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What's Become of Her
From National Book Award finalist Deb Caletti comes an emotionally riveting story of a woman falling for a man who may be hiding a dangerous secret—perfect for readers of Jodi Picoult and Kristin Hannah.
“Guilty people keep secrets.”
Isabelle Austen returns to her hometown on a small, isolated Pacific Northwest island to take over the family tourism business after the death of her mother, a disapproving parent and a hard woman to love. Feeling lost, Isabelle is also struggling with a recent divorce, and wondering if she’ll ever come into her own. Then Isabelle’s life takes a surprising turn. A mysterious man named Henry North arrives on Parrish Island, steps off a seaplane, and changes Isabelle’s world forever. From the beginning, their relationship is heady and intense—until Isabelle learns of Henry’s disturbing past involving the death of a fiancé and the disappearance of a wife. Suddenly, Isabelle is caught between love and suspicion, paranoia and passion, as she searches for the truth she may not want to find—and is swept into a dangerous game from which she may not survive.
Praise for the novels of Deb Caletti
“Striking . . . well-written, strongly characterized and emotionally complex fiction.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review), on He’s Gone
“Caletti once again combines interesting characters, pitch-perfect dialogue, and an intriguing plot to tell a deeply memorable story. Her latest is a thoughtful exploration of love and marriage and the power of family and friendship to help along the way.”—Booklist, on The Secrets She Keeps
From the Trade Paperback edition.
“Guilty people keep secrets.”
Isabelle Austen returns to her hometown on a small, isolated Pacific Northwest island to take over the family tourism business after the death of her mother, a disapproving parent and a hard woman to love. Feeling lost, Isabelle is also struggling with a recent divorce, and wondering if she’ll ever come into her own. Then Isabelle’s life takes a surprising turn. A mysterious man named Henry North arrives on Parrish Island, steps off a seaplane, and changes Isabelle’s world forever. From the beginning, their relationship is heady and intense—until Isabelle learns of Henry’s disturbing past involving the death of a fiancé and the disappearance of a wife. Suddenly, Isabelle is caught between love and suspicion, paranoia and passion, as she searches for the truth she may not want to find—and is swept into a dangerous game from which she may not survive.
Praise for the novels of Deb Caletti
“Striking . . . well-written, strongly characterized and emotionally complex fiction.”—Kirkus Reviews (starred review), on He’s Gone
“Caletti once again combines interesting characters, pitch-perfect dialogue, and an intriguing plot to tell a deeply memorable story. Her latest is a thoughtful exploration of love and marriage and the power of family and friendship to help along the way.”—Booklist, on The Secrets She Keeps
From the Trade Paperback edition.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2017
159 people are currently reading
1601 people want to read
About the author
Deb Caletti
37 books2,278 followersDeb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over twenty books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and she was a finalist for the PEN USA Award. She lives with her family in Seattle.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 103 reviews
April 24, 2017
What’s Become of Her by Deb Caletti is a 2017 Bantam publication.
Once again, I’ve stumbled across an author with an impressive catalog, but for some reason has flown under my radar. But, as they say, better late than never.
This story is certainly different, both in writing style and characterizations. Immediately, the reader is clued in to the fact that our female protagonist, Isabelle, is about to experience a life altering change, and not in a good way.
Isabelle, recently divorced, has returned home to Parrish Island to take over the tourist business she inherited from her mother. Here, she meets Henry, a new resident with a sad and complicated past. The two make an instant connection, falling in love with reckless abandon. But, just as quickly, certain small warning signals begin to snowball into larger and much more disturbing alarm bells, when Isabelle begins to suspect Henry is not the man she believed him to be, and is quite possibly dangerous. Is he trustworthy? Are her suspicions warranted or is Henry being slandered? Is Henry simply moody, sad, or insecure, or is he possessive, manipulative, obsessed, abusive, or responsible for the deaths of two other women he was previously involved with?
I think it is quite easy, sitting back in the comfort and safeness of our surroundings and secure in our own relationships to pass judgement on Isabelle. She’s a woman in love, so she overlooks a few of Henry’s remarks despite her mother’s ghostly admonishments screaming in her head. Compared to her ex-husband, a man she had to drag kicking and screaming into marriage, Henry’s lack of hesitancy is heady and just what Isabelle’s bruised ego requires.
Still, I couldn’t help but exhale exasperated sighs as Isabelle continues to waffle. Her choices, her indecision, however, are exactly what makes the story so suspenseful, what had me as wrapped up in her paranoia and rationalizations, as Isabelle herself, which I can only presume is the desired effect.
The other interesting element to this story is the voice of Isabelle’s mother providing commentary to her daughter. In life, the relationship between mother and daughter was strained and distant. This situation seemed to give them a chance at posthumous forgiveness or maybe even redemption.
