears, she buddies up with her ex boyfriend Tyler to search for her in the Idaho wilderness.

My thoughts:

The beginning hooked my attention immediately, the setting in Idaho was fun, unique since not many books are set there.
I thought Emlyn’s obscure occupation was a fun addition to the story. Definitely made the book somewhat more exciting. I also loved the atmosphere and deep rooted friendships.

This was the slooooowest of slow burns. The middle drug on and the ending came a little too quickly. I was hoping for some big BAM moment at the end and it just didn’t happen.

The audio was very well done! The narrator did a great job at helping me feel and experience what the characters were experiencing.

Emelyn has gone through so much especially with her best friend and ex boyfriend. Then when her best friend is suddenly missing and her Ex comes around wanting to help find her she is torn if the should or just let the cops handle it. Well they go ahead and try to find her and suddenly things get crazy and scary to the point that life’s are on the line.

Thank you, NetGalley, for an audio copy of “The Nature of Disappearing” by Kimi Cunningham Grant in exchange for a review.

As someone who wasn’t a fan of These Silent Woods, I’m pleased to say Grant blew me away with this one! I loved the atmosphere, which she did a great job of describing but not belaboring, and the strong female characters. The twist was plausible but still kept me guessing. Overall, really enjoyed this one!

Kimi Cunningham Grant's The Nature of Disappearing is a captivating novel that intertwines suspense, emotion, and the beauty of Idaho's wilderness. The story follows Emlyn, a woman who has distanced herself from a painful past, living a solitary life as a fishing and hunting guide. Her fragile peace is shattered when Tyler, her former lover, returns with news that her estranged best friend, Janessa, has gone missing. As Emlyn and Tyler delve into the wild to uncover the truth behind Janessa's disappearance, they confront their unresolved feelings and the shadows of their past. Grant's vivid descriptions of the rugged landscape and her nuanced exploration of trauma and healing create a rich, immersive experience. This novel is a powerful meditation on starting over and the inescapable pull of the past, making it a must-read for fans of suspenseful and emotionally charged fiction.

This novel is for lovers of fantastic nature descriptions and a good slow burn novel. It was a bit more of a slow burn read than I expected, which made it fall flat for me. However, if you go into the read knowing the plot is on the slower side and that appeals to you, I think this could be a great hit! The story itself was intriguing and I grew to care about the characters and want to know how things would end up. I did enjoy the audio narration for this novel, and would recommend this version!

Happy Publication Day!

<b>TW/CW: Language, anxiety, sexual assault (attempt), cancer (mention), cheating, divorce, depression, drinking, bullying, toxic relationships, drug addiction</b>

<b><big>*****SPOILERS*****</b></big>
<b>About the book:</b>
Emlyn doesn’t let herself think about the past.

How she and her best friend, Janessa, barely speak anymore. How Tyler, the man she thought was the love of her life, left her freezing and half-dead on the side of the road three years ago.

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.

But when Tyler shows up with the news that Janessa is missing, Emlyn is propelled back into the world she worked so hard to forget. Janessa, it turns out, has become a social media star, documenting her #vanlife adventures with her rugged survivalist boyfriend. But she hasn’t posted lately, and when she does, it’s from a completely different location than where her caption claims to be. In spite of their fractured history, Emlyn knows she might be the only one with the knowledge and tracking skills to save her friend, so she reluctantly teams up with Tyler. As the two trace Janessa’s path through miles of wild country, Emlyn can’t deny there’s still chemistry crackling between them. But the deeper they press into the wilderness, the more she begins to suspect that a darker truth lies in the woods―and that Janessa isn’t the only one in danger.
<b>Release Date:</b> June 18th, 2024
<b>Genre:</b> Thriller
<b>Pages:</b> 304
<b>Rating:</b> ⭐

<b>What I Liked:</b>
1. Enjoyed the writing style
2. Liked the friendship between Emlyn and Janessa

<b>What I Didn't Like:</b>
1. Why are there so many weird names
2. Emlyn being "not like other girls"
3. Toxic relationships with toxic men
4. Book just being romance
5. Terrible ending
6. Not a thriller

<b>Overall Thoughts:</b>
<b><i><small>{{Disclaimer: I write my review as I read}}</small></i></b>

Okay so we have a toxic ex-boyfriend that left her in the woods who had a drinking and possible drug addiction. So she has to reconnect with him to find out what happened to Janessa. I am really hoping this doesn't turn in the same vein as silent in the woods, because I absolutely despise that book. Honestly I'm worried that this author promotes unhealthy relationships with toxic male characters. This whole time Emlyn is just pining over him and talking about how much she misses him despite what he put her through. Does every thriller <i>need</i> a romance?

