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The Day He Disappeared
‘Tissues are required. I laughed, I cried, and I cried some more. A real tear-jerker!… An unputdownable page-turner… Absolutely heartbreaking.’ coffeeandpages2021 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘He wouldn’t just vanish!’ Kate cries, her head in her hands. ‘Something is wrong, I can feel it. And I have to find him before it’s too late…’
When Kate meets Theo on the worst day of her life, she doesn’t expect to fall in love.
Sitting on a broken-down train, desperate to reach her brother before his last breath, Kate feels all hope is lost. But then Theo, a man with a kind smile, offers to help. And as he gets Kate to the hospital on the darkest day of her life, she feels something brighten in her chest.
As Kate mends her broken heart, Theo doesn’t leave her side. Each day, he brings small joys to her life – from spontaneous dates in the hospital canteen, to a romantic weekend under the stars. And as she looks into his warm brown eyes, she feels she has found happiness at last…
But then Theo vanishes. Kate’s calls go unanswered, and his house stays dark and empty. No matter what her friends say, she knows something isn’t right. He wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye, would he?
Kate begins to search for the man she loves. But when she finds out the truth behind why he disappeared, her heart breaks once more. Because Theo made a promise to protect Kate, which is why he had to leave her… But can Kate face the truth and find Theo before it’s too late?
An absolutely heartbreaking, emotional novel that will keep you reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of unputdownable and page-turning family dramas, and for readers of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain.
Readers are loving The Day He Disappeared:
‘Keep the tissues handy and clear your schedule… You won’t be able to set this book down… Powerful.’ theliterateleprechaun
‘Oh my goodness! Left me speechless… Beautiful… Perfect… emotions [will be] chucked around like on a rollercoaster.’penfoldlayla
‘Ripped my heart out! A tearjerker… a heartbreaker.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Brought tears to my eyes… Wonderful.’ bookloverjb123
‘I cried several times… I loved it!’ the_dusti_bookshelf
‘I laughed, I cried… So emotional.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Read this in an evening… left me wanting more. I absolutely loved!’ Goodreads reviewer
‘I read it in one sitting… Had me in its grip… Heartbreaking.’ Rachelthepageturner
‘He wouldn’t just vanish!’ Kate cries, her head in her hands. ‘Something is wrong, I can feel it. And I have to find him before it’s too late…’
When Kate meets Theo on the worst day of her life, she doesn’t expect to fall in love.
Sitting on a broken-down train, desperate to reach her brother before his last breath, Kate feels all hope is lost. But then Theo, a man with a kind smile, offers to help. And as he gets Kate to the hospital on the darkest day of her life, she feels something brighten in her chest.
As Kate mends her broken heart, Theo doesn’t leave her side. Each day, he brings small joys to her life – from spontaneous dates in the hospital canteen, to a romantic weekend under the stars. And as she looks into his warm brown eyes, she feels she has found happiness at last…
But then Theo vanishes. Kate’s calls go unanswered, and his house stays dark and empty. No matter what her friends say, she knows something isn’t right. He wouldn’t leave without saying goodbye, would he?
Kate begins to search for the man she loves. But when she finds out the truth behind why he disappeared, her heart breaks once more. Because Theo made a promise to protect Kate, which is why he had to leave her… But can Kate face the truth and find Theo before it’s too late?
An absolutely heartbreaking, emotional novel that will keep you reading late into the night. Perfect for fans of unputdownable and page-turning family dramas, and for readers of Jodi Picoult, Liane Moriarty and Diane Chamberlain.
Readers are loving The Day He Disappeared:
‘Keep the tissues handy and clear your schedule… You won’t be able to set this book down… Powerful.’ theliterateleprechaun
‘Oh my goodness! Left me speechless… Beautiful… Perfect… emotions [will be] chucked around like on a rollercoaster.’penfoldlayla
‘Ripped my heart out! A tearjerker… a heartbreaker.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Brought tears to my eyes… Wonderful.’ bookloverjb123
‘I cried several times… I loved it!’ the_dusti_bookshelf
‘I laughed, I cried… So emotional.’ Goodreads reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
‘Read this in an evening… left me wanting more. I absolutely loved!’ Goodreads reviewer
‘I read it in one sitting… Had me in its grip… Heartbreaking.’ Rachelthepageturner
- GenresAudiobook
282 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 3, 2024
677 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
October 20, 2024
Catherine Miller sure knows how to write emotional stories that pull on readers’ heartstrings!
This powerful and epic romance story sheds light on grief ghosting. Never heard of it? It’s what happens when we are abandoned in our time of need by people we thought we could count on. As quickly as Theo came into her life, he leaves, making Kate, a respiratory specialist nurse, wonder what happened.
Kate is running on adrenaline when she first meets Theo and he becomes her guardian angel, helping her through a rough time in her life. Despite circumstances, they fall in love and he becomes her bedrock … until he ghosts her. Did she have it all wrong? What happened?
Keep the tissues handy and clear your schedule. You won’t be able to set the book down until you find out if Kate finds Theo and if she discovers why he disappeared.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
This powerful and epic romance story sheds light on grief ghosting. Never heard of it? It’s what happens when we are abandoned in our time of need by people we thought we could count on. As quickly as Theo came into her life, he leaves, making Kate, a respiratory specialist nurse, wonder what happened.
Kate is running on adrenaline when she first meets Theo and he becomes her guardian angel, helping her through a rough time in her life. Despite circumstances, they fall in love and he becomes her bedrock … until he ghosts her. Did she have it all wrong? What happened?
Keep the tissues handy and clear your schedule. You won’t be able to set the book down until you find out if Kate finds Theo and if she discovers why he disappeared.
I was gifted this copy by Bookouture and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.
