The Missing Boyfriend

by Alex Stone

He said he loved her.
He said he’d never leave.
He lied.

When Olivia Reed comes home to find her boyfriend Callum gone — not just missing, but vanished without a trace — her life begins to unravel. His clothes, his photos, every sign he ever existed… wiped clean. It’s as if Callum was never real at all.

But Olivia remembers. She remembers his touch, his voice, the way he made her feel safe. So why can’t anyone else remember him the same way? And why do the fragments of his past seem to crumble under scrutiny?

As Olivia digs deeper, determined to uncover the truth, the lines between memory and her own past begin to blur. And what she finds isn’t just about Callum — it’s about her. About the secrets she’s buried. The things she’s tried to forget.

Because the most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

And some love stories were never meant to have a happy ending...

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Psychological Thriller

354 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 14, 2025

About the author

Alex Stone is a psychological thriller author based in Dorset, where the beautiful yet dramatic coastline provides the inspiration and setting for her gripping, character-driven novels.

Originally from the West Midlands, Alex left behind her career as an accountant to pursue her lifelong dream of living by the sea and becoming a writer. She’s living proof that perseverance pays off — and that it’s never too late to change your life.

With a deep interest in psychology, Alex explores how past trauma, hidden truths, and complex relationships shape people — for better or worse. Her thrillers are packed with emotional depth, compelling twists, and characters who stay with you long after the final page.

Her upcoming novel, The Missing Boyfriend (out 14th October 2025), is a tense and emotionally layered thriller set in Christchurch, Dorset:

When Olivia reports her boyfriend Callum missing, the police want to know one thing — is he even real?

Alex draws inspiration from authors such as Gillian McAllister, C.L. Taylor, S.E. Lynes and Lisa Jewell — writers who, like her, craft twisty, thought-provoking thrillers with heart.

Connect with Alex on her website, Facebook, and Instagram at AlexStoneAuthor

https://bit.ly/AlexStoneNewsletter

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I read the premise of THE MISSING BOYFRIEND, I knew it was something I needed to read! And Alex Stone is a new author for me, and I’m always excited to read from new authors. I loved that cover, too!

When Olivia Reed’s boyfriend, Callum, vanishes into thin air—and no one else seems to know him or remember he ever existed—her world begins to spiral. And we as readers witness this first-hand as we delve deeper into her story. Photos, Callum’s belongings, everything is just gone. Is Olivia slowly losing her mind along with her memories, or is something more sinister going on? Regardless, she is determined to find out!

The more we learn about Olivia and her past, the more we feel for her and what she’s gone through. Dual timelines of THEN and NOW are very well done, helping move the plot line forward, while introducing just enough mystery to keep up the fast pace of the book. And as Callum’s life and lies come further into focus, Olivia is left with more questions than answers! Was he lying to her? Did he even exist?

Alex Stone’s THE MISSING BOYFRIEND is a compelling psychological thriller that delivers big time on suspense, tension, and depth of character. From the moment Olivia returns home to find Callum gone, the story hooks you. What follows is an emotional journey into the past and its painful memories, buried truths, unexpected betrayals, and the lies we learn to tell ourselves for our own protection.

A gripping, twist-filled thriller that keeps you guessing until the very end! I cannot wait to read more from this author!!

I want to thank NetGalley, Alex Stone, and Boldwood Books for gifting me the ARC of THE MISSING BOYFRIEND. It was such a privilege to read this before publication. And I appreciate you trusting me with an honest review.

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Missing Boyfriend was my first book by Alex Stone, and I’m so glad I gave it a chance. It’s always exciting to come across a new author who can deliver such emotional suspense mixed with twisty psychological storytelling. This one had the perfect blend of eerie atmosphere and a chilling take on memory and reality. I’d definitely recommend it to anyone who loves psychological thrillers that keep you second-guessing until the very end.

The Missing Boyfriend followed Olivia Reed when she came home to find her boyfriend Callum had vanished—along with every trace of him—she was left reeling. His belongings, their photos, even the evidence of their relationship were gone, as if he never existed. She was determined to prove she wasn’t imagining things so Olivia dug into his past, only to uncover dark secrets and unsettling truths about both Callum and herself.

What stood out to me in The Missing Boyfriend was its eerie and original premise. The idea of someone disappearing without a trace—not just physically, but erased from memory—was instantly gripping. The pacing and unsettling atmosphere pulled me into Olivia’s confusion and kept me turning the pages. While some sections felt a bit repetitive and a few twists were easier to see coming, this was still a compelling psychological thriller with a strong hook.