Love that Emlyn is given pain medicine aka Oxys but Janessa takes them away from her because it takes the pain away too much. What kind of friend would do that? So what that her appendix is bad and she's supposed to have Tylenol? Nah dude they gave her pain medicine because it's painful.

Waiting for some mystery other than a missing person because that's every thriller. Luckily Tyler and Emlyn are a short distance from where Janessa says she was at.

Tyler holding onto Emlyn's hand despite her not wanting to hold his. Gag!

It's pretty exciting that the thing that bothered Emlyn is that Tyler left her in the woods and here we are so happy to go in the woods again. What are the chances? I keep thinking it's Tyler that did this. What if Janessa isn't even in danger and Tyler's just trying to get her alone? Unless unless Janessa was cheating on Bush and Bush found out and killed her.

Is it ever explained to us how Emlyn knows about cars? She doesn't even have a car. She's just able to help Tyler on the side of the road by knowing what's wrong with his car in like 5 seconds. It could have been anything that went wrong but she just knows it's the starter solenoid.

So Janessa would not give Tyler Emlyn's phone number and Emlyn does not think this is weird but not weird like something could be wrong with Tyler, but that Janessa is being too protective. So she gets in his car on the side of the road after meeting him one time. Again her best friend whom she trusts her opinion of would not give this man her number, but she gets in a vehicle with him in the middle of nowhere.

Thank God Tyler gets the chance to show Emlyn what a good guy he is by giving the homeless man a sandwich.

Speaking of Evelyn I don't really understand how she got into tracking. During the whole time she's in school she never mentions that she's interested in going to the mountains and doing anything with that. It's only when she follows Janessa out into the mountains and stays with her family that she seems to take on that role.

Why is it that Tyler has this whole business that deals with like climbing and camping and mounting stuff and he doesn't even know anything about anything? He's the most brainless character. His lack of knowledge is just so Emlyn could show how much more knowledgeable she is. I am finding this absolutely annoying.

You see this is what women are like Janessa actually gives her a warning and tells her he's no good but does Emlyn believe her? No, Emlyn just thinks that Janessa is being jealous. Janessa has known this person since she was a child so she would know if he was no good. But Emlyn seems to think that Janessa is saying that Emlyn is no good she isn't as good as Tyler. It's also ridiculous. Like listen to your friend. She's never reacted like this before when Emlyn has been interested in someone so why would she get this heated and emotional if something wasn't wrong. Emlyn even points out all the nice things that Janessa has done for her and how she's been a great friend to her, but then she thinks that all this stuff was just ways to trap her. God. Yeah I'd be real mad too if my rich friend bought me stuff and let me go on ski trips. All because she says I can't date this one person suddenly I want to throw away my whole entire friendship with this person.

Of course we hear about how great Emlyn is that when she was training for being a mountaineer they plopped her in the middle of the mountain and she was the first one to return. She's just that great. Honestly Janessa saying that Emlyn has self-esteem and I'm over here shaking my head thinking there's no way. She's always talking about how good she is at things.

There is zero way that Tyler is not behind this. He made sure that she came along and even knows that she didn't get a chance to tell anyone where she was going. And then she left it in his hands to radio it in that they were going out into the mountains but she doesn't know if he really did that. Then we come around this weird scene of animals suffering and dying off and she suddenly thinks that it's Bush but like what about that weird guy that walked by too telling them to not go that way.

What does 23 year old Emlyn do for a living? It just seems like she's just hanging out with zero worries of money or anything she has to do.

Cool so we're in conversation number 900 when Tyler talks to her about why he left and what happened. We get it we do not need to have this conversation over and over and over again. This feels like it's not even a mystery. Do they even care about finding this person? I feel like they spend more time just talking about their past relationship than actually being worried about where the hell this girl is. You would actually think that this mystery of Janessa missing doesn't matter. 200 pages in and all we know is that Tyler is still in love with her and they have kissed. We have only 100 pages to find out about Janessa and if she is okay.

We find out that Tyler actually had an oxycodone addiction so I'm assuming that's why Janessa freaked out on Emlyn for having them when her appendix ruptured. Oh and Emlyn blames herself for giving Tyler Oxy pills while they were hiking and hurt his leg. That caused him to spiral into his addiction and leave her at the end. Not sure that she should blame herself for any of that considering he never told her that he had an addiction problem.

So this storyline was completely pointless. With 80 pages left Janessa is perfectly fine and she just wanted to be left alone for a little bit and in typical rich person way just decided she didn't need to let anyone know this - but wait is Bush really holding her hostage she gives Emlyn the hair sign that she's not safe.

