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Gone For Good
Not yet published
Expected 24 Feb 26Girl in Pieces meets One of Us is Lying, told in Sarah Crossan’s inimitable and award-winning verse.
Connie Ryder is taken from her home in the dead of night and sent to Silver Lake Academy – a remote, high-security facility for ‘troubled’ teens. At Silver Lake, the vulnerable and the violent are locked in together under a brutal regime that aims to improve their behaviour. But when Connie learns she’s been given the bed of a missing girl named Belle, she is drawn deep into a chilling web of secrets and lies…
A sensational, immersive and hugely propulsive ‘missing girl’ thriller, set against the backdrop of America’s controversial Troubled Teen industry
Connie Ryder is taken from her home in the dead of night and sent to Silver Lake Academy – a remote, high-security facility for ‘troubled’ teens. At Silver Lake, the vulnerable and the violent are locked in together under a brutal regime that aims to improve their behaviour. But when Connie learns she’s been given the bed of a missing girl named Belle, she is drawn deep into a chilling web of secrets and lies…
A sensational, immersive and hugely propulsive ‘missing girl’ thriller, set against the backdrop of America’s controversial Troubled Teen industry
- GenresYoung Adult
416 pages, Paperback
Expected publication February 24, 2026
3 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Crossan
22 books2,030 followersSarah Crossan is Irish. She graduated with a degree in Philosophy and Literature before training as an English and Drama teacher at Cambridge University and worked to promote creative writing in schools before leaving teaching to write full time.
She completed her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Warwick in 2003 and in 2010 received an Edward Albee Fellowship for writing.
She currently lives in NYC.
She completed her Masters in Creative Writing at the University of Warwick in 2003 and in 2010 received an Edward Albee Fellowship for writing.
She currently lives in NYC.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Gone for Good is a fast-paced YA thriller with strong mystery vibes, blending the intensity of a missing-girl story with the unsettling backdrop of America’s troubled teen industry.
Connie Ryder is taken from her home and sent to Silver Lake Academy, a high-security facility for so-called “troubled” teens. When she discovers she’s been assigned the bed of a girl who has gone missing, Connie is pulled into a web of secrets that quickly becomes impossible to ignore. The premise is gripping, and the story moves at a brisk pace that kept me turning pages.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is the mystery itself. I genuinely didn’t know where it was heading or who was responsible, which is rare for me in this genre. The shifting snapshots and flashbacks, particularly those from the missing girl’s point of view, and later from others, added layers to the story and helped maintain tension throughout.
That said, I didn’t always love the verse format and writing style. At times I found it slightly confusing, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. This may partly be due to reading an e-ARC, but the structure didn’t fully work for me all the way through.
Overall, this is an engaging, propulsive read that would suit fans of Cynthia Murphy or Stephanie Perkins, or anyone looking for a quick, atmospheric YA thriller to help break a reading slump.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Connie Ryder is taken from her home and sent to Silver Lake Academy, a high-security facility for so-called “troubled” teens. When she discovers she’s been assigned the bed of a girl who has gone missing, Connie is pulled into a web of secrets that quickly becomes impossible to ignore. The premise is gripping, and the story moves at a brisk pace that kept me turning pages.
One of the book’s biggest strengths is the mystery itself. I genuinely didn’t know where it was heading or who was responsible, which is rare for me in this genre. The shifting snapshots and flashbacks, particularly those from the missing girl’s point of view, and later from others, added layers to the story and helped maintain tension throughout.
That said, I didn’t always love the verse format and writing style. At times I found it slightly confusing, which occasionally pulled me out of the story. This may partly be due to reading an e-ARC, but the structure didn’t fully work for me all the way through.
Overall, this is an engaging, propulsive read that would suit fans of Cynthia Murphy or Stephanie Perkins, or anyone looking for a quick, atmospheric YA thriller to help break a reading slump.
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Silver Lake, where troubled kids are sent to heal.
Silver Lake, where kids go missing.
