I was too confused by all the characters and how they were related/connected to truly enjoy the story.

This book was very enjoyable. Good plot with good characters and themes. A very fun time with good twists and turns.

I LOVED "Before You Knew My Name" by this author, but his novel was a really hard one for me to read. It felt all over the place, there was so much information being shoved at me (most of which didn't wind of being worth anything), and it dragggggged on. I really liked the idea of the dead girls helping solve the crime, but it seemed like that concept got dropped half way through and you only really saw anything about Beth. I genuinely think I spent more time confused whilst reading this than anything.

2.5 stars rounded up. This book had a promising premise, but the execution was only so-so for me. I found myself skimming a lot and didn't really feel connected to the plot or characters. There was a lot of promise there though and I can see how other readers might like it better. It was definitely a YMMV kind of book.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz is a compelling psychological thriller that delves into the lingering effects of trauma and the complexities of unresolved crimes. The narrative centers on Ruth-Ann Baker, who, haunted by the childhood abduction and murder of her best friend, Beth, becomes fixated on uncovering connections to other missing girls. When another young girl disappears from her hometown, Ruth's obsession intensifies, leading her on a journey that intertwines with the lives of three women, each bearing their own scars from past entanglements with violence.

For those interested in narratives that probe the depths of human resilience and the intricate web of connections forged by shared trauma, Leave the Girls Behind is a thought-provoking read that lingers long after the final page.

I feel like my focus kept wandering with this one? But I gave this one a solid try. Just deeply struggled with it.

After being abducted as a young girl, Ruth-Ann Baker is able to converse with dead people, primarily her childhood best friend, Beth Lovely, who had been abducted and murdered. The abduction of another young girl, from Ruth-Ann’s home town, triggered her memories and sent on a search from Norway to New Zealand in an effort to solve the mystery once and for all. A serious true crime addict, Ruth-Ann relies on the help of her crew of dead girls to offer advice and help her develop a scheme to interview the women she believes hold the key to Beth’s murder.

The book was all right, but I felt there were way too many coincidences. This one just didn’t grab my interest.

This was a well written story of the search for evidence in a cold case and the connections that were uncovered in the process. The ending wrapped things up in an unexpected way and didn’t resolve the question completely for the woman looking for answers.

Leave the Girls Behind by Jacqueline Bublitz is a poignant and haunting novel that expertly blends mystery, family dynamics, and the complexities of trauma. This story follows a young woman, Delphine, as she tries to piece together the truth surrounding her sister’s tragic death. At its core, the novel explores grief, loss, and the emotional weight of uncovering long-buried secrets.

What I really appreciated about this book was Bublitz’s ability to craft an emotionally charged narrative. The characters, especially Delphine, feel deeply human and relatable, their pain and unresolved feelings about the past creating a rich backdrop for the mystery that unfolds. As Delphine digs deeper into her sister’s life, you can feel the emotional conflict weighing on her, making each step of the investigation incredibly powerful.

The pacing was strong throughout. The way Bublitz slowly unraveled the mysteries surrounding the death kept me engaged, building tension without ever feeling rushed. There were moments of real emotional intensity, especially when Delphine confronts the complexities of her family relationships and the painful truths that come to light. The mix of mystery and emotional depth was what really set this book apart.

The writing is sharp and evocative, and Bublitz excels at capturing the emotional landscapes of her characters. The tension between Delphine’s drive for justice and her emotional vulnerabilities creates a compelling and multifaceted narrative. I also really enjoyed the sense of place and atmosphere in the book—Bublitz does a fantastic job of creating a vivid world that feels both intimate and haunting.

Ultimately, Leave the Girls Behind is more than just a mystery; it’s a beautifully written, emotionally resonant exploration of love, loss, and the search for truth. If you’re drawn to books with rich character development, deep emotional undertones, and a gripping mystery, this one is absolutely worth picking up.

