I could not put this one down. Two girls disappear within a couple weeks of each other and years later their 2 sisters team up to decide to finally figure out what happened to them.

I did not expect the ending at all. I suspected tons of different scenarios throughout the book, but what really happened surprised me. I think this book was very well written. It was very exciting and I really enjoyed it.

Surprise endings can sometimes be cheesy or feel rushed and forced. This one was done beautifully and I felt like this exact story could be something that happened in real life.

Thank you to netgalley for this free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

The book was suspenseful to the very end. A page turned keeping you guessing until the very end.
Ashley Flowers is a thriller writer to watch.
The sisters of two girls gone missing 3 weeks apart brings them together to figure out who took the girls. When you think you have it figure out you don't. Keeps you on the edge of your seat while feeling nostalgic.

This book really sucked me in. This was my first Ashley Flowers, and I really enjoyed her writing style. Very easy to read. The storyline was interesting and entertaining. The ending blew my mind but seemed awfully abrupt. Overall a good read

Ashley Flowers does not disappoint with her endings! I was sad because at first the ending started going in a direction I didn’t like and then it took another right turn and when in a completely different direction from what I hoped it be. I threw me for a loop. I love Ashley’s writing style and the pacing of her books. This was a win for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for this great ARC!

When I came across this title, I was truly excited to see that Flowers was writing another book. I really enjoyed her debut novel, All Good People Here, and have listened to her podcasts, like Crime Junkie and Supernatural, for years. However, reading through The Missing Half, I was a little disappointed. Let's get into it.

Pros:

The story starts with a strong hook that piques your interest and eventually ties back into the ending, making everything come full circle, which I really enjoyed. Additionally, the ending had a twist within a twist that I didn’t expect, which was the highlight of the whole story. The surprise element added a lot to the experience.

Beyond the plot, which had a solid foundation, Flowers did a great job at making you dislike the right characters—something that is always important in a suspense novel.

Cons:

I found that, although the premise was interesting, I wasn’t itching to get back to it. I would read it if I was bored, but I wasn’t excited to return and uncover what happened next. I attribute a lot of this to the writing style, which I will get into soon.

The suspense, though good, didn’t really pick up until around chapter 36 or 37, which felt too late in the book. With only two scenes before chapter 37 making me go "OMG," I felt like there was something missing.

Additionally, there were valiant attempts at misdirection throughout the novel, but at times, it felt like Flowers was trying <i>too<i> hard to lead us in the wrong direction. The misdirection was overkill in some places, though, fortunately, the twist at the end was still effective.

Some more personal cons...

The alcoholism subplot didn’t really fit for me. Nic is an alcoholic, and I think Flowers included that to help tie the story together, but I don’t think it was necessary to make her entire character revolve around it. Especially considering that her mother is also an alcoholic, it felt like there should have been a moment where Nic truly comes to terms with it. There is a brief scene of her pouring wine down the drain, but since she had already tried to stop drinking a couple of times throughout the story, it didn’t feel like a final resolution to that part of her narrative.

Additionally, there were a couple of scenes throughout the book that didn’t add much to the story. They felt unnecessary and drawn out—clear attempts at adding depth, but unfortunately, they just didn’t land effectively.

Speaking of the writing...

Going back to Flowers' debut novel, I listened to <i>All Good People Here<i> on audio, and I think if I had done the same with this book, it would have improved my overall experience immensely.

However, when you’re physically reading a book (rather than listening to it), you naturally pay more attention to the writing itself, and honestly, I had some qualms about the writing in this story. Here are some things I noticed:

There are quite a few run-on sentences structured like "this and this and this" instead of "this, this, and this," which affects the book’s flow.

Some of the tenses are inconsistent, and there were several awkward sentences or missing words that took me out of the reading experience.

Formatting issues (maybe just personal preference) with the text messages in the story— the font wasn’t distinct enough from the rest of the text, making it difficult to differentiate when a character was reading a message versus when they were simply narrating.

The writing overall felt a bit elementary and stilted in places.

Since I received an uncorrected proof through NetGalley, I do believe that post-corrections, this book will shine a bit brighter. However, as it stands, there were still quite a few things that needed fixing to improve readability.

