Lacy Shelton and her sister Hope couldn't be more different, despite being less than a year apart in age. Lacy is captain of the debate team, poised to be Valedictorian of the high school and waiting for an admission letter from Yale any day. Hope is captain of the swim team, but will be happy if she gets into community college. Hope has taken everything Lacy ever wanted, from pacifiers to high heels. But Lacy won't let that happen again, not this time. She won't let Hope take the new guy in school, and she sure as heck won’t let Hope ruin her chances with Yale. Until a shocking death changes all of Lacy's plans. Now stuck in a court-mandated psychiatrist's office, she's forced to relive the months leading up to the tragedy to determine whether Hope will take her future, too. Alternating between Lacy's and Hope's points of view, Already Gone pieces together a tense puzzle of sisterhood, betrayal, mistakes, and ultimately forgiving someone who can be gone in a blink.
Lacy Shelton and her sister Hope couldn't be more different, despite being less than a year apart in age. Lacy is captain of the debate team, poised to be Valedictorian of the high school and waiting for an admission letter from Yale any day. Hope is captain of the swim team, but will be happy if she gets into community college.
Hope has taken everything Lacy ever wanted, from pacifiers to high heels. But Lacy won't let that happen again, not this time. She won't let Hope take the new guy in school, and she sure as heck won’t let Hope ruin her chances with Yale. Until a shocking death changes all of Lacy's plans.
Alternating between Lacy's and Hope's points of view, Already Gone pieces together a tense puzzle of sisterhood, betrayal, mistakes, and ultimately forgiving someone who can be gone in a blink.
4.5 stars. Bridget E. Baker is fast becoming a favorite author of mine. After reading her YA post-apocalyptic trilogy and her cute Christmas romance novel for adults and enjoying those I didn't hesitate to try this book. This is another YA novel, but this time around it's a mystery/suspense/contemporary fiction type story. One thing that really stands out to me is how versatile this author is. She does a great job with each of these genres.
I'll say right off that this story is a slow build and the mystery and the suspense are very mild. You're just reading both Lacy and Hope's accounts of past events and waiting to find out what went down to cause Lacy to be in a court-mandated psychiatrist's office. The details are very engrossing despite the slow burn of the story. I'll admit I was expecting a lot of danger and ominous events, but somehow this book still did not disappoint me. Despite the lack of any real danger or suspense, the story pretty much grabbed me right from the beginning and I couldn't put it down. That's saying a lot for a book about teens in high school! I thought I was done reading those types of stories, but I'm not sorry I read this one.
There was a twist that I did not see coming as well and that made the reading experience even better. There are quite a few themes touched on in this book, but I don't want to spoil the book so I won't talk about them here. This is a well thought out story about two sisters at odds, who also love each other, and in the end this ends up being a somewhat tragic but very sweet story. I highly recommend if you like contemporary teen fiction.
Thanks to the author for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
Really, I'd give this 4.5 stars if that were an option. I have enjoyed Bridget Baker's other books, but in this one she really comes into her own as a writer. I've been thinking about this book ever since I finished it. The first thing that comes to mind when I think of what I like about this book is that the plot is driven by the personalities and histories of the two sisters and those around them; it isn't artificially pushed by coincidences and random events. It is very compelling. The story is relatable and poignant. I don't like books with gloomy endings, or with syrupy, trite endings either, and Already Gone measures up here. The ending is satisfying and uplifting, bittersweet but hopeful - a positive conclusion to the story that isn't so neatly tied up in a bow that it feels unrealistic or contrived. There is tragedy, but it's enveloped in hope. I enjoyed being able to get to know each sister from her own point of view in flashback as they, essentially, take turns telling their story. I really liked how I read the entire book expecting a certain event at the conclusion and was surprised when it wasn't quite what I thought, yet it felt perfectly right - that was really well done. I spent the whole book thinking a certain thing was going to happen and was compelled to keep reading, looking for what chain of events or what spark triggered it. Like I said, the twist (at least it was a twist for me) was bittersweet, and I won't spoil it. Just read it! You'll find yourself reflecting on your own family relationships and vowing to make them better. Thank you to the author for an advance reader copy. This review is entirely my own opinion.