October 14, 2024
I don’t know why I thought this was going to be a thriller, but accepted this widget absolutely thinking that’s what it was.
Imagine my surprise when I cried several times reading this love-loss-grief-acceptance story.
I loved the family connections of both Kate and Theo. I thought their support systems were so great - and it showed through the way they loved each other.
I thought the pacing was perfect, and I loved that the story wasn’t too long. Sometimes, a book can just have too many details and doesn’t focus on the story at hand. This was a one-track story, and I appreciated that!
I imagine the biggest criticism for this book will be the epilogue, because it’s quick and spans years. Honestly, though, I loved it! It was exactly what I wanted and needed to read. It’s not exactly a “happy” ending (I’m not a fan of them, anyway), but it’s the best ending.
Imagine my surprise when I cried several times reading this love-loss-grief-acceptance story.
I loved the family connections of both Kate and Theo. I thought their support systems were so great - and it showed through the way they loved each other.
I thought the pacing was perfect, and I loved that the story wasn’t too long. Sometimes, a book can just have too many details and doesn’t focus on the story at hand. This was a one-track story, and I appreciated that!
I imagine the biggest criticism for this book will be the epilogue, because it’s quick and spans years. Honestly, though, I loved it! It was exactly what I wanted and needed to read. It’s not exactly a “happy” ending (I’m not a fan of them, anyway), but it’s the best ending.
September 11, 2024
2 stars.
First off, thank you to the author and publisher for the advance copy of this book. As always, this is my honest review.
This was a quick, easy, and somewhat bittersweet read with a sprinkle of fluff. It’s the kind of book you can breeze through in one sitting, and while it had its tender moments, it didn’t fully hit the emotional depth I was hoping for. The bittersweetness came from the story’s underlying theme—it had that sense of something heartfelt, yet tinged with a little sadness. Those parts were touching, but also predictable. I saw a lot of the plot twists coming, which took away some of the emotional punch.
While I appreciated the overall tone and the occasional tender moments, it didn’t quite stick the landing for me. The emotional highs and lows felt muted, almost like it was holding back from fully diving into the bittersweet potential it had. It was a nice, fluffy read with some underlying sadness, but ultimately it didn’t leave a lasting impression.
If you’re in the mood for a light, bittersweet story that doesn’t get too heavy, it might just hit the spot. But if you’re looking for a deep, emotional journey, this one might feel a bit too predictable.
First off, thank you to the author and publisher for the advance copy of this book. As always, this is my honest review.
This was a quick, easy, and somewhat bittersweet read with a sprinkle of fluff. It’s the kind of book you can breeze through in one sitting, and while it had its tender moments, it didn’t fully hit the emotional depth I was hoping for. The bittersweetness came from the story’s underlying theme—it had that sense of something heartfelt, yet tinged with a little sadness. Those parts were touching, but also predictable. I saw a lot of the plot twists coming, which took away some of the emotional punch.
While I appreciated the overall tone and the occasional tender moments, it didn’t quite stick the landing for me. The emotional highs and lows felt muted, almost like it was holding back from fully diving into the bittersweet potential it had. It was a nice, fluffy read with some underlying sadness, but ultimately it didn’t leave a lasting impression.
If you’re in the mood for a light, bittersweet story that doesn’t get too heavy, it might just hit the spot. But if you’re looking for a deep, emotional journey, this one might feel a bit too predictable.
September 10, 2024
This book is much different than the books I normally read; I thought from the synopsis that it was a thriller, so I accepted the chance to be on this book’s tour, but a thriller it is not. The synopsis also has claims of this being a heartbreaking page-turner; that part is absolutely correct.
Kate is a nurse whose brother, Matthew, has cystic fibrosis and not much longer to live. When she isn’t working at the hospital, she’s in her brother’s room there - he could go at any time, and she doesn’t want to be gone when he passes. She is invited to a bachelorette party though, and her brother insists she go. He’s been doing slightly better, and he doesn’t want her to miss out on life to be by his side…so go she does, only to have her parents contact her while she’s on the trip, letting her know that Matthew took a sudden turn for the worse and they don’t know how many days, or even hours, he has left.
Kate immediately gets on a train back home, where she meets Theo. He notices she’s a wreck, he offers her a tissue, and it was love at first sight for both of them. When their train arrives, he drives Kate to the hospital, where she rushes away to see her brother. Theo later tracks her down, and meets Matthew, who asks him to take care of Kate when he dies. Soon they are officially dating - until Theo gets some life-changing news and ghosts Kate, leaving her crushed and wondering what happened.
I pride myself in being a horror and thriller fanatic who doesn’t read “girly” books, but I also like when I read a book by accident - and enjoy it! This is a heartbreaking romance, which I usually avoid, but this was just written so well. I read it in one sitting; my biggest complaint is that the ending was too abrupt and this could have been much longer, but it definitely had me in its grip the whole way through. Four stars.
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour. “The Day He Disappeared” is slated to be released on October 3, 2024.)
Kate is a nurse whose brother, Matthew, has cystic fibrosis and not much longer to live. When she isn’t working at the hospital, she’s in her brother’s room there - he could go at any time, and she doesn’t want to be gone when he passes. She is invited to a bachelorette party though, and her brother insists she go. He’s been doing slightly better, and he doesn’t want her to miss out on life to be by his side…so go she does, only to have her parents contact her while she’s on the trip, letting her know that Matthew took a sudden turn for the worse and they don’t know how many days, or even hours, he has left.
Kate immediately gets on a train back home, where she meets Theo. He notices she’s a wreck, he offers her a tissue, and it was love at first sight for both of them. When their train arrives, he drives Kate to the hospital, where she rushes away to see her brother. Theo later tracks her down, and meets Matthew, who asks him to take care of Kate when he dies. Soon they are officially dating - until Theo gets some life-changing news and ghosts Kate, leaving her crushed and wondering what happened.