While we know, Isabelle has a cheering section, people watching out for her from afar, which is how we know what choice she should make, giving us a bit of an unfair advantage, it’s Isabelle who must decide her own fate. Will she do the right thing?
This is a fast-paced read, with exceptional moments of suspense, and although there are some frustrations, the story works in a, offbeat way, not only as a psychological novel, but as a cautionary tale, one that will leave you sizing up your next new encounter with a stranger, wondering what dark, twisted secrets they may be harboring.
4 stars
Once again, I’ve stumbled across an author with an impressive catalog, but for some reason has flown under my radar. But, as they say, better late than never.
This story is certainly different, both in writing style and characterizations. Immediately, the reader is clued in to the fact that our female protagonist, Isabelle, is about to experience a life altering change, and not in a good way.
Isabelle, recently divorced, has returned home to Parrish Island to take over the tourist business she inherited from her mother. Here, she meets Henry, a new resident with a sad and complicated past. The two make an instant connection, falling in love with reckless abandon. But, just as quickly, certain small warning signals begin to snowball into larger and much more disturbing alarm bells, when Isabelle begins to suspect Henry is not the man she believed him to be, and is quite possibly dangerous. Is he trustworthy? Are her suspicions warranted or is Henry being slandered? Is Henry simply moody, sad, or insecure, or is he possessive, manipulative, obsessed, abusive, or responsible for the deaths of two other women he was previously involved with?
I think it is quite easy, sitting back in the comfort and safeness of our surroundings and secure in our own relationships to pass judgement on Isabelle. She’s a woman in love, so she overlooks a few of Henry’s remarks despite her mother’s ghostly admonishments screaming in her head. Compared to her ex-husband, a man she had to drag kicking and screaming into marriage, Henry’s lack of hesitancy is heady and just what Isabelle’s bruised ego requires.
Still, I couldn’t help but exhale exasperated sighs as Isabelle continues to waffle. Her choices, her indecision, however, are exactly what makes the story so suspenseful, what had me as wrapped up in her paranoia and rationalizations, as Isabelle herself, which I can only presume is the desired effect.
The other interesting element to this story is the voice of Isabelle’s mother providing commentary to her daughter. In life, the relationship between mother and daughter was strained and distant. This situation seemed to give them a chance at posthumous forgiveness or maybe even redemption.
While we know, Isabelle has a cheering section, people watching out for her from afar, which is how we know what choice she should make, giving us a bit of an unfair advantage, it’s Isabelle who must decide her own fate. Will she do the right thing?
This is a fast-paced read, with exceptional moments of suspense, and although there are some frustrations, the story works in a, offbeat way, not only as a psychological novel, but as a cautionary tale, one that will leave you sizing up your next new encounter with a stranger, wondering what dark, twisted secrets they may be harboring.
4 stars
April 26, 2017
A more complete review is available on my blog:
http://reviewsofbooksonmynightstand.b...
This story moved very slowly for me. I kept reading because I thought that the suspense was building and that something amazingly surprising would happen at the end. Something surprising did happen at the end but I can't say that it was amazing. The story had real potential but it just fell flat with the lack-luster ending and the building of suspense that ended up going nowhere, leaving one bored. The characters were rather flat. I didn't see Henry as the twisted character that he could have been and I also didn't see Isabelle as particularly savvy. I didn't really like this book as it just wasn't as exciting or surprising as I would have hoped it would have been. I think it would be a good book for a reader who enjoys reading mostly romance novels but would like to take a break from them with a mystery or thriller that is not too suspenseful.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bantam books for an advanced copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
http://reviewsofbooksonmynightstand.b...
This story moved very slowly for me. I kept reading because I thought that the suspense was building and that something amazingly surprising would happen at the end. Something surprising did happen at the end but I can't say that it was amazing. The story had real potential but it just fell flat with the lack-luster ending and the building of suspense that ended up going nowhere, leaving one bored. The characters were rather flat. I didn't see Henry as the twisted character that he could have been and I also didn't see Isabelle as particularly savvy. I didn't really like this book as it just wasn't as exciting or surprising as I would have hoped it would have been. I think it would be a good book for a reader who enjoys reading mostly romance novels but would like to take a break from them with a mystery or thriller that is not too suspenseful.
Thank you to Netgalley and Bantam books for an advanced copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions are my own.
February 20, 2017
What Becomes Of Her
By
Deb Caletti
Isabelle returns home to run the family business after her mother suddenly dies. She is recovering from a divorce at the same time. She meets someone...Henry...and begins to spend time with him. However...someone else...from far away...has a weird connection to Henry and is sort of keeping an "eye" on her and her new friend. As it turns out...Henry is not the man Isabelle wants him to be and in fact...has a very dark past. This allows Isabelle to make some incredibly bad decisions. Although Isabelle's mother is never in the picture...her presence is huge in Isabelle's life.