Lacy is smart driven, on track to be Valedictorian, thinks she's to thin and unattractive, her sister Hope. Is blonde, beautiful, athletic and not as smart but can have any boy and every boy she wants, and she wants Moby. Lacy finally meets her dream guy handsome as sin and smart too, he's her new debate partner, his name is Mason. The girls just happen to both be seniors in the same high school, Lacy's best friend friend Drew let her down, when she needs her most which set in action a train wreck that's been coming for years. Lacy and Hope's mom is doing her best to raise them alone after their father died in a car accident when they were little, but she struggles constantly with migranes. Drew is struggling with her own issues and Lacy finally succumb's to pressure and makes a terrible mistake with fatal consequences. This book had me hooked from the first page, and deals with a lot of issues young adults face and a twist I never saw coming!!! I loved this book, dad but uplifting at the same time.
I could string together a bunch of pretty words to describe this book and how well written it was but just saying its AMAZING will convey the same thing just as eloquently. I couldn't stop reading and I was shocked at the end because it wasn't what I was expecting at all, but that just made it even better.
Wow! Two sisters, totally different, call for the same guy. The story is written in alternating chapters of the girls. We get to eavesdrop on their thoughts, fears and passions. This writer puts you intrigued, interested to the great end! A very good read!
Told from 2 first person points of view via the journal of Hope and the record her sister Lacy is preparing for the shrink who is evaluating her for the courts. Something has happened, something traumatic. But what? And that is the story. The sister's writings lead us up to the event. Two very different persona!ities, both crushing on the same guy. One a gorgeous swimmer, the other a striking debator. A mother who worries excessively. A best friend coming out. A page turner!
It isn’t often that I am able to read a book without figuring out the twist. I love the switch in perspectives between the sisters. Beautifully written and the author tackles some very tough subjects.
I would definitely read this again. It is full of feeling and emotions.
This book was awesome. I don’t read many contemporary books because I find them boring. But this book kept me interested the entire read. Very moving story.
I could not put this book down, nor can I wait for my 10 & 12 yr old girls to read this! The characters were realistic and truly grabbed my attention. Having grown up with a sister and having three daughters, this book accurately portrays sisterly competition and real life issues. The message, though, throughout this book is something that truly captured my heart. Life is difficult, and it's full of so many different decisions. Growing up and trying to figure out what is truly important in this roller coaster called life, and what isn't, is difficult to navigate...every decision having a consequence just adds more dimension. I loved this book, and it was a quick read.
Very interesting. This is not the type of book I would normally read, but I stumbled upon it and was hooked. I just had to find out what happened and when it all came out, it wasn’t what I expected so the author did a great job with it.
If you like ONE OF US LYING, you’ll love this twisty story about two sisters who fall for the same guy. Baker does a good job alternating the two perspectives so each voice is distinct and believable. While these two sisters couldn’t be more different, I came to like them both, despite their flaws, and maybe even because of them. The ending is completely unexpected and satisfying.
What an engaging, believable, and heartbreaking novel about sisterhood and the huge impact of small choices!
I really enjoyed the story; it just kept pulling me right along. The best thing is that it's completely realistic and yet so fascinatingly mysterious in the execution. I loved the unique format of both sisters writing their side of the story like a diary entry with a specific audience inside the book rather than just the general reader. It addressed the issue of it feeling too "written" while still allowing it to be so.
I also think that the timeline worked well. Starting at the end of the story and then recounting it to someone who wasn't there is often an overused tactic, but I felt that it worked here. And it helps create suspense and spur interest in the characters and how they got to this point.
The characters of Lacy and Hope felt like real teenage girls, and the conflict between them was completely real. Baker didn't over-dramatize it. Somehow she was able to capture the essence of teenage drama and its immediacy while still grounding it in what's truly important in life in the long run. And of course there are some serious issues sprinkled in as well.