I was immediately pulled in by Alex Stone’s fast-paced, gripping style that’s so easy to sink into. His writing is packed with suspense, tension, and just the right touch of creepiness. He reminds me of Lisa Jewell and Kaira Rouda—two of my favorites—which made it no surprise that I was completely immersed in her compelling storytelling. I’m so happy to have found a new-to-me author, and I can’t wait to read more from him.

Thank you Net Galley and Boldwood Books for an advance copy in return for my honest opinion.

[Diane Dachota · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a quick read thriller about a lonely, depressed woman and her new boyfriend who one day disappears. Olivia is a very sad young woman who goes through the motion of running a coffee shop that once belonging to her late mother, and spends a lot of time thinking about her past. At one time Olivia was a promising pianist and was taking lessons from Daniel who was a well-known pianist himself. Something happened between them and Daniel's house was set on fire, something which was always blamed on Olivia although she swears she was innocent. Her parents were held to blame for this fire and her parents lost a restaurant they had and forced Olivia to stop playing the piano. The father then left and Olivia and her mother had nothing but the small cafe.

Olivia only has one real friend Lucy who she sees once in awhile until one day a man named Callum comes into the cafe and Olivia is immediately attracted to him. I had a hard time with seeing them as in a real relationship because he refuses to meet her friends, tell her anything about his life and it is clear the few things he has told her are lies. One day she comes home and all his stuff is gone except for a note saying he will fix things. I did feel very sorry for Olivia but she was a hard character to read about as she was so depressed and had PTSD from her past. The police don't believe Olivia ever had a boyfriend so she decides to search for him herself. I was interested in finding out what happened but I'm not sure the author did a good job at really answering all the questions and I found the ending kind of a letdown. i did like the writing style and will read more by this author. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this ARC for review.

[Yvonne G · Rating 4 out of 5]

"He said he loved her. He said he’d never leave. He lied"


When Olivia Reed comes home to find her boyfriend Callum gone — not just missing, but vanished without a trace — her life begins to unravel. His clothes, his photos, every sign he ever existed… wiped clean. It’s as if Callum was never real at all.

But Olivia remembers. She remembers his touch, his voice, the way he made her feel safe. So why can’t anyone else remember him the same way? And why do the fragments of his past seem to crumble under scrutiny?

As Olivia digs deeper, determined to uncover the truth, the lines between memory and her own past begin to blur. And what she finds isn’t just about Callum — it’s about her. About the secrets she’s buried. The things she’s tried to forget.

Because the most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

…

A deeply troubling psychological thriller, narrated almost exclusively in a single voice, that of Olivia herself. The timeline is multi-layered, switching between the 'now' and 'then' (beginning three months previously, before dovetailing into the present moment), in well marked segments. Interspersed throughout are flashbacks to Olivia's past, which although not quite so clearly marked, are easily recognisable by the consistent use of an alternative font.

This is a slow-burning storyline, with a small cast of characters, where many of the highly detailed past events, together with the passion and emotions they evoke, are repeated, although with varying emphasis, as Olivia tries to remember long buried details and often blurred edges, in an attempt to piece her life back together, especially when it looks as though the police may be set to revisit her history, in an effort to solve the present mystery of Callum's disappearance.

An only child, a psychologically damaged Olivia carries some deep resentments, many of which she is all too aware and others she has buried at the back of her mind, in an effort to forget and move on with a life she has been forced to accept, after having her childhood passion and dreams for the future shattered by those whom she thought and indeed should have expected, to care, nurture and encourage her the most. It becomes clear early on in the story that even some eight years later, Olivia is living on a knife-edge and barely holding her mental health in check, so the last thing she needs is a new boyfriend who has clearly spun her a line, messed with her head, then left her, without anyone in her small circle of acquaintances having met him, to even so much as verify his existence.

She is lucky enough to have at least one close confidante in Lucy, who has been there for her, since the day she arrived in the town as a teenager, having been forced to flee, with her parents, from the good life they had hitherto enjoyed. Trapped in an unwanted existence and long ago abandoned by one parent, who laid the blame for the family misfortunes squarely at Olivia's feet, she has since endured the unspoken rebuke of her remaining family member, whom she has sought to silently, although it would appear unsuccessfully, appease until that person's recent death. However, even Lucy doesn't know the full details of events which brought Olivia into her life and although she realises that Olivia has secrets, she has and is still, willing to give her the time and space to make her feel comfortable enough to be able to open up and confide in her.

Quite early on I had worked out in my own mind, several different reasons about how Callum might have linked Olivia's past with the present. However, there were so many tiny subtle twists and turns in the plot, that I never had the finer details all buttoned down until almost the very last page or two, although it was clear that there was only ever one person who was going to walk away as a completely innocent party.

Location was never really of any consequence in this character driven storyline, which is a bit of a shame, as both Portsmouth and Christchurch, on the south coast of England, I know quite well. However, it was still good to be able to add context to events and locations, as Olivia struggled to make sense of what at first appeared to be a senseless situation.