I enjoyed the mystery, the island, and the people in Isabelle's life. I was incredibly frustrated with the decisions she made over a man she really just met. Even the ending was a bit frustrating for me.
I am not sure what will draw readers to this book. I loved it at first but then became frustrated as Isabelle made her really bad decisions about Henry and her life began to fall apart.
By
Deb Caletti
Isabelle returns home to run the family business after her mother suddenly dies. She is recovering from a divorce at the same time. She meets someone...Henry...and begins to spend time with him. However...someone else...from far away...has a weird connection to Henry and is sort of keeping an "eye" on her and her new friend. As it turns out...Henry is not the man Isabelle wants him to be and in fact...has a very dark past. This allows Isabelle to make some incredibly bad decisions. Although Isabelle's mother is never in the picture...her presence is huge in Isabelle's life.
I enjoyed the mystery, the island, and the people in Isabelle's life. I was incredibly frustrated with the decisions she made over a man she really just met. Even the ending was a bit frustrating for me.
I am not sure what will draw readers to this book. I loved it at first but then became frustrated as Isabelle made her really bad decisions about Henry and her life began to fall apart.
May 31, 2017
3.5 stars The story kept me interested but sometimes the writing style would put me off. The author can be a bit too melodramatic (example: She is a desert traveler so thirsty there are mirages all around), and flowery descriptions like that would make it hard to stay immersed. BUT, then she would write something provocative to reel you back in such as " And, yet hands are deceiving, aren't they? They tuck you in, and wrap thoughtful gifts and make a meal and they hit and grab your hair and yank your head back." Wow! More of that would've helped to build the tension quicker.
July 7, 2017
3.5/5 There is a great twist at the end. I will warn you that you will want Isabelle to grow a spine and be thrilled when it happens.
February 5, 2023
Are they overreacting or am I underreacting??
May 10, 2017
“Guilty people keep secrets.”
Isabelle Austen returns to her hometown on a small, isolated Pacific Northwest island to take over the family tourism business after the death of her mother, a disapproving parent and a hard woman to love. Feeling lost, Isabelle is also struggling with a recent divorce and wondering if she’ll ever come into her own. Then her life takes a surprising turn: The mysterious Henry North arrives on Parrish Island, steps off a seaplane, and changes Isabelle’s world forever.
From the beginning, their relationship is heady and intense—then Isabelle learns of Henry’s disturbing past, involving the death of a fiancée and the disappearance of a wife. Suddenly Isabelle is caught between love and suspicion, paranoia and passion, as she searches for the truth she may not want to find—and is swept into a dangerous game she may not survive.
MY THOUGHTS:
What's Become of Her is alternately narrated by Isabelle and a stranger named Professor Weary, who has no personal interaction with her, but from afar, seems to be keeping an eye on her.
Henry’s past, full of unanswered questions and mysteries, all point to the possibility of something dark and dangerous about him, and his secrets and lies raised a huge red flag that had me wanting to shout at Isabelle: Run!
But Henry was one of those men who can be so charming, and he did kind and loving things for her. Then something aroused his rage, usually as the result of his bruised ego, at which point, his “poor me” attitude reared its head, even as he turned frightening.
Why did Isabelle put up with him? Everyone who knew her kept warning her off, but she focused instead on the strange packages she kept receiving from someone, and even though each object hinted of bad acts by Henry, she kept hanging in there.
Even though I was turned off by Henry, and hoped Isabelle would make better choices, I wondered if I could be wrong about him. Could others, like Weary, be persecuting him, and would we discover that the real bad guys were out there, watching and waiting?
The beautiful setting on an island near Seattle kept me engaged, even though parts of the story were slow and even boring (Weary’s narratives). But I kept turning the pages, wondering what I would ultimately learn and what Isabelle would do about her precarious situation. What she did came as a complete surprise, and I wanted to celebrate. 4 stars.
Isabelle Austen returns to her hometown on a small, isolated Pacific Northwest island to take over the family tourism business after the death of her mother, a disapproving parent and a hard woman to love. Feeling lost, Isabelle is also struggling with a recent divorce and wondering if she’ll ever come into her own. Then her life takes a surprising turn: The mysterious Henry North arrives on Parrish Island, steps off a seaplane, and changes Isabelle’s world forever.
From the beginning, their relationship is heady and intense—then Isabelle learns of Henry’s disturbing past, involving the death of a fiancée and the disappearance of a wife. Suddenly Isabelle is caught between love and suspicion, paranoia and passion, as she searches for the truth she may not want to find—and is swept into a dangerous game she may not survive.
MY THOUGHTS:
What's Become of Her is alternately narrated by Isabelle and a stranger named Professor Weary, who has no personal interaction with her, but from afar, seems to be keeping an eye on her.