I pride myself in being a horror and thriller fanatic who doesn’t read “girly” books, but I also like when I read a book by accident - and enjoy it! This is a heartbreaking romance, which I usually avoid, but this was just written so well. I read it in one sitting; my biggest complaint is that the ending was too abrupt and this could have been much longer, but it definitely had me in its grip the whole way through. Four stars.
(Thank you to Bookouture for inviting me on this book’s tour. “The Day He Disappeared” is slated to be released on October 3, 2024.)
November 10, 2024
First, I want to thank Catherine Miller, Bookouture and NetGalley for providing me with this book so I may bring you this review.
Usually, my go to genre is psychological thrillers. However, a huge part of me craves emotionally charged, heartstrings pulled, tissues needed kind of stories that will make you ugly cry. Cathrine Miller had that effect on me with her latest The Day He Disappeared!
Catherine wants to dedicate this book to Eden, her youngest by twenty-seven minutes and her perfect package.
The graphic designers did a beautiful job of creating the cover of The Day He Disappeared! I loved the simplicity of the beautiful girl with the flowing long hair on the cover and the colorful backdrop.
Early on page one Catherine yanked hard on my heart strings and oh I knew to go fetch the tissues. The Day He Disappeared is a story of the incredibly strong bond that a sister and her dying brother share. It is a storyline that made me want to call my sister and tell her I love and appreciate her in my life!
I was quite surprised and could not stop laughing at one of the scenes given the seriousness of the situation. But it was just the raunchy comical relief that the character needed and threw the reader off guard it was priceless! I couldn’t stop laughing, it was just so funny!
My heart was incredibly happy that Theo was able to meet Matthew who met so much with Kate before it was too late.
I loved how Theo and Kate met by chance and their budding relationship throughout the book
The Day He Disappeared will have you glued to your kindle, have you wanting to hug your sibling a little tighter, one minute you will be smiling and have love in your heart, and the next minute you will be reaching for your tissues! Needless to say you will be on an emotional rollercoaster but loving every minute of it! Well at least I did. This is a must read and has to be added to your TBR list.
Usually, my go to genre is psychological thrillers. However, a huge part of me craves emotionally charged, heartstrings pulled, tissues needed kind of stories that will make you ugly cry. Cathrine Miller had that effect on me with her latest The Day He Disappeared!
Catherine wants to dedicate this book to Eden, her youngest by twenty-seven minutes and her perfect package.
The graphic designers did a beautiful job of creating the cover of The Day He Disappeared! I loved the simplicity of the beautiful girl with the flowing long hair on the cover and the colorful backdrop.
Early on page one Catherine yanked hard on my heart strings and oh I knew to go fetch the tissues. The Day He Disappeared is a story of the incredibly strong bond that a sister and her dying brother share. It is a storyline that made me want to call my sister and tell her I love and appreciate her in my life!
I was quite surprised and could not stop laughing at one of the scenes given the seriousness of the situation. But it was just the raunchy comical relief that the character needed and threw the reader off guard it was priceless! I couldn’t stop laughing, it was just so funny!
My heart was incredibly happy that Theo was able to meet Matthew who met so much with Kate before it was too late.
I loved how Theo and Kate met by chance and their budding relationship throughout the book
The Day He Disappeared will have you glued to your kindle, have you wanting to hug your sibling a little tighter, one minute you will be smiling and have love in your heart, and the next minute you will be reaching for your tissues! Needless to say you will be on an emotional rollercoaster but loving every minute of it! Well at least I did. This is a must read and has to be added to your TBR list.
September 30, 2024
Catherine Miller might have been missing from writing class the day they taught authors how to "show not tell". She tells, and I did not believe what she was telling me. Which means that, in this book where the reader needs to believe in the love between the two main characters, I found it juvenile and was not at all invested in them. The structure seemed to be to have something happen, and then have one of the characters tell someone else about it. it was very repetitious. I also just didn't feel the highs and the lows that the reader was clearly meant to feel.
The back of the book and the title is quite misleading. (Mild spoilers ahead)
he doesn't disappear. He breaks up with her. Not the same thing.
Catherine Miller and her writing style are clearly not for me, but maybe it's because I'm old and jaded and cynical.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The back of the book and the title is quite misleading. (Mild spoilers ahead)
he doesn't disappear. He breaks up with her. Not the same thing.
Catherine Miller and her writing style are clearly not for me, but maybe it's because I'm old and jaded and cynical.
I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 9, 2024
3.5 stars.
Based on the title I was expecting this to be a thriller so I was surprised it was more of romance. The story is emotional at times and there is a heavy theme of loss.
Though parts of the story are predictable I did enjoy reading about these characters.
Though I did have an emotional response this book could have been much sadder and I’m glad that the author didn’t take it all the way. As with so many romance books I rolled my eyes at things one of the main characters did. I was grateful the author didn’t prolong certain aspects.
I enjoyed the prologue and I wish that the author had spent some more time discussing how their story unfolded.
Overall, though this wasn’t what I was expecting I enjoyed the story and didn’t stop reading until it was done. If you are a fan of romance (no smut) and especially one that will tug at your heart strings you should give this one a try.
Based on the title I was expecting this to be a thriller so I was surprised it was more of romance. The story is emotional at times and there is a heavy theme of loss.
Though parts of the story are predictable I did enjoy reading about these characters.
Though I did have an emotional response this book could have been much sadder and I’m glad that the author didn’t take it all the way. As with so many romance books I rolled my eyes at things one of the main characters did. I was grateful the author didn’t prolong certain aspects.
I enjoyed the prologue and I wish that the author had spent some more time discussing how their story unfolded.