This being the second book I have read and enjoyed by author Alex Stone, hers is definitely a name which is firmly on my radar for the future.

[Supriya K · Rating 4 out of 5]

He said he loved her.
He said he’d never leave.
He lied.

The Missing Boyfriend by Alex Stone
Pub date: October 14, 2025
Publisher: Boldwood Books
Psychological Thriller | Mystery & Thrillers

When Olivia Reed comes home to find her boyfriend Callum gone — not just missing, but vanished without a trace — her entire world shatters. His belongings, photos, even memories of him in other people’s minds are erased, leaving Olivia questioning everything. Determined to uncover the truth, she dives into fragments of her past and Callum’s shadowy secrets. What she finds is darker than she ever imagined…

My thoughts:
Another day, another awesome thriller! This month has truly been good for me because this book was simply unputdownable. You don’t get a chance to stop — you just run alongside Olivia as she searches desperately for her missing boyfriend, Callum.

The suspense here is so deep and the twists were ones I absolutely didn’t expect. At some points, I even felt Olivia’s pain so strongly that I was in tears. The author really captured how easily a woman’s life can be destroyed by men who manipulate and betray, and it broke my heart while keeping me glued to the story.

The writing is so engaging that you slip into Olivia’s confusion, fear, and determination. As she flips through her memories, torn between past days with Callum and the harsh reality of the present, you can feel her heartbreak and unraveling. Slowly, Olivia realizes that the man she loved the man she thought was her future might not be who he seemed at all.

I completely lost myself in this book. It was gripping, emotional, and full of shocking revelations that kept me hooked until the very end. I felt so much for Olivia poor girl, she went through so much, yet she stood her ground and proved her strength. I adored Lucy’s loyalty to Olivia, but I couldn’t stand Will or Daniel and Avery? She was jealousy in human form.

This is a perfect recommendation for anyone who loves suspense thrillers packed with emotion and unexpected twists.

Thank you to @NetGalley and @BoldwoodBooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

#TheMissingBoyfriend #AlexStone #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks #MysteryThriller #PsychologicalThriller #SuspenseLovers #BookReview

[Susan Belman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have mixed feelings about The Missing Boyfriend. The premise instantly hooked me — Olivia comes home to find her boyfriend, Callum, gone without a trace. No clothes, no photos, no proof he ever existed. The only clue? A cryptic message saying he had to “fix something.”
It’s a strong setup for a psychological thriller, but the story moves at a crawl for most of the book. Olivia spends much of it spiraling through self-doubt and frustration as the police dismiss her claims due to her troubled past. I wanted her to take action rather than rehash her thoughts over and over — though, to be fair, her desperation felt believable.
The last quarter finally kicks into gear with more tension and answers, even if the ending stretches credibility. The twists are unexpected but a bit too far-fetched, and the relationship between Olivia and Callum never quite feels genuine.
Still, even when I was frustrated, I couldn’t stop reading because I had to know what happened. It’s a slow-burn mystery about memory, obsession, and trust — flawed but undeniably intriguing.

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

★★★★☆

He said he loved her. He said he’d never leave. He lied.

When Olivia Reed comes home to find her boyfriend Callum gone — not just missing, but erased — her life begins to unravel. His clothes, photos, and even his very existence vanish without a trace, leaving Olivia questioning her memories, her sanity, and ultimately, herself. As she digs deeper, determined to find the truth, she discovers that Callum’s disappearance is tangled with secrets from her own past — and the most dangerous lies may be the ones she’s told herself.

What stood out most about The Missing Boyfriend was its eerie and original premise. The idea of someone vanishing not only physically but also from memory was instantly gripping, and the unsettling atmosphere pulled me into Olivia’s confusion. The author captures so well how easily a woman’s world can be shattered by betrayal, manipulation, and disbelief — it’s heartbreaking but compelling.

I did notice some inconsistencies in the storyline (Daniel’s family situation, for instance, shifting from divorced with a son to widowed with a daughter). I also thought the police response to Callum’s disappearance reflected a wider, sad reality — how too often missing persons cases aren’t taken seriously until it’s too late. Olivia’s relationship with her mother felt deeply inappropriate and toxic, which made me suspicious of her role from early on, while her friendships were a real highlight — everyone deserves supportive friends like hers.

The pacing starts a little slow, but once Olivia takes matters into her own hands, the tension ramps up and I couldn’t put it down. While I guessed one of the twists around the 30% mark, it didn’t detract from my enjoyment — the book still had plenty of surprises, and the ending was satisfyingly unexpected, even if it left me with a few lingering questions.