Henry’s past, full of unanswered questions and mysteries, all point to the possibility of something dark and dangerous about him, and his secrets and lies raised a huge red flag that had me wanting to shout at Isabelle: Run!
But Henry was one of those men who can be so charming, and he did kind and loving things for her. Then something aroused his rage, usually as the result of his bruised ego, at which point, his “poor me” attitude reared its head, even as he turned frightening.
Why did Isabelle put up with him? Everyone who knew her kept warning her off, but she focused instead on the strange packages she kept receiving from someone, and even though each object hinted of bad acts by Henry, she kept hanging in there.
Even though I was turned off by Henry, and hoped Isabelle would make better choices, I wondered if I could be wrong about him. Could others, like Weary, be persecuting him, and would we discover that the real bad guys were out there, watching and waiting?
The beautiful setting on an island near Seattle kept me engaged, even though parts of the story were slow and even boring (Weary’s narratives). But I kept turning the pages, wondering what I would ultimately learn and what Isabelle would do about her precarious situation. What she did came as a complete surprise, and I wanted to celebrate. 4 stars.
June 3, 2017
I received an ARC of this novel through Goodreads, so I felt obligated to finish and review this book. But, trust me, it was a chore. The writing style is choppy, full of unfinished or rambling thoughts with little or no differentiation between chapters narrated by Isabelle or those narrated by M. Weary. I certainly couldn't classify this as a "psychological thriller." There was plenty of "psychological," but I was never "thrilled"... lots of introspection, but no action! The scientific information about crows were the most interesting part of the book.
September 6, 2017
I waivered between three and four stars.
I was hooked from the beginning (4 stars) but then 1/2 way through the story line started to drag (3 stars). .without giving anything away, the constant reference to a certain creature was unnecessary to me. The last part of the book and the ending more than made up for it (5 stars ). Thus the 4 star rating!
I was hooked from the beginning (4 stars) but then 1/2 way through the story line started to drag (3 stars). .without giving anything away, the constant reference to a certain creature was unnecessary to me. The last part of the book and the ending more than made up for it (5 stars ). Thus the 4 star rating!
April 14, 2020
For whatever reason, I didn't have high expectations of this novel, but I was pleasantly surprised. It started out on a light-hearted note and seemed like just another romance novel, but the farther into the book you got, the darker it got. Caletti did a good job of revealing Henry's insecurities and shortcomings gradually, making him all the more realistic and dangerous. Isabelle's character was also well-developed. Her upbringing has left her with a lack of confidence that manifests itself as the inability to acknowledge or express her anger, among other things. The character of Professor Weary seemed to almost be in the way at the beginning, with every other chapter being from his point of view in France. Eventually, however, you saw that he played an integral part in the story. Not to be overlooked is the role of the crows, both in Washington and in France. The way Caletti draws all these storylines together makes for a very satisfying and surprising ending.
March 11, 2017
This was a great story about a woman (Isabelle) who falls fast and deeply for a tourist (Henry) who newly arrives to the island that she grew up on. She has just recently returned to the island after her mother's death to take over the family's tourism business. Her life having suddenly changed due to a recent divorce that she is struggling with getting over.
The man arrives via seaplane and as Isabelle reaches out to help Henry off the plane, she immediately is attracted to his looks. Henry also feels the electricity. It's not long before he's hanging around her and asking her out.
A concerned friend looks into Henry's past and discovers that Henry has a deceased fiancee as well as a deceased wife. Both of whom have died under suspicious circumstances. Should Isabelle be afraid?
This story that had me definitely turning those pages pretty fast. Especially when someone far away is concerned for Isabelle and starts sending her packages to warn her. Is Henry guilty?
A great read that kept me perplexed and I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks Random House/Ballantine for approving my request and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
The man arrives via seaplane and as Isabelle reaches out to help Henry off the plane, she immediately is attracted to his looks. Henry also feels the electricity. It's not long before he's hanging around her and asking her out.
A concerned friend looks into Henry's past and discovers that Henry has a deceased fiancee as well as a deceased wife. Both of whom have died under suspicious circumstances. Should Isabelle be afraid?
This story that had me definitely turning those pages pretty fast. Especially when someone far away is concerned for Isabelle and starts sending her packages to warn her. Is Henry guilty?
A great read that kept me perplexed and I thoroughly enjoyed.
Thanks Random House/Ballantine for approving my request and Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
February 27, 2017
Excellent! LOVED!
February 24, 2017
What a thrilling ride of a book! Just when I thought I had it figured out, another twist! Isabelle moves back home to take over the family business after her mom dies. There she meets Henry. Henry has a horribly disturbing past that Isabelle finds out about. I couldn't read fast enough and had to find out what was going to happen next! A thrilling exciting mystery! Thanks to NetGalley and Batam for an ARC for an honest review.
