Gone

by Sarah Hill

Genres: Romance, Westerns

316 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2026

About the author

SARAH HILL, lives in Idaho with her husband, 3 dogs and cat. When she isn't feeding, playing or doctoring one of her fur babies, you can find her watching a chick flick or favorite Hallmark movie, hanging with family and friends, reading or taking pictures (because photos are important!) Some of her favorite things include the world of Harry Potter, Mexican food, camping, playing pranks, laughing and kissing her husband.

Sarah continues to listen to the characters who find her and whisper their stories in her ear and plans to get their stories out to the world.

Reviews

[Queenie2023 aka Rita]

I am so gone for Gone!
This book y’all- it has my heart! It was so good! Definitely did not want to put down this fun cowboy Romance at all. I was hooked from the start- line and sinker. A definite must read!

[Steff]

Stran: our cowboy - you may not like him at first but trust me, he grows on you.

Harper: our FMC - she has been through hell and back…and hell and back again!

One night, they give into their grief and anger and let it out…together 😉

Now, they have to try and move through their grief, deal with the consequences of that night, and navigate these feelings.

Tropes:
Cowboy
Forbidden Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Brother’s Fiancée

⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
🌶️ 🌶️

[Karleigh]

Review of Advance Copy received from author


This was not at all what I expected….it was far better! The MMC is both infuriating and swoon worthy and the FMC is loaded with heart which led to a roller coaster of emotions. I couldn’t put this one down, honestly Sarah did it again, she flooded my heart with emotions. The plot was gold, the main characters and side characters will be ones I think about for a long time each one of them were so special, and the spice went great with the story line!

[Colsen]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 stars
ARC REVIEW! I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Gone surprised me in the best way!

Pregnancy and grief are usually tropes I tend to avoid, so I wasn’t sure how I would connect with this story. However this one is absolutely worth the read!

I have never read any of Sarah’s books before… but now I’m going to go and dive into them!

Sarah handled the stories themes with such care that it felt effortless to read. The grief was never rushed or brushed aside, allowing the emotions to feel authentic and giving the story the depth it needed.

One of my favourite aspects was the progression of the relationship between Harper and Stran. The transition from anger to friendship was paced beautifully, and I enjoyed reading and feeling their connection grow naturally over time. The author did an incredible job of balancing the memory and love she had for Derek while still allowing something new and meaningful to develop with Stran. It never felt like one love story diminished the other, which made the emotional journey all the more believable and swoon-worthy.

The pacing remained strong throughout most of the book, keeping me invested from start to finish. My only small pet peeve would be the jump from “I love you” to engagement, which felt a little quick compared to the otherwise carefully developed relationship. That said, after everything these characters went through, I was more than happy to let that slide.

Overall, Gone delivered an emotional, heartfelt story with well-developed characters, meaningful growth, and a romance that slowly earned its place.

[ruby]

3 ⭐️!!

⤷ "It's you, Harper. You're the magic I'd stand in a thousand storms for—to hold you, to feel your heartbeat. I love you!"

🍵 A heartbreaking story about love, loss, grief, and self-discovery. ‘Gone’ is a book about learning to move forward and love despite the grief felt from losing a fiancé or brother. The rawness and loneliness of the emotions and grief were so well executed- it was tear-jerking.

⋆₊˚ Stran and Harper’s story was truly beautiful and showed that you really can have more than one love in your life. The fact that they managed to find each other in their grief was sweet and meaningful. My only gripe was the incredibly fast pacing following the 60% mark with a really sudden shift between pure supposed hatred/anger to devoted love- it didn’t register as a natural progression to me. I believe their love and devotion, but was thrown off by how fast it developed into an all-consuming admiration. I’d still love to see where the author will go next- and may have to delve into her backlog of books.

⤷ Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!!

[ReadaholicDeb]

Harper is grieving the loss of the man she planned to marry, while his brother, Stran, blames her for everything. The two have kept their distance until Stran finds himself bound by a promise, forcing them back into each other’s orbit.

Let me tell you…Stran defines broody. He’s the perfectly imperfect cowboy—equal parts frustrating and impossible not to love.

This was one of those books that hit all the marks! I love an emotional story, but I also love a small-town romance where friends and family rally around each other, and this one seamlessly blended it all. There was longing, grief, guilt, healing, secrets, and of course…romance.

The tension, the resentment, and the undeniable pull between them had me hooked, but it was the heart, hope, and emotional journey that made this story stand out.

