Member Reviews
Thank you to Netgalley & the publisher for my early e-arc copy.
Kimi Cunningham Grant has such a talent for nature writing. This is my second book from her and she really makes it feel like you are submerged into the environments that she can create. This book mostly takes place in the Idaho Wilderness, being raised in Idaho really had me feeling like this was even more personal.
I do not think that the book was very interesting from a mystery standpoint, however I will probably always pick up her books solely for the fact that she can make me feel so immersed in her nature descriptions.
I would give this a 3/5 stars, but I can see that if I didn't love the nature aspects as much as I do, it would be closer to a 2 for me.
Thank you Minotaur Books, Kimi Cunningham Grant, and Macmillan Audio for my #gifted copies of The Nature of Disappearing! #MacAudio2024
๐๐ข๐ญ๐ฅ๐: ๐๐ก๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐๐ข๐ฌ๐๐ฉ๐ฉ๐๐๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐
๐๐ฎ๐ญ๐ก๐จ๐ซ: ๐๐ข๐ฆ๐ข ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ง๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ก๐๐ฆ ๐๐ซ๐๐ง๐ญ
๐๐๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐จ๐ซ: ๐๐ฆ๐ข๐ฅ๐ฒ ๐๐ข๐ค๐ ๐๐ญ๐๐ฐ๐๐ซ๐ญ
๐๐ฎ๐ ๐๐๐ญ๐: ๐๐ฎ๐ง๐ ๐๐, ๐๐๐๐
I read These Silent Woods and was so excited when I heard Kimi Cunningham Grant had a new book releasing this year. Iโm happy to say this book definitely lived up to my expectations. This book was so atmospheric. I felt like I was there with the characters because of how descriptive the authors was and I just loved it. And the suspense! The suspense was so good! I loved the dual timelines and feel like it worked so well with this book and helped to build everything up so well. If you are a fan of slow burns, I think you should give this one a try. The author does such an amazing job of painting such an amazing picture and you will be hooked from the start!
๐ปDual Timeline
๐ปSlow Burn
๐ปAtmospheric
๐ปWilderness Setting
๐งI listened to the majority of this while through the mountains on the way home from vacation and it was the perfect setting. The narrator, Emily Pike Stewart, was phenomenal. She did such an amazing job bringing this story and the characters to life and I could not have picked a better narrator. This is definitely one I would recommend on audio if that option is available to you. You will not be disappointed!
Posted on Goodreads on June 18, 2024: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around June 18, 2024: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on June 18, 2024
**-will post on designated date
Emlyn is reunited with Tyler, ex boyfriend who once stranded her in the woods, to search for a mutual friend who was gone off the grid. Since being stranded, Emlyn has jumped from one spot to another, living in the wilderness as an animal tracker and making friends with a few locals.
This book takes a past to present approach to better understand between Emlyn and Janessa, the missing friend, and Tyler, the ex boyfriend.
Itโs hard for me to put much in the review to avoid spoiling - but I will say this took a way different direction than expected ! There were some shocking elements, points of confusion and misdirection, and adventure / survival themes.
I liked the direction the story took and the guessing. Didnโt so much like the past to present theme that skipped around a little too much for me and made it hard to order the events.
Overall- 4 stars. Loved the narrator !
Thanks to NetGalley for access to the advanced audio copy in exchange for an honest review
Special thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this audiobook. A journey into the wilderness that is laced with mystery with each step. Although, a little predictable I was engrossed for the entire book.
<b>Grant's thriller is set in the wilds of Idaho, with a wilderness expert of a main character who has fought to trust others and be vulnerable--and who may find herself deeply betrayed again. </b>
In Kimi Cunningham Grant's newest thriller, <i>The Nature of Disappearing,</i> Emlyn is a wilderness guide who very deliberately tries not to think about the past--her fractured best-friendship, her failed love, and the vulnerability that allowed her heart to break.
But when her estranged old friend Janessa goes missing under suspicious circumstances, Emlyn must team up with the man who broke her heart in order to try to find social media icon Janessa and, hopefully, bring her home, safe and sound.
I love a book set in the wild (Peter Heller's novels <i>The River</i> and <i>The Guide</i> come to mind as favorites), and I loved the outdoorsy element here. Much of the story takes place in an Idaho forest, and it made me reminisce about my college summer spent in that beautiful state.
The story is more of a thriller than a mystery; after a time we aren't wondering what happened, rather wondering if those who seem untrustworthy are in fact bad seeds.
I loved the focus on repairing a friendship, and how Emlyn has difficulty trusting and being vulnerable but works to do so. I wasn't surprised by the final denouements but felt satisfied that we are left with the promise of a fulfilling future for some characters at the end of the book.
