Isabella’s Not Dead

by Beth Morrey

From the Sunday Times bestselling author, for anyone who's ever been ghosted – and wondered why…

'Unputdownable' Mel Giedroyc 'Beth is a really clever, funny writer' Nina Stibbe 'The queen of feel-good fiction' Clare Pooley 'Isabella's NOT dead.'

Every time someone asks Gwen about her best friend – you know, the one who ghosted them all fifteen years ago – this is what Gwen tells them.

But where is Isabella? Why did she leave, just when Gwen needed her the most?

Setting out to solve the mystery, in an adventure that takes Gwen across the country then across Europe; that tests her friendships and strains her marriage, Gwen searches for Isabella.

But Isabella's not the only one who's lost. Is Gwen also searching for… herself?

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Audiobook, Contemporary, Literary Fiction

Audible Audio

First published June 19, 2025

About the author

Beth Morrey was inspired to write her debut novel, Saving Missy, while pushing a pram around her local park during maternity leave. Getting to know the community of dog owners, joggers, neighbours and families, she began to sow the seeds of a novel about a woman saved by the people around her, strangers who became friends. Previously Creative Director at RDF Television, Beth now writes full time. She was previously shortlisted for the Grazia-Orange First Chapter award, and had her work published in the Cambridge and Oxford May Anthologies while at university. Beth lives in London with her husband, two sons and a dog named Polly.

Reviews

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of, Isabella's Not Dead, by Beth Morrey, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Gwens best friend, has not been seen in fifteen years, where is Isabella? Wow what a wild read, so good.

[Novel and Latte · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book was just okay for me. It felt like experiencing Gwen’s life and thoughts for a few weeks/months, not knowing how it would turn out.. and then finding out how it turned out. Lol.

Gwen’s search for Isabella was borderline obsessive/stalkerish, which is acknowledged. I had a hard time wanting to continue reading, but did so that I could find out what the deal was with Isabella.

Without spoiling anything, let me just say it did not satisfy. It fell flat and felt anti-climactic. I also struggled with the characters’ interactions. There was just no fun in this book.

It ended, I said “welp”, and that was that.

Thank you to Putnam Books for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gwen’s floundering a bit in her life. Her three kids are mostly grown, and don’t need her much. Her husband seems to love his dog more than her and after being laid off Gwen’s half-heartedly making mosaic art to sell. She’s not even excited to join her old friends on a girls-only weekend, but the reunion does bring back memories of her best friend, Isabella. The last time she saw her was fifteen years ago. No one knows what happened to her. This lights a fire under Gwen, and she’s determined to locate Isabella and find out what went wrong.

Isabella’s Not Dead was heartfelt, witty, and hilarious! Her mother-in-law was insane and so funny! Gwen goes all about following leads, questioning family, friends and work acquaintances which takes her all over. Along the way, Gwen discovers a zest for life again while journeying off on her own and reconnecting with old friends. I absolutely loved every minute!

There was also a serious and a bit of a sinister edge with the mystery. I wasn’t sure how it’d all turn out and couldn’t fathom how or why Isabella disappeared. I had a lot of ideas, but I was still surprised by the reveal!

I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of the publisher. These are my thoughts and opinions.

[Rachel_loves_to_read · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time someone asks Gwen about her best friend – you know, the one who ghosted them all fifteen years ago – this is what Gwen tells them.

But where is Isabella? Why did she leave, just when Gwen needed her the most?

Setting out to solve the mystery, in an adventure that takes Gwen across the country then across Europe; that tests her friendships and strains her marriage, Gwen searches for Isabella.

But Isabella's not the only one who's lost. Is Gwen also searching for… herself?

My thoughts:
I loved this story.

Beth has a way of telling a story in a very down to earth way, and very relatable. The story is packed with many witty scenarios and I was instantly drawn into the mystery that is Izzy.

I think we can all relate to growing apart from childhood and school friends, and I thoroughly enjoyed Gwens antics as she searched for answers about Izzy’s disappearance.

The book was packed with interesting characters- Dippy was great fun and Morag was an absolute hoot!

I highly recommend this one and will definitely be looking to read more from this author. Thank you so much to Harper Fiction for the early proof to read, opinions expressed here are my own.

[Andrea]

“Seeing them made me realize that I was sick of being a grown-up, with weighty responsibilities and wise responses. I wanted to be childish and selfish and stupid, and have someone else deal with the mess. At 53, I’d done my fair share of adulting and would like to regress, thank you very much.”

I feel this quote.
Yet, the book itself didn’t have any likable characters, which is a deal breaker for me.