Overall, this was a chilling and emotional psychological thriller that blends atmosphere, suspense, and sharp twists. Though imperfect, it’s a strong and haunting read. The Missing Boyfriend was my first book by Alex Stone, and I’m glad I picked it up — I’ll definitely be looking out for more from this author.

✨ Thank you to Alex Stone, Boldwood Books, and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Leighann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading The Missing Boyfriend. Overall, the book was mostly fast-paced, with an often engaging plot, short chapters, and short sentences. The novel included some flashbacks to the protagonist's, Olivia's, past as well. At the beginning, Olivia notices her boyfriend, Callum, of three months is missing. They have lived together for a couple of months, but she realizes she knows almost nothing about him and has no pictures of him. When she reports him missing to the police, she comes under suspicion as well, based on some events in her past.

In many ways, Olivia seems stuck in the past. We learn more about her past experiences from age 14 onward, with a focus on her dream of becoming a classical pianist and how things went wrong. There were some writing passages and exposition that seemed overly explained or repetitive as Olivia reflected on her past life, parents, mistakes, and regrets. There were moments where I was frustrated because Olivia felt like such a passive participant in her current life. I would like to see her have more agency earlier on in the book.

The direct flashbacks were more engaging. Near the 50 percent mark, the book was starting to feel slow for me. I am glad I persisted, because the plot picked up, suspense increased, and Olivia became a more active participant in her life and the plot. Several revelations came to light about her past as well as Callum's. I think the book is relatively satisfying, but could be improved. I would give this book a 3.5, but will round up to 4.
Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood Books for a copy of an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of those books where you blink and you’re already 200 pages in, wondering how you got there and why the main character keeps making decisions you’d absolutely never make.

The story follows a woman whose boyfriend of three months goes missing. While trying to find him, she’s also dealing with unresolved trauma from a fire that altered her life at fourteen.

Callum and Liv met in her mum’s café, trust escalates at warp speed, emotional intimacy hits the accelerator, and then… he vanishes. Properly. No breadcrumbs. No logic. Just gone.

The FMC drove me up the wall at times. She misses glaring red flags and wildly misreads situations that felt painfully obvious, and the melodrama occasionally tips into “please just pause and think for ten seconds” territory. That said, I still devoured this.

The twists actually make sense, which already puts this above a lot of thrillers. They’re well integrated, they don’t feel cheap, and the ending is genuinely satisfying. I just wanted more intensity, more bite, more psychological depth. Still, this was a solid, compulsive read that absolutely kept me hooked.

Messy protagonist, fast pacing, twists that work. I’ll take it.

[Diane Elizabeth Taylor · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this gripping thriller, we meet Olivia, a young woman trying to single handedly keep her mother's cafe afloat while grieving her death.
Her life takes a turn when she meets the charming Callum, but Olivia is shattered when he vanishes without a trace.
Proving he ever existed sends Olivia down a rabbit hole of doubt, forcing her to confront past traumas.
The book excels in its portrayal of Olivia’s transformation from a meek and timid individual letting her traumatic past define her, into a determined and fiery protagonist.
Her journey to uncover the truth, despite being dismissed by the police and ending up as a suspect is both compelling and relatable. The twist at the end, while not entirely unexpected, was well executed and all loose ends were tied up as neatly as a box of Olivia's chocolate brownies.
A definite must-read for fans of psychological suspense.
I received an advance copy of this book and this is my own opinion.

[Joanna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars for me.

Olivia Reed comes home to find her boyfriend Callum gone,his clothes and even the one picture of them together are missing. Calling police is the only way, as she refuse to believe that he will just left her. Police can't find anyone by this name,and Olivia can't prove that Callum ever existed, her friends never meet him, and she have no photo of him. The deeper she dig, the more clear it becomes that Callum lied about everything, and it's all connected to her past, the one she leaved behind and want to forget.

Will Olivia find Callum?
Will she get answers for her past life?

Full of suspense it was enjoyable read, fast paced and dark.Olivia could be little bit naive, and very trusting at times,still I feel for her when no one believed her. My first by this author, and hope to read more of her work.

If you like suspense full read,when past haunt main character, this is a good book for that.

Thank you netgalley and Boldwood Books for arc.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was my 3rd book by Alex Stone and definitely my favorite. I was drawn into this story right at the beginning and it held my interest throughout. Fairly quick read-it moved right along and I was dying to see what would happen next! There were many twists and turns throughout the book and I definitely stayed up too late because I just had to see what would happen next! I really enjoyed the main character Olivia. Like many others- I wondered if Callum was real……. Definitely a great book that keeps getting better and better and then you reach the end….shocker! Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books and Alex Stone for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. I really enjoyed it and definitely recommend!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Chasity Trimble · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. What I liked was how I was quickly pulled into the book. I felt this was a fast paced read that keeps the suspenseful and eerie sensation throughout the book.