I listened to <i>The Nature of Disappearing</i> as an audiobook, courtesy of NetGalley and Macmillan Audio.
Kimi Cunningham Grant is also the author of <i>Fallen Mountains, Silver Like Dust,</i> and <a href="https://www.bossybookworm.com/post/review-of-these-silent-woods-by-kimi-cunningham-grant/"><i> These Silent Woods.</a></i></b>
The Nature of Disappearing is at once an ode to nature, a book about growth and self discovery, and a compelling mystery. I flew through the audiobook - finding more reasons to do yard work so that I could finish it in one listen. Emlyn is a flawed main character and the back and forth timelines provide the readers with a front row seat to witness her come into her own throughout the book. I read and adored "These Silent Woods" last year and if I have a complaint about this newest book it would be that I think it lacked a little bit of the depth that I so loved in TSW. This book moves more quickly and I missed some of the more introspective moments. That being said, they are still there, just fewer! I particularly connected with the character Rev, I love that in Kimi Cunningham Grant's books there is always an element relating to faith (without bashing you over the head with it). I got more out of the back half of this book as more of Emlyn's past was revealed and we got more of her backstory with Rev and Varden.
I really enjoyed Emily Pike Stewart's narration; her voice was the right mix of experience and naivety for Emlyn's character. The mystery was perhaps the weakest element for me, but overall I was drawn in by Grant's excellent writing and stunning descriptions of the natural world.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an audio ARC.
In the beginning, we know only that Emlyn was hurt by her previous boyfriend and friend, and started her life over as a wilderness guide. When Tyler, her ex, comes back into her life, she needs to make some decisions. Should she help him find her old friend? Will she forgive him for his past mistakes and let him into her life again? I was intrigued by Emlynโs past, and enjoyed learning more as the mystery unfolded. It was a little slow in parts, but the descriptions of the wilderness were beautiful.
This was such an immersive and atmospheric read.
The narrator did a phenomenal job of differentiating the characters and keeping a pace that allowed me to easily immerse myself into the story.
Emlyn is a wilderness guide who has to team up with the man who ruined her life years ago when her estranged best friend goes missing.
I loved Emlyn's character and how it developed over time. We got a picture of her earlier on and how she grew to be a much stronger person while still maintaining her introverted personality.
This book has some mystery aspects, but you can't go in expecting a popcorn thriller. It was more about the unfolding of the story, revealing of the past, healing, forgiveness and moving on.
The author does a fantastic job portraying the significant other of someone who is suffering with a substance abuse problem. It was done tastefully, yet fairly accurately which I appreciated.
Overall, I thought this book was fantastic and highly recommend it.
I was lucky enough to receive this audio book as a part of the Macmillan Audio Influencer Program! Thank you SO much @macmillan.audio & @kimicgrant! You're the best!โ ๐คโ
โ
I can honestly say this book is one of my favorite books so far or 2024. It's written in a way where you feel like you are going through life right along with Emlyn. You'll feel excitement, love, fear, terror, heartbreak, & everything in between as she takes you back into what happened to her in the past as well as the present. โ
โ
Emlyn really doesn't like to think of the past. She tries to forget that her & her best friend Jenessa barely speak anymore & that Tyler, the man who she thought was the love of her life, left her alone in the wilderness on a trip where she almost died. That is until Jenessa goes missing & Tyler has contacted her to help find her. โ
โ
I honestly have chills just typing this because it was that good. Definitely a book I wish I could experience all over again for the first time.
The Nature of Disappearing was a slow burn drama that takes place in the wilderness of Idaho. It has a dual timeline with flashbacks throughout. The details about the setting were so well written, it really felt like I could see what she was describing.
Emlyn is a fishing and hunting guide. She moved after a tough breakup and she needed a fresh start somewhere new. She lives a quiet life with her airstream camper and a few friends. One day she receives a cryptic call from her old best friend, Janessa, who then seemingly vanishes after. When Tyler, her ex, shows up and asks for her help in finding Janessa, Emlyn feels like she needs to help look for her. As Tyler and Emlyn search for clues for Janessaโs whereabouts, she begins to question everything she thought she knew and finds Janessa may not be the only one in danger.
I liked Emlynโs character and the premise of searching for her missing friend. This book felt very slow paced, especially for the first half of the book, but the second half really seemed to pick up speed and was more exciting. It was emotional at times, thereโs mystery, and a little bit of suspense (especially at the end). I did like most of this book and Iโm curious to see what some of her other work is like!