[Susan · Rating 2 out of 5]

After a weekend reunion of 5 high school friends Gwen sets off to find her friend Isabella, a friend who ghosted her 15 years ago. Gwen is in the middle of a mid life crisis and this is going to be just the adventure she needs to kick start her life. Decent premise but it just didn’t work for me. I found Gwen whiny and her search a waste of time. I’m sure this book will be the right book for other readers, it just wasn’t for me.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gwen is having a midlife crisis. Instead of focusing on her family, career, and personal issues, she obsessing over finding her best friend. That disappeared 15 years prior. These two plots, the mystery of the missing friend and Gwen dealing with herself, competed for attention with each other throughout the book. While I really liked the way it came together by the end of the book, I didn't necessarily like how that was accomplished. The middle of the story dragged. Gwen just kind of rambled around trying to track down Isabella but not really following up on things like asking Isabella's family members to pass on messages to her and not making progress with her own personal situations. And instead of explaining everything at the end of the book, I wish the author had chosen to use two timelines so the reader felt more connected to the story instead of floundering around with Gwen. This would have made for a more solid reading experience.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Putnam for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.

[Karen · Rating 1 out of 5]

I stuggled with this novel. I felt the plot weak and the resolution rushed and rediculous. Just not for me.

[Tilly Fitzgerald · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actual rating 3.5.

[Krista · Rating 2 out of 5]

I chose this book because I thought the premise sounded interesting and I love the look of the cover (yes, I judged the book by it's cover- the cover is why I gave it 2 stars instead of one). Unfortunately, the book didn't deliver the way that I wanted it to.

First off, I didn't really like any of the characters except Morag, the MIL from hell and that is saying a lot because she is absolutely awful, and that awfulness is so exaggerated that she is the only funny part of the book. Gwen, the MC, is so self absorbed caring for a young family of 3 boys (in the past timeline), that she's utterly dislikable- and this is coming from a mother of four- 3 boys and 1 girl. I totally understand being overwhelmed by the stage of life that Gwen is in (toddlerhood compounded by a newborn) when her best friend Izzy slips out of her life, but come on lady, get your head out of you butt- your bestie disappears and you don't even notice FOR 15 YEARS?? That's such an unbelievable plot hole that it's just dumb.

So, in the present timeline, it's 15 years later and suddenly Gwen notices that her best friend since sixth grade hasn't called her in a minute, and she goes crazy stalker on her, trailing all of Izzy's family members, ex-boyfriends, and former employers all over Europe for a month trying to find her. I don't want to give away any spoilers, but when the truth of all that really happened 15 years ago is finally revealed, I found it quite lackluster and anticlimactic and redundant. So redundant. Morrey uses the word redundant a multitude of times making everything incredibly REDUNDANT!

Meanwhile, during this month of stalking, Gwen completely neglects her family. She does kind of find herself though, and realizes that she is going through a midlife crisis and has been for a while and I think that this whole search for Izzy is a sort of metaphor for that, but I think it could have been done better. Also, Gwen, honey, Why are you with Angus? There is no chemistry there. He is completely unhelpful,unsupportive, and a totally selfish, narcissistic twat. LEAVE HIM. He's mostly the problem when it comes to your midlife crisis. That and you need to get on some good Hormone Replacement Therapy and stop drinking so much gin.

Y'all, just skip this book. I wish I had. It's so not worth your time.

[Elisa Forshey · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bring on AAALLLLL the middle-aged fmcs! Gwen is a classic: mother of teens, recently unemployed (after her job is snarfed up by a middle-aged white man), rudderless, and nostalgic, she goes on a quest to find out why her bestie ghosted her, fifteen years before. She gets way more than she bargains for, including a sinister mystery and a new perspective on her life and personhood. Well-written, fun, and includes a thoughtful take on friendship and relationships. Lots of lovely descriptive passages about food, fashion, travel, and probably way more drinking than most of us women-of-a-certain-age are actually pulling off these days, middle-aged metabolism being what it is… Would make a great book club book—easily read, with plenty of discussion items and a hard-won, feel-good ending.

[El Craig · Rating 2 out of 5]

yawn

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really loved Gwen and her mission to find a dear friend who disappeared from her life 15 years ago from her life.

Isabella Harris was Gwen's best friend, partner in crime and someone who made her feel alive and pushed her to be a bit more adventurous. After a get together with old high school friends (all of them now in their 50s), everyone wonders what happened to Isabella and why she can't be found. It's like she's disappeared off the face of the earth. But Gwen isn't going to let it go and will do whatever it takes to find this friend and find out what happened all those years ago before she made her escape into thin air.

My first book by Beth Morrey and definitely not my last!

[Sharanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 rounded up

this was SO FUN

[isabella lola · Rating 3 out of 5]

this was okay but was just quite long and slow, and i didn’t feel very invested in the story or the characters. the ending was nice though

thank you to netgalley and harper collins for this arc!

[Jessica Markulik · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgally and the publisher for this ARC. i was excited to read this book as I loved Clover Hendry's Day Off. Isabella did not disappoint! It's so refreshing to see a realistic, relatable middle aged female mc. The loss of friendship is something we've all navigated and the author portrayed this in a clever and light hearted manner.

[Jodi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one worked for me, even though I figured out what happened very early. I like stories about middle-aged women with new things to figure out about themselves.

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this! It was witty, fun, and relatable in a lot of different ways. I’m loving older female main characters!

[Glenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of friendship among a group of middle aged women. There’s a mystery involved as well. I rated it 3.5 even though I had trouble warming up to the main character. Thanks to Goodreads for the free Kindle book.

[Kristen Cook - A Book Ninja · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to receive an ARC of Beth Morrey's book especially because her previous release, Missy Carmichael's Love Story was one of my top favorite books of 2020. I also really enjoyed Clover Hendry's Day Off.

Isabella's Not Dead's premise was intriguing to me:

"Freshly fifty-three, out of a job and with children who no longer need her, Gwen decides to find out. Setting out to solve the mystery, Gwen embarks on an adventure across the country then across Europe that will test her friendships and her marriage, putting her on a collision course with reluctant acquaintances, a mother-in-law best described as eccentric, and a rabbit hole full of clues."

I found nothing funny about the book. Sadly Gwen seemed frantic and out of control not to mention obsessive. About 40% in I started skimming the story because I was so over Gwen.

Sadly this was a huge miss for me.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Louise Scouller · Rating 1 out of 5]

Only finished this to see what happened in the end, and even that was disappointing.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

9780008555313 exists but needs to be merged into this edition
3.5 rating.
I loved the fact it was about women in their fifties. That said, I thought Gwen came across as very immature and definitely obsessive. She seemed to only want Isabella back in her life, for her to make her life more exciting, not because she had really missed her. A very self-centred woman who whined too much about having a job and being a mother when in her thirties.
At halfway through, I thought ‘The reason for her disappearance had better be a good one’, as the search had got a bit boring, almost stupid, but I’m not sure the answer was. This is not to negate the reason, just the way it was portrayed.
Erica, one of the hockey team, was jealous of Isabella and her friendship with Gwen, and had been behind the stalking. She had seen Gwen enter her email password at the hotel and so knew how the search was going. Erica saw it as a bit of fun

[BooksnPixieDust · Rating 1 out of 5]

I had to DNF this around 20%. It didn’t grab my attention and just wasn’t the book for me.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

[UKDana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Forty years after playing hockey together at school, a group of women hold a reunion. However, one of their number is missing, Isabella hasn't been seen or heard from in fifteen years. Lots of rumours swirl, from living abroad to being dead. Her best friend Gwen sets out to discover what really happened to Isabelle.

I've loved Beth Morrey's style of writing since I stumbled across the wonderful Saving Missy. Her books are filled with wonderful characters and a real sense of community, stories that lighten your heart and leave you with a smile on your face. In her last newsletter, the author said that her next book, Isabella's Not Dead would be a little different, so I was very keen to see how different.

There is a definite mystery element to the storyline. The get-together weekend ends up with some of the women using an Ouija board. As the board begins to spell out a name, I.....S.....A.....B, talk among the group turns to the missing Isabella. It becomes clear that none of them have had contact with Isabella in years, although there have been possible sightings in various towns and cities, even as far away as Italy and America. Isabella has simply fallen off everyone's radar and as a result, they begin to wonder if she's dead. Isabella's best friend, Gwen, is convinced she's still alive but is a spy, hence being incommunicado, and decides to track her down.

Gwen obviously feels guilty about letting a friendship slip away. There is lots of reminiscing as Gwen tries to focus her search, deciding where would be the best place to start her mission. Gwen realises that she has a lot to do with the friendship fizzling out, life got in the way and communication dried up. Before Gwen knew it a long time had passed and she felt too embarrassed to try and reconnect so didn't bother. I'm sure lots of us will know that feeling. What makes things different this time around is that Gwen is drifting. Having lost her job she's passing the time by making mosaics to sell on Etsy but feels very aimless. Tracking down Isabella gives her a goal, a purpose in life.