Connie is taken from her bed in the middle of the night and delivered to Silver Lake Academy, a remote, high security facility full of 'troubled' teens like herself. The regime is cruel, the leaders cold and power hungry. Connie's bed used to belong to a girl named Belle, who vanished without trace. But the more Connie learns about Belle's disappearance, the less she trusts those around her. It seems everyone is hiding something.
Constructed in Sarah Crossan's trademark spare, beautiful verse, this is a quick read and an immersive thriller. The story is fast-moving and ideal for today's teens who may struggle to get away from screens and into books, something Crossan is passionate and vocal about and which is evident in the crafting of this book. The real strength in the writing is that there is not a word wasted. And somehow what is left unsaid, in those haunting, suggestive spaces between words, has a power and a story all of its own, making Crossan undoubtedly one of the most original and authentic authors writing for teenagers today.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster for the advance copy.
Silver Lake, where kids go missing.
Connie is taken from her bed in the middle of the night and delivered to Silver Lake Academy, a remote, high security facility full of 'troubled' teens like herself. The regime is cruel, the leaders cold and power hungry. Connie's bed used to belong to a girl named Belle, who vanished without trace. But the more Connie learns about Belle's disappearance, the less she trusts those around her. It seems everyone is hiding something.
Constructed in Sarah Crossan's trademark spare, beautiful verse, this is a quick read and an immersive thriller. The story is fast-moving and ideal for today's teens who may struggle to get away from screens and into books, something Crossan is passionate and vocal about and which is evident in the crafting of this book. The real strength in the writing is that there is not a word wasted. And somehow what is left unsaid, in those haunting, suggestive spaces between words, has a power and a story all of its own, making Crossan undoubtedly one of the most original and authentic authors writing for teenagers today.
My thanks to Simon & Schuster for the advance copy.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Connie Ryder is taken from her home in the dead of night and sent to Silver Lake Academy – a remote, high-security facility for ‘troubled’ teens. At Silver Lake, the vulnerable and the violent are locked in together under a brutal regime that aims to improve their behaviour. But when Connie learns she’s been given the bed of a missing girl named Belle, she is drawn deep into a chilling web of secrets and lies…
A stunning and addictive read that I couldn't put down and now that I've finished I can't stop thinking about it. The damage that grief can do to a person and the way that people react differently. The way that parents think they know best for their children even when they're completely misunderstanding them. And most of all the abuse that can happen when too much power is given into the wrong hands. All told in beautiful prose.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
A stunning and addictive read that I couldn't put down and now that I've finished I can't stop thinking about it. The damage that grief can do to a person and the way that people react differently. The way that parents think they know best for their children even when they're completely misunderstanding them. And most of all the abuse that can happen when too much power is given into the wrong hands. All told in beautiful prose.
My thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster UK for an advance copy in return for an honest review.
January 20, 2026
Connie has been woken up in the middle of the night by two strangers she believes are breaking into her home. She's taken, frightened to Silver Lake Academy – a remote, high-security facility for ‘troubled’ teens. She has no idea why she's here and is left scared and frustrated stuck in a place that seems to be more than it tells the world. Connie soon learns she has been put in the same bed that recently housed a young girl names Belle who went missing and Connie finds herself looking more into Belle and what may have happened to her.
This is the kind of YA book that I feel as though it appeals to readers of all ages. At 27 I found that I was hooked and fully invested in the story. I was reading a long to see if I could solve what happened to Belle before Connie and crack the case but I found that whenever I thought I had a theory it was soon shut down and I bounced back to a previous thought; this meant that I was hooked on this book right to the very end I actually didn't see the reveal coming which I like.
This was a very easy read that I was able to finish very quickly. It was dark in places, full of interesting characters I loved learning about and actually wanted to know even more on and the closing pages felt satisfying and concluded the book well.
This is the kind of YA book that I feel as though it appeals to readers of all ages. At 27 I found that I was hooked and fully invested in the story. I was reading a long to see if I could solve what happened to Belle before Connie and crack the case but I found that whenever I thought I had a theory it was soon shut down and I bounced back to a previous thought; this meant that I was hooked on this book right to the very end I actually didn't see the reveal coming which I like.