So the plot twist is Bush is a drug dealer who is running drugs and Janessa found out. She wanted to take Bush down (not sure why it had to happen in the woods where he has an advantage). Janessa has an agent that's out there right now but was willing to risk her putting her life in danger to get this man. Not only that but Bush has also blasted his face all over social media all while being a drug dealer and he doesn't care? Like he didn't want to stay in the shadows and remain a mystery? Bush even has his own YouTube. And and Tyler thought it would be a wonderful idea to drag Emlyn out into this even when he knew what has happening, because Janessa sent him a message about it. Proving again how much of a piece of crap Tyler is to Emlyn.

Even worse now we learned that Tyler actually left her in the middle of the Woods in a middle of a snowstorm with no water. Not sure why she couldn't just wait for the snow to accumulate and then melt the snow to drink but I digress. After learning this I'm even more mad that she kissed him in the woods and was willing to give him another chance. Wtf. Someone leaves me to die in the woods I would not be giving them another chance.

Tyler's working with Bush. Janessa mentions that Bush was working with a partner, but Tyler mentions he knew Bush from before.

Bush is the person who gave Tyler his first drugs in high school. Janessa sets out to date him years and years later randomly to catch him. Now I'm just convinced that Tyler and Janessa are actually in love with each other because the extent and levels they'll go for one another is like two lovers. She's willing to risk her life to bring down the man that started Tyler on his drug addiction and he's willing to drag Emlyn into this to save Janessa.

Skimmed the last 30 pages because I stopped caring and just needed it to end.

Emlyn biggest thing is that Janessa is always telling her what to do and how to live, but if you read the story then you'll notice that Emlyn has never taken care of herself. She always just does whatever someone wants. She after she lives Janessa she then does whatever Tyler wants. After Tyler she does what Rev wants for staying in town.

It's mentioned Amish romances - which in my profile is what I refuse to read.

Where is the danger? Bush poisons them but not enough to kill them. He leaves them alive in the woods and let's them live. He doesn't come back for them at all.

She brought hairspray while hiking?

Good coming off that traumatic experience with Tyler Emlyn then briskly enters into a relationship with Barden. And they live happily ever after. Gag. Thank good none of that messed with her. Love that this author just always has random convenient relationships lined up.

<b>Final Thoughts:</b>
Emlyn is like a Swiss army knife. She just has endless talents and knows everything
• Fixes cars
• Expert mountain tracker
• Expert fisher
• Amazing at vocabulary (she used to read a dictionary)

This book feels more like a romance than an actual mystery. All you do is get endless conversation on why Tyler left emlin and it all feels so repetitive

This is the second time this author has written a book that I have read where the female character falls in love with a very toxic and dangerous man and it's romanticized that a woman should just forgive the man for these indiscretions. I don't believe toxic relationships between a man or a woman or a woman and a man should be romanticized. It's disgusting. I don't think it's hot that Tyler left her out in the woods to die and their attraction was so hot that she had touch him and kiss him and even still had feelings for him.

It's weird I ended up not liking this book at all but when I was first reading this book I was really enjoying where we were going and learning about the character, I loved the friendship between Emlyn and Janessa. It was sweet how her friend was there to always support her help her. She treated her like a sister, but all that is ripped away when Emlyn meets a man and you would think she's never seen a penis the way she reacts to her friend.

In conclusion I don't believe this author is the one for me and this will be the last book I read by her.

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<b><small>Thanks to Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A suspenseful read!
Set in the wilderness, the author's description of the character's surroundings had me feeling like I was there. Told in dual timelines with well-developed, complex characters.
Emlyn, a fishing and hunting guide, sets out to find her estranged friend Janessa who is a social media star documenting her time in the wilderness until she disappears.
A captivating mystery!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an arc of this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

This is a great book, reads well but can be slow at parts. I did like the drama and the contrast with personalities. There was a lot of buildup and focus on nature which was nice. Emlyn is able to search for her former close friend with her ex. During this the reader is taken from past and present where we lead up to seeing the big accident and what caused Emlyn, Janessa, and Tyler separate. I loved how this book was able to take the reader through the woods and exploring the thrilling side of camping. I did find the narrator a touch boring so it took me a bit longer to listen than I may have read it. Overall, I would recommend to those who want a thriller but a slow burn. Solid 4/5.