The author’s writing was engaging and was written in a way that had you feeling the emotions of the FMC, Olivia. I felt the sense of fear, heartbreak, and confusion when her boyfriend vanished without a trace. The betrayal, manipulation and twists had me glued to this book. I couldn’t get through it fast enough. I was hooked until the very end!

I would recommend to anyone who enjoys a suspenseful psychological thriller that is hard to put down.

[Liz ✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

So I will say I was definitely entertained by this one! I’ve been having a hard time focusing on one book at a time lately, but this one had me locked in from start to finish, I literally read it in one sitting. It’s fast-paced, suspenseful, and kept me guessing the whole way through. That being said, I was a little disappointed by the plot twist (mainly because I was so sure my theories were right!), but in the end, it did make sense and wrapped things up nicely.


Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for the ARC!

[Diane Merritt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had me wondering was he real or not.... Grab hold of this book the twists are great. Wraps up wonderfully at the end.

Thanks to the author the publisher and Netgalley for a early release of this book

[Ellis Hayman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sadly The Missing Boyfriend by Alex Stone didn't do it for me at all. Initially, I found the plot (missing BF) interesting, but it just wasn't believable to me. She knew nothing about this man! And not a single photo of his face on her iPhone? I was expecting a thriller with "chilling twits, obsession, and betrayal", but overall, I just thought this was a boring story with not much to dig your teeth into.

Thank you to NetGalley, Boldwood Books, and of course Alex Stone for the advance copy. The Missing Boyfriend comes out October 14th. #ARC #NetGalley #TheMissingBoyfriend

SPOILER: What really left me feeling blah was at the end when her dad isn't sure she will recognize him because it's "been 8 years"... I mean....really?

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

He said he loved her. He said he’d never leave. He lied.

When Olivia Reed comes home to find her boyfriend Callum has vanished without a trace—his belongings gone, their photos erased, even memories of him in others’ minds fading—her world shatters. Determined to uncover the truth, Olivia dives into fragments of her past and Callum’s shadowy secrets, only to find a darkness far greater than she ever imagined.

This book is a masterclass in suspense. From the first page, I was pulled into Olivia’s confusion, fear, and heartbreak. Alex Stone captures the emotional devastation of betrayal with unflinching clarity, making Olivia’s desperation and determination feel heartbreakingly real. As she grapples with her memories, the suspense builds steadily, punctuated by twists that I genuinely didn’t see coming. At times, I felt Olivia’s pain so acutely that I was nearly in tears.

What really sets this story apart is its layering of past and present. Olivia’s journey to uncover the truth about Callum is intertwined with confronting long-buried wounds, creating a tense, emotionally charged narrative. The writing is immersive, the pacing keeps you glued to the story, and the character development—particularly Olivia’s resilience—is outstanding. Supporting characters like Lucy provide grounding loyalty, while others, like Avery and Will, stir frustration and mistrust, heightening the psychological tension.

While some sections lean heavily on Olivia questioning her own reality, this only serves to intensify the suspense, making you second-guess everything alongside her. By the end, the revelations hit hard, and the story transforms from a tale of a missing boyfriend into a rich psychological thriller about manipulation, trust, and self-discovery.

I couldn’t put this book down. It’s gripping, emotional, and full of shocking twists that linger long after the final page. The Missing Boyfriend is perfect for anyone who loves suspense, psychological depth, and unexpected turns.

Thanks to @NetGalley and @BoldwoodBooks for providing the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Deanna Loves to Read!!:) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 Stars!
Olivia Reed is running the family bakery while also grieving the death of her mother (her only living relative). One day, the enigmatic Callum shows up at the diner, and the two begin talking. Soon they become involved and Callum is moving into Olivia's apartment. They seem like soul mates. Then, Olivia comes home from work to find that Callum is gone. Not just gone, but all traces that he existed have vanished. Callum had never met Olivia's friends, and there are no pictures of him. Olivia cannot get the police to believe that he was ever there. So Olivia decides to look into Callum and prove that he existed. As she begins searching, she begins to look at her own past, and must fight the doubt and trauma of that to continue her search. This story follows the "is she crazy/not crazy" trope!

I really liked how the author weaved Olivia's past into the story as she was also discovering facts of Callum's past. With each reveal and twist, we see that there is a connection between the two, and it really draws the reader because we want to see how it all ties together. I also liked the character growth in Olivia- from passive and meek letting her past trauma control her, to a strong woman who is determined to find the truth. It is a fast paced book, with twists and a frenetic feeling that we get from Olivia.

