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Where She Went
Women's fiction with a wrenching twist, Where She Went follows one mother desperate to know which secrets took her daughter away from what should have been a normal college experience. What happens when your worst fear comes true? Her only daughter has just gone away to college, and Maggie O'Farrell knows she's turning into one of those anxious empty-nesters she used to mock. Worrying constantly, texting more than she should, even occasionally dropping by the campus "just to say hi." But Maggie can't shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen to Emma. And then, just as Maggie starts to relax, her daughter disappears. The clues are disturbing. An empty dorm room where Emma was supposedly living. A mysterious boy described as Future Husband in her phone. Dormmates who seem more sinister than friendly. As Maggie combs over the campus looking for signs of her daughter, she learns more about Emma's life than she ever thought possible. Kelly Simmons delivers another gripping novel in Where She Went , a conversation-starting story of letting go and the secrets that surface when the person hiding them is gone. Also by Kelly One More Day The Fifth of July
304 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2019
193 people are currently reading
1694 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Simmons
31 books461 followersMy sixth novel NOT MY BOY debuted January 2021. Booklist compared it to Big Little Lies, and Julie Clark, the author of LAST FLIGHT said it was "impossible to put down." I hope you enjoy it -- and please check out my backlist, Amazon Exclusive standalones and NEW 2025 Crime Collection -- all featuring good women making bad decisions.
Start with my best-selling book, ONE MORE DAY, maybe? Or my first two, a bit more literary in tone -- STANDING STILL and THE BIRD HOUSE, both with unilaterally glowing reviews. (If you like it dark, you might prefer THE FIFTH OF JULY.)
My books have been applauded by bestselling authors like Megan Abbott, Caroline Leavitt, and Sarah Pekkanen. They've been hailed as "great titles for book groups who love strong female characters" by the Library Journal. Publishers Weekly called my first novel, Standing Still "An electrifying debut" in its starred review. Even Kirkus likes me! Maybe you'd enjoy discovering a new-to-you author?
Prefer SHORTER books to binge?
My indie pubbed NEW 2025 Crime Collection includes: THE OFF SEASON, THE SHOULDER SEASON, and THE HIGH SEASON. Great page turning short reads featuring unforgivable crimes in unforgettable locations.
I've visited hundreds and hundreds of book clubs via Zoom, Google Hangouts or in person. I'd love to meet with yours.
For book signing events or more information, see my website kellysimmonsbooks.com. Or friend me on Facebook (kellyatbubble) or Insta (kellyasimmons) or follow me on twitter (kellysimmons) for more giveaways etc etc.
Thanks for being part of the goodreads community!
Start with my best-selling book, ONE MORE DAY, maybe? Or my first two, a bit more literary in tone -- STANDING STILL and THE BIRD HOUSE, both with unilaterally glowing reviews. (If you like it dark, you might prefer THE FIFTH OF JULY.)
My books have been applauded by bestselling authors like Megan Abbott, Caroline Leavitt, and Sarah Pekkanen. They've been hailed as "great titles for book groups who love strong female characters" by the Library Journal. Publishers Weekly called my first novel, Standing Still "An electrifying debut" in its starred review. Even Kirkus likes me! Maybe you'd enjoy discovering a new-to-you author?
Prefer SHORTER books to binge?
My indie pubbed NEW 2025 Crime Collection includes: THE OFF SEASON, THE SHOULDER SEASON, and THE HIGH SEASON. Great page turning short reads featuring unforgivable crimes in unforgettable locations.
I've visited hundreds and hundreds of book clubs via Zoom, Google Hangouts or in person. I'd love to meet with yours.
For book signing events or more information, see my website kellysimmonsbooks.com. Or friend me on Facebook (kellyatbubble) or Insta (kellyasimmons) or follow me on twitter (kellysimmons) for more giveaways etc etc.
Thanks for being part of the goodreads community!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 263 reviews
November 17, 2019
The story take place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and surrounds a hardworking single mother (Maggie) who is also the widow of a police officer who was shot in the line of duty. Maggie is also suffering from empty nest syndrome since her eighteen year old daughter (Emma) has recently started college and is living on campus. Maggie is a highly stressed and anxious woman and is having a difficult time separating herself from Emma. While the college is just on the other side of town, Maggie drops in on Emma with cookies or other baked goodies trying to keep extra tabs on her daughter and texting or calling Emma several times a day. Emma dearly loves her mother but she has enough, feeling embarrassed and also like a square peg fitting in with her more wordly roommates. Maggie backs off and just when she is adjusting and starting to relax, she gets a visit from the police and they inform her that her daughter is missing and they are not sure when or how she disappeared!
This was my first book by Kelly Simmons and I was realy looking forward to reading it since she has wriiten quite a few books and has a great fan base. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time with this story. I was expecting a psychological thriller and this was definitely more of a womens fiction with a tad of mystery without any suspense. The first couple of chapters were very good and and then just seemed to ramble on and on. I should have read this book very quickly, but I kept putting it down struggling to finish. To be fair, I want to say there were some interesting turns
and the writing was good but sometimes the story jumped around too much and became disjointed and the Maggie character simply exhausted me. She was so neurotic and aggressive that I couldn't sympathize with her dilemma's because she became such an unlikable, hot mess! The Emma character was pretty good, very likeable and seemingly realistic for a freshman in college, and I was very sympathetic for her situation. I thought there would be a big redeeming twist at the end, but sadly (for me) it just fell flat. I'm not quite sure what the author wanted with this story. The blurb was exciting and sounded suspenseful with the storyline sounding like "Every Mother's Nightmare" but it became (This Mother was a Nightmare)!
I want to say that I may be in the minority with my opinions and if you are looking for a woman's fiction then you may want to try this book, but if you are looking for a suspenseful mystery this just isn't the one!
I want to thank the publisher "Sourcebooks Landmark" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this Advanced Reading Copy!
I have given a rating of 2 1/2 Struggling ** 1/2 Stars!!
This was my first book by Kelly Simmons and I was realy looking forward to reading it since she has wriiten quite a few books and has a great fan base. Unfortunately, I had a difficult time with this story. I was expecting a psychological thriller and this was definitely more of a womens fiction with a tad of mystery without any suspense. The first couple of chapters were very good and and then just seemed to ramble on and on. I should have read this book very quickly, but I kept putting it down struggling to finish. To be fair, I want to say there were some interesting turns
and the writing was good but sometimes the story jumped around too much and became disjointed and the Maggie character simply exhausted me. She was so neurotic and aggressive that I couldn't sympathize with her dilemma's because she became such an unlikable, hot mess! The Emma character was pretty good, very likeable and seemingly realistic for a freshman in college, and I was very sympathetic for her situation. I thought there would be a big redeeming twist at the end, but sadly (for me) it just fell flat. I'm not quite sure what the author wanted with this story. The blurb was exciting and sounded suspenseful with the storyline sounding like "Every Mother's Nightmare" but it became (This Mother was a Nightmare)!