This was a very easy read that I was able to finish very quickly. It was dark in places, full of interesting characters I loved learning about and actually wanted to know even more on and the closing pages felt satisfying and concluded the book well.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I'm a fan of Sarah Crossan's - her book "Moonrise" still haunts me. Her writing here is as beautiful as ever and works perfectly. It's poetic and emotional, with a dark but powerful topic.
"If the price of love is pain, then the more you love, the bigger the bill."
Yet I think this good book would have been great without the crime elements: Belle randomly finding clues in her bed or in the car isn't really believable. The suspense works because I absolutely want to know who did it, but the investigation isn't very convincing.
Besides that, the psychological aspect of the plot is gripping - and the idea that the Troubled Teen industry is still very much relevant today, terrifying.
"If the price of love is pain, then the more you love, the bigger the bill."
Yet I think this good book would have been great without the crime elements: Belle randomly finding clues in her bed or in the car isn't really believable. The suspense works because I absolutely want to know who did it, but the investigation isn't very convincing.
Besides that, the psychological aspect of the plot is gripping - and the idea that the Troubled Teen industry is still very much relevant today, terrifying.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
A YA novel exploring themes of grief, teen mental health and more against the backdrop of a remote school for troubled teens. When Connie ends up at the school after grieving her mother's death and a betrayal by those she loves most she becomes determined to solve the mystery of her predecessors death whilst at the school.
This is Mallory Towers with bite and contemporary themes.
An enjoyable read which kept me invested although at times a little far fetched.
This is Mallory Towers with bite and contemporary themes.
An enjoyable read which kept me invested although at times a little far fetched.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’ve never read a book in verse before and safe to say I absolutely want to read more !
This was so fast paced and gripping from the format, and even with the limited wording it was still so effective and conveying a strong storyline and mystery sounding the overall plot.
I loved the way mental health rep is mentioned in this as well as this having some strong dystopian roots with the premise of this tier system to “reform” these supposedly troubled kids. I definitely highly recommend this one ! Especially for anyone after a gripping fast-paced read !
Thank you Simon and schuster for this early copy !
This was so fast paced and gripping from the format, and even with the limited wording it was still so effective and conveying a strong storyline and mystery sounding the overall plot.
I loved the way mental health rep is mentioned in this as well as this having some strong dystopian roots with the premise of this tier system to “reform” these supposedly troubled kids. I definitely highly recommend this one ! Especially for anyone after a gripping fast-paced read !
Thank you Simon and schuster for this early copy !
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This was my first Sarah Crossan read and I read it in one go. Definitely an enjoyable read for young adults, super consumable, I imagine it would draw teens in easily. Like a dark, serious, and modern Holes (Louis Sachar). I didn't love the rhythm of the line splitting, but I got into it and occasionally it was well delivered. I don't go for mystery/thriller fiction and I had no idea where this was going. Kept me guessing even as the pages were thinning out!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Properly addictive stuff. I read it in one sitting because I couldn't put it down.
January 17, 2026
honestly couldn’t put this down !!
Review of advance copy
The book club at Dereham Sixth Form College that I run was lucky enough to be selected by The Reading Agency to read and review this book ahead of its publication.
January 7, 2026
CW: Death of a parent
Belle has gone missing, during a camp at Silverlake academy. A place for troubled teens.
Connie, grieving her mother, is kidnapped in the early hours of the morning. She’s handcuffed and driven far from home. To Silverlake Academy.
This was an interesting read, written in verse format with Connie our main narrator. We also get flashbacks from Belle, from the last day she was seen. It’s a story about grief, I really felt for Connie. The mistakes her family made, but it’s ultimately uplifting. One I would recommend.
Belle has gone missing, during a camp at Silverlake academy. A place for troubled teens.
Connie, grieving her mother, is kidnapped in the early hours of the morning. She’s handcuffed and driven far from home. To Silverlake Academy.
This was an interesting read, written in verse format with Connie our main narrator. We also get flashbacks from Belle, from the last day she was seen. It’s a story about grief, I really felt for Connie. The mistakes her family made, but it’s ultimately uplifting. One I would recommend.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews