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After You Vanished
SADIE meets WE WERE LIARS in this heartfelt mystery, in which one girl desperately searches to find out what happened to her missing sister.
Teddy’s favorite place is Bottomrock Lake, where sunfish swim in their little saucer nests and lilypads edge the shore. She’s worked there as a lifeguard every summer, including last year, when her twin sister Izzy waded into the lake for a midnight swim and never came out. Now, Teddy can’t stop scripting stories for where she went. Izzy was an accomplished swimmer, so she couldn’t possibly have drowned. And if she did somehow drown, where’s her body and why is her passport missing?
When Toby, the gorgeous jerk who was with Izzy on the night she vanished, comes to Bottomrock to work as a lifeguard alongside Teddy, she can’t help but be suspicious. How many of her sister’s secrets does he hold? And how can Teddy unearth them—without falling for the boy who watched her sister disappear?
Told from Teddy’s point of view directly to Izzy, AFTER YOU VANISHED is a mystery that will have readers trying to piece together the secret life of a sister who’s gone.
Teddy’s favorite place is Bottomrock Lake, where sunfish swim in their little saucer nests and lilypads edge the shore. She’s worked there as a lifeguard every summer, including last year, when her twin sister Izzy waded into the lake for a midnight swim and never came out. Now, Teddy can’t stop scripting stories for where she went. Izzy was an accomplished swimmer, so she couldn’t possibly have drowned. And if she did somehow drown, where’s her body and why is her passport missing?
When Toby, the gorgeous jerk who was with Izzy on the night she vanished, comes to Bottomrock to work as a lifeguard alongside Teddy, she can’t help but be suspicious. How many of her sister’s secrets does he hold? And how can Teddy unearth them—without falling for the boy who watched her sister disappear?
Told from Teddy’s point of view directly to Izzy, AFTER YOU VANISHED is a mystery that will have readers trying to piece together the secret life of a sister who’s gone.
324 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 29, 2023
21 people are currently reading
4401 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 145 reviews
May 15, 2024
rare instance where the romance was better than the mystery, probably because the mystery was very much solvable and uncomplicated
August 5, 2023
A captivating mystery wrapped in a thoughtful examination of grief with a touch of romance. Framing the tale as Teddy telling it to her missing twin sister is a unique and smart choice that made me instantly aware of the close bond between the two of them. Teddy is a wonderful protagonist who experiences a massive amount of character growth, much of it tied to Toby, who she hates at the beginning since he was with Izzy on the night she vanished. The setting of Bottomrock Lake is a rich one that I can tell was drawn from Neeves' own experiences, and the wide cast of secondary and tertiary characters all factor interestingly into the story. It was fun to follow along with the investigation and try to guess how each new piece of information and revealed secret factored into Izzy's disappearance. Neeves gracefully handles sensitive subjects like mental health and sexual assault through the book, and I like how not every single question is given a neat answer by the end, allowing for Teddy and readers to fill in any remaining blanks.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title.
Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this title.
August 24, 2023
Teddy's twin sister Izzy disappeared without a trace last year. Since then she's been struggling through life trying to figure out how her pre-Olympic swimmer sister went for a swim one night, but never came back home. As the mystery unfolds Teddy will become closer to the truth than she ever thought possible, but that also comes with a closeness to the last person to see her sister alive, Toby.
I had a hard time with this story. Most of the time, I couldn't figure out what it was trying to be. Is it a mystery? Is it a drama that delves heavily into grief? I still can't tell you. What's more is that this book uses 2nd person as Teddy "talks" to Izzy. (It's in quotes because obviously Izzy isn't there.) I think what added to my struggles with this book is the audiobook narrator, Kathleen McInerney. She has a real halting way of speaking, and it just sounded off. Also, if you're looking for an ending where everything is tied up in a pretty bow, that's not this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. In the end, I wanted to like this book, but it was not for me.
I had a hard time with this story. Most of the time, I couldn't figure out what it was trying to be. Is it a mystery? Is it a drama that delves heavily into grief? I still can't tell you. What's more is that this book uses 2nd person as Teddy "talks" to Izzy. (It's in quotes because obviously Izzy isn't there.) I think what added to my struggles with this book is the audiobook narrator, Kathleen McInerney. She has a real halting way of speaking, and it just sounded off. Also, if you're looking for an ending where everything is tied up in a pretty bow, that's not this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this ALC. In the end, I wanted to like this book, but it was not for me.
March 25, 2023
I feel like this story took forever to get to a resolution. However, I liked the character development. The point of view also made for a unique read.
August 11, 2023
Teddy’s favorite place is Bottomrock Lake, she loves swimming and has worked there for the past several years. Including last year when her twin sister Izzy disappeared. Teddy becomes obsessed with what happened to her.
When Toby, Izzy’s secret boyfriend, comes back to town, Teddy is suspicious. Teddy is determined to get to know him and uncover his secrets in the hope of finding more about her sister. Can Teddy unearth the key without falling for the boy who watched her sister disappear?
This book was definitely a slow burn mystery focusing more on character development. There was one scene towards the end that I don’t think needed to be included, and it didn’t really add to the plot. To me it took away from the story instead of adding to it. However, the rest of the book was good, and I enjoyed seeing Teddy’s development. I loved that all the characters were well written and full of depth.
If you are looking for a slow burn YA mystery that dabbles in romance, I suggest you check this one out.
Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney Hyperion and Netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Additional links will be added once posted.
3.5 stars rounded up
When Toby, Izzy’s secret boyfriend, comes back to town, Teddy is suspicious. Teddy is determined to get to know him and uncover his secrets in the hope of finding more about her sister. Can Teddy unearth the key without falling for the boy who watched her sister disappear?
This book was definitely a slow burn mystery focusing more on character development. There was one scene towards the end that I don’t think needed to be included, and it didn’t really add to the plot. To me it took away from the story instead of adding to it. However, the rest of the book was good, and I enjoyed seeing Teddy’s development. I loved that all the characters were well written and full of depth.
If you are looking for a slow burn YA mystery that dabbles in romance, I suggest you check this one out.
Thank you to Disney Publishing Worldwide, Disney Hyperion and Netgalley, @netgalley for this e-arc in exchange for an honest review.
Additional links will be added once posted.
3.5 stars rounded up
August 3, 2023
After You Vanished is a brilliant coming-of-age story about the different kinds of love, grief and acceptance after Teddy's twin sister, Izzy, disappears following a late night rendezvous at Bottomrock Lake.
There are more subjects that AFV touches upon, however to mention them would take away from the mystery element of the story. I think it best to go into reading with as little information as possible, and Teddy and Izzy's story is no different.
Teddy and Toby (Izzy's swim teammate) are dynamic, compelling main characters that deal with Izzy's disappearance in both similar and different ways. Their own motivations for unraveling the mystery behind Izzy are organic and heart-wrenching, and I found myself breathlessly trying to solve the mystery alongside them.
Bottomrock Lake, the main setting of the story, becomes a main character of its own, and i'm a sucker for settings behaving as such in novels. Neeves does a masterful job weaving twists and emotions, and while I was left a bit unsettled by the ending, it felt right considering the story and character arcs.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
There are more subjects that AFV touches upon, however to mention them would take away from the mystery element of the story. I think it best to go into reading with as little information as possible, and Teddy and Izzy's story is no different.
Teddy and Toby (Izzy's swim teammate) are dynamic, compelling main characters that deal with Izzy's disappearance in both similar and different ways. Their own motivations for unraveling the mystery behind Izzy are organic and heart-wrenching, and I found myself breathlessly trying to solve the mystery alongside them.
Bottomrock Lake, the main setting of the story, becomes a main character of its own, and i'm a sucker for settings behaving as such in novels. Neeves does a masterful job weaving twists and emotions, and while I was left a bit unsettled by the ending, it felt right considering the story and character arcs.
Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 8, 2023
WOW. I don't even know where to begin.
The characters, the world building, the topics of conversation - incredible.
After You Vanished follows Teddy searching for answers around her missing twin, Izzy. She goes through a mental and physical journey of digging up the past to find the truth.
There's grief and loss, and depression and anxiety, and learning how to work through that by talking and being surrounded by friends and family that care. Any aspect of mental health in a book always resonates with me and I can relate to the struggles these characters went through. Teddy's indecisiveness and anxiety had her overthinking most situations - so many different scenarios she'd imagined during her "research". The mentions of SA threw me; not something I was expecting HOWEVER, it was approached respectfully and with enough detail to make you aware of the situation, and for that I praise Neeves.
The chemistry between Teddy and Toby made me squeal! I was smiling so much when they had scenes together (which ends up being most of the book). The tension they share and the banter they have just makes me so happy. It's these kind of cutesy-romance interactions that I love. But OMG THEIR FIRST KISS - TOBY HOW COULD YOU?! (I'm putting it down to nerves, okay?). I was so disappointed in Toby for having Izzy's passport because I knew this would break their relationship and I love them together. I like that Teddy learned to forgive Toby and he apologised for his wrongdoing, and I like that they're rebuilding their relationship as there is DEFINITELY a spark still.
I loved the cute lil side-romance blossoming with Pat and Nadia too, that was adorable - could this maybe be the premise for a sequel...? Finding out who K was was a bombshell- I never suspected it until a paragraph before the reveal. I was SURE it was Derek after remembering his nickname was Ken. Derek, no. Don't like. The author did such a good job of writing his character that I genuinely don't like him. Also (!!!) the secondary mini-plot bomb that Neeves dropped towards the end of the book with Snappy; that was mean.
The characters are so well written that you go through an array of emotions towards them, much like Teddy. For example, Teddy believes that K is Coach Keith, and we start to believe it too feeling angry and building up a judgment before he's had his chance to talk. Then when his side of the story comes out, you feel sympathy and frustration, and realise that there's more than just Teddy and her parents suffering the loss.
Moving onto the world building - breathtaking. I'm very good at picturing scenes in a book but it makes such a difference when the writer describes things with balance. There wasn't too much description that I felt it took away from the story, and there wasn't too little that I felt I had to fill in so many blanks myself. I think what would be a great edition to this book (it may already be a thing) is a map, as the story is set predominantly in one location. I'd love to see the layout of the lake and the surrounding are with the trails and the dam.
The cover of the book is STUNNING! It was one of the first things I noticed about the book and drew me in to read the description. Now that I've read the book, I can see how perfectly it matches the story. I love the middle-ground between realism and cartoon. The title page too, the fading from top to bottom - LOVE.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a YA Mystery with elements of romance. Please note that there are strong elements of SA and the above-mentioned mental health issues present throughout the book.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the author, E A Neeves, for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this DEBUT novel in exchange for an honest review.
The characters, the world building, the topics of conversation - incredible.
After You Vanished follows Teddy searching for answers around her missing twin, Izzy. She goes through a mental and physical journey of digging up the past to find the truth.
There's grief and loss, and depression and anxiety, and learning how to work through that by talking and being surrounded by friends and family that care. Any aspect of mental health in a book always resonates with me and I can relate to the struggles these characters went through. Teddy's indecisiveness and anxiety had her overthinking most situations - so many different scenarios she'd imagined during her "research". The mentions of SA threw me; not something I was expecting HOWEVER, it was approached respectfully and with enough detail to make you aware of the situation, and for that I praise Neeves.
The chemistry between Teddy and Toby made me squeal! I was smiling so much when they had scenes together (which ends up being most of the book). The tension they share and the banter they have just makes me so happy. It's these kind of cutesy-romance interactions that I love. But OMG THEIR FIRST KISS - TOBY HOW COULD YOU?! (I'm putting it down to nerves, okay?). I was so disappointed in Toby for having Izzy's passport because I knew this would break their relationship and I love them together. I like that Teddy learned to forgive Toby and he apologised for his wrongdoing, and I like that they're rebuilding their relationship as there is DEFINITELY a spark still.
I loved the cute lil side-romance blossoming with Pat and Nadia too, that was adorable - could this maybe be the premise for a sequel...? Finding out who K was was a bombshell- I never suspected it until a paragraph before the reveal. I was SURE it was Derek after remembering his nickname was Ken. Derek, no. Don't like. The author did such a good job of writing his character that I genuinely don't like him. Also (!!!) the secondary mini-plot bomb that Neeves dropped towards the end of the book with Snappy; that was mean.
The characters are so well written that you go through an array of emotions towards them, much like Teddy. For example, Teddy believes that K is Coach Keith, and we start to believe it too feeling angry and building up a judgment before he's had his chance to talk. Then when his side of the story comes out, you feel sympathy and frustration, and realise that there's more than just Teddy and her parents suffering the loss.
Moving onto the world building - breathtaking. I'm very good at picturing scenes in a book but it makes such a difference when the writer describes things with balance. There wasn't too much description that I felt it took away from the story, and there wasn't too little that I felt I had to fill in so many blanks myself. I think what would be a great edition to this book (it may already be a thing) is a map, as the story is set predominantly in one location. I'd love to see the layout of the lake and the surrounding are with the trails and the dam.
The cover of the book is STUNNING! It was one of the first things I noticed about the book and drew me in to read the description. Now that I've read the book, I can see how perfectly it matches the story. I love the middle-ground between realism and cartoon. The title page too, the fading from top to bottom - LOVE.
I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a YA Mystery with elements of romance. Please note that there are strong elements of SA and the above-mentioned mental health issues present throughout the book.
I'd like to thank NetGalley and the author, E A Neeves, for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this DEBUT novel in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 31, 2023
3.5 stars!
Last summer, Izzy disappeared. One night, a competitive swimmer challenged her teammate to a race, one where she swam, and he ran across Bottomrock Lake. Now, her twin sister, Teddy, is back working at Bottomrock for the summer, faced with memories of her sister and a new hire- Toby- the last person to see Izzy alive. Teddy feels like the last person holding out hope that her sister is still out there, that something is missing and needs to be uncovered and what first seemed like an ugly reminder of her missing sister now feels like an opportunity. Teddy vows to unearth what happened to Izzy.
The reason I requested this ARC was in part due to my increasing love of the YA mystery/thriller genre and partly because it was marketed as ‘Sadie’ meets ‘We Were Liars’. ‘Sadie’ is one of my favourite books and I’m a big Courtney Summers fan, however, in this case, I worry the comparison just left me more disappointed than I otherwise would have been.
I can see the parallels to Courtney Summer’s ‘Sadie’ but ‘After You Vanished’ is missing a gritty narrative and slick pace that it needs to compete at the same level. Every twist and reveal in ‘Sadie’ drove home a different societal point and challenged preconceived conclusions. ‘After You Vanished’ sits much more speculatively in the mystery genre and explores grief and those left behind when someone leaves much more than it seems to aim to discover what happened to Izzy. Unfortunately, it’s marketed as a mystery that Teddy will spend the book uncovering and frankly left me unsatisfied in that department.
When Teddy started to investigate, about a quarter into the book, it did gain some speed and interest despite seeing a few twists coming, which is why it was frustrating when it did fall flat. The book is told from the perspective of Teddy talking to Izzy which could be better utilised. I could potentially see what the author was trying to achieve with this choice, but in the end, needed more editing to pull off its speculative nature.
I did enjoy uncovering more about Izzy and exploring what that meant for Teddy and her grief and relationship with herself and her family. There is a touch of romance which is also woven into the plot and works well, it doesn’t take over the main themes, instead adding an aspect which helps develop this discussion. As a side remark, there is some bisexual rep which I also love to see!
Overall, there was a lot of potential here, some important and interesting themes of grief, trauma and relationships, and I’d be interested to see what E.A. Neeves writes next. The book had debut teething problems showcased in its pace and narrative- I did need more from that ending. Ultimately my experience wasn’t helped by its comparison to ‘Sadie’ and ‘We Were Liars’.
Thank you NetGalley and Disney Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Last summer, Izzy disappeared. One night, a competitive swimmer challenged her teammate to a race, one where she swam, and he ran across Bottomrock Lake. Now, her twin sister, Teddy, is back working at Bottomrock for the summer, faced with memories of her sister and a new hire- Toby- the last person to see Izzy alive. Teddy feels like the last person holding out hope that her sister is still out there, that something is missing and needs to be uncovered and what first seemed like an ugly reminder of her missing sister now feels like an opportunity. Teddy vows to unearth what happened to Izzy.