I enjoyed this story, and was turning pages to see what would happen next. It is wrapped up very well, and although the ending was not a complete surprise, it was nicely done.

My two struggles:
Callum just showed up and was perfect in every way, absolutely no wrong moves, words on his part. Yet when he suddenly vanishes, Olivia persists in holing on to the idea of Callum is perfect. Seriously- he left you! That is not a soul mate in my book!

There are times when the story gets a bit repetitive in a few places- especially with the inner thought of Olivia.

Overall this was a quick engaging read that had me wanting to see how it all tied together!

Thank you to NetGalley and Boldwood books for the ARC. This is my honest and voluntary review.

[Hayley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Right from the get go this book was filled with tension and questions. When our main character Olivia's boyfriend Callum goes missing she knows something isn't right. Callum wouldn't just leave her with no explanation. And to make matters worse his whole existence seems to have vanished right along with him. The deeper that we get into this book the more questions we are presented and the more that it seem something darker is at fault here. I wasn't expecting this book to take such a mysterious path I was expecting more of a who did it kind of feel however this new twist made with much more compelling and addicting as a reader. I was desperate to figure out what was really going on with our main character and get to the bottom of what was going on with Callum. The book changes between two different time frames, the first one where Olivia is trying to figure out where Callum went and why he would just leave like he did and the second one where she meets Callum for the first time and everything leading up to present day. I liked this style because it let the reader get necessary information when it was relevant and allowed them to ponder on that though before hand. It also let the reader not get to overwhelmed and get more into how things progressed. It helped the reader get the loss and confusion that Olivia was feeling when the man she loved and thought things were good with just vanished. There were so many twists in this book I couldn't catch my breath but that is exactly what I loved about this story. Great read that I couldn't get through fast enough. I loved how Olivia's character was super strong and she was determined to get to the answers and not some shrinking violet who thought it was all her fault. She knew her worth and was determined to know why not wallowing in her sadness. I'm so glad that I got the chance to read this book it is definately one that will stay with me in its haunting excellence and it's roller coaster of twists. This was the first book I've read by this author but I can't wait to check out the rest.

[Janalyn, the blind reviewer · Rating 2 out of 5]

The Missing Boyfriend by Alex Stone, Olivia has experienced disappointment and tragedy before but nothing prepared her for coming home and finding all of her boyfriend Callum’s things missing out of their apartment. when she reports her boyfriend Callum missing the police or baffled as to how little she knows about him she knows where he’s from and his last name and the name of the company he supposedly work for. when they match her up to a fire in Christchurch they start to believe she may be delusional because yeah that makes sense. of course left with nothing she does her best to do an Internet investigation and runs across those that may not know him but know someone attached to him that leads to someone she wants new in her past. When all of a sudden done the man she blamed for her life’s problems and the loss of her family will be face-to-face with her again but is it for revenge or redemption. This book did something I cannot stand authors to do and that is for couples to keep large chunks of their life from the other person because not only is that not logical but it’s almost absurd that anyone would be with someone else and every time you ask them about their past their evasive or blow you off most people wouldn’t put up with that. let alone be living with the guy. There were many things about this book that had a dual POV one of her looking for Callum and the other of her meeting and getting to know Callum and I found both POV’s or the border line of boring and it did get exciting when the twist was revealed or rather when William was found in with everything after it got way better but I was just so ready to be done with this book I am sorry I really loved their other book but this one not so much I’m sure there will be others who love it and kudos to them but I am to give my honest opinion and this is it. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestreview, #AlexStone, #TheMissingBoyfriend,

[Amorina Carlton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always love a good thriller, and I'm always excited to find a good thriller author - especially when they have a backlog of books I didn't know existed! Alex Stone kept me on the edge of my seat, drip dropping hints and nuggets of information like I was drinking from a hamster water feeder from page one! The little hints were absolute torture, and I loved every minute! If you do not enjoy the torture of getting little tiny clues and foreshadowing and hints from the characters that you know mean something, but that you can't quite piece together until that last huge clue, then this isn't the book for you. But I call that a wonderful time. And I know I'm not alone!!

I'm not a universal thriller reader - some subgenres I can usually pass on - but this kind, I guess we're going to say psychological thrillers, are my go-to these days. Which, considering the state of the world, is a little weird, I'll admit, but I think it's because they're absolute page turners! I could not put this book down, and I didn't want to. This is the type of book that you cannot read while you are busy, because whatever else you have going on is not getting done. You will need to devote the weekend to it, because you will need to know what is going on!

I don't know if I liked Olivia, our FMC, or if I felt sorry for her. I did adore her best friend, Lucy, and I really liked the pictures we got of her missing boyfriend - Callum - which just made me feel for Olivia all the more! But, Olivia, as you'll see, was dealt some really awful cards in life. And, I really feel like she was an amazingly strong FMC and exhibited great character growth, which is something I really like to see in any kind of book.