June 9, 2017
"Isabelle can hear the whoosh and swirl of the sea shouting madness, madness"
Oh man, I was really hoping this book was going to be better. The end was actually quite awesome, but the rest of the book was just too painful for me to give this book any more than 2 stars. There was too much about this book that was just "ok" for me and I ended up skimming a lot of it. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think this book is worth the read, great ending or not. I probably won't be reading any other books by this author.
Oh man, I was really hoping this book was going to be better. The end was actually quite awesome, but the rest of the book was just too painful for me to give this book any more than 2 stars. There was too much about this book that was just "ok" for me and I ended up skimming a lot of it. Maybe it's just me, but I don't think this book is worth the read, great ending or not. I probably won't be reading any other books by this author.
April 18, 2017
Isabelle Austen feels like she’s lost at sea. She’s returned to Parrish Island after the death of her mother and finds that the sleepy town hasn’t really changed in all of the years that she has been gone.
Her desire to recreate herself leads her into a kind of passion that she’s never known before with man that at first glance seems too perfect to be true.
Henry North is a complete unknown. New to the island with a mastery of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and a seemingly vast knowledge of wine – he’s exactly what Isabelle has been longing for. But what she doesn’t know is that just as she running toward a different future – he is running from a deadly past.
How is a person supposed to know? Sometimes the wolf looks enough like Granny that you let him in. You don’t notice the teeth until he’s close enough to bite down on your neck. You have to trust. You have to have faith – even if your trust/faith control panel has been known to throw sparks and even catch fire.
Henry reaches in, squeezes her hand. Isabelle’s heart thuds. Her stomach flips. Of course, these are the ways a body shouts about both the best things and the worst ones.
What’s Become of Her is a nonstop stream-of-conscience thriller that totally threw me off balance! Up is down, left is right and black is just a lighter shade of grey.
In the end, some questions are answered and then even more complex riddles are revealed.
And I was left wondering if good is truly good and is evil truly evil? Or is it all just a simple matter of perception?
Her desire to recreate herself leads her into a kind of passion that she’s never known before with man that at first glance seems too perfect to be true.
Henry North is a complete unknown. New to the island with a mastery of Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” and a seemingly vast knowledge of wine – he’s exactly what Isabelle has been longing for. But what she doesn’t know is that just as she running toward a different future – he is running from a deadly past.
How is a person supposed to know? Sometimes the wolf looks enough like Granny that you let him in. You don’t notice the teeth until he’s close enough to bite down on your neck. You have to trust. You have to have faith – even if your trust/faith control panel has been known to throw sparks and even catch fire.
Henry reaches in, squeezes her hand. Isabelle’s heart thuds. Her stomach flips. Of course, these are the ways a body shouts about both the best things and the worst ones.
What’s Become of Her is a nonstop stream-of-conscience thriller that totally threw me off balance! Up is down, left is right and black is just a lighter shade of grey.
In the end, some questions are answered and then even more complex riddles are revealed.
And I was left wondering if good is truly good and is evil truly evil? Or is it all just a simple matter of perception?
February 2, 2018
Nothing about this book caught my attention and held it even though I picked it up and got through to page 200. The plot, the characters, nothing made me want to keep reading this book. It’s billed as a mystery but that is a pretty slim to none description of this novel. This year my goal is to read books that I want to read. I always have this ridiculous habit of “finishing what I started” or I feel guilty in some way for not seeing things through. However, I have literally thousands of books that I own that I want to read. I don’t want to waste my time reading books that don’t interest me at all. But...who knows...maybe this book is for you, but I’m not going to be the one recommending you read it. There are better books out there and it’s time to move on. 1 Star.
October 12, 2017
This book was so interesting. Not as fast moving as others but very fascinating and the ending was superb. I would not have wanted it to end in any other way at all. I would never have guessed it in a million years! Love it when a writer can surprise me in this way! If you are a fan of BA Paris or Mary Kubica then you’ll love this book!
April 29, 2017
And to think I nearly put this book down unfinished.
I have a 100 page rule when starting a new book: if the book doesn't work for me after 100 pages, I put it down.
I really liked Deb Caletti's, HE'S GONE. Her writing and storytelling remind me of Gayle Forman, so I immediately went for her new book, WHAT'S BECOME OF HER, when I saw it at the library.
This is the slowest thriller I have ever read. I guess it's a mystery, too. It is also a bit of a science book...and there is romance- so you can see why I was tempted to put it down.
I'm not going to talk about the story, instead I'll talk about what I loved.
The writing is plain, simple and tight- reading perfectly constructed sentence is a bit jarring. There were no fillers and every paragraph was ridiculously succinct. That doesn't mean it is boring or juvenile, it means the book is a powerhouse.
The characters are totally believable. There is nothing particularly outrageous going on here. I liked that. I like a villain that could easily be your own boyfriend or husband. That kind of realism makes the mind wander and keeps you up at night.