There were a few things I felt were missing that would have made the story better. Most noticeably, the ending felt like it was missing a huge chunk, namely, the climax. It cut off right before what I assumed the whole time would be the climax and left us hanging. Then I thought that we would get a bit more explanation and closure in the denouement, but no such luck, so that was disappointing. It sort of just brushes over the main event that the whole book has been pointing towards and makes it seem like not such a traumatic event after all, which I didn't like.
I thought the minor characters needed a little more development. As much as they fight over him, we don't really get to see as much of Mason as I would have liked. And his explanation for his role in things is a bit flimsy. I liked Drew and I liked their mom, but in light of the ending I felt like we needed a bit more of them. And there was some major foreshadowing with Dave that never came to anything, so that was misleading.
Overall, though, it's a compelling, surprising read ending on a note of hope.
Already Gone by Bridget E Baker is the story of two sisters and the events that tear their lives apart forever. Lacy Shelton and her sister Hope are only eleven months apart, aka Irish Twins. However, they couldn’t be more different. Lacy is captain of the debate team, a possible Valedictorian, and eagerly awaiting the admission letter from Yale. Hope is the captain of the swim team and happy to go to community college in the fall. According to Lacy, Hope has taken everything she has ever wanted and now she has had enough. She is determined that Hope will not take the handsome new guy in school and she won’t let her ruin her chances with Yale. When a shocking death changes everything and Lacy is now stuck in court-mandated therapy, she is forced to relive the events leading up to the tragedy for a chance at a future. Already Gone alternates between Lacy’s and Hope’s points of view in a puzzle of sisterhood, betrayal, and teenage mistakes in order to find forgiveness and purpose for the future. I was ready for a great story of teenage sisters, angst, and a story to keep me on the edge of my seat. However, that is not what happened. Yes, Lacy and Hope are stereotypical teens filled with attitude and spite. So much so that I had the urge to shake some sense into both of them. I had a hard time relating to them as I was not this kind of teen growing up. The recommended ages are between 12 and 18. I don’t see a 12 year old understanding this story, definitely high school age readers. The ending was anti-climatic and a bit disappointing. Overall, I did not enjoy this story. However, if you enjoy young adult drama, I recommend Already Gone.
Already Gone is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook
I loved this book! Bridget writes in an uncomplicated way that instantly transports you into the story and keeps you there, eagerly turning the pages to find out what happens next.
As sisters, Lacy and her younger sister Hope couldn't be more different. Where Lacy is smart, innovative and sometimes considered plain, Hope is blonde, beautiful and a star athlete on the swim team. Despite living in the same house, their lives don't intersect much, which is how both girls like it. Until the day they realise that they've both fallen for the same guy.
'Already Gone' captures teenagers and sibling rivalry magnificently. Despite being in my 30s, I was transported back to my teenage self while reading this. I often found myself nodding along or seeing my own feelings and reactions as a teenager reflected back at me from the pages. If you're a parent and want to understand your kids better, read this book.
I liked the style of this book. Two accounts, one through journal entries and the other through court ordered therapy.
I wish there would have been a better background established for the girls family unit. As a listener/reader, we could of course tell the mother was depressed but as teenagers, the girls were pre-occupied with their own lives. I would have liked to see their family dynamic laid out better toward the beginning of the book.
The friendships could have been detailed better, too. It seemed as though the whole point of most of the book was to show the reader that everyone has their own shit to deal with and how people can come acrossed as selfish. Lacy is busy. Hope is busy. Lacy's bestfriend, Drew is busy. And they all can't see the hurt or struggle that others are dealing with.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
It's hard to surprise me with a book. I usually figure out most of the twists before the ending (often well before). But I have to say that this one got me and I'm really pleased about it. It explored sisterhood and familyhood in a really beautiful way (albeit a YA, commercial way--don't go into this book expecting a literary read; it's an interesting, contemporary YA with a mystery twist). And the book didn't shy away from sometimes making the characters imperfect or unlikable, which they were in a lot of ways at certain times. Even so, their good traits won out over their bad, which I really appreciate in a book--a nice balance of human failing and human goodness. Great, quick read.