Recommend to those:
Like Past/Present
Want slow burn
Enjoy wildlife/camping

I feel a lot of the conflict could have been avoided had Jenessa just told Emlyn why she shouldn't date Tyler. This story is heavy on Nature and less so on the Disappearing. The excuse for the disappearing seemed a little weak to the story line for me. Heavy on the topic of opioid use, so trigger warning for that issue. The description of the scenery was magnificent and I felt like I was hiking with the characters, the story was a little slow to start, but once everyone came together it wrapped up pretty quickly. The narrator was excellent. She captured the characters perfectly.

the nature of disappearing by kimi cunningham grant 🥾 thank you minotaur books for the finished copy and box of essentials to explore the wilderness 🍂✨🪵

a wilderness guide must team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when the friend who introduced them goes missing 👀

this story switches between past and present timelines, explaining how this friend group ultimately fell apart. while I liked the adventure of hiking into the unknown mystery within the present storyline, the past felt too slowly revealed as there wasn’t as much going on.

emlyn was a good mc to follow but for as strong-willed of a character as she was, at times she was portrayed as a very *insecure girl* which didn’t make much sense. as characters started showing their true motives & nerves started picking up towards the end, I ultimately wanted more within the final chapters. everything ended SO abruptly, we never truly got answers about what happened in the moment or a few months from now… we were just left to assume.

this audiobook was TRULY well done! I don't think I would've been able to get through this book without pairing it with this narration!

moral of the story: don't let anyone back in your life who as ever wronged you, even when it’s the most tempting. 3.5 stars ⛰

Reminiscent of recent headlines this is the story of a woman whose friend goes missing. Overcome with memories from the past she is left searching for her friend with the man that she thought she would love forever until he left her abandoned in the woods half frozen to death. They are forced to work together as they trudge through the wilderness uncovering clues and reliving the past as they narrow in on the location of her missing friend.

I had no idea where this story was headed. Just when I thought I knew, it would take a different turn. I enjoyed the tension and uneasiness the story created. The atmosphere was described perfectly as were the challenges that one faces in the wilderness. This was a slow building story with alternating chapters from the past that gave insight to the relationships between the three friends. This is very well written but I had a difficult time relating to the characters or becoming emotionally involved in the story.

3 ⭐️

Emlyn works as a nature guide in the wildness of Idaho. She fell into the work after being stranded in the small Idaho town three years ago, unconscious and near freezing, left out on her own by her then boyfriend, Tyler. Fortunately, a Forest Ranger, (a sweetheart of a man!) found her, took her in and she stayed, healing and moving on with her life. Unfortunately, her ex-Tyler has shown up asking for help finding Janessa, the best friend that introduced them. Janessa’s gone dark after documenting her vanlife adventure with her survivalist boyfriend on social media. Emlyn is torn over helping Tyler, getting involved by helping track Janessa down, she understandably doesn’t trust Tyler, but Janessa waded in when Emlyn needed help, and even though they are now estranged, Emlyn doesn’t want to abandon her friend if she is truly in danger.

The Nature of Disappearing is the second story I’ve enjoyed by Ms. Grant. Her writing is beautiful, almost poetic without being overly flowery and slowing the pace. The Idaho wilderness sounded gorgeous, and I almost felt like I was there.

This is a mystery, both in finding Janessa, and in what happened to Emlyn in the past with Tyler abandoning her, and what led to Emlyn and Janessa falling out. The story explores some of the insecurities that led Emlyn to almost dying three years earlier. The years away did her good, but the journey she took to find Janessa was cathartic even if dangerous. I wouldn’t say the story was an edge-of-your-seat listen, more quietly captivating with an underlying tension building. I was hooked from the first chapter and enjoyed every minute!

Emily Pike Stewart did a fantastic job bringing the story and characters to life! I listened at my usual 1.5x normal speed.

I adored this book. The narrator did a marvelous job.

The author of THESE SILENT WOODS has written another unforgettable story. In this one you will get lost in the wilderness. Go fly fishing in freezing cold rivers. Find a true forever friend. Fall in love. In real love...

When Emlyn wakes in a stranger's cabin she has no idea how her life is going to change. She's been through a lot and it's time for her to face it all. To accept that she is a good and decent person who is worthy of love and being heard. She has been through so much for another. It's time for her to live life for herself now. At least that is what I got out of this story.

A beautiful heartfelt story of a young woman who fell in love. She fell in love with the wrong boy. But no one, not even her best friend, could tell her that. And to be honest her best friend didn't really try that hard. What she experiences for the next five or more years is her story. She tells it all too. You get all the details and meet some pretty awful people. But you also meet the kindest, most caring people too.

This story is about a young woman who is really searching for something. And when she finally finds it it is so beautiful. So honest and loving. When she finally accepts that she is worthy of hope. Of a normal, caring, relationship.

I loved this story. It's filled with a lot of tension. A lot of thrills. A bit of love. It hits on drug addiction. Lies. Maybe a bit of abuse but in a way that is not what you think. It's a story of hope. Hope in it's truest form. Somewhere in Idaho there is a couple living a good life. I believe that now. I'm happy for them.

Thank you #NetGalley, #KimiCunninghamGrant, #MacmillanAudio, #StMartinsPress, for this ARC. This is my own true thoughts about this book.

Five big stars. It's that good.