[Sam Steffy (bookswithsamiam)]

I’ll never be able to find the exact words, but when I saw I love being an arc reader for Sarah Hill over the years, I mean that more than you know. Obsessed with the title as it’s so perfect almost as perfect as Sarah hill’s writing. Obsessed with Cash, the most perfect friend that everyone needs. Although there were some tropes I wasn’t thrilled about to read in here and don’t normally do (without giving any spoilers ) this story still pulled at my heartstrings in the very best way. Let’s be honest this story is real and vulnerable and not always perfect because honestly isn’t that how life really is. Grief and guilt can do some funny things to us but we all deserve to be happy and in love. Thank you Sarah for another beautiful story that will leave me thinking about.

[Shanna]

If you love a true enemies to lovers, HEA, with emotional depth and overcoming tragedy, you’ll like this book. I’m a sucker for an enemies to lovers book where they actually hate each other at the beginning and throughout a good majority of the book and this was just that. They had to fight their attraction to each other and overcome both their grief and their preconceived notions about each other to find their happy and it was a fun journey to read.

[Rachel]

Love, grief, joy, found family, and heartbreak, Gone by Sarah Hill has it all. This rancher, small town romance features Stran and Harper. I’m not going to spoil what happens in the book, but if you’re looking for heart, forced proximity, spice, enemies to lovers vibes, this one’s for you. I really enjoyed this read and I enjoyed Sarah’s writing style!

Thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op and NetGalley for this ARC.

[Jamie Harris]

Advanced Copy From Author...review
This was a great read...
Harper, the FMC has been through a lot!!!!
Stran the MMC, you may be mad at for some of the book at first, but he softens.
Grief bring these two together for a night...they are left facing feelings neither of them justify. And a life changing event.
It's a forbidden romance about loss, loyalty, and loving someone you were never meant to be with.
I read this in 2 days. It was a very easy read low spice but just enough for the story.
Beautifully written.

[Janess Salusky]

Thank you for the opportunity to be an ARC reader for Gone!

Spicy cowboy country romance? Sign me up!
Enjoyed following Stran and Harper as they navigated through their grief, growth, and growing love story. I’ve never visited Idaho, but Sarah Hill sure makes me feel like I have! Would recommend!

[Miranda Gonzales]

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I loved this book. I have been on a kick of cowboy romances and this one absolutely hit the spot. I definitely will be purchasing this book when it comes out. I am extremely grateful to the author for letting me be an ARC reader.

I laughed, I cried, I wanted to put the book in the freezer (Friends reference lol), but over all I truly enjoyed how this book was written. How the main characters were perceived in a way that you could connect with both of them. I absolutely love the support of the side characters, definitely adds to the story. This is definitely a book I wish I could read again for the first time.

[Melanie Stewart]

I just finished this book and wow. I loved it so much. Cowboy romance is my favourite and this one delivered! Stran is a grumpy cowboy, who doesn't deal with the death of his brother well at all. Even his parents don't. But, Stran and Harper - his dead brother's fiancé (!!) lean on each other over their shared grief. Well, things happen and before they know it, their relationship has changed and now they are facing a path they both did not plan on. I loved it! I laughed, cried, swooned (especially at the end). You really have to trust that Stran redeems himself by the end of the book because he is highly unlikable. I mean I get it, but liked him

It was sitting at mostly a 4.5, but the ending really nailed it as a 5 star truly. I loved the ending and had tears! Ugh my heart. I love it so much when the grumpy man meets his little girl for the first time and he completely melts for her but also, when they were in the nursery and he was talking to her stomach got me too. And also his dad's speech at the wedding!! All the emotions!!! Sarah took a difficult scenario and turned it into something beautiful and I loved how the author shone a light on men's mental health. Maybe the only thing I would have liked to see is them going to therapy- even Stran's parents- to deal with their grief. But that doesn't affect my overall love for the story!!

Tropes:

Cowboy romance
Forbidden romance
Fiancé’s brother
Enemies to lovers
Small town
Forced proximity
One night they changes everything
Slow burn
Surprise pregnancy
Grief
Open door
Dual POV

[Nikki]

Thank you so much to the author for an ARC of this book via Book Sirens.

This was one of those books that grabs you from the beginning and doesn’t let go. I started this book and never expected to read it in less than 24 hours. While this is a romance book, it is so much more about grief and healing.

Stran’s brother, Derek, is killed in a military accident and it upends his entire world. Harper is Derek’s fiancée and her whole world is shattered when he is killed. The life that she had dreamed of was ripped away from her. Whether it be a promise to take care of Harper, or fate itself, Stran and Harper’s lives are about to collide in ways no one saw coming.

