Gone For Good

by Sarah Crossan

Girl 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

Genres: Thriller, Young Adult, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Audiobook, Contemporary, Fiction

416 pages, Paperback

First published February 24, 2026

About the author

Sarah 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.

Reviews

[Cynth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating this as the YA book that it is.

Absolutely brilliant. So interesting and the verse style writing makes it so easy to read and I found it hard to put it down. It was a powerful read as it touched on teen subjects like behaviour camps whilst being thrilling and gripping with great twists.

[Kate Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Gone for Good by Sarah Crossan started off strong with a great premise and setting, but unfortunately I found some aspects of it lacking. Connie is abducted in the night and taken to Silver Lake Academy, a facility for troubled teens in the wilderness determined to level up unruly kids through any means necessary. The inmates are all on edge after a recent death of a much-loved girl, Belle and when another inmate goes missing, Connie begins to investigate. This plotline had me hooked, especially when it was compared to Girl in Pieces and One of Us is Lying. But I found the actual writing form lacked lustre and made reading disorganised and sporadic. This should have been the type of book I'd devour – I’ve been interested in the 'Troubled Teen Industry' since I read Paris Hilton's autobiography. But the setting felt like someone who hadn't done enough research into the day-to-day goings on of these horrendous places. Occasionally we’d get a quick line discussing some of the horrific things these kids endured, but it was glanced over quickly without any exploration or detail. Rather it felt like a quick mention to remind the reader that Silver Lake is meant to be a troubled teen facility, while instead she focused page time on her unnecessary crush on another inmate which added nothing to the plot.
The writing style really hindered my enjoyment of the novel. I’m unsure if it is just NetGalley’s Kindle format which made it so disjointed, but the poetry/verse layout of the text was really jumbled on my reader ensuring that no sentence flew smoothly – Fingers crossed this is solved before the actual publication. The verse novel featured lots of flashbacks from multiple pov’s however it didn’t always make it clear whose pov it was at the time, and these were randomly placed in amongst the poetry in different shaded fonts. Don’t get me wrong, I love an unconventional style and layout, but whether it was the NetGalley’s download which strongly hindered this, or the fact that the novel verse didn’t actually read like a poem – free verse or not, instead it felt like the entire thing was written in VERY short sentences which created a constant start/stop reading experience.
The thriller genre worked well during the last half of the novel, but it was mainly unbelievable that Connie would find clues so easily. I found myself bored and uninterested by the ending rather than on edge for the big reveal.
Thank you to Netgalley for letting me read this prepublication in return for an honest review.

[Ginny · Rating 4 out of 5]

The kind of book you devour in one sitting.

Connie is taken from her home and brought to Silver Lake Academy for troubled teens. She sleeps in the bed of the previous student Bella, that died at the camp prior to her arrival. While she is struggling to survive the Academy, Connie is also determined to find out what happened to her.

It’s baffling to me, how wilderness/behaviour camps are still existing, which made the story so much more terrifying.
There are some great twists, that kept me guessing. However the main focus is on the characters and their struggles, their friendship and their past.

[Dannii Elle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Silver Lake Academy is the new home for troubled teens and Connie Ryder is the latest arrival. She sleeps in the bunk of previous student, Belle, who did not graduate but died at the academy and now Connie can feel her ghost haunting her, demanding answers to her untimely demise.

The found-family elements were my favourite aspect of this book. The thriller elements were lighter than anticipated and, instead, this focused on the students and their various struggles, which bonded me to them all and made friendship and healing the primary focus, instead. I enjoyed my time with this, despite the heightened emotions it exuded, and think Crossan's style of writing an entire novel in prose suited this particular storyline. The ending devolved a little into drama and less logic for me but I'd still recommend this read.

[Eleanor Turnbull · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 - I really liked this. Also before anyone thinks I am insane for reading this book so fast, it is written in prose🤣 This and Hekate are two books I have read this year in this writing style & I honestly love it. This was a great murder mystery YA thriller that kept me guessing throughout & I was thoroughly entertained and would recommend

[Nicola Doyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow this book was incredible! I loved the concept and felt that the story was strong. I didn't even know that the troubled teen industry was a real thing! It's awful! The cover is ominous and very well designed. I loved the forest images within the bubbles. The colours were excellent. The writing is tremendous and the story flows really well. It's written in verse which I love! The book is also written in first and third person. First - Connie, Belle and Nina. Third - Belle. It worked brilliantly well. The setting is a troubled teen institution called Silver Lake Academy. It gives a very claustrophobic feel as it's here and the surrounding woodland area for the most part. It was done beautifully. I loved all the characters. I loved Connie and I thought her question everything attitude was excellent. I loved her story. I highly recommend the book.