OH, man. This did not go where I was thinking it was going. Have your tissues ready. I wasn’t really sure what to think about Hope and Lacy at first, and kept changing my mind on what I thought would happen next. I was getting a “13 Reasons Why” vibe from it at times. The teenaged characters reminded me of what the kids in that story/show went through with the mixed up feelings, romances, jealousy, guilt. A bit more of a heavy topic with the major chasm between the sisters, but the book was quick so you don’t have to feel stressed long. The sisters mature a good deal throughout the book and I had to reread the start of it again once I finished it. It was refreshing to have a different (but good!) sort of ending to this type of story. A perfect read for a rainy afternoon!
This book was really hard to rate. I loved reading the story from the perspectives of two different characters, but at times reading the same exact dialog in two chapters was a bit over kill. The characters were all well developed and the book was easy to read. While I enjoyed the book, I didn't feel the need to stay up reading all night to see what was going to happen next. Parts were very predictable, but there were still a few surprises. I rated it three stars mainly for the ending. I felt like there should have been a more dramatic ending after all of the build up. It is a good book and I would recommend it to others, but it is not as good as other books from the author.
After reading this book, I wanted to write and post this review to share my honest experiences toward the story.
It was truly an amazing and emotional read. I honestly could not put it down. The story contains so many twists and turns, and it hooks you in right from the beginning. I myself could not put it down, and my heart was raving as I neared the end of the story. I honestly cannot say anything negative about the book, but I cannot stress enough that it was an amazing read and I would definitely recommend this book to everyone.
This book was very intriguing and I'll have to say, i was not expecting the twist say the end. There were so much topics that this book covered that you don't want to miss a single beat. I believe Lacy and Hope's mom was so brave raising two girls in her own and they turned out to be two beat girls in their own way. I don't think one was better than the other. They both had their strong points in their characters. I saw the development in both sisters. How they mature and understood that the things in life, like family was what mattered the most.
I was given this book years ago at a writer’s conference from the author herself. When I read about the book, I decided to put the book on my bookshelf for another time. The book made me think it was going to have the worst ending ever, but when I finally read it I was totally surprised. It didn’t end the way I thought it would.
This is a YA novel, so there is a lot of drama involved, but overall it was a very engaging story with great valuable lessons to learn. This is the perfect read for teenage girls, especially if they have sisters.
I found Bridget E Baker quite by accident about a year ago but I have found that no matter what she writes, the stories are captivating. This one touched every emotion as the story navigated through the teenage angst of these two sisters and their friends. Telling it through the lens of each sister's POV was great. I can only imagine what their mom dealt with internally as she was raising them up alone and how tormented she must have been trying to battle demons of her own. I couldn't put this book down!
Wow. I laughed, I cried and I wanted to shake someone. This is a beautifully told story that will grip you by the heart strings and leave you wanting more. This is the first book I've read by Bridget E. Baker, but it won't be the last. I would highly recommend this book, but it is not for the faint of heart. It deals with teenage angst, drugs and suicide. I received this book as an ARC and this is my honest review.
Bridget is such a great multi-perspective writer. I always feel invested in all perspectives and never like I have to drag myself through one. This book was such a great, clean romance (suspense? It was definitely suspenseful). She dives into family relationships, drug use, romantic relationships, and mental illness. Enjoyed the entire two days it took me to read.
I have to say I struggled through most of the story. Maybe because my mind was not into it but as I kept reading & got closer to the end, I understood what the point of the story is. I think the moral is good for 5th grade through adult. I ended up enjoying the story after all. I received a free copy & choose to write this review.
A quick read, I wish it had been longer... but you get two great stories interwoven when two sisters have to analyze and define their relationships to school, competition, and each other.
This book took awhile to pull me in. By the end, I was flipping pages like crazy, but it was a slow start. The ending was wonderful a mid unexpected and well worth the short read. Don’t give up too quickly on this one!
It's a must MUST read. It's very sad and I love the way it takes you between both sisters and you know what each is thinking and what love between sisters mean.