I want to say that I may be in the minority with my opinions and if you are looking for a woman's fiction then you may want to try this book, but if you are looking for a suspenseful mystery this just isn't the one!
I want to thank the publisher "Sourcebooks Landmark" and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this Advanced Reading Copy!
I have given a rating of 2 1/2 Struggling ** 1/2 Stars!!
October 10, 2019
EXCERPT: She had loaded Sarah's number into her phone, just in case. If she couldn't reach her daughter; if she didn't respond to repeated texts or calls, she could call Sarah, and she could run and check on her. Wouldn't Sarah's mother want the same safety net? She still remembered the set of Emma's lips when she'd asked Sarah for her contact info. She was embarrassing her daughter. She was being ridiculous.
But now this.
"This afternoon, Sarah contacted Emma's RA, said she hadn't answered her texts last night, hadn't shown up for any of her classes, and her phone went to voice mail all day. She said this was completely out of character. "
"She had perfect attendance in high school," Maggie said dumbly. But she was thinking why the hell hadn't Sarah Franco called her, in addition to the RA?
"So the RA opened the room and called 911."
"What...was in the room?" Maggie said slowly.
"Ma'am, I really think we should sit down."
"What. Was. In. The. Room?"
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Her only daughter has just gone away to college, and Maggie O'Farrell knows she's turning into one of those helicopter parents she used to mock. Worrying constantly, texting more than she should, even occasionally dropping by the campus "just to say hi." But Maggie can't shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen to Emma. And then, just as Maggie starts to relax, her daughter disappears.
The clues are disturbing. An empty dorm room where Emma was supposedly living. A mysterious boy described as Future Husband in her phone. Dormmates who seem more sinister than friendly. As Maggie combs over the campus looking for signs of her daughter, she learns more about Emma's life than she ever thought possible.
MY THOUGHTS: Where She Went by Kelly Simmons was a good read, not great, but good. It was though, a book that I could put down, and not feel a compelling need to get back to.
The plot wasn't predictable, in fact it contains a surprise or two, but it was neither gripping nor suspenseful.
I enjoyed the characters of both Maggie, a somewhat overprotective mother, and Emma, who is definitely her mother's daughter, determined but not always logical.
Some aspects of this story seemed a little rushed and could have done with more fleshing out, while others were dwelt upon too much with not much benefit to the storyline. And there seems to be a gap, right where the most interesting point could have been.
As I said, a good read, but it could have been better.
My favourite passage: What was the difference between a person who was out of her mind with grief and exhaustion and a person who was out of her mind? How thin, how impossibly thin was that line?
#WhereSheWent #NetGalley
🙂🙂🙂
THE AUTHOR: Kelly Simmons is a former journalist and advertising creative director specializing in marketing to women. She lives with her family outside Philadelphia.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Sourcebooks, Landmark via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Where She Went by Kelly Simmons for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
But now this.
"This afternoon, Sarah contacted Emma's RA, said she hadn't answered her texts last night, hadn't shown up for any of her classes, and her phone went to voice mail all day. She said this was completely out of character. "
"She had perfect attendance in high school," Maggie said dumbly. But she was thinking why the hell hadn't Sarah Franco called her, in addition to the RA?
"So the RA opened the room and called 911."
"What...was in the room?" Maggie said slowly.
"Ma'am, I really think we should sit down."
"What. Was. In. The. Room?"
ABOUT THIS BOOK: Her only daughter has just gone away to college, and Maggie O'Farrell knows she's turning into one of those helicopter parents she used to mock. Worrying constantly, texting more than she should, even occasionally dropping by the campus "just to say hi." But Maggie can't shake the feeling that something terrible is about to happen to Emma. And then, just as Maggie starts to relax, her daughter disappears.
The clues are disturbing. An empty dorm room where Emma was supposedly living. A mysterious boy described as Future Husband in her phone. Dormmates who seem more sinister than friendly. As Maggie combs over the campus looking for signs of her daughter, she learns more about Emma's life than she ever thought possible.
MY THOUGHTS: Where She Went by Kelly Simmons was a good read, not great, but good. It was though, a book that I could put down, and not feel a compelling need to get back to.
The plot wasn't predictable, in fact it contains a surprise or two, but it was neither gripping nor suspenseful.
I enjoyed the characters of both Maggie, a somewhat overprotective mother, and Emma, who is definitely her mother's daughter, determined but not always logical.
Some aspects of this story seemed a little rushed and could have done with more fleshing out, while others were dwelt upon too much with not much benefit to the storyline. And there seems to be a gap, right where the most interesting point could have been.
As I said, a good read, but it could have been better.
My favourite passage: What was the difference between a person who was out of her mind with grief and exhaustion and a person who was out of her mind? How thin, how impossibly thin was that line?
#WhereSheWent #NetGalley
🙂🙂🙂
THE AUTHOR: Kelly Simmons is a former journalist and advertising creative director specializing in marketing to women. She lives with her family outside Philadelphia.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Sourcebooks, Landmark via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Where She Went by Kelly Simmons for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system, please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page, or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage https://sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/...
October 7, 2021
So much potential, so little payoff. Terrible ending.
I'm not sure what is up with the books I've been choosing lately, but so many of them have absolutely hysterical people and utterly unlikable characters. This one features a neurotic mother who shrieks and carries on constantly, and a group of icky, terrible, nasty college students.
As I've said before, I am always enticed by the premise of someone going missing. Maggie gets a visit from the police who tell her that her college freshman daughter Emma has disappeared, no one has seen her. Maggie zooms over to Emma's dorm room and finds it completely empty of anything belonging to her daughter. Her three roommates are unreachable, and no one seems to have any idea what happened to Emma (or who she even is for the most part). As Maggie is the widow of a police officer, she knows that it is critical to investigate quickly and she feels that the local police aren't doing their job. I actually could have forgiven Maggie's frenetic running around yelling "take fingerprints! put out an Amber alert!" (even though she should have known that neither was productive or possible), but the ending of this story is just SO BAD.
The setup of alternating between Maggie's investigation into Emma's whereabouts in the present and the lead up to the disappearance from Emma's POV in the past works to the point where the two converge. Then it just becomes absolutely unbelievable and stupid. For all of the lead up to us finally discovering what happened to Emma, and then...