[Milly Hornsey]

1.5/5 Good god this book was truly awful from beginning to end. This had such a promising premise I thought it was bound to be a winner but somehow this is the most boring thriller I’ve ever read. Why was the entire book written in poem verse like structure yet didn’t read like a poem? The only reason this didn’t get a 1 star is because I didn’t DNF it. The characters are all lacklustre. I felt absolutely nothing towards them or the story line. Really disappointed with this as I thought it would be an easy four stars with the premise but it was the complete opposite.

[Lauren Pinder · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a great read, I got bored half way through but was intrigued, and the ending was quite disappointing. definitely not the razor sharp thriller it says on the front

Maybe good for a young reader just getting into these style books

Also it annoyed me the way it was written on the page. If it was full sentences the book would be half the size

[Claire Cunningham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thriller verse novel - another goodie by Sarah Crossan

[Karen Barber · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sarah Crossan does it again. Thanks to NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this before publication.
The novel opens with Connie being taken from her home in the middle of the night. A tense and traumatic experience, but it feels worse when we realise that her father and stepmother-to-be have arranged for her to be taken to a camp for troubled teens. The camp is an experience like no other, and it genuinely is scary that people might pay for such treatment.
Connie finds herself under a pretty brutal regime. What she also uncovers is a mystery surrounding a former campmate, Bella, whose body has recently been found. Nobody is talking, but Connie is determined to try and work out what happened to her.

[Kris H · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got this because it was one of the Waterstones books of the month (and it meant getting a free hot drink in the cafe upstairs)

The blurb is that of a generic mystery/thriller which I’d been wanting to read lately

After reading the first few chapters on a particularly busy day I wasn’t sure if it would be for me, however I kept reading and am very grateful to myself for doing so

It was a good book over all but I think I empathise with Connies circumstances somewhat, which may be why I like it more than some might think I should, I think anyone who can empathise with Connie or a thriller/mystery would enjoy this

I was going to give it 3.5 as a generic thriller with a confusing start, but actually think it deserves the extra half a star, I like the characters, the shared journey and the authors research in to the real world matter of troubled teens

4 out of 5 ⭐️

[autumn (inactive) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Again, tore through this! I had a good time with this one - weirdly, another "troubled teens" book. I will say that I found Crossan's signature style a little less impactful on this one, and not used to its best, but I kinda ignored that and just got on with the narrative, which was good.

The twists here kept me guessing, and that final one was a great dismantling of the system that Connie and her classmates were in. The web of friendships on this one really immersed me, and I loved the character development, too. Characters were written very compellingly, and the narrative style of flashbacks in third person detached to first person was super cool. An enjoyable read!

[Between The Pages (Gemma M) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a brilliant YA, novel in verse story. I love the layout of stories like this because I can just devour them without even knowing. This is a gripping story where teens are sent to an 'academy' in the middle of nowhere to sort their behaviours and problems out. BUT when a girl goes missing what is really going on there? Highly recommend for all ages. I will read anything by this author as she's an easy read but one I can still escape into. 5/5 stars.

[The Bibliognost Bampot · Rating 5 out of 5]

A solid YA - the verse novel format, which veteran Crossan is so skilled at, makes it great for reluctant readers. Not the sharpest, cleverest of whodunnits and way too many dead ends … he was the last to see her, no, she was the last to see her, ‘no, actually I killed her’ … ‘no, but I saw her after that so I killed her’ … ‘no, I saw her after AFTER that’ … almost got a bit comedic, no need for it all. With a small cast of possible candidates I guess Crossan was trying to make it less predictable than it was, but that didn’t really work. That said, still a strong, easy to read story.

[Dorota Winch · Rating 4 out of 5]

First time I’ve heard of the facilities for troubled teens was when I’ve read Paris Hilton’s memoir. It was utterly terrifying reading what has been happening there, which is why this book hit me hard. It only touches the subject, but I still think it gives an idea what these kids had to go through. I would recommend to listen to the audiobook as the format of the physical copy makes it harder to read in my opinion.

[Amelie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book. Is so good. I loved how even though bell Jackson wasn’t a friend of Connie’s and Connie didn’t know her, she still felt invested in the case. I also liked the love-hate relationship between her and Aaron and how she didn’t like him at first but after getting to know him she did. A definite recommendation.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s always a pleasure to read Sarah Crossan’s work. And her entry into the thriller genre with Gone For Good is impressive indeed.