Overall, though this wasn’t what I was expecting I enjoyed the story and didn’t stop reading until it was done. If you are a fan of romance (no smut) and especially one that will tug at your heart strings you should give this one a try.
September 26, 2024
3.5 stars
After I read the plot I thought I was going to read something and when I was actually reading the book I felt like I was reading something else.
BUT the book turned up being really emotional and it was an interesting surprise. It showed what grief was, but also what real love was. I felt really sorry for Theo and Kate, but I was happy that they got to spend some special moments in the end.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the free ARC!
After I read the plot I thought I was going to read something and when I was actually reading the book I felt like I was reading something else.
BUT the book turned up being really emotional and it was an interesting surprise. It showed what grief was, but also what real love was. I felt really sorry for Theo and Kate, but I was happy that they got to spend some special moments in the end.
Thank you Bookouture and NetGalley for the free ARC!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 3, 2024
The Day He Disappeared by Catherine Miller.
I did like the cover and blurb of this book. This was an absolutely heartbreaking and emotional read. I did like Kate straight away. Especially how she was with her brother Daniel. I wasn't sure how I felt about Theo. I did like Kate’s friends Freya and Lauren. I liked Anita. I was not surprised how quickly I read this book. I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. I had very mixed emotions about this book. I did like this ending
I did like the cover and blurb of this book. This was an absolutely heartbreaking and emotional read. I did like Kate straight away. Especially how she was with her brother Daniel. I wasn't sure how I felt about Theo. I did like Kate’s friends Freya and Lauren. I liked Anita. I was not surprised how quickly I read this book. I read it in one sitting. I couldn't put it down. I had very mixed emotions about this book. I did like this ending
October 9, 2024
Oh my goodness! This is one of those books where your emotions literally get chucked around like a rollercoaster. It’s left me speechless. The writing is beautiful, the words are free flowing when it came to reading them. The story is definitely one that I will remember for a long time. There wasn’t one character that I didn’t like, Theo and Kate are a match made in heaven, absolutely perfect. The characters are all really lovely and down to earth.
This is a heart crunching, touching book.
This is a heart crunching, touching book.
November 2, 2024
I absolutely love this book. It's a jawdropping phenomenon. When I got towards the end of the book , I could not put it down. I would recommend this to anybody who loves heartbreaking, warming, and deep stories. It's a It's a brilliant book.
January 4, 2025
3.5 stars - SUPER depressing book but didn’t quite shed a tear. Kate is 1 x unlucky girl but the ending is so sweet/heart breaking. Theo is a cool guy, even if he did wear yellow checkered pants when they first met.
February 9, 2025
The author wrote this book quickly because she had to attend to a civic duty I read it quickly because it was brilliant predictable possibly, likable characters absolutely, and if I took anything away from this, it’s find joy in the smallest of moments.
February 4, 2025
Described as a “thriller” and it most definitely is not.
October 5, 2024
A beautifully written story of love and loss.
Kate has always been her brother, Matthew’s, main carer and after Cystic Fibrosis takes him from her, she turns to Theo for support. But when Theo discovers that he can’t keep the promise he made to Matthew, he walks away, leaving Kate in pieces.
The relationship between the two siblings was so wonderful to read, despite the sad circumstances and the bond between Kate and Theo was so strong, it felt almost cosmic (now where’s that shooting star?).
It was fairly easy to predict the outcome and I would have preferred less build up and more detail of Kate’s life once she knew the truth as the ending felt a little rushed.
Despite that though, Catherine Miller’s writing and characters are completely compelling and I really enjoyed this book.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Catherine Miller and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.
Kate has always been her brother, Matthew’s, main carer and after Cystic Fibrosis takes him from her, she turns to Theo for support. But when Theo discovers that he can’t keep the promise he made to Matthew, he walks away, leaving Kate in pieces.
The relationship between the two siblings was so wonderful to read, despite the sad circumstances and the bond between Kate and Theo was so strong, it felt almost cosmic (now where’s that shooting star?).
It was fairly easy to predict the outcome and I would have preferred less build up and more detail of Kate’s life once she knew the truth as the ending felt a little rushed.
Despite that though, Catherine Miller’s writing and characters are completely compelling and I really enjoyed this book.
4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, Catherine Miller and Bookouture, for an ARC in return for an honest review.
July 3, 2025
RANDOM THOUGHTS
-4⭐️ – This broke my heart in all the quiet, subtle ways.
I went in blind, thinking from the title this might be a thriller (oops), but what I got instead was a moving story about love, grief, and choosing joy when life won’t give you the fairytale.
-What it’s really about:
Kate is a nurse who’s spent her whole life caring for her brother, Matthew, who has cystic fibrosis. She has no real “life” outside of the hospital and her brother’s room—and she’s honestly okay with that. But on the rare weekend she allows herself a break for a bachelorette party (because Matt insists), she meets Theo on a train. And, well... life changes.
What starts as a sweet chance meeting quickly becomes something real. But then Theo gets devastating news of his own, and instead of talking to Kate, he ghosts. It hurts even more when you realize that this was the guy who helped her through her brother’s death—and now he's gone too.
-What I loved:
The sibling bond between Kate and Matthew was everything. It felt raw and real, and the way he pushed her to live, even when he was dying, was beautiful.
Theo. His kindness, the way he supported her, and the instant connection felt like something bigger than just romance. Cosmic, even.
Insta-love doesn’t usually work for me, but I completely forgave it here. When you know, you know—and they knew.
The support systems for both Kate and Theo were written with so much heart. From Matt playing accidental Cupid to the loving friends and families, the warmth in the margins of this story really carried the grief at the center.