The reason I requested this ARC was in part due to my increasing love of the YA mystery/thriller genre and partly because it was marketed as ‘Sadie’ meets ‘We Were Liars’. ‘Sadie’ is one of my favourite books and I’m a big Courtney Summers fan, however, in this case, I worry the comparison just left me more disappointed than I otherwise would have been.
I can see the parallels to Courtney Summer’s ‘Sadie’ but ‘After You Vanished’ is missing a gritty narrative and slick pace that it needs to compete at the same level. Every twist and reveal in ‘Sadie’ drove home a different societal point and challenged preconceived conclusions. ‘After You Vanished’ sits much more speculatively in the mystery genre and explores grief and those left behind when someone leaves much more than it seems to aim to discover what happened to Izzy. Unfortunately, it’s marketed as a mystery that Teddy will spend the book uncovering and frankly left me unsatisfied in that department.
When Teddy started to investigate, about a quarter into the book, it did gain some speed and interest despite seeing a few twists coming, which is why it was frustrating when it did fall flat. The book is told from the perspective of Teddy talking to Izzy which could be better utilised. I could potentially see what the author was trying to achieve with this choice, but in the end, needed more editing to pull off its speculative nature.
I did enjoy uncovering more about Izzy and exploring what that meant for Teddy and her grief and relationship with herself and her family. There is a touch of romance which is also woven into the plot and works well, it doesn’t take over the main themes, instead adding an aspect which helps develop this discussion. As a side remark, there is some bisexual rep which I also love to see!
Overall, there was a lot of potential here, some important and interesting themes of grief, trauma and relationships, and I’d be interested to see what E.A. Neeves writes next. The book had debut teething problems showcased in its pace and narrative- I did need more from that ending. Ultimately my experience wasn’t helped by its comparison to ‘Sadie’ and ‘We Were Liars’.
Thank you NetGalley and Disney Publishing for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 26, 2023
*cheffs kiss* coming of age, YA mystery book!
Loved every second of it. Also I really liked the atmosphere of the vacation park at the lake!
Loved every second of it. Also I really liked the atmosphere of the vacation park at the lake!
November 25, 2023
I feel very conflicted about this book.
March 1, 2023
After You Vanished is a brilliantly written YA book about grief, love, and acceptance. It touches on other subjects too, but to mention those would be to spoil the mystery element of the story, and I definitely don’t want to do that. It’s best going into this book knowing as little as possible, like jumping into a lake not knowing what the water holds in its waves.
Teddy and Toby are equally fantastic main characters, both dealing with Teddy’s twin sister’s loss in the same, but also different, ways. They set out to unfold a mystery and to somehow shed light on a life gone too soon; they do all that and more, with the help of a beloved lake and a location that becomes a character all by itself.
I loved After You Vanished; I read it almost in one sitting, thoroughly engrossed and then sad to reach the end. I’ll definitely be looking forward to more from this author, and I really hope this debut novel finds a large audience who enjoy it as much as I did.
4.5/5.
January 24, 2024
*Thank you to NetGalley and the Publisher for providing me with an ARC of this title. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were in no way influenced by receiving this copy.
This story reads like a letter written from one lost sister to another. Teddy is lost without her twin sister Izzy that disappeared roughly 10 months ago after a midnight swim at Bottomrock Lake, the only other person there that night, Toby, was cleared of any involvement in your disappearance. Teddy is struggling with being alone, with navigating her new life and new friendships with Toby without you around, as well as stricter parents and the pitying looks from everyone she meets. Teddy never gave up hope that you hadn't died that night, that instead you ran away to the Australian Outback and was hiding out there waiting for Teddy to come find her. But as the summer draws on, Teddy discovers more about herself, about Toby, and about your disappearance, but never enough for the complete picture.
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book, and the tag line "for fans of Sadie" were spot on (Sadie is one of my favorite books). It had the mysterious "what happened" vibe through the whole book and you were truly wondering what happened until the very last page with the very final reveal that tied everything up with a neat little bow. I was glad that this ended with a solid ending that put a clear stamp on what truly did happen and we weren't left with any mysteries to what happened to Izzy. I also really loved that this book felt like it was a letter to Izzy from Teddy, I think that really pulled me into the story too. There is just something about this that is keeping me from rating it 5 stars and I don't know what it is. Maybe it's that I guessed a large plot point early on (though the author did have me second guessing myself at lots of times throughout the story and even convinced myself that I was wrong, even though I did eventually end up being right), or maybe it was that the K reveal was a little under dramatic to what I had hoped it would end up being, or maybe it was even that the big reveal of what truly did happen at the end of the story was sort of....far fetched? I don't want to say any spoilers so I won't say much more, it just didn't read as possible so I had to suspend my disbelief (I felt like) to understand what truly happened. And none of those things were major to me, I just don't think it made for a true 5 star read? It was so close, a solid 4.5, just not quite enough for me to push it to that final 5 star resting place.
This story reads like a letter written from one lost sister to another. Teddy is lost without her twin sister Izzy that disappeared roughly 10 months ago after a midnight swim at Bottomrock Lake, the only other person there that night, Toby, was cleared of any involvement in your disappearance. Teddy is struggling with being alone, with navigating her new life and new friendships with Toby without you around, as well as stricter parents and the pitying looks from everyone she meets. Teddy never gave up hope that you hadn't died that night, that instead you ran away to the Australian Outback and was hiding out there waiting for Teddy to come find her. But as the summer draws on, Teddy discovers more about herself, about Toby, and about your disappearance, but never enough for the complete picture.
4.5 stars. I really enjoyed this book, and the tag line "for fans of Sadie" were spot on (Sadie is one of my favorite books). It had the mysterious "what happened" vibe through the whole book and you were truly wondering what happened until the very last page with the very final reveal that tied everything up with a neat little bow. I was glad that this ended with a solid ending that put a clear stamp on what truly did happen and we weren't left with any mysteries to what happened to Izzy. I also really loved that this book felt like it was a letter to Izzy from Teddy, I think that really pulled me into the story too. There is just something about this that is keeping me from rating it 5 stars and I don't know what it is. Maybe it's that I guessed a large plot point early on (though the author did have me second guessing myself at lots of times throughout the story and even convinced myself that I was wrong, even though I did eventually end up being right), or maybe it was that the K reveal was a little under dramatic to what I had hoped it would end up being, or maybe it was even that the big reveal of what truly did happen at the end of the story was sort of....far fetched? I don't want to say any spoilers so I won't say much more, it just didn't read as possible so I had to suspend my disbelief (I felt like) to understand what truly happened. And none of those things were major to me, I just don't think it made for a true 5 star read? It was so close, a solid 4.5, just not quite enough for me to push it to that final 5 star resting place.
September 1, 2023
Um ano após a irmã gêmea dela desaparecer em um lago, Teddy está trabalhando no parque em que fica o lago, e está lidando com o luto, o desinteresse da polícia pelo caso, e Toby, o rapaz que estava com a irmã quando desapareceu, também esta trabalhando no parque durante o verão.
Quem gostou de Sadie por causa da parte de investigação vai gostar desse daqui. Eu gostei não só por isso, como pelo arco da Teddy. No começo do livro, ela está com as defesas totalmente levantadas. O relacionamento com os pais é distante, e ela toma para si descobrir o que aconteceu com Izzy. Lidar com Toby faz com que Teddy descubra que a irmã escondia segredos, e a proximidade relutante com a última pessoa que viu Izzy viva faz com que Teddy crie seus próprios segredos. A trama desenrola esses acontecimentos, e há amadurecimento e um final satisfatório (mas tem uma ou duas pontas soltas, referente a ).
Fiquei surpresa que esse é o primeiro livro da autora. Ela aplicou narrativa em segunda pessoa, a Teddy narra a história como se tivesse contando o que aconteceu para a Izzy, que é tratada como você, uma escolha interessante para uma autora estreante. Como falei antes, tem algumas pontas soltas, mais por escolha da autora em deixar certas situações em aberto do que por descaso. A autora domina a trama, abordando praticamente todas as pistas que surgem no decorrer do livro. A tensão não é tão forte quanto em Sadie, mas o mistério é interessante. É o que sustenta o começo do livro, mas a medida em que a Teddy se aprofunda na investigação, o livro prende mais. E eu não gosto de soltar spoiler em resenha, mas isso tá me corroendo e preciso jogar pro mundo que tudo teria sido facilmente evitado se , mas aí também não teria livro, né.