Overall this book did not work for me, I listened to it as an audiobook and the narrator spoke so incredibly slowly that I sped it up to 2.25x and it still seemed like regular fast talking to me. This isn't one that I'd recommend as an audiobook because the shrieking and paranoia are over the top and the narration is sloooooow.
I'm not sure what is up with the books I've been choosing lately, but so many of them have absolutely hysterical people and utterly unlikable characters. This one features a neurotic mother who shrieks and carries on constantly, and a group of icky, terrible, nasty college students.
As I've said before, I am always enticed by the premise of someone going missing. Maggie gets a visit from the police who tell her that her college freshman daughter Emma has disappeared, no one has seen her. Maggie zooms over to Emma's dorm room and finds it completely empty of anything belonging to her daughter. Her three roommates are unreachable, and no one seems to have any idea what happened to Emma (or who she even is for the most part). As Maggie is the widow of a police officer, she knows that it is critical to investigate quickly and she feels that the local police aren't doing their job. I actually could have forgiven Maggie's frenetic running around yelling "take fingerprints! put out an Amber alert!" (even though she should have known that neither was productive or possible), but the ending of this story is just SO BAD.
The setup of alternating between Maggie's investigation into Emma's whereabouts in the present and the lead up to the disappearance from Emma's POV in the past works to the point where the two converge. Then it just becomes absolutely unbelievable and stupid. For all of the lead up to us finally discovering what happened to Emma, and then...
Overall this book did not work for me, I listened to it as an audiobook and the narrator spoke so incredibly slowly that I sped it up to 2.25x and it still seemed like regular fast talking to me. This isn't one that I'd recommend as an audiobook because the shrieking and paranoia are over the top and the narration is sloooooow.
September 17, 2019
This book took me quite awhile to read, which is never a good sign.
Right off the bat, I'm just going to say it...this book was classified incorrectly. It is not a suspense, thriller, or mystery...and it MOST DEFINITELY isn't a psychological thriller. This is women's fiction. And not overly interesting women's fiction at that. As a reader, I find these bogus classifications so frustrating. It's hard not to feel cheated.
Anyway, moving on.
Told from two points of view, those of the mother, Maggie, and the daughter, Emma, Where She Went is a decently written novel. Emma's sections take place prior to her going missing, while Maggie's take place after. The timeline was fine...I was never confused, but the story itself was humdrum.
Maggie's chapters, especially, were nothing but completely irrelevant internal dialogue. For instance, in one section, during a walk to the police station, she pondered a variety of things (pages worth), none of which had any relation to the actual story. Emma's chapters were a bit more dynamic, but I'd say mildly implausible...and filled with a bit too much Catholic church trivia for my liking. When I finally, FINALLY got to the conclusion, I literally said to myself, "You've got to be kidding." It was rushed, a cop-out, and, like the rest of the story, pretty damn dull.
Again, had I not been expecting the classic psychological revelations and twists, I may have enjoyed it more. THIS IS THE REASON BOOKS NEED TO BE CLASSIFIED CORRECTLY!
Final thoughts...
If you're looking for a slow-burning, character driven, mother/daughter story...give this a chance. If you're looking for a psychological thriller...venture far, far away.
**Many thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy.
Right off the bat, I'm just going to say it...this book was classified incorrectly. It is not a suspense, thriller, or mystery...and it MOST DEFINITELY isn't a psychological thriller. This is women's fiction. And not overly interesting women's fiction at that. As a reader, I find these bogus classifications so frustrating. It's hard not to feel cheated.
Anyway, moving on.
Told from two points of view, those of the mother, Maggie, and the daughter, Emma, Where She Went is a decently written novel. Emma's sections take place prior to her going missing, while Maggie's take place after. The timeline was fine...I was never confused, but the story itself was humdrum.
Maggie's chapters, especially, were nothing but completely irrelevant internal dialogue. For instance, in one section, during a walk to the police station, she pondered a variety of things (pages worth), none of which had any relation to the actual story. Emma's chapters were a bit more dynamic, but I'd say mildly implausible...and filled with a bit too much Catholic church trivia for my liking. When I finally, FINALLY got to the conclusion, I literally said to myself, "You've got to be kidding." It was rushed, a cop-out, and, like the rest of the story, pretty damn dull.
Again, had I not been expecting the classic psychological revelations and twists, I may have enjoyed it more. THIS IS THE REASON BOOKS NEED TO BE CLASSIFIED CORRECTLY!
Final thoughts...
If you're looking for a slow-burning, character driven, mother/daughter story...give this a chance. If you're looking for a psychological thriller...venture far, far away.
**Many thanks to the publisher for my advanced copy.
October 16, 2019
Rated 4.5 - Where She Went by Kelly Simmons is an edgy, suspenseful story focused on family and what we’ll do to save our own. The two viewpoints and timelines push the story forward in an exhilarating ride to the end.
Maggie has been dealt one dirty deal after another, but through it all she loves her daughter like every mother should. Moms will relate to Maggie’s persistence and willingness to break every rule of society, stepping outside what’s comfortable, to save her daughter Emma when she goes missing.
I empathized with Emma’s struggle as a new college student. Her feelings about not being the cool girl are relatable. I love when the good of a possible outcome, plus the agitation at what’s wrong and should be corrected, forces a person to go beyond their norm and push for the truth.
That’s Emma. She’s insecure, aware that college isn’t what she hoped for, but takes the situation in hand anyways. Emma is far from perfect, and she does some stupid things, but that made me like her even more.
The dual timeline was excellent. It accelerated the suspense and propelled the story forward. The result? Two people finding out who they really are when one of them acts completely out of character. The rollercoaster that follows is a nail-biter.
I loved everything about this novel. Its pacing is slow enough to make me want to race ahead, but detailed enough to draw me in while skipping nothing. The characters are clever and realistic with today’s attitudes, including confusion over what the world expects and what you know is right. The book has heart and I loved the message.
I can understand some readers’ frustration with the book’s classification. This one is hard to categorize. It’s suspenseful with engaging characters I cared about from the beginning. I can see some women’s fiction and thriller attributes, but above all, it’s suspenseful – just not romantic suspense. Expecting a psychological thriller did not ruin this story for me because the author’s talent made me forget why I requested the book for review. I just enjoyed it for the entertainment it was. The only tiny blip of a criticism I have is that I wanted an epilogue with a more detailed look into the future.
In the end? I did not suspect the conclusion. Don’t stay on the fence with this one – just get it and enjoy the ride. I loved the author’s style and she captivated me from beginning to end.
