Every Friday Book Beginnings on Friday is hosted by Gillion at Rose City Reader where you can share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires.
This week I’m featuring Then She Was Gone by Lisa Jewell, one of my TBRs that I bought two years ago. It’s a standalone book, first published in 2017.
It begins with a Prologue:
Those months before she disappeared were the best. .
Chapter One begins:
Laurel let herself into her daughter’s flat. It was, even on this relatively bright day, dark and gloomy. The window at the front was overwhelmed by a terrible tangle of wisteria while the other side of the flat was completely overshadowed by the small woodland it backed onto.
Also every Friday there is The Friday 56, hosted by Freda at Freda’s Voice.
- Grab a book, any book.
- Turn to page 56, or 56% on your eReader. If you have to improvise, that is okay.
- Find any sentence (or a few, just don’t spoil it) that grabs you.
- Post it.
- Add the URL to your post in the link on Freda’s most recent Friday 56 post.
Page 57 (page 56 is blank):
Laurel was alone. Her family was broken. There was nothing left. Literally nothing.
Blurb:
She was fifteen, her mother’s golden girl.
She had her whole life ahead of her.
And then, in the blink of an eye, Ellie was gone.
Ten years on, Laurel has never given up hope of finding Ellie. And then she meets a charming and charismatic stranger who sweeps her off her feet. But what really takes her breath away is when she meets his nine-year-old daughter. Because his daughter is the image of Ellie. Now all those unanswered questions that have haunted Laurel come flooding back.
What really happened to Ellie? And who still has secrets to hide?
Oh this sounds like it will be super tragic but also full of suspense! I’ll definitely be looking into this one. I’m also very relieved I’m not the only one who buys books and then doesn’t get around to reading them for years! I hope you have a lovely week and do drop by my Friday post if you have the time! – Juli @ A Universe in Words
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Thanks, Juli! I’ve had some of my TBRs much longer than two years … 🙂
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I’ve read this one, not sure whether it was last year or the year before, but it’s very good. Lot of twists and turns.
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Thanks Cath, that’s good to know. I’m glad you enjoyed it.
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This sounds intriguing, Margaret. And the writing style in the bit you’ve shared here sounds appealing and engaging. You’ve reminded me, too, that I really ought to read some of Jewell’s work (I confess I haven’t yet)…
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I keep meaning to read her first book – Ralph’s Party, but haven’t got round to it yet!
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Then She Was Gone sounds like a very suspenseful read. The opening line really grabbed me.
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The first line grabbed me too, Whitney!
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I remember this book. I really enjoyed it, and it made me a Lisa Jewell fan.
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I’m glad you enjoyed it 🙂
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I absolutely loved this book, as I do most books from this author. I read it three years ago, and it still tugs at my heart.
Enjoy, and here’s mine: “EVERY VOW YOU BREAK”
I love your new blog header!
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Thank you – I have a collection of miniature bears – those on the header are just a few of them.
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I want to read this one! Happy weekend!
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Happy weekend to you to!
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I’m intrigued. What did happen to Ellie? I bet it is bad. My selection this week is called Dragon Hoops
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It’s not looking good for Ellie … at all.
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Stories about kids that go missing are often too sad for me. But it sounds like an engrossing read!
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They are sad, aren’t they – I can only read them every now and then, it’s the babies and little children that are the most upsetting.
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This one has some parallels to the book I read for this week, Before She Disappears by Lisa Gardner. Even the cover colors are somewhat similar. I hope you enjoy it!
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Thanks, Roberta. I haven’t read any of Lisa Gardner’s books, so can’t compare.
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I hope you’re enjoying! Have a great weekend!
Lauren @ Always Me
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Thank you, Lauren. Hope you’re having a great weekend!
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