The premise was so original and intriguing. But right off the bat it just started off at a slow pace and it didn't keep my interest at all. I didn't find any thrills, there were no twists or turns laid out throughout and it was a little unbelievable. I just would've wanted more from this book it had such potential.

Lark and Mikki have always had each other. Other than that, they have this crappy town and job. As long as they have each other though, they can survive. When a stranger stops at the travel stop and Mikki leaves with him, she is never seen again.

I immediately fell in love with both Lark and Mikki and their friendship! I was so shocked when Mikki left with the stranger, even though I knew it was going to happen from reading the synopsis, I was still hoping she wouldn’t go! I could not stop listening to find out what had happened to Mikki, and if Lark would ever get the answers she was looking for! This was a wild ride and I enjoyed every second!

Thank you to @brilliancepublishing for my gifted copy of this book!

This was a good book, but I did not find it thrilling. I enjoyed both the main characters and the dual timelines. The narrator did a great job too.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BrillancePublishing for the book #CatchYouLater by #JessicaStawser. Mikki took off with a stranger for Florida eight years ago and hasn’t been seen since. Her best friend, Lark had been searching for her since then. Now, out of the blue, the man she took off with shows back up looking for her. Lark is sure he knows more than he is saying. What happened back then and why didn’t Mikki come home?

I absolutely love Strawser's writing and her imagination. Catch You Later was surprising and truly a great mystery. I really had zero idea what was going on or where the story was taking me. I buckled up and went along for the ride!

The dual timeline was really well done with this novel. Lark in the present day is grappling with her best friend's disappearance. When Chris - the last person to see Mikki - suddenly reappears in Lark's life, old wounds are reopened and more questions than answers seem to crop up. Mikki's timeline focuses on eight years ago, in the days leading up to her disappearance. When she spontaneously decides to join stranger Chris on a road trip to his sister's wedding, no one can imagine that is the last they will ever see or hear from her.

Chris seemed like such a great guy. During Mikki's timeline, I felt like I was reading a romance novel and waiting for the two strangers to fall madly in love. Flash to forward and we know that doesn't happen and in fact, Mikki has all but completely disappeared and while Chris has re-emerged, no one seems to know where Mikki went or what may have happened to her. I went back and forth constantly on whether or not I could trust Chris and even as the story started unfolding in front of my eyes, I had a hard time understanding or believing what I was reading. Strawser really does weave a good mystery that keeps her readers guessing until the very last moment.

I listened to this novel on audio and thought it was well done. I do prefer when books with multiple narrators use multiple actors, but overall Mallon did a good job differentiating between Lark and Mikki. There were times when her voice was a bit sing-songy for my taste, but generally, the acting was on point and the theatrics were good without being overdone.

This was a great read and a really stellar mystery. Thank you to Lake Union and Brilliance Audio for the copy. Very highly recommend.

Catch You Later by Jessica Strawser was such a gripping suspenseful novel.
This story touches themes of friendship, loss, betrayal and twists that are unseeable.
The narrator Erin Mallon did such a great job bringing the characters to life.
It's very well written. If you enjoy reading suspense stories, this one is for you.
This is a suspenseful read, one that had me unable to put the book down.

Thank You NetGalley and Brilliance Audio for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Catch You Later
by: Jessica Strawser
narrator: Erin Mallon
Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio
Pub Date: Oct. 22, 2024

Strawser's dual-time novel is a story of two best friends, Lark and Mikki, who work at a travel stop along the interstate in Ohio. When one disappears, a twisting trail of suspense begins. The mystery surrounding the circumstances of why Mikki went missing kept me enthralled.

With her perfectly paced plot, Strawser delivers a fascinating story of a friendship and life changing decisions that keeps listeners fully tuned in until the end. Erin Mallon is a narrator that I had not heard before, but her delivery impressed me. Her expression fully captured the scenes and all of the characters' emotions and roles in the narrative.

I received an advance listener's copy from Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio. My review is my own.

#NetGalley #CatchYouLater #JessicaStrawser
#BrilliancePublishing #BrillianceAudio #ErinMallon

I really loved this book and continued to think about it long after finishing it. The characters are so believable and there is so much on relationships intertwined throughout the plot. It’s about two best friends - one hops in the car to go on a trip with a man and has never been seen again. The friend vows to never give up searching. Highly recommend.

This is my first book by @jessicastrawserauthor , and it had me hooked from the very start!

The story revolves around best friends Mikki and Lark, who work at a truck stop in their small Ohio town, dreaming of a way out. One day, a mysterious man in a fancy BMW invites Mikki to be his plus one for a fancy wedding in Florida, and on a whim, she leaves with him!… never to return…

Seven years later, Lark is a single mom, engaged, and creating a good life for herself, but still grappling with Mikki’s disappearance… until the same man reappears, looking for Mikki!

The alternating timelines between past and present build tension, keeping you guessing what really happened! I absolutely loved the focus on friendship, motherhood, and the mystery of finding yourself!

PLUS, the lack of swearing and no spicy scenes made it an even more enjoyable read for me! A captivating, emotional page turner that I for sure recommend!

Huge thank you to @netgalley and @brilliancepublishing for the audiobook copy of this book! All views and options are my own!

Completely original in premise (or at least for me) and started off with a 5 star feel but somehow it dulled and slowed up midway. I was hoping for a fast paced thriller but I got more of a slow burn suspense! Which is totally my fault for having assumptions about the book.

Think best friends for life or until one of them disappears. Is she dead? Did she escape town? Why would she leave or what happened to her? The story flip flops between Lark of now.. and Mikki… then.

It was a like for me, not a love.
I did however LOVE the narrator! And have enjoyed the authors books in the past, so I’ll just say this wasn’t the one for my mood right now.

I did enjoy the narration and the overall, concept of this story. I just wish there was something more to her disappearance at the end. I've read so many books so this was just an average story to me. Many thanks for my gifted copy.

Catch You Later was such a captivating read and kept me hooked from the beginning! I DEVOURED this book in two sittings and I was really invested in the lives of Lark and Mikki.

Best friends, Lark and Mikki, are from a small town that doesn't really have much going for it. They always dreamed about leaving together and experiencing the taste of freedom in big, open world. One night, at their job at a truck stop on the edge of town, a charismatic stranger walks in and within a few minutes Mikki is spontaneously jumping into his car - an action that would later affect the lives of everyone who knew her. Years on with no Mikki, Lark stops at nothing to find out what has happened to her best friend.

I had so many theories while reading this book but I didn't see the twist coming... I repeat - I DIDN'T SEE THE TWIST COMING!
This was a dual POV book that looks through the eyes of Lark and Mikki and flashing back and forth between present day and the past. I enjoyed hearing their revelations about life and friendship.
After reading this book, I am excited to discover other books by this author, I loved the storyline and the way that she writes!

Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing and author Jessica Strawser, for an advance copy of this audiobook. Catch You Later is available from October 22nd, 2024!

THANK YOU Lake Union Publishing and Netgally for this ARC

I received the audible and I thought the narrator did an awesome job.

I loved the alternate timelines and perspective the suspense kept me on the edge of my seat. I thought it was done perfectly. However I didn’t particularly like the ending and felt I wanted more.