With pacing that’s riveting, Kelly Simmons writes a story all mothers and daughters will relate to, plus be thankful for who we are right now.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com. A digital advanced copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review. Thanks in advance for following links and sharing this review on social media.
Maggie has been dealt one dirty deal after another, but through it all she loves her daughter like every mother should. Moms will relate to Maggie’s persistence and willingness to break every rule of society, stepping outside what’s comfortable, to save her daughter Emma when she goes missing.
I empathized with Emma’s struggle as a new college student. Her feelings about not being the cool girl are relatable. I love when the good of a possible outcome, plus the agitation at what’s wrong and should be corrected, forces a person to go beyond their norm and push for the truth.
That’s Emma. She’s insecure, aware that college isn’t what she hoped for, but takes the situation in hand anyways. Emma is far from perfect, and she does some stupid things, but that made me like her even more.
The dual timeline was excellent. It accelerated the suspense and propelled the story forward. The result? Two people finding out who they really are when one of them acts completely out of character. The rollercoaster that follows is a nail-biter.
I loved everything about this novel. Its pacing is slow enough to make me want to race ahead, but detailed enough to draw me in while skipping nothing. The characters are clever and realistic with today’s attitudes, including confusion over what the world expects and what you know is right. The book has heart and I loved the message.
I can understand some readers’ frustration with the book’s classification. This one is hard to categorize. It’s suspenseful with engaging characters I cared about from the beginning. I can see some women’s fiction and thriller attributes, but above all, it’s suspenseful – just not romantic suspense. Expecting a psychological thriller did not ruin this story for me because the author’s talent made me forget why I requested the book for review. I just enjoyed it for the entertainment it was. The only tiny blip of a criticism I have is that I wanted an epilogue with a more detailed look into the future.
In the end? I did not suspect the conclusion. Don’t stay on the fence with this one – just get it and enjoy the ride. I loved the author’s style and she captivated me from beginning to end.
With pacing that’s riveting, Kelly Simmons writes a story all mothers and daughters will relate to, plus be thankful for who we are right now.
Review by Dorine, courtesy of TheZestQuest.com. A digital advanced copy was provided by the publisher for an honest review. Thanks in advance for following links and sharing this review on social media.
November 7, 2019
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ / 5
I finally read a book by Kelly Simmons!! Where She Went was a fairly short book at under 300 pages, and they really flew by for me as I waited to find out how all the things would come together.
Maggie's daughter Emma has just started college and is living in the dorms, and Maggie has been missing her a lot but trying not to be a helicopter mom. But when she gets a visit from a police officer saying Emma seems to have disappeared she intermediately demands they take her to the college. What she finds is a room empty of all her daughter’s things and the police saying she should go home and let them do their job. Clearly Maggie does not do that, and she starts to do a little digging on her own. I really loved both Maggie and Emma, and they had just the right amount of depth for me. I also really liked the fact that Maggie was no nonsense and such a strong woman.
I also very much enjoyed the setup of the novel. It switches back and forth between Maggie and Emma with Emma's viewpoint being everything leading up to her disappearance. Emma was sassy and smart, and clearly had great morals which was nice to see in a teenage character. I found Where She Went to have just enough suspense to keep me reading, and I had a hard time putting it down.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons
Final Thought: I'm not entirely sure how believable everything that happens in Where She Went actually is, but I don't care about that and I really enjoyed the plot. If you only like books where you could picture it happening in real life, you may not like this one, but if you are like me and use books as an escape you should really enjoy it! I thought the ending was a tad anticlimactic, but overall I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more by Simmons!
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
I finally read a book by Kelly Simmons!! Where She Went was a fairly short book at under 300 pages, and they really flew by for me as I waited to find out how all the things would come together.
Maggie's daughter Emma has just started college and is living in the dorms, and Maggie has been missing her a lot but trying not to be a helicopter mom. But when she gets a visit from a police officer saying Emma seems to have disappeared she intermediately demands they take her to the college. What she finds is a room empty of all her daughter’s things and the police saying she should go home and let them do their job. Clearly Maggie does not do that, and she starts to do a little digging on her own. I really loved both Maggie and Emma, and they had just the right amount of depth for me. I also really liked the fact that Maggie was no nonsense and such a strong woman.
I also very much enjoyed the setup of the novel. It switches back and forth between Maggie and Emma with Emma's viewpoint being everything leading up to her disappearance. Emma was sassy and smart, and clearly had great morals which was nice to see in a teenage character. I found Where She Went to have just enough suspense to keep me reading, and I had a hard time putting it down.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Whatever It Takes by Imagine Dragons
Final Thought: I'm not entirely sure how believable everything that happens in Where She Went actually is, but I don't care about that and I really enjoyed the plot. If you only like books where you could picture it happening in real life, you may not like this one, but if you are like me and use books as an escape you should really enjoy it! I thought the ending was a tad anticlimactic, but overall I really enjoyed it and I can't wait to read more by Simmons!
Thank you to the publisher for my advanced review copy via NetGalley. All opinions and thoughts are my own.
September 25, 2019
3.5 Stars
Before I go down my rant of how important it is to properly classify a genre of a book - I'll just say - Where She Went is women's fiction, NOT a thriller. Hopefully this classification will help improve your reading experience of what is a very enjoyable women's fiction novel!
Where She Went is an interesting take on a mother/daughter relationship, following the loss of the father/husband and the daughter's first year away at college. There is a sugar baby aspect involved at the college and a bit of a missing person situation but again, this is all in service of the character aspect - not leading to some gigantic reveal! Simmons writes a compulsively readable story that will hold your attention from start to finish and make you think about your own relationships.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
Before I go down my rant of how important it is to properly classify a genre of a book - I'll just say - Where She Went is women's fiction, NOT a thriller. Hopefully this classification will help improve your reading experience of what is a very enjoyable women's fiction novel!
Where She Went is an interesting take on a mother/daughter relationship, following the loss of the father/husband and the daughter's first year away at college. There is a sugar baby aspect involved at the college and a bit of a missing person situation but again, this is all in service of the character aspect - not leading to some gigantic reveal! Simmons writes a compulsively readable story that will hold your attention from start to finish and make you think about your own relationships.
Thank you to Sourcebooks for an advanced copy. All opinions are my own.
November 22, 2020
bro this book was not a thriller at all...it was just pages and pages of boring internal monologue 🤢
November 25, 2019
I received a free e-copy of Where She Went by Kelly Simmons from NetGalley for my honest review.
This is a story of a mother (Maggie) and daughter (Emma) I loved that the story was told from dual points of view but felt like the story fell a little flat for me. Maggie's daughter, Emma, goes missing from college and there is nothing she won't do to find out what happened.