The pacing! Short, focused, not too detailed or bloated, and I appreciated that. It kept the emotion tight and the story direct.
at least theo got to see and hold his baby
-What didn’t work as well:
The epilogue was emotional and covered a lot of time quickly. I know some people might love that, but I wanted more from Kate’s life after everything—more of her navigating motherhood, grief, and healing. It felt rushed.
I didn’t love the way Theo’s final years were made to seem dreamy and romantic. Realistically, that would’ve been incredibly hard on both of them—Theo’s suffering, Kate’s caregiving responsibilities, the mental load… but I guess love softens the edges in fiction.
Kate choosing to have a baby knowing Theo wouldn’t be there... it’s complicated. Emotionally, I get why she did it, and I respect that. But my realistic brain couldn’t help but think about the burden she would carry alone.
The resolution between Theo and Kate felt a bit too quick, especially after everything they went through.
-Final thoughts:
I didn’t expect to tear up this much. This wasn’t a loud or overly dramatic story—it was soft, painful, and kind of beautiful. Kate and Theo deserved more time, more life, more everything. But I’m glad they had what they did, even for a little while. And I’m glad Kate got to hold on to a piece of him.
Bittersweet, quiet, and full of love in the face of heartbreaking odds.
-
-4⭐️ – This broke my heart in all the quiet, subtle ways.
I went in blind, thinking from the title this might be a thriller (oops), but what I got instead was a moving story about love, grief, and choosing joy when life won’t give you the fairytale.
-What it’s really about:
Kate is a nurse who’s spent her whole life caring for her brother, Matthew, who has cystic fibrosis. She has no real “life” outside of the hospital and her brother’s room—and she’s honestly okay with that. But on the rare weekend she allows herself a break for a bachelorette party (because Matt insists), she meets Theo on a train. And, well... life changes.
What starts as a sweet chance meeting quickly becomes something real. But then Theo gets devastating news of his own, and instead of talking to Kate, he ghosts. It hurts even more when you realize that this was the guy who helped her through her brother’s death—and now he's gone too.
-What I loved:
The sibling bond between Kate and Matthew was everything. It felt raw and real, and the way he pushed her to live, even when he was dying, was beautiful.
Theo. His kindness, the way he supported her, and the instant connection felt like something bigger than just romance. Cosmic, even.
Insta-love doesn’t usually work for me, but I completely forgave it here. When you know, you know—and they knew.
The support systems for both Kate and Theo were written with so much heart. From Matt playing accidental Cupid to the loving friends and families, the warmth in the margins of this story really carried the grief at the center.
The pacing! Short, focused, not too detailed or bloated, and I appreciated that. It kept the emotion tight and the story direct.
at least theo got to see and hold his baby
-What didn’t work as well:
The epilogue was emotional and covered a lot of time quickly. I know some people might love that, but I wanted more from Kate’s life after everything—more of her navigating motherhood, grief, and healing. It felt rushed.
I didn’t love the way Theo’s final years were made to seem dreamy and romantic. Realistically, that would’ve been incredibly hard on both of them—Theo’s suffering, Kate’s caregiving responsibilities, the mental load… but I guess love softens the edges in fiction.
Kate choosing to have a baby knowing Theo wouldn’t be there... it’s complicated. Emotionally, I get why she did it, and I respect that. But my realistic brain couldn’t help but think about the burden she would carry alone.
The resolution between Theo and Kate felt a bit too quick, especially after everything they went through.
-Final thoughts:
I didn’t expect to tear up this much. This wasn’t a loud or overly dramatic story—it was soft, painful, and kind of beautiful. Kate and Theo deserved more time, more life, more everything. But I’m glad they had what they did, even for a little while. And I’m glad Kate got to hold on to a piece of him.
Bittersweet, quiet, and full of love in the face of heartbreaking odds.
-
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 12, 2024
Book Review: The Day He Disappeared by Catherine Miller
Title: The Day He Disappeared
Author: Catherine Miller
Length: 282 pages
Publisher: Bookoutre
Publishing date: 3rd October 2024
Genre: Fiction, Emotional, Women’s Fiction,
My Rating: 3.5/5
Summary:
The story is of a young girl Kate who is about to lose her brother to an illness. In very unlikely circumstances she meets a man Theo. She falls in love with Theo and wants to spend the rest of her life with him. However, the rest of the life is to be cut short by again an illness. What happens builds the crux of the story.
My Take:
I thank Netgalley and Bookoutre for providing me with the ARC of the book for a honest review. The review provided in this blog are my own and I am not paid for the review. After a fabulously light read got from netgalley, this was time for a little heavy read and this book indeed is a heavy read. The tagline of the book reads, sometimes the end is only the beginning and story is absolutely true to it. In every end depicted, there is a new beginning.
Story is written from the perspective of Kate and Theo, the main protagonists which is beautiful. It doesn’t leave any room for suspense and story from both the sides is beautifully woven. Short character of Kate’s brother is also beautifully written.
Characterisation seems genuine and not very fictional. There are just 5 main characters in the book and very well graphed. Rest of the characters seemed more like fillers. Book without doubt has a fast paced story with many Emotional scenes and an absolute page turner. Some of the scenes are sure to get a tear to your eyes particularly when Kate’s brother dies. Narration is superb and does touch your heart.
Lot of things seem quite rushed. The confrontation scene could have been elaborated but it seemed very superficial. My expectation would have been an emotional confrontation which was not. Epilogue pretty much summarizes the story and all the lose ends neatly tied.
Overall the story could have been a tear jerker but lags somewhere. I would say I did like the book though.
Title: The Day He Disappeared
Author: Catherine Miller
Length: 282 pages
Publisher: Bookoutre
Publishing date: 3rd October 2024
Genre: Fiction, Emotional, Women’s Fiction,
My Rating: 3.5/5
Summary:
The story is of a young girl Kate who is about to lose her brother to an illness. In very unlikely circumstances she meets a man Theo. She falls in love with Theo and wants to spend the rest of her life with him. However, the rest of the life is to be cut short by again an illness. What happens builds the crux of the story.