"Leave the Girls Behind" is a thriller/suspense novel with a touch of the paranormal. It follows Ruth, who is both the protagonist and main narrator. She's able to see the ghosts of girls killed years ago who she shares a connection with. She starts to investigate things on her own somewhat lightly but her fervor is ignited when another girl disappears in her old town in a similar fashion. There are some plot twists, some predictable and others a surprise, but overall it's very well done. I would have liked to see more of the other girls' stories and learn their backgrounds too, as opposed to only her friend Beth's story. I understand why things went that way, but it would've been interesting all the same. I also felt Juno was one of the most intriguing characters of the book and I would've loved to read more from her, more than just one chapter on her perspective. I also liked that Ruth had a dog and it was treated more as a character and less as an accessory as is so apt to happen in books nowadays. The closure with Coco by the end was a nice touch too. This was an excellent thriller and if you're into the paranormal or ghost stories you may find it even more enjoyable. I scored it 4 out of 5 stars.

Ruth-Ann becomes fixated on finding the living half of a serial killing duo to avenge the death of her friend of yester-year. Along her journey, she meets some women who help her achieve this goal. Wonderfully thrilling! Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books | Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Thank you @atriabooks #partner and @netgalley for this advance reading copy of Leave the Girls Behind by Jaqueline Bublitz. Pub date: 10/29/24.

Ruth-Ann Baker is a college dropout, a bartender—and an amateur detective who just can’t stay away from true crime. Nineteen years ago, her childhood friend was murdered by suspected serial killer Ethan Oswald. Still tormented by the case, Ruth can’t help but think of the long-dead Oswald when another young girl goes missing from the same town. And when she uncovers startling new evidence that suggests Oswald did not act alone, she is determined to find his deadly partner in crime.

Embarking on a global investigation, Ruth becomes close to three very different women—one of whom might just hold the key to what happened to the missing girl. And her childhood friend, all those years ago.

I liked the idea of this book. It reminded me a little bit of Jessica Knoll’s Bright Young Women. The writing was decently solid, but there was something that really just failed to pull me in completely. I kept walking away and waiting for myself to yearn to return to these pages, but it never really happened. It was an easy read, just not completely captivating.

I feel bad writing this book after loving the authors previous book but I was so confused while reading this. Trying to keep characters apart and whose storyline went where. I found myself skipping pages to try to get to the end.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

Leave the Girls Behind - Jacqueline Bublitz
Ruth-Ann is haunted by the murder of her best friend by suspected killer Ethan Oswald. The trauma followed Ruth-Ann in adulthood and hindered her from being able to move forward with her life.
With an obsession with true crime, she can't help but be attracted to a new case, the case of a missing little girl from the same hometown her best friend was murdered in.
Because the the similarities, Ruth-Ann begins to think her friends killer may not have acted alone all those years ago, that he may have had an accomplice who is carrying on his work.
As Ruth-Ann dives deeper into this new case, she strives to learn more about Ethan Oswald. She connects with 3 other girls who have their own haunted stories with leads in all different directions.
Can Ruth-Ann finally piece everything together and gain some closure?
I read this goodie of a book back in September, and for me, it was the perfect book to embrace the fall vibes too. A few supernatural vibes mixed with a psychological mind fuck. I found the book to be all over the place, but the ending pulled everything together and made the entirety of the book completely worth it to me! In the end, I think the book was an overall hit. It kept me guessing and wanting more! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

Ooo this book made me really reconsider whether I was going crazy. I kid you not, I thought I was imagining things for a moment there while reading it.

This was a bit easy to predict in terms of the twists/plot points, but I still did really enjoy this book. It was an interesting take on a true crime/mystery, and overall, was well-written.

Favorite Quotes:
- Shes alwasy on the lookout for demons
- Only some deaths matter
- She was used to not being believed
- Do the good guys want to hurt you too
- There are just so many ways for a girl to disappear
- Those girls who could never give uo on huim, no matter the terrible things he did
- There is responsibility in being the one who didn’t die
- Because the girl you once were can never be fully left behind
- But she never forgest what America really looks like. It is a landscape of the lost
- There is no crime of which I do not deem myself capable
- Not all good deeds go unpunished

I could not get into this book. It was definitely a slow burn, and I kept losing my train of thought. The main character, Ruth, felt scatterbrained, which made the book lack direction in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

This is a psychological thriller about how childhood trauma affects people throughout their lives. Ruth Ann is a complicated character as are Helen and Juno; Rose and Amity don’t appear to have much of a personality. There are still loose ends at the end of the story but Ruth Ann seems to be at peace and is beginning to finally heal.

It was an okay read.
I thought some chapters were superfluous and couldn’t have been edited more.
I often found myself losing my train of thought in some of those extra lengthy chapters.