I am a sucker for the enemies to lovers trope. The dislike that Stran feels for Harper had me fuming at the beginning but when you get to figure out where it comes from it all becomes much more clear. This was a hard story to read at times. I was torn between crying and being happy for Stran and Harper. I just wanted to wrap them both in a tight hug and never let go.

While their relationship starts off as toxic, I believe that the two of them really helped each other to heal and it was such a beautiful experience.

Family plays an important part in this book and I always enjoy reading about close families that support each other. I fell in love with Stran’s parents. Several times when I felt like crying it was when they were featured in the book. I just loved them so much.

My final thought is that the epilogue sent me over the emotional edge. It was just beautiful. This entire book was a messy yet beautiful roller coaster ride. I don’t have anything negative to say.

[Torrina]

A beautiful tale of second chance love

Stran and Harper’s story is one of pushing through heartbreak and finding the rainbow after the storm. Stran loses his little brother while Harper has lost the love of her life, her job, and the future she envisioned in one fell swoop. Harper is feeling more alone than ever when she breaks down on the side of the highway and is rescued by none other than Stran. He has spent the last 15 years hating everything about Harper in response to the disappointment of the girl he met first ending up with his little brother, but he had a dream in which he promised his brother he’d take care of her and feels a responsibility to follow through on it. Forced to spend some time together through the rescue, their mutual animosity is put on pause as they share their grief with one another. As animosity turns into something warmer they struggle with the idea that they’re betraying the one they loved. Will they be able to find a way forward?

This book made me laugh, smile, and cry as it is an emotional rollercoaster in all the best ways. You won’t regret picking it up, so what are you waiting for?!

[Mandi Agents]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ 4.25 Stars

Gone was my first book by Sarah Hill, and it definitely won’t be my last.

I purposely went into this one knowing very little, and I think that’s the best way to experience it. Rather than talking about the plot, I’ll simply say this book kept me guessing from start to finish. There were twists and turns I genuinely didn’t see coming, and more than once I found myself staring at the page with my jaw on the floor.

At its heart, this is an emotional small-town romance filled with longing, grief, healing, and a slow-burning connection that feels earned. The tension between the characters kept me turning the pages, and I loved watching their relationship develop amidst everything they were facing.

If you enjoy small-town romances with a grumpy cowboy, forbidden romance, enemies-to-lovers chemistry, the wrong brother trope, and a satisfying slow burn, I definitely recommend giving Gone a try.

Thank you so much to Sarah Hill for the opportunity to read this ARC. I’m so glad this was my introduction to your writing, and I’ll absolutely be picking up more of your books.

[Book Addict]

Gone is a quietly powerful novel that shows how grief doesn’t simply break people apart but reshapes them, forcing new forms of connection, honesty, and interdependence. The heart of the story lies in Stran and Harper’s relationship—two people drawn together not because their pain matches, but because their pain changes them in ways that make them newly able to see one another.

The author writes their bond with tenderness and restraint. Their connection grows through shared silences, small acts of understanding, and the gradual courage to let someone else witness the hardest parts of themselves. It’s a relationship shaped by loss yet full of hope, offering a moving reminder that healing often happens in proximity to others. Quite a few tears were shed through the reading of this novel.

A beautifully character‑driven read that handles grief with nuance and delivers a relationship worth rooting for.

[Bookz4Hollz1225]

Gone by Sarah Hill

Harper & Stran

Harper is Stran’s brother Derek’s fiancé. When Derek passes away well in service for the Air Force. stran has a dream just before he finds out of his brother asking him to look after Harper. Stran is a jerk to Harper every chance he gets. When he finds her in the side of the road because her vehicle is broken down things begin to change.

The back-and-forth that Stran does to Harper because of the guilt he feels made me cry. On the night of Stran’s birthday things take a turn. Because of his feelings for her, he gets her job with his best friend far away only to find out months later there’s a twist in their relationship.

The biggest emotional roller coaster is falling in love with your brother’s fiancé after he passed.

I would definitely recommend this read. Thank you to NetGalley for my ARC. And this is my honest review.

[Kayla]

Received an Arc of this book but all opinions are my honest opinions and they are my own.

Gone by Sarah Hill is a compelling and emotionally engaging read that kept me turning the pages from beginning to end. Hill creates believable characters whose struggles and relationships feel authentic, making it easy to become invested in their journey. The story balances suspense with heartfelt moments, revealing new layers at just the right pace to keep the reader hooked.