Quem gostou de Sadie por causa da parte de investigação vai gostar desse daqui. Eu gostei não só por isso, como pelo arco da Teddy. No começo do livro, ela está com as defesas totalmente levantadas. O relacionamento com os pais é distante, e ela toma para si descobrir o que aconteceu com Izzy. Lidar com Toby faz com que Teddy descubra que a irmã escondia segredos, e a proximidade relutante com a última pessoa que viu Izzy viva faz com que Teddy crie seus próprios segredos. A trama desenrola esses acontecimentos, e há amadurecimento e um final satisfatório (mas tem uma ou duas pontas soltas, referente a ).
Fiquei surpresa que esse é o primeiro livro da autora. Ela aplicou narrativa em segunda pessoa, a Teddy narra a história como se tivesse contando o que aconteceu para a Izzy, que é tratada como você, uma escolha interessante para uma autora estreante. Como falei antes, tem algumas pontas soltas, mais por escolha da autora em deixar certas situações em aberto do que por descaso. A autora domina a trama, abordando praticamente todas as pistas que surgem no decorrer do livro. A tensão não é tão forte quanto em Sadie, mas o mistério é interessante. É o que sustenta o começo do livro, mas a medida em que a Teddy se aprofunda na investigação, o livro prende mais. E eu não gosto de soltar spoiler em resenha, mas isso tá me corroendo e preciso jogar pro mundo que tudo teria sido facilmente evitado se , mas aí também não teria livro, né.
July 26, 2023
What would you do if your sibling went missing? Would you keep looking even after a whole year has passed? Izzy went missing one night at Bottomrock Lake, a place she and her sister swam at often. A place where her sister was a lifeguard for numerous summers. On one night Izzy goes for a midnight swim never to be seen again. She completely vanished but what happened? Her twin sister, Teddy, will not stop until she finds out.
This is a beautiful coming of age story that reflects on teenage years, sibling relationships and trauma. The cover was the first thing that sucked me in. It truly tells a story all on its own and it reflects the book well. The writing kept me hooked. There were decent twists that I did not expect. Teddy and Toby's interactions were very sweet and meshed well. I really enjoyed the written point of view. It is certainly a first for me to read where the main character is talking to her missing sister. That everything is being almost time capsuled for Izzy. I was kind of shocked with how it did not end in a way I thought it should but it felt right for the story. The ending is bittersweet and reminded me of 80's and 90's coming of age movies I grew up on. Gave me a bit of Winona Ryder vibes as she often played characters where she voiced over her thoughts from a journal. Overall, this was a fantastic book with some mystery and a lot of heart.
Thank you to E.A. Neeves for the ARC! So happy I won the giveaway!
This is a beautiful coming of age story that reflects on teenage years, sibling relationships and trauma. The cover was the first thing that sucked me in. It truly tells a story all on its own and it reflects the book well. The writing kept me hooked. There were decent twists that I did not expect. Teddy and Toby's interactions were very sweet and meshed well. I really enjoyed the written point of view. It is certainly a first for me to read where the main character is talking to her missing sister. That everything is being almost time capsuled for Izzy. I was kind of shocked with how it did not end in a way I thought it should but it felt right for the story. The ending is bittersweet and reminded me of 80's and 90's coming of age movies I grew up on. Gave me a bit of Winona Ryder vibes as she often played characters where she voiced over her thoughts from a journal. Overall, this was a fantastic book with some mystery and a lot of heart.
Thank you to E.A. Neeves for the ARC! So happy I won the giveaway!
November 5, 2023
A solid 3.5 YA thriller/mystery. I did enjoy this one. It was good reading and hearing Teddy learn all about her twin sister. I think even with twins there will always be some things you don’t know. I won’t say more than that as I don’t want to give spoilers. I felt part of the mystery (not the conclusion I’ll say so there’s no spoiler) I kind of worked out. I guess I wanted a little more closure but we kind of got that in the last 2 chapters. Toby and Teddy make. Great team too, I really liked him. I won’t say triggers as I feel it will be spoilers. But will say all aspects were handled well. There was also mild drinking but nothing drastic.
October 11, 2023
This mystery / rom-com / coming-of age story is thoughtfully written and not at all predictable — E.A. Neeves kept me guessing until the end. Compelling characters and skillful discussion of grief and trauma round out this brilliant debut.
November 19, 2025
After You Vanished is a YA mystery that didn't read overly YA (which is a plus for me). When Teddy's sister goes missing after challenging her best friend to a swimming race, Teddy is convinced that Izzy just needed to escape and that if she looks hard enough, she'll find her.
Retracing Izzy's steps before that fateful night and ingratiating herself in Izzy's past, Teddy tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her sister's disappearance long after the adults in her life have given up. As Teddy seeks answers and butts up against one dead end after another, she finds strength in her resilience and unlikely friendships along the way.
After You Vanished is an emotional look at losing a loved one under unknown circumstances. It considers the question - is it better to have hope or worse to not know?
The novel was good, though drawn out. It felt like many leads were prolonged only to turn into nothing or another dead end. I appreciated being an armchair detective but felt like the novel easily could have been 50 pages shorter. I was also surprised the twin element wasn't played up more. Teddy and Izzy were twins and that really wasn't a focal point of the novel.
I listened to this novel on audio and the narrator was good. She sounded very young but it fit with the plot and the characters being teenagers.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the copy.
Retracing Izzy's steps before that fateful night and ingratiating herself in Izzy's past, Teddy tries to unravel the mystery surrounding her sister's disappearance long after the adults in her life have given up. As Teddy seeks answers and butts up against one dead end after another, she finds strength in her resilience and unlikely friendships along the way.
After You Vanished is an emotional look at losing a loved one under unknown circumstances. It considers the question - is it better to have hope or worse to not know?
The novel was good, though drawn out. It felt like many leads were prolonged only to turn into nothing or another dead end. I appreciated being an armchair detective but felt like the novel easily could have been 50 pages shorter. I was also surprised the twin element wasn't played up more. Teddy and Izzy were twins and that really wasn't a focal point of the novel.
I listened to this novel on audio and the narrator was good. She sounded very young but it fit with the plot and the characters being teenagers.
Thank you to Disney Hyperion for the copy.
March 6, 2023
Thanks Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I spent the whole day reading this book I couldn’t put it down! So many twists and turns! Teddy starts working for Bottomrock Lake again this summer, people find this slightly weird as her twin sister disappeared while at the lake only a year earlier. But Teddy’s trying to move forward, even though she doubts that her sister is gone, but then Toby begins working at the lake. He was with Izzy that night, probably the last person to see her. Teddy’s never believed his story and she’s determined to find out the truth. But will she like what she finds? Someone has to know something. What’s Toby hiding and will it more complicated if feelings start to develop between the two? The story is told from Teddy’s perspective to Izzy so it takes a little getting used to but adds to the intrigue! The story is enhanced by not just know what happened but not knowing where Izzy is! Every time I thought I had the book figured out another twist would happen, they keep happening up till the very end! I loved this mystery that dives deep into grief, truth, and love! I highly recommend this mystery! I can’t wait to read it again!
December 25, 2023
"Here's what he said happened: You were upset. You were in a reckless mood. You told him you were going to swim across the lake in the moonlight and you were so fast you could beat him running to the other side. And he said he agreed because what was the harm? Though trials may have confirmed you weren't an Olympic-level swimmer, you were an almost-Olympic-level swimmer. A one-mile swim should have been no big deal. So he watched you wade into the dusky water until it swallowed your shoulders, and you turned around and said, 'Don't do me any favors. Get running,' and so he turned around and got running. But when he got to the other side, you weren't there yet. And he waited for you and waited for you, longer than it should have taken to swim across, longer than he should have waited, but you were already gone."
Bottomrock Lake is important to Teddy for several reasons.
- It is the place she feels most at peace
- It is where she works every summer as a lifeguard
- It is the place where her twin sister, Izzy disappeared
Last year, Izzy went for a midnight swim in Bottomrock Lake and never returned. It's like she vanished. Nobody knows whether or not Izzy mysteriously ran away, was taken, or drowned.