There is a weird sense of "otherness". For me, this had to do with the setting and a major secondary character. Sometimes the story was just bizarre because the settings were so exotic, however, this adds additional mystery to the primary mystery/thriller plot, which was already very interesting.
Birds. I know. Ornithology. I really enjoyed this. Some might find it boring. But it ties in so perfectly with the plot.
Poe. As in Edgar Allen. Yep. See. I told you this was an unusual story. Poetry figures into this already quirky line up.
Caletti is a master of character study and depicting the psychological underpinnings of a slow, silent suffocating relationship. She is far better at this than her contemporary, Liane Moriarity, and I'm going to be the one to say it!
The twist. I never saw it coming. Well played.
I probably liked this book so much because I identified with the personal struggles of the main character. I didn't have much faith in her throughout the book but she really pulled through in the end. I liked that the author allowed us to watch her fall apart. It was painful but purposeful.
If you like something a little different and slow, this might be a book for you. This book sealed the deal for me with this author. I'll try anything she writes.
I have a 100 page rule when starting a new book: if the book doesn't work for me after 100 pages, I put it down.
I really liked Deb Caletti's, HE'S GONE. Her writing and storytelling remind me of Gayle Forman, so I immediately went for her new book, WHAT'S BECOME OF HER, when I saw it at the library.
This is the slowest thriller I have ever read. I guess it's a mystery, too. It is also a bit of a science book...and there is romance- so you can see why I was tempted to put it down.
I'm not going to talk about the story, instead I'll talk about what I loved.
The writing is plain, simple and tight- reading perfectly constructed sentence is a bit jarring. There were no fillers and every paragraph was ridiculously succinct. That doesn't mean it is boring or juvenile, it means the book is a powerhouse.
The characters are totally believable. There is nothing particularly outrageous going on here. I liked that. I like a villain that could easily be your own boyfriend or husband. That kind of realism makes the mind wander and keeps you up at night.
There is a weird sense of "otherness". For me, this had to do with the setting and a major secondary character. Sometimes the story was just bizarre because the settings were so exotic, however, this adds additional mystery to the primary mystery/thriller plot, which was already very interesting.
Birds. I know. Ornithology. I really enjoyed this. Some might find it boring. But it ties in so perfectly with the plot.
Poe. As in Edgar Allen. Yep. See. I told you this was an unusual story. Poetry figures into this already quirky line up.
Caletti is a master of character study and depicting the psychological underpinnings of a slow, silent suffocating relationship. She is far better at this than her contemporary, Liane Moriarity, and I'm going to be the one to say it!
The twist. I never saw it coming. Well played.
I probably liked this book so much because I identified with the personal struggles of the main character. I didn't have much faith in her throughout the book but she really pulled through in the end. I liked that the author allowed us to watch her fall apart. It was painful but purposeful.
If you like something a little different and slow, this might be a book for you. This book sealed the deal for me with this author. I'll try anything she writes.
June 19, 2017
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway and fully expected to love it. Touted as a perfect story for lovers of Jodi Picoult and Kristin Hannah, I felt certain this would be a winner. I was wrong. I just did not love it.
Isabelle returns to her remote childhood home after the death of her mom to take over the family home and business. Her life is pretty much in turmoil as she is dealing with a divorce, her bereavement, and all of the loose ends her mom left behind. With so much going on, the last thing she needs is a tumultuous relationship. However, when Henry comes on the scene, that;s exactly what Isabelle gets involved with, a difficult relationship. Henry is a man with a scary, troubling past, a dead wife and a missing fiance, a hot temper and a tendency toward violence. However, he is also very handsome, warm and protective and charming. Do the positives outweigh the negatives? Is anything worth the insecurity and suspicion he causes Isabelle?
What's Become of Her is a suspenseful story that runs out of steam before the climax is reached. Because of that, I found it less than satisfying. As a study of the psychology of an abused woman, it does offer a bird's eye view of the turmoil and confusion caused by the abuse, so in that respect, it does have some value. Whether or not that's enough for you is probably a matter of taste.
Isabelle returns to her remote childhood home after the death of her mom to take over the family home and business. Her life is pretty much in turmoil as she is dealing with a divorce, her bereavement, and all of the loose ends her mom left behind. With so much going on, the last thing she needs is a tumultuous relationship. However, when Henry comes on the scene, that;s exactly what Isabelle gets involved with, a difficult relationship. Henry is a man with a scary, troubling past, a dead wife and a missing fiance, a hot temper and a tendency toward violence. However, he is also very handsome, warm and protective and charming. Do the positives outweigh the negatives? Is anything worth the insecurity and suspicion he causes Isabelle?
What's Become of Her is a suspenseful story that runs out of steam before the climax is reached. Because of that, I found it less than satisfying. As a study of the psychology of an abused woman, it does offer a bird's eye view of the turmoil and confusion caused by the abuse, so in that respect, it does have some value. Whether or not that's enough for you is probably a matter of taste.