My struggle with this book was with the characters. I just couldn't get connect with them at all and I got tired and even irritated with the mother.
This is a story of a mother (Maggie) and daughter (Emma) I loved that the story was told from dual points of view but felt like the story fell a little flat for me. Maggie's daughter, Emma, goes missing from college and there is nothing she won't do to find out what happened.
My struggle with this book was with the characters. I just couldn't get connect with them at all and I got tired and even irritated with the mother.
September 18, 2019
WHERE SHE WENT
BY KELLY SIMMONS
WOW Just WOW! I went into reading this book with no expectations because I peeked at some of the reviews and most of them were luke warm. I opened my copy and started reading and oh how I was transported into this very talented Author's storytelling. This is not like any book you have already read. I applaud this Author for her originality, her character development, the pacing etc. I love, love, loved it from beginning to end. I read this from cover to cover in one sitting. Since so many reviewers have summarized the synopsis to this wonderful novel I will not.
I adore stories with strong women protagonists. Both Maggie and Emma are strong in each their own way. This story uses the device of alternating points of view with both Maggie and Emma. Imagine if parents of boys are different from parents of girls. Imagine how devastated you would feel if after you dropped your only female daughter to college and after she had been settled in you got a visit from the police or a phone call from them saying your daughter appeared to be missing.
I thought Maggie was a bit obnoxious at first but it was the chapter's told from her perspective that I was invested in the most. As I got further along in my reading, I began to enjoy Emma's predicament.
I thought that this was stunning in that unlike most psychological thrillers that are paint by number, this one was written so uniquely. I disagree with most reviewers who said that this was wrongly marketed as Woman's fiction and were disappointed saying that this was not a psychological thriller.
Both Maggie's and Emma's terror was palpable and distinct from any other in this genre that I have read. For me this was a solid 5 star read and Kelly Simmons is an author whose work I will be reading more of in the future. Since this is her fifth novel I have a feast to enjoy and look forward to.
A Huge Thank You to Net Galley, Kelly Simmons and Source publishing for graciously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
BY KELLY SIMMONS
WOW Just WOW! I went into reading this book with no expectations because I peeked at some of the reviews and most of them were luke warm. I opened my copy and started reading and oh how I was transported into this very talented Author's storytelling. This is not like any book you have already read. I applaud this Author for her originality, her character development, the pacing etc. I love, love, loved it from beginning to end. I read this from cover to cover in one sitting. Since so many reviewers have summarized the synopsis to this wonderful novel I will not.
I adore stories with strong women protagonists. Both Maggie and Emma are strong in each their own way. This story uses the device of alternating points of view with both Maggie and Emma. Imagine if parents of boys are different from parents of girls. Imagine how devastated you would feel if after you dropped your only female daughter to college and after she had been settled in you got a visit from the police or a phone call from them saying your daughter appeared to be missing.
I thought Maggie was a bit obnoxious at first but it was the chapter's told from her perspective that I was invested in the most. As I got further along in my reading, I began to enjoy Emma's predicament.
I thought that this was stunning in that unlike most psychological thrillers that are paint by number, this one was written so uniquely. I disagree with most reviewers who said that this was wrongly marketed as Woman's fiction and were disappointed saying that this was not a psychological thriller.
Both Maggie's and Emma's terror was palpable and distinct from any other in this genre that I have read. For me this was a solid 5 star read and Kelly Simmons is an author whose work I will be reading more of in the future. Since this is her fifth novel I have a feast to enjoy and look forward to.
A Huge Thank You to Net Galley, Kelly Simmons and Source publishing for graciously providing me with my ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.
October 1, 2019
When Maggie's daughter Emma goes to college. Maggie can't shake the feeling that something is going to happen to Emma. She constantly checks on her and texts her. Intuition proves right when Emma disappears. A story of mother and daughter relationships. How well do you know your child and a scary look at things that are actually happening on campus today. This is a suspenseful mothers worst nightmare. It kept me turning the pages. I enjoyed it.
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Review
Hudson Valley NY
Dawnny-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Review
Hudson Valley NY
November 13, 2019
*thank you to Netgalley, Kelly Simmons and SOURCEBOOKS for an arc of this book in exchange for an honest review*
3 stars.
This story was, overall, pretty good. But the downside for me was that at times it was a bit slow and hard to not be distracted while reading it. The ending was....meh and yes I know this is not a mystery/thriller story and it is woman's fiction so there was never ment to be a huge burst of tension but I guess I wish for a bit more. But that's just me. I did still enjoy it for the most part but I wouldn't re-read it.
3 stars.
This story was, overall, pretty good. But the downside for me was that at times it was a bit slow and hard to not be distracted while reading it. The ending was....meh and yes I know this is not a mystery/thriller story and it is woman's fiction so there was never ment to be a huge burst of tension but I guess I wish for a bit more. But that's just me. I did still enjoy it for the most part but I wouldn't re-read it.
October 16, 2019
Find this review and others at Carlene Inspired.
3.5 Stars
Maggie O'Farrell knows the moment she answers the door that something is wrong, you can't be the wife, or widow, of a cop without recognizing right away when a cop is at the door for something bad. She knows something has happened to Emma. As she is escorted to Emma's college she begins to pick apart the things she knows herself, like how Emma couldn't have been staying in the dorm and that something sinister must be lurking in the small college town. As she walks in her daughters footsteps, desperate for answers, she learns she didn't really know Emma at all anymore.
Gripping and fast paced, Where She Went by Kelly Simmons follows Maggie as she pushes for answers in her daughters disappearance. With alternating perspectives, Simmons gives readers a glimpse into Emma's college experiencing leading up to her disappearance and finds Maggie pushing the cops to try harder as she tries to place herself into Emma's shoes. Maggie is the classic, overprotective mom, Emma is the friendly, but naive new college student. They are two peas in a pod, so similar to one another, which I found lent itself to the story. I could see them in one another and believed in Maggie as she followed the few clues she could find. I loved the alternating chapters, it made the book more suspenseful and the anxiety I felt pushed me to keep reading. While I wouldn't call it a thriller, it certainly had all the right elements of a mysterious suspense read.
Where She Went isn't predictable, I really was quite surprised in the end, but it does lack some of the thriller aspects I usually enjoy in my suspense reads. The events leading up to Emma's disappearance feel mundane in comparison to Maggie's encounters as she hunts for clues. The twists are fairly mild and the conclusion felt more like a blanket laid down to soothe fears rather than that feeling of needing a deep breathe after having ran for one's life. It's all a matter of perspective and what you're looking for in your read though. If women's suspense/thriller is what you need for your Autumn cozy read, then I recommend Where She Went for sure.