Although authorities have found no leads and are giving up on looking, Teddy is determined to find out where her sister is. The last person to see her was Izzy's best friend Toby, a fellow swimmer and the only person who seems to know Izzy better than her own twin does. Although Teddy is incredibly suspicious of Toby, she needs to get close with him in order to find out clues about her sister's secret mannerisms and previous whereabouts.
Turns out, there is a lot more to Izzy that she never revealed to her own twin sister.
"You see, I searched your room not long after you went. Folded into your wallet was a cash receipt for the sort of supplies you'd need in the outback: a new sleeping bag and pad, a camp stove, a water-purifying wand. But the gear you'd bought about a week before you disappeared? That I didn't find anywhere.
There was something else missing, too, even more curious than misplaced camping supplies and the lost earring. Your passport is missing, and so are you, and the one thing I wish I knew is why you didn't take me with you."
I adored this book. It had the perfect blend of mystery, charm, and grief. Conflicting emotions bled through the page, staining my fingers with its gorgeous descriptions.
The atmosphere of this story was incredible. Neeves did a wonderful job at balancing a place that offered the main character comfort but also became a trigger from such a traumatic event. The consistent shift between appreciation and sadness worked so well here. Additionally, I love how Teddy's attitude toward Izzy had its own shifts. She didn't just miss her—she was angry with her that she kept secrets from her, upset with her that she didn't trust her enough to share her troubles, in awe of her fearlessness and questionable acts of spontaneity. Although Izzy isn't a present character in this story, we still get so much of her through Teddy's perspective, opinions, and memory of her. It genuinely has a sisterly touch that is difficult to articulate.
The choice to address Izzy as "you" was an interesting one, and it worked. I don't see the first person using "you" to refer to a character directly enough in stories, but it was done so well here that it flowed very nicely. There was an intimate ache added with one simple detail. Instead of Teddy narrating, "I miss Izzy—I wish she told me more about herself," it is "I miss you—I wish you told me more about yourself." That difference is everything. As a reader, I feel much more close to Teddy when witnessing this devastating "you" in reference to her sister.
Now let's talk about Toby and Teddy. Gah! Yes! I couldn't get enough of them. The slow build-up of strangers to enemies to friends to lovers was accomplished so well that it felt genuine. I loved how intimate their bond was without having to be spicy. That is the true difference between a couple that lusts after one another versus a couple that loves one another. Some of my favorite motifs to their bond included the changing room saga—how that kind of became their grounding conversation between difficult subjects—and how they grew to connect with one another not just through the mutual connection of Izzy. The fact that Toby had this dream of illustrating graphic novels and Teddy offers to write the plot is so unique and refreshing to read. Healthiest couple ever. I enjoyed every aspect of their interactions.
Sensitive topics such as mental health and assault were handled in such a graceful and respectful manner. Honestly, it was quite impressive how subtle Neeves hinted at these subjects and how it still made a huge impact. As devastating as some of these secrets we discover are, never did I feel uncomfortable or triggered by the manner in which the news was delivered. These reveals were equally as delicate as they were depressing.
This story has fully convinced me that, in the right context and when written well, mysteries are not that bad. In fact, they can actually be quite wonderful. Addicting, even.
"I kept hiking, determined to do the loop around the lake, because it seemed like something you'd have done. When we passed a spot where the woods peeled away from the shore and the lake offered itself to the trail, I walked over to the water. I could see almost the entire lake from this angle. It was the sort of view you'd have liked. There was a sign that said SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK nailed to a tree."
Bottomrock Lake is important to Teddy for several reasons.
- It is the place she feels most at peace
- It is where she works every summer as a lifeguard
- It is the place where her twin sister, Izzy disappeared
Last year, Izzy went for a midnight swim in Bottomrock Lake and never returned. It's like she vanished. Nobody knows whether or not Izzy mysteriously ran away, was taken, or drowned.
Although authorities have found no leads and are giving up on looking, Teddy is determined to find out where her sister is. The last person to see her was Izzy's best friend Toby, a fellow swimmer and the only person who seems to know Izzy better than her own twin does. Although Teddy is incredibly suspicious of Toby, she needs to get close with him in order to find out clues about her sister's secret mannerisms and previous whereabouts.
Turns out, there is a lot more to Izzy that she never revealed to her own twin sister.
"You see, I searched your room not long after you went. Folded into your wallet was a cash receipt for the sort of supplies you'd need in the outback: a new sleeping bag and pad, a camp stove, a water-purifying wand. But the gear you'd bought about a week before you disappeared? That I didn't find anywhere.
There was something else missing, too, even more curious than misplaced camping supplies and the lost earring. Your passport is missing, and so are you, and the one thing I wish I knew is why you didn't take me with you."
I adored this book. It had the perfect blend of mystery, charm, and grief. Conflicting emotions bled through the page, staining my fingers with its gorgeous descriptions.
The atmosphere of this story was incredible. Neeves did a wonderful job at balancing a place that offered the main character comfort but also became a trigger from such a traumatic event. The consistent shift between appreciation and sadness worked so well here. Additionally, I love how Teddy's attitude toward Izzy had its own shifts. She didn't just miss her—she was angry with her that she kept secrets from her, upset with her that she didn't trust her enough to share her troubles, in awe of her fearlessness and questionable acts of spontaneity. Although Izzy isn't a present character in this story, we still get so much of her through Teddy's perspective, opinions, and memory of her. It genuinely has a sisterly touch that is difficult to articulate.
The choice to address Izzy as "you" was an interesting one, and it worked. I don't see the first person using "you" to refer to a character directly enough in stories, but it was done so well here that it flowed very nicely. There was an intimate ache added with one simple detail. Instead of Teddy narrating, "I miss Izzy—I wish she told me more about herself," it is "I miss you—I wish you told me more about yourself." That difference is everything. As a reader, I feel much more close to Teddy when witnessing this devastating "you" in reference to her sister.
Now let's talk about Toby and Teddy. Gah! Yes! I couldn't get enough of them. The slow build-up of strangers to enemies to friends to lovers was accomplished so well that it felt genuine. I loved how intimate their bond was without having to be spicy. That is the true difference between a couple that lusts after one another versus a couple that loves one another. Some of my favorite motifs to their bond included the changing room saga—how that kind of became their grounding conversation between difficult subjects—and how they grew to connect with one another not just through the mutual connection of Izzy. The fact that Toby had this dream of illustrating graphic novels and Teddy offers to write the plot is so unique and refreshing to read. Healthiest couple ever. I enjoyed every aspect of their interactions.
Sensitive topics such as mental health and assault were handled in such a graceful and respectful manner. Honestly, it was quite impressive how subtle Neeves hinted at these subjects and how it still made a huge impact. As devastating as some of these secrets we discover are, never did I feel uncomfortable or triggered by the manner in which the news was delivered. These reveals were equally as delicate as they were depressing.
This story has fully convinced me that, in the right context and when written well, mysteries are not that bad. In fact, they can actually be quite wonderful. Addicting, even.
"I kept hiking, determined to do the loop around the lake, because it seemed like something you'd have done. When we passed a spot where the woods peeled away from the shore and the lake offered itself to the trail, I walked over to the water. I could see almost the entire lake from this angle. It was the sort of view you'd have liked. There was a sign that said SWIM AT YOUR OWN RISK nailed to a tree."
November 12, 2023
After you Vanished is a book written for Teddy's sister, Izzy, after she disappeared almost a year ago. When I first started this book I found the writing a bit jarring. Teddy addresses Izzy as you and it's clear that she's writing it for her sister directly. But I wanted to see what Neeves would do with such an interesting POV or prose. The first thing I would say about the prose is there were a few lines where I think she didn't need to be as obvious in explaining things to the reader. Because this is for her sister not for anyone else there would be some inside jokes or stories that Izzy would simply know if she were to read it.
Here are examples:
"You and I were supposed to go together, after graduation. We were going to take a gap year before college and do a walkabout" (14).