My Take:
I thank Netgalley and Bookoutre for providing me with the ARC of the book for a honest review. The review provided in this blog are my own and I am not paid for the review. After a fabulously light read got from netgalley, this was time for a little heavy read and this book indeed is a heavy read. The tagline of the book reads, sometimes the end is only the beginning and story is absolutely true to it. In every end depicted, there is a new beginning.
Story is written from the perspective of Kate and Theo, the main protagonists which is beautiful. It doesn’t leave any room for suspense and story from both the sides is beautifully woven. Short character of Kate’s brother is also beautifully written.
Characterisation seems genuine and not very fictional. There are just 5 main characters in the book and very well graphed. Rest of the characters seemed more like fillers. Book without doubt has a fast paced story with many Emotional scenes and an absolute page turner. Some of the scenes are sure to get a tear to your eyes particularly when Kate’s brother dies. Narration is superb and does touch your heart.
Lot of things seem quite rushed. The confrontation scene could have been elaborated but it seemed very superficial. My expectation would have been an emotional confrontation which was not. Epilogue pretty much summarizes the story and all the lose ends neatly tied.
Overall the story could have been a tear jerker but lags somewhere. I would say I did like the book though.
September 24, 2024
The Day He Disappeared by Catherine Miller is a highly recommended family drama/love story for the right reader.
Kate meets Theo when she is rushing back from a bachelorette party to get to her brother's bedside at the hospital where she works as a nurse. Her brother, Matthew, has cystic fibrosis and her parents called her to let her know he has taken a turn for the worse and may not live much longer. When thee train is delayed by a tree on the track, Theo notices her distress and offers her a tissue. The two strike up a conversation and Theo offers to drive Kate to the hospital.
Later, a chance meeting between the two happens when Theo was bringing his Nan in and sees Kate. The two happily exchange numbers. Before he dies, Matthew meets Theo and asks him to make a promise. The two begin dating and Theo is there for Kate when Matthew dies. Their relationship is going well until Theo gets some bad news and ghosts Kate. She knows something isn't right, but first she has to get Theo to talk to her.
The Day He Disappeared is a light read. There is no complicated, twisty plot. It is not a thriller and much closer to a love story. The plot is predictable. This is not my usual fare at all as I prefer more action and complicated plots, but I will admit that The Day He Disappeared is a heartbreaking emotional novel that held my attention throughout.
If you enjoy love stories that move at a fast pace and have an emotional impact, then this would be fine choice for your next book. 3 stars for me personally, but 4 for readers who gravitate toward this genre and because I kept reading even after I realized it was not a thriller. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...
Kate meets Theo when she is rushing back from a bachelorette party to get to her brother's bedside at the hospital where she works as a nurse. Her brother, Matthew, has cystic fibrosis and her parents called her to let her know he has taken a turn for the worse and may not live much longer. When thee train is delayed by a tree on the track, Theo notices her distress and offers her a tissue. The two strike up a conversation and Theo offers to drive Kate to the hospital.
Later, a chance meeting between the two happens when Theo was bringing his Nan in and sees Kate. The two happily exchange numbers. Before he dies, Matthew meets Theo and asks him to make a promise. The two begin dating and Theo is there for Kate when Matthew dies. Their relationship is going well until Theo gets some bad news and ghosts Kate. She knows something isn't right, but first she has to get Theo to talk to her.
The Day He Disappeared is a light read. There is no complicated, twisty plot. It is not a thriller and much closer to a love story. The plot is predictable. This is not my usual fare at all as I prefer more action and complicated plots, but I will admit that The Day He Disappeared is a heartbreaking emotional novel that held my attention throughout.
If you enjoy love stories that move at a fast pace and have an emotional impact, then this would be fine choice for your next book. 3 stars for me personally, but 4 for readers who gravitate toward this genre and because I kept reading even after I realized it was not a thriller. Thanks to Bookouture for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/0...
September 25, 2024
I have mixed feelings about The Day He Disappeared. (Slight spoilers below but not really!)
This a good read for when you want something light that tugs on the heartstrings, with a bit of PG romance thrown in.
The relationship between the main character (Kate) and her brother was lovely, and I felt the way the author described her complicated grief after his death was well done. I thought Kate was written well with some depth, and she was a likeable character.
Unfortunately I found her love interest, Theo, pretty one dimensional. I wasn't sure why Kate liked him. He was pretty strait-laced (after falling in a stinking bog, he simply said "Oh my" - I think some stronger words would be in order?) and I found him bland. Kate could do better! But the development of their love story was very sweet, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the exciting early days of a relationship.
The story took a while to get where it was going, and ended a bit abruptly. But I enjoyed the epilogue and how it linked to the prologue - which made me genuinely emotional.
Warning: The synopsis paints this book as a bit of a thriller, but it's not at all. Don't be fooled like I was. Having said that, I came for the (non-existent) thriller and stayed for the romance!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for the arc and the opportunity for this honest review.
This a good read for when you want something light that tugs on the heartstrings, with a bit of PG romance thrown in.
The relationship between the main character (Kate) and her brother was lovely, and I felt the way the author described her complicated grief after his death was well done. I thought Kate was written well with some depth, and she was a likeable character.
Unfortunately I found her love interest, Theo, pretty one dimensional. I wasn't sure why Kate liked him. He was pretty strait-laced (after falling in a stinking bog, he simply said "Oh my" - I think some stronger words would be in order?) and I found him bland. Kate could do better! But the development of their love story was very sweet, and I enjoyed the descriptions of the exciting early days of a relationship.