Sarah’s signature poetic verse is still very much present here. Sharp, spare and emotionally charged, but it’s woven through a tightly plotted mystery that keeps the tension simmering throughout. The pacing is excellent; each chapter leaves you needing just one more, and the sense of unease builds beautifully as secrets begin to unravel.

What really elevates this beyond a standard YA thriller is the emotional depth. The relationships feel authentic and messy in the best way, and the exploration of grief, loyalty and truth gives the story real weight. I was completely invested.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Something different from Sarah Crossan , this thriller told in verse is tense and a real page turner, but didn’t leave me broken emotionally as most of her previous books have done. An excellent read.

[Hannah Rials Jensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

For fans of Josh Silver and Kathryn Foxfield! An epic in verse thriller with great mystery, a nightmarish camp that almost feels dystopic, and a strong relatable main character I can get behind!

[Rhea Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

Honestly thought I would hate this because I don't read verse novels, but actually the medium is a great way to deliver a crime story, all story and no fat.

[Evie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually so good, I really enjoyed this!

[pippp · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I first picked up this book I was expecting a just another ordinary mystery, but this was amazing!! I love the writing style, the plot and the ending! I give this 5 stars!!

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Trop trop chouette lecture !! Un thriller YA en vers libre, avec une intrigue haletante et des personnages très bien écrits, je me suis régalée !

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

The formatting threw me off to start, but I really enjoyed this book 🥰

[Emily Kathleen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

I think the message of troubled teen programmes was better than the mystery/thriller aspect.

[Erin Chambers · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5!⭐️ this is such a good read to get out of a reading slump because of the way it’s structured, if was very cool hehe

[samf1301 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5✨

[Bumberbiba · Rating 3 out of 5]

just ok, nothing to be crazy about and ending was quite dissapointing

📍brno

[molly ⸆⸉ · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars


I found this book so interesting, it was so easy to read in such a interesting format . I felt connected to the characters and felt I was investigating with them .Connie was such a interesting main character and explained things well. I found the plot twist unique and wasn't expecting that.

[whatbooknext · Rating 4 out of 5]

Connie is still grieving her mum when her dad gets a new girlfriend. Wendy isn’t used to moody teenagers, and especially not one who reminds her constantly that she will never live up to their mum. Connie’s big sister May is better at concealing her true feelings about Wendy’s invasion, but Connie discovers this too late.

Early one morning, Connie is kidnapped from her room by two strangers. Her screams for her father go unanswered and when she learns why, she is even more terrified. Her father was the one who organised the kidnapping. Connie has no doubt that Wendy had a lot to do with it, but she is still reeling when she is taken to a remote facility with a sign saying, Silver Lake Academy.

It’s not a school. It’s not a hospital. It’s a behaviour management facility for troubled teens. Connie can’t figure out what she did to make her father do something so incredibly terrible to his own daughter. Their mum had raised her girls to speak out, not go with the flow or follow every rule. But as soon as she was gone, this mantra vanished with her. Wendy had a very different way of doing things.

After the initial shock at arriving at the academy, Connie notices that the other teens were taking special interest in her. Trying to fit in to the new rules of her life, and understand the strange behavior training they are subjected to, she learns that she has taken another girl’s place. The girl was named Belle, and she looks much like her.

The longer she stays, the more Connie learns about Belle, her strange disappearance, and the unstable director running the academy. When another teen goes missing, Connie’s upbringing begins to rise – breaking rules, demanding to know where the girls have gone and pushing her boundaries.

The more she gets to know the others locked up with her, the more she learns about them, the facility and finally the horrible truth….



This YA thriller in verse, hits the reader with the action on the very first page!

Exploring the industry of teen behaviour management therapy camps in America, Gone For Good takes the reader through the horrors of this practise – paid for by parents with troubled teens.

From kidnapping in the middle of the night out of their own beds, to the ‘therapies’ inflicted on them, these camps are often money making enterprises like Silver Lake Academy, with unproven practices that do more harm than heal. This fictional facility is hiding secrets, which are gradually revealed to the reader via different viewpoints from past and present.

Learning what main character Connie did to find herself a resident of Silver Lake Academy is also woven into the narrative.

This form of story telling is succinct, clear and clever, from winner of the Carnegie Medal, Irish Book of the Year, and the YA Jury Award for her previous novels.

Age – 13+
Publisher – Simon & Schuster UK
Set in – USA / Fictional Silver Lake Academy far from anywhere
Viewpoint –
Orphan? – No
Violence – Yes
Real Life – Yes
Fantasy – No
Sex – No
Blend – Real Life / YA Suspense/Thriller