I'm so grateful to the author, publisher, and LBT for being on this tour, and I'll definitely be reading more by this author!

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Missing Boyfriend by Alex Stone, now here is an author I just love the way she writes and once you start to read her books you will be hooked and you will be turning the pages over quickly, to find out what happens next. The Missing Boyfriend was No different, I was hooked and I just wanted to find out what happens next and WoW what an excellent book this was. . . . .

He said he loved her.
He said he’d never leave.
He lied.

Quick - I need to find out what happens next!!!

Olivia Reed comes home to find her boyfriend Callum gone! But, not just missing, he is gone just vanished without a trace.........WoW! Then, Olivia's life as she knew it begins to unravel.
Then, Callum's clothes disappears, then his photos, and every sign he ever existed…. . . . . . it was just wiped clean.
Just Gone!!!! It’s as if Callum was never real at all. But Why?

As Olivia sits there she remembers his touch, his voice, the way he made her feel safe in every way.

So why can’t anyone else remember him?

And why do the fragments of his past seem to crumble under scrutiny?

Why!!!!!!!

When, Olivia digs deeper, she is so determined to uncover the truth, then lines between a memory and her own past begin to blur into one!.
Then, Olivia finds isn’t just about Callum. . . . . . it’s about her. All her secrets she’s buried from her past and they are just bubbling to the surface!!!! These are secrets she wanted to be hidden forever!.and she’s tried to forget.

Because the most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

WoW. . . . . Superb book from start to finish! I loved it.

[Swapna Peri ( Book Reviews Cafe ) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Missing Boyfriend by Alex Stone begins as a love story set in a cozy coffee café on the corner of town. Olivia, the female protagonist, carries a heavy heart and a closed mind because of her past, yet she tries her best to build a better life. Running her mother’s café and turning it into a warm destination is Olivia’s only ambition. Although her past keeps haunting her in flashes, the café she calls her second home always calms her restless mind. Enter Callum—a young man who frequents the café and befriends Olivia after she has a spat with another customer. Their first meeting blossoms into a sweet love story. Since Callum is new to town and cannot afford an Airbnb, he decides to stay in Olivia’s flat. Their romance goes well for a few months—until one day Callum suddenly takes all his belongings, along with a photo of them together, and disappears. Just like that, he’s gone!

Olivia’s search for Callum uncovers truths she is unprepared to face, leading to an ending that is both dreadful and oddly satisfying. Confusing? My statement might sound that way—but read the book and you’ll understand why!

Alex Stone’s writing felt like a movie playing before my eyes. The narration, the details, and the conversations impressed me deeply. The language and the characters felt natural and well-drawn. As a reader, I pitied Olivia, felt sorry for her struggles, and even wished I could help her find Callum. The story also brings some tear-jerking, heart-touching moments.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing the ARC!

[☆Laura☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia ha aprendido a sobrevivir sola. Tras el abandono de su padre y la reciente muerte de su madre, dirige sin entusiasmo el pequeño café familiar en Christchurch, intentando mantener una vida ordenada y sin riesgos. La rutina se rompe cuando Callum, un desconocido de mirada amable y pasado nebuloso, interviene una tarde para defenderla de un cliente agresivo. Lo que empieza como una conversación inocente se transforma, poco a poco, en una relación que devuelve a Olivia algo que creía perdido: la sensación de pertenencia.

Cinco meses después, esa nueva estabilidad se desmorona. Al volver a casa una noche de diciembre, Olivia encuentra el armario vacío, el marco con su única foto de pareja arrancado de la pared y un mensaje críptico en el móvil: “Voy a arreglarlo. Te amo más de lo que imaginas.” Mientras busca desesperada respuestas, viejos fantasmas resurgen: la presión de su infancia como pianista prodigio, los ecos de un incendio que cambió su vida, y el miedo a repetir el abandono de su padre. Para encontrar a Callum o entender por qué se ha ido Olivia tendrá que enfrentarse no sólo a la verdad sobre él, sino también a la que lleva años evitando sobre sí misma.


___

Pobre Olivia, después de todo lo que paso merece tranquilidad y felicidad.

Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Louise Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Olivia Reed comes home to find her boyfriend Callum gone - not just missing, but vanished without a trace - her life begins to unravel. His clothes, his photos, every sign he ever existed.... wiped clean. It;s as if Callum was never real at all. But Olivia remembers. She remembers his touch, his voice, the way he made her feel safe. So why can't everyone else remember him the same way? And why do fragments of his past seem to crumble under scrutiny? As Olivia digs deeper, determined to uncover the truth, the lines between memory and her own past begin to blur. And what she finds isn't just about Callum - it's about her. About the secrets she's buried. The things she's tried to forget. Because the most dangerous lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

What a twisted psychological thriller this book was. There was an eerie vibe, it was emotional and a great read. The pace is all over the place - sometimes fast, then slow, then somewhere around the middle - but it worked for this story. This is one of those stories where the less you know about it before you start reading, the better the book will be for you. I kept telling myself just one more chapter, but one more chapter was never enough.

Published 14th October 2025

I would like tol thank #NetGalley #BoldwoodBooks and the author #AlexStone for my ARC of #TheMissingBoyfriend in exchange for an honest review.

[Lynsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

‘The Missing Boyfriend’ is a psychological thriller that is full of eerie tension and a premise that will keep you reading into the wee hours! This is the first book by this author that I have read, and I found it to be enjoyable and entertaining. I will be keeping an eye out for what she does next!

Olivia Reed is our protagonist, and she comes home one evening to find every trace of her boyfriend removed, along with a cryptic message saying he will explain everything. The premise is an interesting one, and as we break down the background to the mystery, layers of intrigue are added to the equation. Is Olivia an unreliable narrator, or is something else happening? The manipulation of memory is always fascinating and it is used to great effect in this story.

This was a book of two halves for me. The first half I found to be slightly slow in arranging the plot devices and building up the tension. There was a tad too much repetition of Olivia’s inner monologue. However, the latter section was packed full of action, tension, and was very engaging. Did I work out some of the twists…yes, but that doesn't make it any less entertaining as a reader. I was completely rooting for Olivia by the end of the book and would love to read more about her!

This was a quick and easy read that I really enjoyed. Let me know if you pick this one up!

[Leanne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Alex Stone delivers another twisty, emotionally charged thriller with The Missing Boyfriend—a story that starts with a simple question and spirals into something far more sinister. When Sadie’s boyfriend vanishes without a trace, what begins as confusion quickly turns into a chilling unraveling of secrets, lies, and long-buried truths.

Stone’s writing is sharp and accessible, with just the right balance of tension and heart. Sadie is a relatable lead—smart, vulnerable, and increasingly unsure of who she can trust. As the layers peel back, the story shifts from domestic drama to psychological suspense, keeping the reader guessing with every chapter.

What makes this novel stand out is its emotional undercurrent. It’s not just about solving a mystery—it’s about confronting the stories we tell ourselves, and the ones we’re forced to rewrite when the truth comes knocking. Perfect for fans of Shari Lapena and Claire Douglas, this is a gripping, binge-worthy read with a satisfyingly dark edge.

With thanks to Alex Stone, the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Skye · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Alex&co for giving me this opportunity to read as an ARC.

I personally have mixed feelings with this book, I found the book to be a very slow burn type of thriller and I found it didn't pick up the pace until the last 70% or so. Some of the language used was noticeably repeated throughout such as "weary sigh" and I also found the ending to be a little far fetched for me, its not necessarily a negative thing because I do like endings/reasonings for characters behaviour to blow my mind but I just felt the characters reasoning for why they've done things just a bit.. strange I suppose. The relationship between Olivia and Callum was also very strange for me because throughout the book I wasnt getting couple in love vibes at all, more like roommates? How do you meet someone and they move in within a few weeks and you dont know them from Adam.

Overall the book was pretty average for me, I do prefer a more fast paced book and unfortunately it just didnt reach the mark for me.

[Roz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Reed has had a tough life. Accused of something she says she didn’t do when she was a teen, her parents moved her and the family away to start again. The family wasn’t the same and dad soon left, leaving mum behaving differently and Olivia feeling she owed her mum everything for protecting her.

When Callum turns up at her cafe some years later, Olivia immediately finds him to be someone she is drawn too and before long they are in a relationship. However he is quite secretive and by the time he vanishes from her life, none of her friends have ever met him.

This is a great mystery and although I suspected that Callum had something to do with the past I was still not quite there. Well written and a good tense thriller. I enjoyed the characters of Olivia and the dynamics between her, her parents and the effect her accusation had on her entire life.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Sue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Olivia Reed runs her late mother's coffee shop. Callum comes in and deals with a difficult client on her behalf.
They start dating, and Callum moves in with her. Both are aware that the other has a past they don't wish to speak about.
Olivia comes home to find that Callum has moved out, and is confused. She thought they were together forever.
She reports him missing, only to find that she knows very little about him.

A bit slow in the beginning, but really starts to hot up when Olivia decides to investigate Callum's disappearance herself, after the police seem to just harp on about her past.
I feel sorry for her, her isolation, with only one person that she can really call on, her abandonment issues because of her father. It really is a sad story.
All the loose ends of the book are neatly tied up at the end.