The story took a while to get where it was going, and ended a bit abruptly. But I enjoyed the epilogue and how it linked to the prologue - which made me genuinely emotional.
Warning: The synopsis paints this book as a bit of a thriller, but it's not at all. Don't be fooled like I was. Having said that, I came for the (non-existent) thriller and stayed for the romance!
Thanks to Netgalley and Bookoutre for the arc and the opportunity for this honest review.
August 30, 2024
3.5⭐️
La vida de Kate gira en torno a su hermano quien tiene fibrosis quistica, se volvió enfermera por él, después de trabajar se queda a cuidarlo, a penas ve a sus amigas y ni hablar de tener citas.
Ella sabe que le queda poco tiempo de vida a su hermano por lo que no quiere despegarse de él, pero un día decide ir a una fiesta y justo cuando se está divirtiendo recibe malas noticias y tiene que regresar al hospital. La pobre no encuentra como regresar y es ahí que conoce a Theo, él la lleva al hospital y a partir de ese momento se vuelven inseparables.
Theo es arquitecto, es exitoso, es cercano a su familia y estar con Kate hace que su vida sea perfecta, lamentablemente pasan ciertas cosas que lo obligan a alejarse de ella sin explicaciones, pero ella no se rendirá hasta que le diga porque se fue.
No se como sentirme con ese final, por un lado estoy feliz por todas las cosas buenas, pero por el otro lado me dolió el corazón por como terminaran las cosas.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
La vida de Kate gira en torno a su hermano quien tiene fibrosis quistica, se volvió enfermera por él, después de trabajar se queda a cuidarlo, a penas ve a sus amigas y ni hablar de tener citas.
Ella sabe que le queda poco tiempo de vida a su hermano por lo que no quiere despegarse de él, pero un día decide ir a una fiesta y justo cuando se está divirtiendo recibe malas noticias y tiene que regresar al hospital. La pobre no encuentra como regresar y es ahí que conoce a Theo, él la lleva al hospital y a partir de ese momento se vuelven inseparables.
Theo es arquitecto, es exitoso, es cercano a su familia y estar con Kate hace que su vida sea perfecta, lamentablemente pasan ciertas cosas que lo obligan a alejarse de ella sin explicaciones, pero ella no se rendirá hasta que le diga porque se fue.
No se como sentirme con ese final, por un lado estoy feliz por todas las cosas buenas, pero por el otro lado me dolió el corazón por como terminaran las cosas.
Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 16, 2024
For me, this book was not a tear jerker nor a heart breaker, it absolutely ripped my heart out and then pummelled it into a bloody mess! Luckily for me there was some light at the end of this dark tunnel I had been travelling through which gave me hope and I loved the way the book ended before it turned my tears back on again!
This author has proven before that she can write highly emotive stories and this is just another example of her skill. The characters she has created are both likeable and relatable which only heightens the emotional response to the events they live through within this tale and the way they react and interact throughout.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it did run me through a wide range of emotions both good and bad/sad ones but I enjoy having all of those reactions to the books I read. It kind of is the reason I read books, I much prefer to experience all those emotions vicariously now and live a nice calm peaceful existence in my real life.
This author has proven before that she can write highly emotive stories and this is just another example of her skill. The characters she has created are both likeable and relatable which only heightens the emotional response to the events they live through within this tale and the way they react and interact throughout.
I really enjoyed reading this book, it did run me through a wide range of emotions both good and bad/sad ones but I enjoy having all of those reactions to the books I read. It kind of is the reason I read books, I much prefer to experience all those emotions vicariously now and live a nice calm peaceful existence in my real life.
October 3, 2024
The Day He Disappeared by Catherine Miller is a heart-wrenching story of promises made in the darkest of times, family, tragedy, and love lost. Kate is a nurse, she has heard from her parents that her brother is losing his fight for life. She catches a train but is impeded when it stops unexpectedly. Kate breaks down and is offered a tissue by a man with a kind face, Theo
Theo takes Kate to the hospital so that she can say goodbye to her brother. Theo supports Kate as she grieves, and works through her pain and sorrow. Over time, they get closer and develop a relationshisp, that is, until Theo disappears
This book is written with empathy, a story of two hearts and the lengths a woman will go to to find the man she loves, or the answers to why he disappeared without a trace
A good read that will leave your heart raw.
Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Catherine Miller for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
Theo takes Kate to the hospital so that she can say goodbye to her brother. Theo supports Kate as she grieves, and works through her pain and sorrow. Over time, they get closer and develop a relationshisp, that is, until Theo disappears
This book is written with empathy, a story of two hearts and the lengths a woman will go to to find the man she loves, or the answers to why he disappeared without a trace
A good read that will leave your heart raw.
Thank you to Bookouture, NetGalley and Catherine Miller for this ARC. My review is left voluntarily and all opinions are my own
September 1, 2024
Although Kate meets Theo under the worst of circumstances, the generous support and affection that he provides in that difficult situation makes her realize - in the days that follow - that he is the love of her life.
So she's entirely unprepared for him to disappear from her life without any explanation.
Kate knows that Theo would never just abandon her, so she realises that something must be wrong. But what if the motive behind Theo's disappearance is an altruistic one?
And how do you find a man who doesn't want to be found?
This is an emotional and compelling story about how people cope with loss and what they are willing to do for love. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
So she's entirely unprepared for him to disappear from her life without any explanation.
Kate knows that Theo would never just abandon her, so she realises that something must be wrong. But what if the motive behind Theo's disappearance is an altruistic one?
And how do you find a man who doesn't want to be found?
This is an emotional and compelling story about how people cope with loss and what they are willing to do for love. It gets 3.5 stars.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
September 26, 2024
Kate’s brother Matthew had cystic fibrosis and she has helped to look after him all his life. When invited away for a hen weekend, Kate doesn’t want to go; being a nurse, she knows her brother’s health is gradually getting worse. Matthew insists on her going, and she reluctantly agrees.