"You see, I searched your room not long after you went. Folded into your wallet was a cash receipt for the sort of of supplies you'd need in the outback..." (17)
Because Izzy would already know about these things. She shouldn't have to explain it to her sister that they were going to take a gap year. Instead it should be something more like "You ran away to Australia didn't you? Why didn't you follow the plan?" She would also already know what's in her room. It would have been more interesting for these things not to be so obviously explained to make it clear for the reader. It would have encouraged more careful reading and I do think that most readers are smart enough to figure these things out. But as we went on these instances didn't really happen anymore. I think that's thank toward the fact it was diving into things Izzy wouldn't already know.
After getting past the prose, I began enjoying how different this book was from other mystery novels. The coach was suspected for sleeping with Izzy, but it turns out to be completely innocent. Where his wife, a psychiatrist was helping Izzy through trauma. I also enjoyed that Izzy's lover and assaulter were two different people. And I most definitely loved that no one killed Izzy at all she just drowned. If you are looking for a murder mystery book (if she is dead) you probably will be disappointed with this one. It's more about Teddy finding out who her sister was in the months before her disappearance. And ultimately it's about her grief more than the mystery itself. Although the mystery is still center stage in the novel. Personally I found it really refreshing.
We find out a lot about Izzy through this book on who she was as a person. Most disappearing archs seem to have the popular girl disappear, the cheerleader. In this story Izzy is a very different person. She kept secrets sure enough, but she was also a driven swimmer who didn't care for popularity or parties. It was such a refreshing change.
My only criticism for this book is the romance. It's not a main plot and sometimes I can really get behind a b plot romance, but not this one. First off, both Teddy and Toby are going through grief. It has been almost a year since Izzy had disappeared, but I believe that romance doesn't really have a place in books on grief. Our characters should reflect real people and real people aren't really ready for a relationship when going through something traumatic. A year is a long time and healing can take place to make a person ready for a relationship, but since they are investigating those feelings quickly resurfaced. If I were to talk to either of them I would tell them I don't think they're ready to date. Do people begin to date in real life at terrible and traumatic times? Yes. Is it a good idea? No. Additionally, I didn't really buy into the fact that Teddy and Toby were falling in love. There was certainly attraction, but so much of their time together was focused on Izzy. Making me feel like their relationship will fizzle out in a couple of months. I just wish some writers will make the decision especially for YA books not to include romance. Sometimes it doesn't fit and that's okay we already have hundreds of books where characters are just beginning a relationship.
Anyway if you like mysteries more focused on grief then this is a good fit for you.
Here are examples:
"You and I were supposed to go together, after graduation. We were going to take a gap year before college and do a walkabout" (14).
"You see, I searched your room not long after you went. Folded into your wallet was a cash receipt for the sort of of supplies you'd need in the outback..." (17)
Because Izzy would already know about these things. She shouldn't have to explain it to her sister that they were going to take a gap year. Instead it should be something more like "You ran away to Australia didn't you? Why didn't you follow the plan?" She would also already know what's in her room. It would have been more interesting for these things not to be so obviously explained to make it clear for the reader. It would have encouraged more careful reading and I do think that most readers are smart enough to figure these things out. But as we went on these instances didn't really happen anymore. I think that's thank toward the fact it was diving into things Izzy wouldn't already know.
After getting past the prose, I began enjoying how different this book was from other mystery novels.
We find out a lot about Izzy through this book on who she was as a person. Most disappearing archs seem to have the popular girl disappear, the cheerleader. In this story Izzy is a very different person. She kept secrets sure enough, but she was also a driven swimmer who didn't care for popularity or parties. It was such a refreshing change.
My only criticism for this book is the romance. It's not a main plot and sometimes I can really get behind a b plot romance, but not this one. First off, both Teddy and Toby are going through grief. It has been almost a year since Izzy had disappeared, but I believe that romance doesn't really have a place in books on grief. Our characters should reflect real people and real people aren't really ready for a relationship when going through something traumatic. A year is a long time and healing can take place to make a person ready for a relationship, but since they are investigating those feelings quickly resurfaced. If I were to talk to either of them I would tell them I don't think they're ready to date. Do people begin to date in real life at terrible and traumatic times? Yes. Is it a good idea? No. Additionally, I didn't really buy into the fact that Teddy and Toby were falling in love. There was certainly attraction, but so much of their time together was focused on Izzy. Making me feel like their relationship will fizzle out in a couple of months. I just wish some writers will make the decision especially for YA books not to include romance. Sometimes it doesn't fit and that's okay we already have hundreds of books where characters are just beginning a relationship.
Anyway if you like mysteries more focused on grief then this is a good fit for you.
Read
November 18, 2023It's been nearly a year since Teddy's twin sister, Izzy, waded into Bottomrock Lake for a late-night, friendly competitive swim and never returned from the water. Teddy has always refused to accept what everyone else believes. There's no way that Izzy drowned. She was a swimmer on the fast-track to the Olympics, and, if she did die in that lake, where is her body? Why was her passport missing along with the camping equipment she recently purchased? Something else had to have happened, and Teddy is determined to find out what it was and where her sister disappeared to.
Toby was the last person to see Izzy alive since he was the one she invited out to the lake that night. Did he have something to do with it? Does he know more than he's saying? While Teddy blames him, she needs answers only he may have. What she doesn't expect is that he might turn out to be more than just a link to her sister's disappearance. Together, the two will spend the summer working together in an effort to sift through the secrets of the days and weeks leading up to the night Izzy vanished.
After you Vanished by E. A. Neeves has a very smooth and quiet way of pulling the reader in. There are some twists, but they don't come with a jaw-dropping intensity. That's not to say they don't have a bit of a bite because each new revelation deepens Teddy's grief as she realizes maybe they weren't as close as she thought. This has more of a true-to-life, very believable feel to it. Because of that, I was drawn to the characters, both those trying to heal from what they believe is the loss of Izzy and those hoping to find evidence that points to a different story, one where she isn't forever lost at the bottom of a lake.
Unfortunately, I think that this book was promoted in the wrong way. It is not the "Sadie" and "We Were Liars" it was touted as. Not in the slightest. I think that gave readers who picked it up based on those comparisons an expectation that couldn't be reached. It gave me more "13 Reasons Why" vibes with the exception that rather than the "gone girl" telling the story, it's Teddy's POV as she writes directly to Izzy like she's keeping a journal to share with her when she returns.
I received an egalley of this book and have chosen to write this unbiased review.
Toby was the last person to see Izzy alive since he was the one she invited out to the lake that night. Did he have something to do with it? Does he know more than he's saying? While Teddy blames him, she needs answers only he may have. What she doesn't expect is that he might turn out to be more than just a link to her sister's disappearance. Together, the two will spend the summer working together in an effort to sift through the secrets of the days and weeks leading up to the night Izzy vanished.
After you Vanished by E. A. Neeves has a very smooth and quiet way of pulling the reader in. There are some twists, but they don't come with a jaw-dropping intensity. That's not to say they don't have a bit of a bite because each new revelation deepens Teddy's grief as she realizes maybe they weren't as close as she thought. This has more of a true-to-life, very believable feel to it. Because of that, I was drawn to the characters, both those trying to heal from what they believe is the loss of Izzy and those hoping to find evidence that points to a different story, one where she isn't forever lost at the bottom of a lake.
Unfortunately, I think that this book was promoted in the wrong way. It is not the "Sadie" and "We Were Liars" it was touted as. Not in the slightest. I think that gave readers who picked it up based on those comparisons an expectation that couldn't be reached. It gave me more "13 Reasons Why" vibes with the exception that rather than the "gone girl" telling the story, it's Teddy's POV as she writes directly to Izzy like she's keeping a journal to share with her when she returns.
I received an egalley of this book and have chosen to write this unbiased review.
August 24, 2023
After the disappearance of her twin sister, Izzy, Teddy is still looking for answers. According to the last person who saw her, Izzy ventured into a lake and never came back out. It's been a year since then, and when the last person who saw Izzy, a swim team member of hers named Toby, starts working as a lifeguard along side her, Teddy can't help but continue to search for answers. Is Toby the key to finding out what happened to her sister? Or will the day she went into the lake forever remain a mystery?
After You Vanished has a lot of things going for it. Despite being a pretty unoriginal YA plot, it does a lot of things well. But the main problem I had with this book was the pacing. The book takes quite a while to get going and, after taking a pretty obvious detour in the form of a red herring, the plot finally starts to pick up speed. But by that point, then things start to happen almost too fast. A lot of the big mystery starts to uncover itself in the last 30% of the book, and I can't help but wonder if I would have enjoyed the story more if it was just paced out better.