Absolutely loved this story and the audiobook was amazing. The narrator really did well keeping me engaged. The story was amazing and as always love the growth with the characters
๐ชต๐โ๐ผ โ๐ธ๐๐โ๐ผ ๐๐ฝ ๐ป๐๐๐ธโโ๐ผ๐ธโ๐โ๐พ ๐ชต
๐ฑ๐ฅ๐ฏ๐ฆ๐ฉ๐ฉ๐ข๐ฏ
๐๏ธ๐ฏ๐๐ป ๐ฝ๐บ๐๐พ: ๐ณ๐๐ฝ๐บ๐! ๐ฉ๐๐๐พ ๐ฃ๐ช, ๐ค๐ข๐ค๐ฆ
๐๐ฒ ๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ : ๐ ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ซ๐ฌ! โ
โ
โ
๐ค๐๐๐๐๐ข ๐๐๐๐๐๐...Three estranged friends. One goes missing in the wildernessโฆ
๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ธ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ขโฆFirst off, I have to say that ๐ป๐๐ ๐บ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐พ๐๐๐
๐ ๐is prob in my top 10 list of ALLLL the books I have ever readโฆ..so, to say I wanted to love this one would be an understatement. I tried. Hard. I just couldnโt get there. I finished the whole thing too. Would never DNF after my immense love for her other book. ๐ฉตI read this in hybrid form..some e reader๐ฑ & some audio๐ง & the narrator was wonderful. What this book does have since yโall know this is hard for me ๐ญ is a wonderful atmospheric description of the wilderness they are in. Grant does paint a great picture there. ๐๐ณI wish I could say more, but I never felt connected to much at all. One part I loved(no spoilers) was where the main character finds a word to describe everyone she knows. Just one word & only to herself. I do weird โchallengesโ like that with myself all the time. This book wasnโt for me, but I am sure others will love it.
Major thankks to NetGalley & Macmillan audio for the ALC copy of this one!!
I found myself feeling a tad disconnected with this one, and at times quite lost. I typically enjoy an alternating timeline to help us engage with the characters and story, but unfortunately in this instance it left me feeling confused.
Overall it was a decent read and Macmillan audio did a fantastic job with the audio, but I couldn't really get into this one. I didn't feel any excitement or suspense from the story.
I know that tons of people have loved it, so I definitely still recommend you giving it a try! It just didn't work out for me personally.
Emlyn lives in the wilderness on her own. She thinks of herself as a loner until she sees that her old best friend, Janessa, has gone missing. Emlynโs ex-boyfriend, Tyler, contacts her to try and help him find Janessa and her boyfriend. In recent years Janessa has been documenting her traveling van life on social media. Emlyn used her tracking skills with Tylerโs help to find her missing friend but once they locate her they find more danger than they realized.
These Silent Woods by Grant was one of my favorite reads last year so I knew I had to read this book!
At times the book was slow paced and then the ending was very fast. My main issue with the book is that a lot of twists happen right at the end. Unfortunately I was able to figure out most of it so I wasnโt that surprised by the ending. Iโm not sure what genre this book is but I wouldnโt call it a thriller; I didnโt feel any tension or suspense.
Kimi Cunningham Grant is an amazing writer, I love her descriptions of the wilderness but unfortunately this book missed its mark for me.
I loved Kimi Cunningham Grant's These Silent Woods, but she's now become an auto-buy author for me with The Nature of Disappearing. Not only are her settings wild and natural (I'm always up for a wilderness thriller), but she crafts characters that are instantly relatable. I think we can all see a little bit of ourselves in each of them, and Emlyn maybe the most of all. She chooses a word for people in her life, but it's heartbreaking that her own word is "pathetic". I loved watching her become strong and brave, and the ending was everything I wanted it to be.
The Nature of Disappearing is a must read thriller. The novel has an atmospheric current that is haunting and alluring, and topped with vivid descriptions that tie back to nature.
The story takes place in the wilderness with a main character who lives and works in nature. She is an incredibly strong woman, though she doesnโt realize it. The dual timeline gives an essential element to the story that allows discovery as things morph in the MCs life, changing with time, experience, and relationships.
I binged this novel in one day. It kept me up past my bedtime, because I needed to finish it. Itโs incredibly well written and a must read.
I listened to the audiobook version of this story which was well done by a single narrator (for single POV). The narrator brought an added level to the atmospheric tone. I listened at 2x speed (my average audiobook listening speed is 1.75-2x speed).
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for this advanced audiobook copy.
Iโm not sure if Iโve read this author before, and as Iโm going to review this I see a lot of mixed reviewsโฆso I guess Iโm in the mixโฆ
I will start by saying that I loved all the scenes out in the wilderness! The author has a way of making you feel like you are right there with them.