Kate receives a phone call from her parents whilst she is away, Matthew has deteriorated and no one is sure how long he has left. Kate now has to get home as quickly as possible.
On the train back, she meets Theo, and there is an instant attraction. Theo offers her a lift to the hospital and their relationship continues from there.
Both settle well into the relationship, then Theo receives some devastating and life-changing news. He proceeds to cut Kate out of his life completely.
Goodness me, what a story! My emotions were all over the place with this book. One minute I was laughing at things Matthew came out with, the next minute, I would be sobbing my heart out. I had to read this with a tissue in my hand.
An enjoyable read, that I did not want to put down.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
Kate receives a phone call from her parents whilst she is away, Matthew has deteriorated and no one is sure how long he has left. Kate now has to get home as quickly as possible.
On the train back, she meets Theo, and there is an instant attraction. Theo offers her a lift to the hospital and their relationship continues from there.
Both settle well into the relationship, then Theo receives some devastating and life-changing news. He proceeds to cut Kate out of his life completely.
Goodness me, what a story! My emotions were all over the place with this book. One minute I was laughing at things Matthew came out with, the next minute, I would be sobbing my heart out. I had to read this with a tissue in my hand.
An enjoyable read, that I did not want to put down.
My thanks to Bookouture and NetGalley for a copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 7, 2024
So good!
This book was both heartbreaking and heartwarming throughout. As a reader, I only wanted to comfort Kate during her brother's illness and death, and then later on in the book as well (no spoilers here!). I loved the way Kate and Ethan's relationship developed despite the origin, and how he supported her even though the relationship was brand new at the time.
Do I love the way the rest of Ethan's story was handled? Not so much, but since I won't write spoilers, there's not much more I can say. Overall, I liked the book and would definitely look for more from this author.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
This book was both heartbreaking and heartwarming throughout. As a reader, I only wanted to comfort Kate during her brother's illness and death, and then later on in the book as well (no spoilers here!). I loved the way Kate and Ethan's relationship developed despite the origin, and how he supported her even though the relationship was brand new at the time.
Do I love the way the rest of Ethan's story was handled? Not so much, but since I won't write spoilers, there's not much more I can say. Overall, I liked the book and would definitely look for more from this author.
Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.
October 3, 2024
Wow - this book needs to come with a box of tissues. It had me going from about 50 pages in and could I put this down no. It is full of love, loss, family and friendship which show you the best of the human population. Our main characters Kate and Theo make an instant connection over tragedy and their love goes from strength to strength until a tragic situation stop the relationship from blossoming. We have characters who you can imagine being your best friends and then you feel so much for them that you just want them to get together. Catherine Miller can definitely write a tear-jerker with a beautiful writing style which flows between characters and situations. This is an author to watch.
October 9, 2024
4⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
✨ heartbreaking twist
✨ thriller
✨ fast paced
✨ I never thought this book would come to a different ending. With a thought of it being only a thriller but a romance full of heartbreak and guilt.
I left a little bit isolated reading the few chapters as it felt different from what I use to read and that is a good thing. A shocking ending which I have never felt.
I’m looking forward to listen this one on audiobook and it can be interpret even more.
✨ Thankyou @bookouture for the opportunity to read this arc for a honest review.
✨shaye.reads
✨ heartbreaking twist
✨ thriller
✨ fast paced
✨ I never thought this book would come to a different ending. With a thought of it being only a thriller but a romance full of heartbreak and guilt.
I left a little bit isolated reading the few chapters as it felt different from what I use to read and that is a good thing. A shocking ending which I have never felt.
I’m looking forward to listen this one on audiobook and it can be interpret even more.
✨ Thankyou @bookouture for the opportunity to read this arc for a honest review.
✨shaye.reads
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 7, 2024
This was my first book by Catherine Miller and I would be interested to read more of her books. I thought the relationship between Theo and Kate was so sweet even though they met under sad circumstances. I did think one of Theo's decisions was wrong, although completely understand why he did it. I would have given this book 3.5 stars if I could. Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture and Catherine Miller for the ARC of this book.
September 7, 2024
“ And do you know what I’d It again with you?
Kate is rushing home for her seriously ill brother when she meets Theo on the train. Which starts his friendship quickly turns to love.
So why does he start distancing himself? Stop returning phone calls? Moves out of his apartment.
Without any explanation.
This book was so emotional, I laughed, I cried, I told everyone I know I love them.
It was very fast moving, and there was so much love in every page!
Kate is rushing home for her seriously ill brother when she meets Theo on the train. Which starts his friendship quickly turns to love.
So why does he start distancing himself? Stop returning phone calls? Moves out of his apartment.
Without any explanation.
This book was so emotional, I laughed, I cried, I told everyone I know I love them.
It was very fast moving, and there was so much love in every page!
September 11, 2024
Thank you Netgalley for my copy.
Oops... The title and the cover misled me. I thought this was a thriller which is my go to genre. It's not, it's a romance (although it lacks one certain part that makes it genre fitting). Anyway not much warms my cold l, dead heart and I'm afraid this book didn't either. It did however give it a good go.
It was well written and although I found Kate a bit annoying, I liked Matthew.
Anyway, it this is your genre, you will love it.
Oops... The title and the cover misled me. I thought this was a thriller which is my go to genre. It's not, it's a romance (although it lacks one certain part that makes it genre fitting). Anyway not much warms my cold l, dead heart and I'm afraid this book didn't either. It did however give it a good go.
It was well written and although I found Kate a bit annoying, I liked Matthew.
Anyway, it this is your genre, you will love it.
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