However, despite the change in pacing nearly strong enough to give me whiplash, I did enjoy most the last 30%. Some of the resolutions felt almost lackluster, but I don't think that really mattered, in the end. The book's main focus was not so much about the mystery, but about the grief Teddy goes through, how it impacted her life, and how she slowly started to grow from it. Her character arc was really well done in that regard, and good development like this is something I normally find missing in similar books within this genre. So in that regard, the book is very well done; I just wish it could have been applied to the rest of the book.
Overall, I can't help but wonder how much more I would have enjoyed this book if it was better paced. But I am happy I read it nonetheless, and would recommend others giving it a shot.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
After You Vanished has a lot of things going for it. Despite being a pretty unoriginal YA plot, it does a lot of things well. But the main problem I had with this book was the pacing. The book takes quite a while to get going and, after taking a pretty obvious detour in the form of a red herring, the plot finally starts to pick up speed. But by that point, then things start to happen almost too fast. A lot of the big mystery starts to uncover itself in the last 30% of the book, and I can't help but wonder if I would have enjoyed the story more if it was just paced out better.
However, despite the change in pacing nearly strong enough to give me whiplash, I did enjoy most the last 30%. Some of the resolutions felt almost lackluster, but I don't think that really mattered, in the end. The book's main focus was not so much about the mystery, but about the grief Teddy goes through, how it impacted her life, and how she slowly started to grow from it. Her character arc was really well done in that regard, and good development like this is something I normally find missing in similar books within this genre. So in that regard, the book is very well done; I just wish it could have been applied to the rest of the book.
Overall, I can't help but wonder how much more I would have enjoyed this book if it was better paced. But I am happy I read it nonetheless, and would recommend others giving it a shot.
Thanks to Netgalley for providing the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 29, 2023
Teddy’s favorite place is Bottomrock Lake, where she’s been a lifeguard every summer, even though it’s the last place her twin sister, Izzy was seen a year ago. Now, she can’t stop thinking of all the places her sister went - Izzy was on her way to become an Olympic swimmer, there’s no way she could have drowned. Plus, her passport is missing.
But when Toby, the boy who was with Izzy that fateful night she vanished, comes to Bottomrock to work as a lifeguard too, Teddy can’t help but want to ask 1,000 questions. How many secrets does Toby have of Izzy’s that she didn’t share with Teddy? And why does undercovering one always lead to ten more?
I picked this up because it mentioned Sadie by Courtney Summers as a read-a-like, and I absolutely love that book and am constantly recommending it, so to have another title that would get to be added to that list was what I was looking for. I had high expectations, and this one didn’t disappoint.
This is most definitely a slow burn mystery with low stakes (no one is coming after to kill Teddy or anyone else) mixed with a bit of romance. There was always something that made me turn the page, even when Teddy would eliminate something. I always had hope it would turn out one way. I will say I think it took me a bit longer to see a few of the curveballs that were thrown, but in the end it was fun to see it all connected.
Though a mystery, this book also focuses on Teddy and her grief of losing not only a sibling, but her twin. And how she uses it to grow out on her own for the first time. Her story in that regard was well written.
Needless to say, this will be on my recommendation list, alongside Sadie, for anyone who wants a good mystery with emotional layers to it.
*Thank you Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for a digital advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
But when Toby, the boy who was with Izzy that fateful night she vanished, comes to Bottomrock to work as a lifeguard too, Teddy can’t help but want to ask 1,000 questions. How many secrets does Toby have of Izzy’s that she didn’t share with Teddy? And why does undercovering one always lead to ten more?
I picked this up because it mentioned Sadie by Courtney Summers as a read-a-like, and I absolutely love that book and am constantly recommending it, so to have another title that would get to be added to that list was what I was looking for. I had high expectations, and this one didn’t disappoint.
This is most definitely a slow burn mystery with low stakes (no one is coming after to kill Teddy or anyone else) mixed with a bit of romance. There was always something that made me turn the page, even when Teddy would eliminate something. I always had hope it would turn out one way. I will say I think it took me a bit longer to see a few of the curveballs that were thrown, but in the end it was fun to see it all connected.
Though a mystery, this book also focuses on Teddy and her grief of losing not only a sibling, but her twin. And how she uses it to grow out on her own for the first time. Her story in that regard was well written.
Needless to say, this will be on my recommendation list, alongside Sadie, for anyone who wants a good mystery with emotional layers to it.
*Thank you Disney-Hyperion and NetGalley for a digital advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review
August 17, 2023
Some Y.A. books live up to their genre, but some capture the very essence of youth as if you are missing out. This will sprinkle in the confusion of belonging in the teen years and it will all come back to knock you off your core. It is a heartfelt mystery and told through Teddy's POV, she tells the story as if she is talking to her twin sister, Izzy, who is missing. This was a clever part of the story...the conversation that she would have had with her. Izzy met up with a friend Toby at midnight at Bottomrock Lake. She was an excellent swimmer and had planned to compete in the Olympics, so she wanted to swim across the lake and have him meet her on the other side. She never resurfaced. A year later, Teddy still mourns their loss and considers her missing and not dead.
There are many twists and turns leading to suspects in her disappearance then assumptions maybe she ran away when online bullying comments are found. It uncovers sibling rivalry, grief at its toughest moments and the anxiety of the stares from locals. Her and Toby will find a connection that is raw and real.
I enjoyed the unraveling and how it is delivered. The characters are well thought out and depicted with emotion. The story flows so evenly and I rushed through the audio to find out what happened to Izzy. This will remind you of John Green's book Looking for Alaska, which you got to love.
Thank you NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Excellent narration by Kathleen McInerney.
There are many twists and turns leading to suspects in her disappearance then assumptions maybe she ran away when online bullying comments are found. It uncovers sibling rivalry, grief at its toughest moments and the anxiety of the stares from locals. Her and Toby will find a connection that is raw and real.
I enjoyed the unraveling and how it is delivered. The characters are well thought out and depicted with emotion. The story flows so evenly and I rushed through the audio to find out what happened to Izzy. This will remind you of John Green's book Looking for Alaska, which you got to love.
Thank you NetGalley and Disney-Hyperion for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. Excellent narration by Kathleen McInerney.
August 26, 2023
It's been a year since Teddy's twin sister disappeared, and she is still waiting for answers about what really happened to Izzy.
How could an aspiring Olympic swimmer like her sister go for a midnight dip in a lake and never surface again? That is, if that's actually what happened - as Izzy's friend and swim team buddy Toby claims it did.
Izzy's body was never found, but her passport is also gone, which seems strange to Teddy. She clings to the idea that her twin has left for some faraway place because - for whatever reason - she needed to get away from her life.
Meanwhile, Teddy remains suspicious of Toby, not least because he has now come to work at Bottomrock Lake, a place where Teddy has worked as a lifeguard for the last several years. It can't be a coincidence that this is also the spot from which Izzy disappeared. Plus, Toby was the last one to see Izzy alive when they met at Bottomrock Lake that final, fateful night...
The story conveys the depth and sharpness of Teddy's grief very effectively. And there are elements of romance, delivered with a light touch.
But it took a long time for the plot to get going, and I didn't enjoy the meandering in the earlier part of the book.
The setting is atmospheric and the lake seems almost like another character in the book. Speaking of which, this is very much a character-driven story. And the characters are interesting enough, so if it's a slow burn novel you're looking for, this might just fit the bill.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
How could an aspiring Olympic swimmer like her sister go for a midnight dip in a lake and never surface again? That is, if that's actually what happened - as Izzy's friend and swim team buddy Toby claims it did.
Izzy's body was never found, but her passport is also gone, which seems strange to Teddy. She clings to the idea that her twin has left for some faraway place because - for whatever reason - she needed to get away from her life.
Meanwhile, Teddy remains suspicious of Toby, not least because he has now come to work at Bottomrock Lake, a place where Teddy has worked as a lifeguard for the last several years. It can't be a coincidence that this is also the spot from which Izzy disappeared. Plus, Toby was the last one to see Izzy alive when they met at Bottomrock Lake that final, fateful night...