Emlyn is one of the main characters. She lives out of her airstream, and is a wilderness guide in Idahoโฆand loves her job! (Well, most of it anyway. Sheโs not big on taking pix with the groups or having any personal relationships with them, but sheโs trying to be better at that!)
Her best friend is Janessa. They met in school and quickly became friends! (And you learn about the how and why as we go), and they stayed close through the years!
Tyler has been friends with Janessa since they were toddlers! And she introduces him to Emlyn, but warns her not to become involved with himโฆ
We go back and forth between multiple timelines of the girls as they โgrowโ up, and in present day. We are a part of all the shenanigans of young womenโฆand we see what a very special friendship/bond they have!
One day Emlyn gets a harried call from Janessa. BUT, the call drops. She has no idea what she was trying to say. She attempts to call her back, but with no luckโฆ
A few days go by, and Emlyn hears on the news that a girl has gone missing. And her description. And her heart stops!
But no. It canโt be Janessa!
So she starts to call herโฆpretty much every day. Begs her to get back to her. Silenceโฆ
Then one day Tyler turns up at her door. The one person she never wanted to see againโฆ and asks her to come with him to find Janessa, and her boyfriend, who have gone missingโฆ. can she help??
And the adventure beginsโฆ
Although I felt like this was a great premise, I also felt that I didnโt connect with ANY of the characters.
So, because of that, Iโm gonna go with 3 โญ๏ธโญ๏ธโญ๏ธ.
For me it was good, but I really expected it to be great! ๐
My opinion onlyโฆ
Thanks to #NetGalley and #MacmillanAudio for an ARC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
This is due out TODAY, 6/18/24.
#TheNatureOfDisappearing by #KimiCunninghamGrant and narrated nicely by#EmilyPikeStewart.
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Thanks so much for reading! And if you โlikedโ my review, please share with your friends!! ๐โญ๏ธ
I enjoyed this book. I was able to connect to the main character and I enjoyed how the story unfolded. I like how the story was written. I enjoy how a story goes back and forth from the past to the current. I can say I did not expect what happened in this story. Very unique. It is nice to read a storyline that is different.
I really enjoyed this audiobook. The narrator was a great fit for the main character and did a good job. I got a little tired of the constant flashing back but I could see where it was necessary to really explain the characters action. There was a good level of subtle creepiness that gave the book some good tension. The ending was certainly a surprise I didnโt see coming. I really enjoyed this one.
As the novel begins, we meet twenty-eight-year-old Emlyn, who makes a living as a hunting and fishing guide in Idaho. She lives a simple life, keeping busy with her work and living alone in her Airstream. Her closest companions are Varden, a Forest Service Ranger and the makeshift reverend โRevโ who took her in after a particularly traumatic episode in her life.
Emlyn is forced to confront a painful episode from her past when her former boyfriend Tyler asks for her help to find Janessa, a #vanlife social media star who was once Emlynโs closest friend and who has gone missing with her boyfriend, both of whom work with Tyler, while on their latest trip. Her relationship with Tyler had ended three years ago when he had abandoned her, leaving her freezing and fighting for her life, on the side of the road. Janessa had once been Emlynโs closest friend, but their friendship became strained after Emlyn embarked on a relationship with Tyler, who was Janessaโs childhood friend. Emlyn, unable to reach Janessa, also identifies discrepancies in her most recent social media post. Concerned for Janessaโs well-being, Emlyn agrees to help Tyler and the narrative follows them as they navigate the wilderness in search of their missing friend.
I really enjoyed These Silent Woods by Kimi Cunningham Grant and was eager to read The Nature of Disappearing. I loved the atmospheric setting and the vivid descriptions that transport you to the Idaho wilderness along with the main characters. The narrative is presented from Emlynโs perspective and moves between past and present timelines โ the past timelines detailing Emlynโs past, her friendship with Janessa and her relationship with Tyler. Though I could sympathize with Emlyn, I canโt say that she was a particularly interesting character. I wish we had gotten to know more about Rev and Varden. I should mention that the plot focuses on personal relationships and the complicated history between the main characters more than the mystery behind Janessaโs disappearance. The plot progresses slowly and only in the final quarter of the novel is the mystery addressed and even then, I found the โtwistsโ and revelations a tad underwhelming (with more telling than showing) after the long-drawn build-up.
Overall, while I didnโt dislike the novel, it wasnโt the gripping suspenseful read that Iโd expected. However, many have enjoyed this more and I would request you to read the other reviews before making a decision about reading this one.
I paired my reading with the audiobook narrated by Emily Pike Stewart, which made for an engaging immersion reading experience.
Many thanks to St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books for the digital review copy and Macmillan Audio for the ALC via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.