June 6, 2017
The pacing of this book was very drawn out, I kept notes while I was reading and at page 50 my note says 'the stage has been set for something to happen', by page 80 I'm still waiting. A hundred pages later at page 180 I'm growing impatient, by page 207 my note says 'long, boring and drawn out'.
I think the story line of this novel could have been improved by tightening and editing out the redundancies. Drawing the story out didn't add to the suspense, I think it detracted from it. I did like the supporting characters and the small community Isabelle returns to after her mother's death. I think I would have preferred a character driven novel in the setting the author created over this one where the plot of the story felt contrived and forced. I did enjoy the details about Dr. Weary's research with crows.
I think the story line of this novel could have been improved by tightening and editing out the redundancies. Drawing the story out didn't add to the suspense, I think it detracted from it. I did like the supporting characters and the small community Isabelle returns to after her mother's death. I think I would have preferred a character driven novel in the setting the author created over this one where the plot of the story felt contrived and forced. I did enjoy the details about Dr. Weary's research with crows.
June 18, 2017
I enjoyed the premise of the story and the suspense but definitely wasn't gob-smacked. I liked the locale of an island in the San Juan Islands, having been born in and lived in the Northwest. I even somewhat liked the character of Isabelle Auston, although her inability to act upon her fears frustrated me.
May 27, 2017
Overall, it was an interesting story but built up suspense very slowly to an ending that kind of just rolled over a hill instead of spiking up to excitement. I wish there would have been more to the ending, or at least an epilogue... I was never convinced of why Henry and Isabelle were in a relationship, but maybe that is because I couldn't connect with any of the characters. If you like Poe, there was a lot of symbolism to the raven and possibly other Poe stories.
May 18, 2017
It starts out with a lot foreshadowing, suspense, and raven/Poe symbolism and I was pretty into it. But by the time I got halfway through, the suspense wasn't building anymore and it seemed repetitive until the final act starts to unfold.
May 30, 2017
Very promising premise, poor execution - seemed very clunky how they switched who was telling the story each chapter.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2019
What's Become of Her is a suspenseful domestic thriller with chapters that alternate between Isabelle and the omniscient Dr. Weary whose identity was quite a surprise when revealed.
May 26, 2018
"What's Become of Her" is a thrilling portrayal of what it's like to ignore warning signs and suppress your true identity in the name of peace, love, and security. Isabelle, raised by an emotionally abusive mother, is already accustomed to hiding her true feelings and staying quiet for the preservation of peace and safety. So, when she meets the domineering and mysterious Henry, she is already primed to find his charms appealing while ignoring his more insidious traits. Henry is careful: he treats Isabelle like a princess and appears to worship the ground she walks on, but that adoration comes at a heavy price. Isabelle is always being watched. Henry has a comment about everything, and nothing gets past him. His ego is as fragile as an egg, and Isabelle expends vast amounts of energy cosseting that ego, all without really asking herself why. Then there are the two dead lovers, which Henry swears had little to do with him ...
I did feel that "Stay," a thematically similar novel by Deb Caletti, covered the same ground in a more powerful way, which may have slightly dampened my enjoyment of this book. Even so, Isabelle's journey from downtrodden to empowered was satisfying to read, and inspiring for my own personal journey. I, too, have dismissed warning signs and ignored alarm bells, all for love or security or peace. That, as Isabelle discovers, is no way to live.
I did feel that "Stay," a thematically similar novel by Deb Caletti, covered the same ground in a more powerful way, which may have slightly dampened my enjoyment of this book. Even so, Isabelle's journey from downtrodden to empowered was satisfying to read, and inspiring for my own personal journey. I, too, have dismissed warning signs and ignored alarm bells, all for love or security or peace. That, as Isabelle discovers, is no way to live.
February 4, 2018
Book: What’s Become of Her
Author: Deb Caletti
Brief Summary
Isabelle is a soft-spoken woman made timid by the narcissistic people in her life. After her mother’s death, she returns to her home in the Pacific Northwest. She falls for a charming stranger, only to discover that he has been associated with the death of one former partner and the disappearance of another. She realizes she may be his next victim, and devises a plot to escape with help from an unlikely partner.
Rating: 4/5
Isabelle’s story is paralleled with that of Professor Weary, an orthnithologist conducting fieldwork in a remote corner of the world. In the beginning the bird discussion seemed to distract from the main story, but they dovetailed beautifully in the middle and provided for a spectacular ending.
Isabelle’s internal self-pitying dialogue and her conjecture of her mother’s opinions detract from the story and make it less believable that she would escape her situation. I would have liked to have seen stronger mental character with plausible faults in action.