Final Thoughts:

Through it all, I did enjoy the story and really liked the ending. <i>The Missing Half<i> had strong elements that made the highs really high and the weak elements that made the lows really low. It didn’t fully deliver on the suspense or writing quality I had hoped for, but again, I am attributing this largely to the fact that I read the uncorrected proof version.

Focusing just on the story itself, with further editing, this book has the potential to improve significantly.

As it stands, disregarding the glaring writing mishaps, I would rate this a 3/5. I’m taking off a star because I wasn’t eager to get back to it the entire time, and another for the elementary writing style, which I don’t think will be fully resolved even after final edits.

It’s a good story, and it is entertaining with a great ending—just nothing groundbreaking or especially memorable.

I liked this book so much that I immediately picked up Ashley Flower's other book as well. It's about two women who start working together to investigate the separate (but possibly related) disappearances of their sisters that happened several years ago. I was not expecting the twist ending and was very surprised and satisfied!

Ashley Flowers' The Missing Half is a fast-paced thriller that grabbed my attention from the start and didn’t let go. The main character, Nic, is a whirlwind of determination and emotional baggage, making her an incredibly engaging lead. After her sister goes missing, Nic has been stuck in a spiral of self-destructive behavior, and when a new character, Jenna, appears, she shakes Nic out of her funk and forces her to confront the past. The dynamic between these two women adds a layer of complexity to the story, highlighting themes of grief, guilt, and survival. Nic’s unapologetically flawed nature made her feel all the more real, and her journey to find justice for her sister is what really drives this book.

The plot is a twisty ride, full of unexpected turns that kept me on edge. There are some moments that might feel a bit predictable, but the emotional weight of the characters and their actions more than made up for it. The suspense is woven seamlessly with the personal stakes, so the mystery isn’t just about who did it, but also about how deep the lies run. If you enjoy mysteries with morally gray characters, dark secrets, and high emotional stakes, The Missing Half will definitely keep you hooked from beginning to end. Definitely recommended for anyone who loves a compelling, character-driven thriller!

Unexpected reveals, rethinking everything you thought you knew to be true, unbreakable bonds between sisters. This book has it all.

I enjoyed Ashley Flowers first book, also set in small town Indiana, so thought I would give this one a try. She does not shy away from the rough edges of the strip mall/cornfield lifestyle, nor does she romanticize it as so many writers less familiar do. Nic's life was turned upside down when her sister went missing several years ago, and ever since she's been stuck in the same pattern, not growing or changing, with the door shut firmly on memories of her sister and using alcohol and monotony to dull the pain of losing her. When Jenna, whose sister also went missing around the same time, shows up in her life she jolts her back to reality with passion and anger. The characters in this book are great - definitely not necessarily likeable but understandable. I love books where women are allowed to be awful. This book was compelling with an unexpected (at least for me) resolution. Definitely read this if you liked Flowers' last novel, or if you are looking for a suspenseful mystery with morally grey characters, or if you grew up in rural Indiana like me and like seeing it represented in fiction.

3.5 rounded up. Interesting twist at the end. Something about this one didn't hit me as well as the first novel, but it was still a good read.

i have extremely mixed feelings on this one! i loved ALL GOOD PEOPLE HERE so this was a highly anticipated read for me.

my initial first impression after the first few chapters was that the writing was a little off. it was almost too "predictable" and/or "straightforward" for a thriller. i craved more from the writing -- it seemed a bit elementary.

the story itself, while it was a page-turner, some things were way too outlandish. there were some plot holes that I wish had been worked through but there were a few times i just had to roll my eyes. the FMC was basically insufferable so i felt like i spent a lot of my time reading, extremely frustrated with her character. i enjoyed most of the twists even though i saw most of them coming.

what i did enjoy:
-most chapters ended on a "cliffhanger" encouraging the reader to keep going
-definitely a popcorn thriller, addicting
-Grand Rapids setting
-sisterhood theme

i think i'm settling on 3 stars for this one -- again i have very mixed feelings!

thank you so much for allowing me to be an early reader!! i will continue reading whatever Flowers writes.