What stood out most was the author's vivid writing style and ability to create an immersive atmosphere. The emotional depth of the story adds weight to the plot without slowing the momentum, and the twists feel both surprising and well earned. The themes of resilience, hope, and human connection are woven naturally throughout the narrative, leaving a lasting impression after the final chapter.

Overall, Gone is a captivating novel that offers a satisfying blend of mystery, emotion, and strong storytelling. I would highly recommend it to anyone looking for a thought-provoking and memorable read.

Tropes:
Cowboy
Forbidden Romance
Enemies to Lovers
Brother’s Fiancée

[Jessica Hernandez]

ARC REVIEW... I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
Sarah did it again! This story was far better than I could have imagined. Spicy cowboy romance and lot of learning and growing for all characters. The author kept you hooked on reading for days. Talking about emotions, I was up late crying- happiness, joy, love, sad, fear, anger… my heart felt all of those. Stran and Harper are trying to navigate life through grief. Stran is so cold and can’t express his feelings while being mean to Harper. Harper is just trying to get through life and winds up in bad situations. Grief forces them into each other whether they like it or not.

Sarah did an amazing job writing a story that makes you feel a deep connection with the characters. This book will keep you up all night because you can’t put it down.

[Nathalie DeSousa]

I was not prepared for this book! It took me through a rollercoaster of emotions that made me cry, smile, swoon, and feel it all over again.

I love how grief is treated as a character in the plot. Both Stran and Harper are people mourning, grieving the loss of Derek, Harper's fiance and Stran's brother. SUddenly her HEA is gone along with her plans, her dreams, and love; Stran also feels the loss, but his grief is targeted against her, and not in a pretty way more like true enemies. As they spend time together with family and dealing with life, the healing starts turning their relationship into a slow burn that culminates into passion, and a new story begins.

An amazing read that brought pain, healing, grief, understanding, care, protection and love between a couple and a family.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Jessica Fox]

So lucky to have been an ARC reader for this! I LOVED THIS BOOK!! If you are looking for a good Cowboy romance, this should be on your TBR! I loved the two main characters, but also the side characters were amazing and added so much to the story. The spice didn’t override the plot, but fit in nicely with it. I felt all of the emotions and I will be thinking about this story for a long time! If you love the cowboy, forbidden romance, brother’s fiancée, enemies to lovers tropes, you’ll enjoy this one!

[Chante (Chan.ReadsXO)]

Wow! Gone was a beautiful small town cowboy romance. A friend recommended this book to me, and I’m so glad she did!

The story grabbed me right away with the enemies to lovers tension. Harper and Stran’s relationship developed in such an unexpected way, but somehow it felt like they were always meant to find each other.

When loss brings two people together, love can appear when you least expect it. This story is full of heartfelt moments, personal growth, healing, and meaningful life lessons, all wrapped up in a beautiful happily ever after.

[Lisa Wood]

Wow, what a ride through ups, downs and back again! This story had me in tears twice, which means it made me feel enough for the characters to really care what was happening to them. The dynamic between Harper and Stran was understandable, but at times I felt that Stran was a bit too harsh/aggressive in his treatment of Harper. I loved their interactions with Allie and Cash and now need to find their book (if it exists) and read that, as I think their story will be a good one.
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Nicole]

Sarah has a way of creating stories that have you feeling EVERYTHING the characters feel..anger, sadness, frustration, and of course happiness. This cowboy romance started off so sad, but deepened the connection with the MCs Stran and Harper immediately. I loved watching their story progress, from loss and guilt to acceptance and healing..the whole story was amazing. Another 5⭐️!

[Lolli]

🌶️🌶️🌶️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Dual POV
HEA

Thank you Sarah Hill and Netgalley for the opportunity to review this ARC copy.

*I received an advance review copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.*

[Kasey Connors-Beron]

I received an ARC of Gone and leave this review voluntarily.

My poor heart. Gone starts with devastation and instantly I could feel the characters grief. I loved watching the characters grow, struggling with the grieving process and the incredibly complicated background between the main characters. It was such a wonderful read that I ended up reading it in one sitting. I cannot recommend Gone enough.

[❤️Becky]

This book had a lot of emotional moments with grief and guilt. Loved the characters, the banter and the growth of Stran and Harper.

[Jaclyn Howard]

This book is absolutely amazing! If you’re looking for a heartfelt book, this is the one!

[Julia Noack]

Talk about angst and pain?? These characters have gone through it! I went in blind, only knowing it was a cowboy romance and I love Sarah’s writing- and kudos to my bad memory because I loved the tropes!