A quick read that kept me glued to the pages, Where She Went is an intriguing mystery novel with characters that are realistic and relatable. I enjoyed the unraveling of secrets, complicated relationships, and the characters that made this story feel like a true crime read.
ARC provided.
3.5 Stars
Maggie O'Farrell knows the moment she answers the door that something is wrong, you can't be the wife, or widow, of a cop without recognizing right away when a cop is at the door for something bad. She knows something has happened to Emma. As she is escorted to Emma's college she begins to pick apart the things she knows herself, like how Emma couldn't have been staying in the dorm and that something sinister must be lurking in the small college town. As she walks in her daughters footsteps, desperate for answers, she learns she didn't really know Emma at all anymore.
Gripping and fast paced, Where She Went by Kelly Simmons follows Maggie as she pushes for answers in her daughters disappearance. With alternating perspectives, Simmons gives readers a glimpse into Emma's college experiencing leading up to her disappearance and finds Maggie pushing the cops to try harder as she tries to place herself into Emma's shoes. Maggie is the classic, overprotective mom, Emma is the friendly, but naive new college student. They are two peas in a pod, so similar to one another, which I found lent itself to the story. I could see them in one another and believed in Maggie as she followed the few clues she could find. I loved the alternating chapters, it made the book more suspenseful and the anxiety I felt pushed me to keep reading. While I wouldn't call it a thriller, it certainly had all the right elements of a mysterious suspense read.
Where She Went isn't predictable, I really was quite surprised in the end, but it does lack some of the thriller aspects I usually enjoy in my suspense reads. The events leading up to Emma's disappearance feel mundane in comparison to Maggie's encounters as she hunts for clues. The twists are fairly mild and the conclusion felt more like a blanket laid down to soothe fears rather than that feeling of needing a deep breathe after having ran for one's life. It's all a matter of perspective and what you're looking for in your read though. If women's suspense/thriller is what you need for your Autumn cozy read, then I recommend Where She Went for sure.
A quick read that kept me glued to the pages, Where She Went is an intriguing mystery novel with characters that are realistic and relatable. I enjoyed the unraveling of secrets, complicated relationships, and the characters that made this story feel like a true crime read.
ARC provided.
April 8, 2019
Coming this fall....BINGE READ ALERT.
Told from a multi MC POV.... Maggie and Emma.
Maggie is a widow of a police officer. Emma is a freshman. As both females attempt to make their way Emma goes missing. How does a mother act?
Real raw and fast paced!!
Thnx to the author(ess) and publisher for an early read
Told from a multi MC POV.... Maggie and Emma.
Maggie is a widow of a police officer. Emma is a freshman. As both females attempt to make their way Emma goes missing. How does a mother act?
Real raw and fast paced!!
Thnx to the author(ess) and publisher for an early read
September 9, 2019
College freshman Emma disappears and her mother, Maggie, is beyond frantic. Maggie’s had a rough few years after losing her police officer husband in the line of duty and then finding out that he was having an affair. Now Maggie must use her detective skills to
uncover the mysterious story her journalism major daughter was working on for the school paper and how it relates to her disappearance.
This was an ok read for me. It was mildly entertaining but did not knock me off my feet. The theme of the story has been explored by other authors of this genre recently, so it wasn’t entirely original. Although suspenseful, there also weren’t any major plot twists or “aha” moments that I so enjoy in psychological thrillers. I did find Maggie to be appealing and captivating and felt that the author portrayed the frantic-mother-who-will-move-heaven-and-earth-to-find-her daughter with success. Overall, not bad, but not my favorite.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Kelly Simmons for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
uncover the mysterious story her journalism major daughter was working on for the school paper and how it relates to her disappearance.
This was an ok read for me. It was mildly entertaining but did not knock me off my feet. The theme of the story has been explored by other authors of this genre recently, so it wasn’t entirely original. Although suspenseful, there also weren’t any major plot twists or “aha” moments that I so enjoy in psychological thrillers. I did find Maggie to be appealing and captivating and felt that the author portrayed the frantic-mother-who-will-move-heaven-and-earth-to-find-her daughter with success. Overall, not bad, but not my favorite.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Sourcebooks Landmark and Kelly Simmons for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
May 8, 2019
This book is essentially a work of women’s fiction wearing thriller clothes. Understandably so, since women driven thrillers are all the rage right now, but still…you can’t help but feel somewhat cheated. Not even a murder here. Just a very close knit mother/daughter unit rendered asunder by college and then thrown into an overdrive when the daughter goes missing. It even utilizes the stereotypical split narrative storyline, from both Maggie the mother and Emma the daughter. So the author makes every attempt to rev up the suspense, but as the story progresses, it becomes more and more obvious that it isn’t going to be some boombastic revelation, even the twists are mild as it spirals out to its fairly underwhelming, albeit women’s fiction appropriate all positive sort of ending. The thing is it isn’t a terrible book in any way, the writing is perfectly decent and the characters are likeable, especially surprising with Emma, since she’s only 18, but far from a typical college idiot kid. Maggie’s and Emma’s relationship is credible and compelling, which is of course huge, since the entire novel rests on that dynamic. And the author did a very good job of depicting the first year of college experience for a smart, but naïve kid. The novel is set appropriately enough in and around the city of brotherly something, presumably chosen for its innate seediness. Had this been advertised as women’s fiction or drama, it would have been just fine. But instead it stretches itself beyond its all too pleasant bounds into something it barely is. Maybe for fans of relatively lightweight thrillers with nothing too scary or murdery this would work. It even has a timely message, if that’s what you’re looking for in your genre reading. But then again it read quickly and it did entertain. So nothing special, but perfectly adequate and heavy on estrogen. Thanks Netgalley.
October 21, 2019
If your favoured reading material is a novel with a good sprinkling of mystery, secrets, menace, suspense, a sense of foreboding and complicated relationships, then feel at liberty to read this latest offering by Kelly Simmons - Where She Went.
Kelly Simmons gave the reader some excellent characters, most of whom had appeal despite their flaws and I cared about them from the very beginning. Of course, there were, in my opinion, a few less palatable ones who were meant to be scorned.
Told in alternating chapters and set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the back and forth in time worked in retaining my interest and attention and even though parts of the novel were quite slow-moving, I was never bored but instead, was lured ever deeper into this wonderful tale. The reader was furnished with the viewpoints of both Maggie, the mum, and her daughter, Emma.