This started a little slow but quickly picked up pace and became the ideal thriller. I thoroughly enjoyed this thrilling thriller!

Not only is this book a dark and twisty thriller, but it also is extremely thought provoking. It's heart-wrenching and begs the question of just how far will we go for family. Filled with tons of shocking twists. The characters are well developed and the mystery well executed. I read this in one sitting it was that good. The ending was unexpected and satisfying as well as emotional. This will surely be a 2025 hit and one that is not to miss!

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I could not put this book down. Ashley Flowers definitely improved from her first novel to this one. It showed in the storyline, the pacing and not trying to mash too many true crime inspirations together. This felt cleaner and more cohesive, from start to finish. I also think she listened to reader feedback from her first novel (which had a very open-ended ending) and smartly corrected how she wrapped this one up. There were plenty of twists and turns in this one, which I didn't see many of things coming. I raced through this so I could find out what what exactly was going on, both in the past and the present. I look forward to whatever Ashley writes next!

I’m so thrilled that I got pre-approved and took a chance on this book. Ashley is a new author to me, and she took me through all kinds of twists and turns along with shocking revelations. I could not stand Nic though! She was impulsive and immature. I can’t believe Jenna worked with Nic for as long as she did. There are a lot of things that I didn’t see coming and was truly shocked. The biggest twist at the end blew my mind. I just couldn’t believe all the mess Kacey and Nic made with absolutely no concern for anyone in mind except them. Jenna and Jules were never going to attract they needed to get justice. I loved this book!

The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers is an absolute page-turner! From the very first chapter, the storyline pulled me in and refused to let go. The suspense, the intricate character development, and the steady build-up of tension kept me riveted throughout. Just when I thought I had everything figured out, the unexpected twists at the end completely caught me off guard in the best way possible. Ashley Flowers has a knack for crafting gripping mysteries, and this book is no exception. Highly recommend for anyone who loves a thrilling, unpredictable read!

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this early release. To be published May 6, 2025!

This book had me wondering what happened from the beginning! It was a slow start, but not so slow that I wasn't invested in Nic and her story. Once she and her new acquaintance start investing the link in their sister's death, things start moving quickly. Nic starts questioning those that she depends on most for answers and finds more than she expected. There were some interesting twists - some that I thought may be a possibility, but some that had my jaw on the floor!

Ashley Flowers is on her way to becoming a staple on everybody's book shelves. Having loved her previous book 'All Good People Here' I was excited to joump right in to read 'The Missing Half' and it did not disappoint and I could not put it down. The Missing Half is about Nicole 'Nic' Monroe and her life is not going as she planned. Having just gotten a DWI and still working her high school job, she has very little direction. Nic's sister Kasey went missing years prior, along with Jule's, who went missing not long before Kasey. When Jule's sister Jenna tracks Nic down, they start working together to find out what happened to their sisters. Searching sometimes leads you to the unexpected and gives you answers you probably wished you never discovered. This is a must read for lovers of Megan Miranda and Riley Sager. 4.5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free advanced copy of The Missing Half by Ashley Flowers in exchange for my honest review.

WOW! All the pieces of this thriller fit together so perfectly. After the dissapearance of their sisters, two women come together to solve this case that the police weren't able to. The secrets that unfold in this book are wild! I did not expect the ending of this book at all. I was so invested in both of these women and rooting for them to get to the bottom of this. What does the future hold for these two?

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Bantam for an ARC of this book in exhange for my honest review.

Book: The Missing Half
Author: Ashley Flowers
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine
Pub Date: May 6, 2025

I was beyond excited to get approval for an ARC of this book. I loved her first book All Good People Here and of course I listen to Crime Junkie and The Deck. I did give it four stars because I found I didn't love it as much as I loved her first book. This was a solid thriller but there were a few things I felt were a little unrealistic which led to the lower rating. I really like Ashley's writing style and she could totally give up podcasting and be a full time writer. It's a fast paced suspenseful thriller and would make a perfect beach read this summer.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballantine and NetGalley for this sneak peak! Publication date is May 6, 2025.