Noteworthy:
“Nice can feel like being shoved in a trunk with your wrists bound and your mouth taped shut.”
“It’s unfair sometimes how many beginnings a life sometimes requires.”
Author: Deb Caletti
Brief Summary
Isabelle is a soft-spoken woman made timid by the narcissistic people in her life. After her mother’s death, she returns to her home in the Pacific Northwest. She falls for a charming stranger, only to discover that he has been associated with the death of one former partner and the disappearance of another. She realizes she may be his next victim, and devises a plot to escape with help from an unlikely partner.
Rating: 4/5
Isabelle’s story is paralleled with that of Professor Weary, an orthnithologist conducting fieldwork in a remote corner of the world. In the beginning the bird discussion seemed to distract from the main story, but they dovetailed beautifully in the middle and provided for a spectacular ending.
Isabelle’s internal self-pitying dialogue and her conjecture of her mother’s opinions detract from the story and make it less believable that she would escape her situation. I would have liked to have seen stronger mental character with plausible faults in action.
Noteworthy:
“Nice can feel like being shoved in a trunk with your wrists bound and your mouth taped shut.”
“It’s unfair sometimes how many beginnings a life sometimes requires.”
November 1, 2025
Isabelle hat sich scheiden lassen und zieht nach dem Tod ihrer Mutter zurück auf eine kleine Insel, um das Familienunternehmen zu übernehmen. Wer ist sie und was will sie mit ihrem Leben machen? So ganz sicher ist sie sich noch nicht, als sie Henry kennen lernt. Er wird eine Weile auf der Insel wohnen und die Beiden kommen sich näher. Alles läuft gut, bis Isabelle einige Infos über ihn bekommt. Seine letzten beiden Frauen, eine ist gestorben und die andere verschwunden. Das scheint verdächtig, doch Henry beteuert seine Unschuld. Also glaubt Isabelle ihm. Dann bekommt sie auf einmal Päckchen mit verdächtigen Gegenständen geschickt oder viel aussehenden Fotos. Sie verheimlicht Henry dies und die Lage spitzt sich zu. Schließlich verlässt sie Henry. Dieser gibt nicht auf und Isabelle lässt sich erneut auf ihn ein, allerdings hat sie dieses Mal einen Plan. Sie glaubt, dass Henry schuldig ist und will nicht Nummer drei auf seiner Liste werden. Mit der Hilfe des Paketsenders will sie ihn in eine Falle locken. Wird Isabelle diesen Plan überleben?
Es bleibt spannend, das ganze Buch über. Es gibt ebenfalls Kapitel aus der Sicht des Paketsenders, was das ganze Geschehen aus zwei Perspektiven darstellt. Spannend bis zum Schluss und die Auflösung am Ende, unglaublich.
Es bleibt spannend, das ganze Buch über. Es gibt ebenfalls Kapitel aus der Sicht des Paketsenders, was das ganze Geschehen aus zwei Perspektiven darstellt. Spannend bis zum Schluss und die Auflösung am Ende, unglaublich.
July 28, 2017
Deb Caletti has done it again. Her writing is so tense that I can't bear to continue, but I must. Her female characters are mousy and unbalanced, but you really get inside their heads and get a visible sense of why they think as they do. While I would hate these women in real life, the books make me empathetic to their actions. Her male characters are abusive, but not one dimensional like so many others. I usually avoid reading about abusive relationships, but Caletti's work sings. I had an idea that Professor Weary had been setting Henry up, but the ending was still a sucker punch. Intensity at its finest. One thing I do want to add is: both Sarah and Isabelle are crazier than Henry. Both women could easily have left this relationship, but instead acted like nuts. Both gave up their entire lives rather than just say "I don't want to be with you". They didn't have children. They both had money. But they were so spineless and weak. I don't see their actions as brave or good, just selfish and cowardly. They are both worse human beings than he is, especially when you take creepy Professor Weary into account and that revelation. Nuts!
September 29, 2017
I'm half in and half out on this one. From the first page you know that Isabelle is about to make some serious missteps and dig herself into trouble. The depiction of the controlling boyfriend of several times wounded Isabelle is chilling. Isabelle's inner conflicts feed her bad decisions and self recriminations and seem to drive her into the arms of this man. He appears to be well adjusted in so many ways with his boyish charm, supportive family, and enthusiasm over good food. But slowly her walls close in and a stranger begins to send her hints about this man's past and what she may be getting herself into. The stranger, living half the globe away, is the part of the story I found to be way too odd. The Who and the Why of his obsession with Isabelle and beau Henry is a bit elusive, though the connection is obvious. About 50 pages before the end the truth dawned on me and the pieces fit a little better, but I felt manipulated. There's also a confusing mixture of the lives and habits of the Corvus species of birds and the poetry of Edgar Allen Poe, with references (of course) to "The Raven." Some of the implications here eluded me.
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