Nothing was what it seemed, and Kelly Simmons released her clues and information in such a way that I did not want to put down my kindle and wait for the next chapter. The writing really flowed and there were wonderfully crafted descriptions of the people. What stood out for me was the portrayal of college life and the alarming lengths that impressionable college women are prepared to go to in order to fit in, providing a rich arena for unscrupulousness and evil.
Where She Went was a suspenseful read and the author’s great talent made this a wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated for the entertainment it was. The ending was something of a surprise to me as I did not suspect the conclusion.
Overall, I'd say that Where She Went is a little gem and a book that I'm so pleased to have read!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
Kelly Simmons gave the reader some excellent characters, most of whom had appeal despite their flaws and I cared about them from the very beginning. Of course, there were, in my opinion, a few less palatable ones who were meant to be scorned.
Told in alternating chapters and set in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the back and forth in time worked in retaining my interest and attention and even though parts of the novel were quite slow-moving, I was never bored but instead, was lured ever deeper into this wonderful tale. The reader was furnished with the viewpoints of both Maggie, the mum, and her daughter, Emma.
Nothing was what it seemed, and Kelly Simmons released her clues and information in such a way that I did not want to put down my kindle and wait for the next chapter. The writing really flowed and there were wonderfully crafted descriptions of the people. What stood out for me was the portrayal of college life and the alarming lengths that impressionable college women are prepared to go to in order to fit in, providing a rich arena for unscrupulousness and evil.
Where She Went was a suspenseful read and the author’s great talent made this a wonderful story that I thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated for the entertainment it was. The ending was something of a surprise to me as I did not suspect the conclusion.
Overall, I'd say that Where She Went is a little gem and a book that I'm so pleased to have read!
I received a complimentary digital copy of this novel, at my own request, from Sourcebooks Landmark via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.
October 28, 2019
This book really didn’t work for me. I don’t feel like labeling this as a mystery/thriller is the correct genre, general fiction or women’s fiction would be more fitting. I think this labeling threw me off. I also didn’t enjoy the main characters, ESPECIALLY, Maggie, Emma’s mother who is a missing college student throughout the book.
Maggie, is the widow of a decorated police officer and this little tidbit is brought up continually. I guess to help us understand why she is such a difficult and irritating person? I never felt empathetic towards Maggie in her journey to find her daughter. I really thought I would relate to this character more as a police wife and mother of two daughters but this was not the case.
The ending was very good and made the book finish on a high for me. I would rate this book 3 stars and would be interested in reading what the author writes next and not go in with any preconceived notions of what it “should” look like.
I read on the author, Kelly Simmons, Goodreads profile, Where She Went, may become a tv/film. I wish her the best and would gladly watch, I hope they cast someone likable. Lol!
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
Maggie, is the widow of a decorated police officer and this little tidbit is brought up continually. I guess to help us understand why she is such a difficult and irritating person? I never felt empathetic towards Maggie in her journey to find her daughter. I really thought I would relate to this character more as a police wife and mother of two daughters but this was not the case.
The ending was very good and made the book finish on a high for me. I would rate this book 3 stars and would be interested in reading what the author writes next and not go in with any preconceived notions of what it “should” look like.
I read on the author, Kelly Simmons, Goodreads profile, Where She Went, may become a tv/film. I wish her the best and would gladly watch, I hope they cast someone likable. Lol!
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks for my eARC in exchange for my honest review.
October 19, 2019
A mother's worst nightmare is for her child to disappear. In this case, the child is an 18 year old girl who has recently started college. The story is tense and I thought it was a real page-turner. I was anxious to find out if the daughter would be found and where she'd been. There were lots of clues that lead you in the wrong direction which made the ending even more interesting.
When Maggie's daughter Emma goes away to college, Maggie is very worried about her. In the last year, her husband (Emma's father) had been killed in the line of duty when he was with his partner who was also his mistress on police business. The novel is told by Maggie after Emma goes missing and by Emma before she went missing to show how she got from being a college student to where she ended up (can't tell you any more than that without spoiling it.) When Maggie finds out that Emma is missing, she goes into full scale mama bear mode. She wants answers and she wants them now. She tries to tell the police what to do and when they won't follow her suggestions, she does thinks on her own. The more she finds out about Emma's life at college, the more worried she gets. Even though they had been very close, Emma started keeping secrets from her mother when she went away to college which makes finding Emma even more difficult.
This is a taut well written book about a missing child and about the changes that happen in a parental relationship between a mother and a daughter as they grow up. Overall it's a story about love and how far a mother will go to protect her child.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
When Maggie's daughter Emma goes away to college, Maggie is very worried about her. In the last year, her husband (Emma's father) had been killed in the line of duty when he was with his partner who was also his mistress on police business. The novel is told by Maggie after Emma goes missing and by Emma before she went missing to show how she got from being a college student to where she ended up (can't tell you any more than that without spoiling it.) When Maggie finds out that Emma is missing, she goes into full scale mama bear mode. She wants answers and she wants them now. She tries to tell the police what to do and when they won't follow her suggestions, she does thinks on her own. The more she finds out about Emma's life at college, the more worried she gets. Even though they had been very close, Emma started keeping secrets from her mother when she went away to college which makes finding Emma even more difficult.
This is a taut well written book about a missing child and about the changes that happen in a parental relationship between a mother and a daughter as they grow up. Overall it's a story about love and how far a mother will go to protect her child.
Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
September 22, 2019
3.5 stars
I had to chuckle when I read the first sentence of the summary ‘Her only daughter has just gone away to college, and Maggie O’Farrell knows she’s turning into one of those helicopter parents she used to mock.’
Having worked in a high school for eleven years in the counseling office, I know a helicopter parent when I see one and the fact that someone used that analogy in their summary felt like this book was written especially for me.
But then things take a dark turn—and you know how I love thrilling disappearance—suddenly this book sounded a lot more interesting that I anticipated. I am fascinated by missing persons cases so when the helicopter mom’s daughter goes missing—-I couldn’t think of passing this one by!
I don’t know that I would outright call this book a thriller—maybe more suspense? Sure there is a mystery to solve (Maggie’s missing daughter) but there is a lot more in the way of mother/daughter relationship to examen and sort through rather than an actual murder to solve if that makes sense.
Don’t get me wrong this was a great story, I felt the pull to keep reading and the anxiety that Maggie must have felt over her daughter pushed me to keep reading as well as all the secrets she uncovered along the way.
This book is well written with characters that I sympathized with. I know that some people didn’t feel that the characters were likable, but I personally felt compassion for them and I also felt a connection with Maggie as a mother. She is living every mothers worst nightmare and that really hit home for me.