Trying to track down Isabella isn't easy, responses to Gwen's queries are vague at best, adding to the air of mystery. Even among all the questions and doubt, Beth Morrey's humour is evident. Gwen is all too well aware of the pecking order in her husband's affection (Mabel the Labrador comes first) and her mother-in-law is unbelievably contrary. The mother-in-law, Morag, provides some of the best scenes in the book; an over-the-top eighty-two-year-old with money to burn and absolutely no filter, comedy gold.

Through all the ups and downs of the search I kept willing Gwen on, I was fully invested in her quest. I had a vague inkling surrounding the whole disappearance and was eager to know if I was right. By the end, Gwen finds the answers she was looking for, although not necessarily the happy-ever-after she'd assumed would come with those answers. What she does find is a new sense of purpose and the realisation that life, like friendship, requires effort. Fans of the author won't be disappointed by this slight diversion in style.

If you enjoyed my review please check out my book blog, Reading For Leisure
https://readingforleisure.blogspot.com/

or follow me on Twitter; @Debbie_Hart_UK
or on Bluesky; @debbiehartuk.bsky.social

[cosylittlereadingcorner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I first came across Beth Morrey’s books last year when I read Lucky Day, which I loved with all my heart and as a result I went on to read Beth’s two other books pretty much straight away, both of which I loved equally. So first point: if you haven’t read those books, honestly, do - they are sooo good! Reviews for each are on my grid if you want to see what they’re about. So knowing what you know now, you can totally imagine that when @harperfiction sent me the proof of Isabella’s Not Dead, Beth’s latest book, I was over the moon.

Gwen, a mum of three boys in her mid fifties, is happily married to Angus and life in general is pretty good even if she feels like she is drifting slightly. That age, when your kids don’t quite need you anymore and you’re not sure if the job you’re doing is quite as fulfilling as you’d like it to be. So when Gwen meets her school friends for a hockey team reunion, it makes her think of her then best friend: Isabella Harris. Isabella who she shared everything with, who knew her inside out and who suddenly, without any trace, disappeared fifteen years ago. Gwen knows she should have tried harder to find out what happened at the time but she was knee high in nappies and the kids were vying for her attention and she didn’t have the energy or the time. Unlike now! So Gwen decides she is going to find Isabella Harris because she is most definitely convinced that Isabella is not dead and she does miss her in her life. This quest will take her up and down the country, across to Italy, to Izzy’s old haunts but the question is will she find her? And if she does, will Izzy want to see her? For Gwen really doesn’t know why Izzy has never been in touch and why no one knows where she is. Or does she?

This is another great book by Beth. One that made me smile so many times once again. I love how much of real life Beth can incorporate into her books in a way that makes you feel you are definitely not alone in the things you do or feel and that is just lovely! Four out of four great books - Beth totally remains an auto buy author for me!

[Ali Bunke · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed Isabella's Not Dead by Beth Morrey. This is a compelling women's fiction novel that follows 53 year old Gwen as she navigates a pivotal transition in her life. With her children mostly self-sufficient and her career abruptly halted when she is made redundant, she finds herself searching for direction and a renewed sense of identity.

A reunion with five school friends reignites old memories, but it also brings a glaring realization. Her best friend Isabella, who she hasn't seen or spoken to in 15 years ago, is absent and seemingly forgotten. Determined to uncover what happened, Gwen embarks on a mission to track her down, piecing together fragments of the past like breadcrumbs leading to long-buried truths.

I really appreciated how Morrey captures the natural ebb and flow of friendships over time. Life has a way of pulling people in different directions, and this novel portrays that reality with remarkable authenticity. One aspect that truly stood out to me was the mystery surrounding Isabella’s whereabouts. It seems that several characters know where she was but wouldn't disclose the truth to Gwen. That lack of transparency was frustrating to read, yet it added to the intrigue and my need to know what happened.

While the ending tied things up a little too easily for my taste, I found the reasoning believable. It was fascinating to explore the past and understand why she had distanced herself from her friends. Overall, Isabella's Not Dead was an engaging and heartfelt read, offering a thought-provoking reflection on friendships, loss, and rediscovery.

Thank you NetGalley and publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

[Rachel Sargeant · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gwen, married mum to three teenagers and struggling mosaic artist, attends the reunion of her school hockey team. She leaves the weekend early because she feels overwhelmed by her own lack of achievement in comparison to her school mates. Her mind is also whirring about Isabella, who didn’t attend the get-together. She was Gwen’s best friend who hasn’t been seen by any of the women for at least fifteen years. For a long time, Gwen put their lack of contact down to a gradual drifting apart, brought on by Gwen’s preoccupation with work and motherhood. But now she wonders if there was a catalyst to the split. Did Gwen do something that caused Isabella to disappear completely, not even retaining a presence on social media? Gwen decides to track Isabella down and ask her.
Gwen’s family are not enthusiastic about her plan. As she visits Isabella’s old haunts across the UK and abroad, her timid parents, outlandish mother-in-law, steady husband and preoccupied sons offer their words of wisdom, often intended to put her off. But Gwen is on a quest in spite of them. She reminisces about school days, university and early adulthood. As she is a similar vintage to me, I was right back there with her and the well-chosen cultural references.
Although the tone is light and humorous, there’s a good sense of suspense and I was keen to turn the pages to find out what had happened to Isabella. The story is also poignant. Gwen’s quest reminded me of Harold Fry. Both protagonists are in search of a former friend, but, on their travels, they discover much about themselves.

With thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an early copy in exchange for an independent review.

[Meghan ReadsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Putnam and PRH Audio for the free review copies of Isabell’s Not Dead.

I really enjoyed this one—not just for the mystery, but for its layered look at female friendships, especially the long-standing ones that weather midlife, motherhood, and all the shifts that come with GenX life. It had a Bridget Jones goes detective energy, with sharp, unintentional-yet-spot-on insights into the female brain, relationships, and the chaos of midlife.

Yes, the plot meanders at times and some might find it a little slow, but honestly that only made it feel more real to me. Midlife itself is like this—chaotic, fragmented, full of “how did I get this old?” moments, unfinished chapters, brain fog, hot flashes, and sudden questions about the past, present, and the people who still matter.

At the same time, I admired Morrey’s second half of the book, when we get more of Isabella’s story—what was happening, what had happened, and how she approached the revelations. That part felt sadly real to me too, echoing the world GenX women came of age in. It gave me that sense of, “yes, I can see this, I can feel this,” and even moments of recognition from my own once-upon-a-time. I especially liked how Gwen’s POV and Isabella’s story came together; it worked well for me, particularly on audio where the narration really pulled me in.

In the end, Isabell’s Not Dead is less about the twists of the case and more about the truths it reveals: friendship, memory, and the way women carry so much of life in the spaces between. It’s a smart, wry, and resonant read that I was glad to spend time with.

[Hope (boba.nbooks) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Star Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.25 / 5

My Summary: Gwen goes on a reunion trip with her high school friends, and while they're playing around with a Ouija board, a name comes up that she hasn't thought of in a long time: Izzy. Gwen and Isabella were best friends for the longest time, but 15 years ago, Izzy ghosted Gwen. And no one has heard from her since. Gwen decides to take it upon herself to try and find her long-lost best friend by asking around, visiting her old haunts, and even taking a trip across Europe. Through this adventure, Gwen discovers that she might not just be looking for Izzy--she's also searching for herself.

My Thoughts: Isabella's Not Dead is a fun tale about a middle-aged woman, Gwen, who goes in search of her long-lost best friend, Isabella--aka Izzy. Gwen has felt stuck for years, but she doesn't truly realize it until she reminisces on the good times she and Izzy used to have together. Gwen feels as though Izzy brought out a part of her that she's lost, and she's willing to do anything to get that missing piece back.

The author does a great job portraying a middle-aged wife and mother who has lost her sense of self but doesn't understand how or why until she goes on a self-fulfilling journey. I found myself rooting for Gwen to find Izzy for the sake of closure on both sides. But, as the story progresses, I was more so cheering for Gwen to find herself.

Isabella's Not Dead is perfect for readers looking for a fun and adventurous tale full of wit, humor, and heart.

[Deborah (debbishdotcom) · Rating 3 out of 5]

There was a lot to like about this novel. I actually celebrated my 40th school reunion with eight friends on a long weekend away last year and we have a Facebook chat that's surprisingly active. So I could very much relate to Gwen's connection to her school friends, and most specifically Izzy - her former best friend and kindred spirit.

It was perhaps a little unlikely that Gwen was so surprised to realise it'd been 15 years since she heard from her, though we eventually learn that the last time the young women met they had words... something Gwen has put out of her mind.

I enjoyed Gwen's 'investigation' into Izzy's disappearance and, though later realises she was searching for her lost self as much as her former friend, she does jump to many MANY wrong conclusions along the way.

As for the 'why' Izzy disappeared, I was probably less convinced of the likelihood that [what was happening] led to such a strong series of actions. Indeed later, the person behind the actions even seems surprised at Izzy's over-reaction... though as Gwen realises, she can't know how Izzy felt.

This felt a bit longer than it needed to be and we probably could have skipped Gwen's hobby / job and the introduction of the couple of co-workers as well as the inclusion of the MIL-from-hell to focus a little more on the re-ignition of old friendships, which I very much enjoyed and found relatable.

3.5 stars