The story conveys the depth and sharpness of Teddy's grief very effectively. And there are elements of romance, delivered with a light touch.
But it took a long time for the plot to get going, and I didn't enjoy the meandering in the earlier part of the book.
The setting is atmospheric and the lake seems almost like another character in the book. Speaking of which, this is very much a character-driven story. And the characters are interesting enough, so if it's a slow burn novel you're looking for, this might just fit the bill.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
July 13, 2023
Name of Book: After You Vanished
Author: E.A. Neeves
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Genre: YA/Teens - Mystery
Pub Date: August 29, 2023
My Rating: 3.4 Stars!
Pages: 336
Story is told from the prescriptive of Teddy and directed to his twin sister Izzy.
Story is about Izzy the night she went missing.
Izzy and Tobias ‘Toby’ Smith were both on the Wahoo swim team and competitors in the butterfly.
Izzy sends Toby a message and wants to meet at Bottomrock Lake at Midnight. When he sees her, she seems upset but immediately challenges him to a race. She will swim across the one-mile lake and he will run to the other side. Only when he gets to the other side, she is nowhere to be seen.
.
The following summer Teddy returns to Bottomrock Lake as does Toby they are both life guards. Both Teddy and Toby want to solve the mystery of how an Olympic-level swimmer could vanished; so where she is? Also where is her passport?
Story kept me curious- It got a bit slow and I wanted to hurry it up. I love mysteries and always try to figure them out ~ knowing full well that we usually aren’t given all the details until it all comes together.
I know I am not the target audience but I thought it was a good story. As a Guidance Counselor I certainly will recommend this to students.
Want to thank NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide Disney Hyperion for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 29, 2023.
Author: E.A. Neeves
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Genre: YA/Teens - Mystery
Pub Date: August 29, 2023
My Rating: 3.4 Stars!
Pages: 336
Story is told from the prescriptive of Teddy and directed to his twin sister Izzy.
Story is about Izzy the night she went missing.
Izzy and Tobias ‘Toby’ Smith were both on the Wahoo swim team and competitors in the butterfly.
Izzy sends Toby a message and wants to meet at Bottomrock Lake at Midnight. When he sees her, she seems upset but immediately challenges him to a race. She will swim across the one-mile lake and he will run to the other side. Only when he gets to the other side, she is nowhere to be seen.
.
The following summer Teddy returns to Bottomrock Lake as does Toby they are both life guards. Both Teddy and Toby want to solve the mystery of how an Olympic-level swimmer could vanished; so where she is? Also where is her passport?
Story kept me curious- It got a bit slow and I wanted to hurry it up. I love mysteries and always try to figure them out ~ knowing full well that we usually aren’t given all the details until it all comes together.
I know I am not the target audience but I thought it was a good story. As a Guidance Counselor I certainly will recommend this to students.
Want to thank NetGalley and Disney Publishing Worldwide Disney Hyperion for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 29, 2023.
August 18, 2023
What happened to Izzy? Where did she go? No one knows, but Teddy of all people should hold some answers regarding her twin’s disappearance. But sadly, she’s in the dark as much as anyone else is—including the last person to see Izzy: Toby Smith.
Teddy has made it a point to avoid Toby at all costs, but that becomes impossible when he volunteers at the same lake she works at. Confronted by his appearance, Teddy is also exposed to the temptation of delving back into her own investigation of Izzy going missing. And now that she has a new starting point—aka, Toby—Teddy is convinced she’ll get the answers she missed before. So long as Toby stays honest with her, that is…
•
•
•
Oh this was such a perfect summer mystery! Almost immediately I was sucked into wondering what happened to Izzy and who could’ve been involved. There were a lot of twists and turns to the plot which I really enjoyed, and I really liked how easy it was to follow Teddy along her investigation.
But what really makes this a perfect read for me was all the insight Teddy gained at the end, and also all the personal growth she went through. I think this is a great book for people have dealt with or are dealing with the disappearance of a loved one, or just putting someone in the shoes of someone who has/is. This was super emotional and suspenseful, and I highly suggest you give it a shot!
Teddy has made it a point to avoid Toby at all costs, but that becomes impossible when he volunteers at the same lake she works at. Confronted by his appearance, Teddy is also exposed to the temptation of delving back into her own investigation of Izzy going missing. And now that she has a new starting point—aka, Toby—Teddy is convinced she’ll get the answers she missed before. So long as Toby stays honest with her, that is…
•
•
•
Oh this was such a perfect summer mystery! Almost immediately I was sucked into wondering what happened to Izzy and who could’ve been involved. There were a lot of twists and turns to the plot which I really enjoyed, and I really liked how easy it was to follow Teddy along her investigation.
But what really makes this a perfect read for me was all the insight Teddy gained at the end, and also all the personal growth she went through. I think this is a great book for people have dealt with or are dealing with the disappearance of a loved one, or just putting someone in the shoes of someone who has/is. This was super emotional and suspenseful, and I highly suggest you give it a shot!
January 27, 2025
Content warning: sexual assault, talks of suicide, talks of drowning, underage drinking/drug use
After reading the synopsis, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy a book where the protagonist is talking to her sister that has vanished. But I actually kind of liked that. After You Vanished is set in the greater Boston area (though I'm pretty sure the lake in question is fake), but this is one of those novels that could easily take place anywhere... the location doesn't entirely factor in.
The pacing is pretty slow as Teddy attempts to find a balance in moving on after her twin Izzy's disappearance, while also attempting to find out what happened to her. I wish the plot moved a little faster, but overall it did feel genuine. The last 20% was a bit bonkers on everything that needed to happen in order for Teddy to put all the pieces together... and I wish the ending has been tied up a bit better.
Honestly a few chapters from Toby's point of view... or even some from Izzy giving readers more information than what Teddy has would have been really interesting and added a needed layer to the overall plot.
Teens that like their mysteries to be more quiet and focusing on the mental health of the person left behind will most likely enjoy this one.
Kathleen McInerney does a good job with the audiobook narration.
After reading the synopsis, I wasn't sure if I was going to enjoy a book where the protagonist is talking to her sister that has vanished. But I actually kind of liked that. After You Vanished is set in the greater Boston area (though I'm pretty sure the lake in question is fake), but this is one of those novels that could easily take place anywhere... the location doesn't entirely factor in.
The pacing is pretty slow as Teddy attempts to find a balance in moving on after her twin Izzy's disappearance, while also attempting to find out what happened to her. I wish the plot moved a little faster, but overall it did feel genuine. The last 20% was a bit bonkers on everything that needed to happen in order for Teddy to put all the pieces together... and I wish the ending has been tied up a bit better.
Honestly a few chapters from Toby's point of view... or even some from Izzy giving readers more information than what Teddy has would have been really interesting and added a needed layer to the overall plot.
Teens that like their mysteries to be more quiet and focusing on the mental health of the person left behind will most likely enjoy this one.
Kathleen McInerney does a good job with the audiobook narration.
April 30, 2025
I liked it! I liked the characters, the romance, and most of the mystery aspects. A couple of times the narration tripped me up (Teddy is talking to her missing twin using second person) but that may just be because I've not read a book with this aspect before so I wasn't used to it. I think personally I would've liked the mystery to have a more sinister ending but that's because I like thrillers and murder mysteries. I do think a lot of it was more drama and grief than actual mystery so I would've liked more of that because the synopsis makes it seem like we're getting a murder mystery. Still, as someone with a twin who can't imagine losing her, especially in a situation like the one presented in this book, it was good for what it was.
Some notes of what I didn't like much (maybe spoilers?):
- smirking is such an overused trope now and the main love interest smirks SO much, kinda made me cringe a few times
-there's not a ton of solutions to the mystery aspects; things are learned and then forgotten about, and no justice is served to anyone which is frustrating
- I was expecting a big ending and I didn't get that--as I started to realize what the ending was going to be, I slowly became more and more disappointed
Some notes of what I didn't like much (maybe spoilers?):
- smirking is such an overused trope now and the main love interest smirks SO much, kinda made me cringe a few times
-there's not a ton of solutions to the mystery aspects; things are learned and then forgotten about, and no justice is served to anyone which is frustrating
- I was expecting a big ending and I didn't get that--as I started to realize what the ending was going to be, I slowly became more and more disappointed
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