One thing that I felt really worked for me in this book was the perspectives of the narrators. This book is told with Maggie narrating the present and Emma narrating the past. I thought this gave the reader a nice balance and helped keep the converging storylines together and moving along in the timeline.
I don’t know that this one set me on fire to blame through the book, but I did savor each chapter trying to piece together what was happening and I felt sad to see the story come to an end. In a way I thought this one was more along the lines of women fiction rather than thriller but I was satisfied with the conclusion and enjoyed Simmons writing very much. As this is my first novel by her, I am left looking forward to reading more by her in the future.
See my full review here
I had to chuckle when I read the first sentence of the summary ‘Her only daughter has just gone away to college, and Maggie O’Farrell knows she’s turning into one of those helicopter parents she used to mock.’
Having worked in a high school for eleven years in the counseling office, I know a helicopter parent when I see one and the fact that someone used that analogy in their summary felt like this book was written especially for me.
But then things take a dark turn—and you know how I love thrilling disappearance—suddenly this book sounded a lot more interesting that I anticipated. I am fascinated by missing persons cases so when the helicopter mom’s daughter goes missing—-I couldn’t think of passing this one by!
I don’t know that I would outright call this book a thriller—maybe more suspense? Sure there is a mystery to solve (Maggie’s missing daughter) but there is a lot more in the way of mother/daughter relationship to examen and sort through rather than an actual murder to solve if that makes sense.
Don’t get me wrong this was a great story, I felt the pull to keep reading and the anxiety that Maggie must have felt over her daughter pushed me to keep reading as well as all the secrets she uncovered along the way.
This book is well written with characters that I sympathized with. I know that some people didn’t feel that the characters were likable, but I personally felt compassion for them and I also felt a connection with Maggie as a mother. She is living every mothers worst nightmare and that really hit home for me.
One thing that I felt really worked for me in this book was the perspectives of the narrators. This book is told with Maggie narrating the present and Emma narrating the past. I thought this gave the reader a nice balance and helped keep the converging storylines together and moving along in the timeline.
I don’t know that this one set me on fire to blame through the book, but I did savor each chapter trying to piece together what was happening and I felt sad to see the story come to an end. In a way I thought this one was more along the lines of women fiction rather than thriller but I was satisfied with the conclusion and enjoyed Simmons writing very much. As this is my first novel by her, I am left looking forward to reading more by her in the future.
See my full review here
June 24, 2019
I liked Where She Went, but I can't say I loved it. The writing style was good, but the story didn't really grab my interest in spite of likeable characters. I probably shouldn't say it, because if you're reading this before reading the book, that's all you'll focus on when you actually read the book, but the number of “Wait, what?”—not from one but seemingly all the characters—really annoyed me. Another thing was the (too) many useless references to church. The novel is labeled as a mystery, but I like those when they follow the Chekhov's Gun principle—every element of a story is necessary, and every one of these elements should have a pay off. And what I certainly don't like, besides the unnecessary elements, and I hate to leave bad reviews, is a Christian novel in disguise. I have nothing against Christianity—I absolutely loved The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell—when needed to the story or characters. That's not the case. That's what killed it for me, although—again—the writing was very solid and of course, as a mother, I could relate.
October 1, 2019
This is a riveting book—suspenseful and intriguing. Maggie O’Farrell is a recent widow—her policeman husband killed in the line of duty when he was with his partner/mistress. Her only child Emma is a college freshman, and Maggie’s life unravels when her daughter disappears. The story is told from both Maggie’s and Emma’s points of view; Maggie’s story is told in the present, while Emma’s story goes back in time, giving us insight into what led to her disappearance. Maggie’s story is an intense, heartfelt look at a desperate, frightened mother. Emma’s story starts out as the search for a story for her college newspaper, but evolves into a game of cat and mouse as she discovers a sordid practice involving wealthy men and college students. At the heart of this story is the fierce love between mother and daughter, complicated by secrets, and the difficult challenge of knowing when to let go.
September 27, 2019
I loved a previous Kelly Simmons novel so I was extremely disappointed in how this one worked. I found it very slow moving (it’s barely 300 pages and took me almost a week to get through), a mystery plot line which ended abruptly and seemed to come out of left field, and didn’t feel any connection to any character. Sigh. Won’t be recommending this one, unfortunately. My thanks to the publisher for the advanced copy.
September 30, 2019
I adore everything Kelly Simmons writes but I think WHERE SHE WENT is my new favorite! Kelly's writing is always so gorgeous and her characters are so well drawn, flawed and INTERESTING. WHERE SHE WENT takes every parent's nightmare and turns it into a beautiful social commentary, heartrending story, and somehow keeps the suspense up throughout -- no easy feat! Highly recommend Simmon's latest for a perfect fall read!
Want to read
October 13, 2019Where She Went is my first book by Kelly Simmons. Having your freshman child disappear from her college is every parent’s nightmare. Maggie has to face the disappearance of Emma alone. Her husband, Frank, a policeman was killed. This is a fast-paced read for most of the story told by chapters alternating between Emma and Maggie. I think this would be a good bookclub book as there is lots to discuss. My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2019
This story was interesting and had me till the end. The subject is one I wasn’t familiar with so I learned something. The ending went a little too fast. I wanted it to slow down a little so I could enjoy before it was all over. I was pleasantly surprised.
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark & Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC free of charge.
Thank you Sourcebooks Landmark & Netgalley for the opportunity to read this ARC free of charge.
September 30, 2019
Where's Emma? Maggie already had a very bad case of empty nest syndrome when she's suddenly asked if she's heard from her daughter. The widow of a police officer, she's a smart cookie, even though she's also, understandably, a bit of a helicopter parent so of course she starts to investigate. Emma, who's had it tough the last few years, didn't find college to be what she hoped for so she went looking for a scoop for the college newspaper, in part to impress a guy. Told in their alternate voices and with a shifting timeline, this is a story of a college student who found more than she expected and a determined mother. It's well written and quite topical. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Not a thriller, exactly, but more of a novel about strong female characters.
January 4, 2021
This was gifted to me by my son for Christmas - he is now never allowed to go to college! I loved the way that she told this story - from the mothers perspective, then the daughters - and the story was suspenseful and believable. I didn't want to put it down. I am not sure that this is really a 5, maybe more of a 4.5 - but it was good...I was drawn in from page one.
September 12, 2019
Review to come at AAR.
April 23, 2019
I really thought this book would be a fast paced roller coaster ride, but it was fairly slow, and convoluted with too many things going on and not being tied up.
Neither of the main characters were very likeable, which made it hard to get invested. 2 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
Neither of the main characters were very likeable, which made it hard to get invested. 2 stars.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC of this book.
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