What do you think?
Rate this book
Gone
Jo and Nick Anderson couldn’t imagine a world without the other in it. Everything in their life was perfect. Until, in the blink of an eye, Jo and Nick’s three-year-old daughter, Lulu, went missing.
Gone. Missing. Dead?
Despite all efforts, neither she nor her body was ever discovered. Jo’s determination to keep looking, and Nick’s need to heal and listen to the experts, tore at the thread that held the two of them together.
As Jo fell further and further into her depths of despair, Nick grew helpless in his resolve to reach her.
When Jo receives a life-changing phone call, she and Nick must come face to face for the first time in four years.
Gone. Missing. Dead?
Despite all efforts, neither she nor her body was ever discovered. Jo’s determination to keep looking, and Nick’s need to heal and listen to the experts, tore at the thread that held the two of them together.
As Jo fell further and further into her depths of despair, Nick grew helpless in his resolve to reach her.
When Jo receives a life-changing phone call, she and Nick must come face to face for the first time in four years.
383 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 30, 2022
4 people are currently reading
73 people want to read
About the author
A.G. Hawkins
4 books22 followersA.G. Hawkins is an author, mother of two, and a military wife. She is a former teacher, who holds her Doctorate in Education.
Her hobbies include writing, reading, binge-watching television shows, and going to Disney. She loves spending time with her family, especially when they get to travel together. Her passion has always been to tell stories about healing.
Her hobbies include writing, reading, binge-watching television shows, and going to Disney. She loves spending time with her family, especially when they get to travel together. Her passion has always been to tell stories about healing.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
December 27, 2022
Listened to the audiobook, provided by the narrator herself (Laura Horowitz).
As for the narrator, I loved it. Her voice is very soothing and doesn't get weird when it's a man talking (pet peeve of mine).
As for the story, I liked it, but I expected more. It's a story about a girl that disappears from the sight of her parents when she was three, and reappears when she's already eight. I really liked the way we go back and forth from past to present, it was suffocating to feel those parents' pain, all the feeling they go through along the years thinking their girl was dead/gone forever.
Yet, I was expecting more of an explanation to what happened, I would like to know the other version of the story (why and how).
Despite of this, I really liked this book, it was a good surprise.
As for the narrator, I loved it. Her voice is very soothing and doesn't get weird when it's a man talking (pet peeve of mine).
As for the story, I liked it, but I expected more. It's a story about a girl that disappears from the sight of her parents when she was three, and reappears when she's already eight. I really liked the way we go back and forth from past to present, it was suffocating to feel those parents' pain, all the feeling they go through along the years thinking their girl was dead/gone forever.
Yet, I was expecting more of an explanation to what happened, I would like to know the other version of the story (why and how).
Despite of this, I really liked this book, it was a good surprise.
January 22, 2023
4 stars
I was given an opportunity to listen to the audiobook from the author, thank you so much AG Hawkins! The narrator was fabulous and made the audio book very engaging.
Second chance romance is one of my all time favorites, and I love when the focus of the book is the character arc and not just the romance.
This book deals with grief in a very realistic and complex way. I really liked the exploration of the layers of grief. This book really explored the idea the grief is not linear, and grief can ever present even in joy. We can grieve, not just the loss of physical things, but of the idea of things, and we can grieve versions of ourselves. I really enjoyed this book but it is very heavy so if you are planning to read it, just a warning to be in the right mindset.
I was given an opportunity to listen to the audiobook from the author, thank you so much AG Hawkins! The narrator was fabulous and made the audio book very engaging.
Second chance romance is one of my all time favorites, and I love when the focus of the book is the character arc and not just the romance.
This book deals with grief in a very realistic and complex way. I really liked the exploration of the layers of grief. This book really explored the idea the grief is not linear, and grief can ever present even in joy. We can grieve, not just the loss of physical things, but of the idea of things, and we can grieve versions of ourselves. I really enjoyed this book but it is very heavy so if you are planning to read it, just a warning to be in the right mindset.
April 21, 2023
This book is one of my worst fears as a mother. It tugged at my heart strings for the parents Nick and JoJo, and poor LuLu. The story itself was good. I enjoyed the ending as well. I just kept wishing there was more on LuLu and what happened during those times and how she handled it. I felt like it was really lacking in that. The story almost seemed rushed really. Overall, it was a fine book. Memorable probably not.
This was my first audio book, and I enjoyed audio more than I thought I would. It was done by Laura Horowitz and she has a really soothing voice and it didn’t bother me really that she spoke for all the characters. I will be trying out more audio books for sure!
This was my first audio book, and I enjoyed audio more than I thought I would. It was done by Laura Horowitz and she has a really soothing voice and it didn’t bother me really that she spoke for all the characters. I will be trying out more audio books for sure!
August 23, 2025
I just couldn't go past chapter 14, I have tried, multiple times and I eventually needed to stop.
this was not my book but it might be for you.
this was not my book but it might be for you.
January 29, 2023
Jo and Nick have the perfect life with their 3 year old Lulu. One day they go to the local fair and tragedy strikes- Lulu goes missing.
They do everything they can to find Lulu, but the evidence points to Lulu being gone for good.
This book is about love, finding your way through grief, and coming out the other side of it. It was moving and gripping. However, it left me with some questions and wondering what happens after.
They do everything they can to find Lulu, but the evidence points to Lulu being gone for good.
This book is about love, finding your way through grief, and coming out the other side of it. It was moving and gripping. However, it left me with some questions and wondering what happens after.
November 23, 2022
I listened to the audiobook of this and thoroughly enjoyed it. It was well written with great characters and a plot that both captivated and tore my heart out in turns. As a mother, this hit so deep and I felt every emotion the author poured into this book.
I'm looking forward to seeing what else A.G Hawkins writes and as (what I think might be a debut book?) this was a phenomenal entry into the industry :)
The narration was top tier as well and a perfect choice👌
I'm looking forward to seeing what else A.G Hawkins writes and as (what I think might be a debut book?) this was a phenomenal entry into the industry :)
The narration was top tier as well and a perfect choice👌
November 7, 2022
Such a page turner! Captivating story with deep characters and a satisfying ending.
December 7, 2022
I could not put this down! My heart was ripped open and then mended. I loved the depth of characters and the story is well written where you feel deeply each emotion. It will have you crying and laughing and sighing and smiling. Bravo AG Hawkins! Can’t wait to see what else you come up with!
December 31, 2022
3.5 stars! worth the read!
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS:
How would you handle if your child went missing? Would you give up? Or fight to the end? I found this book a deeply intimate portrait of just that story. It was, at times, painfully realistic. The mother in this story struggles as most mothers would - feeling anger, frustration and taking it out on the wrong people. At times, it made me want to shake her by the shoulders, but then realize I might not act that different in her shoes. I found this deeply realistic. My only wish is that we had gotten to see more of her positive attributes to even it out, particularly after knowing she did some hard work to get herself better. I loved the second chance love story between the couple, and vastly enjoyed the love the husband had for his wife. I was rooting for their happy ending and glad they found it. This was a great debut and I can’t wait to see what this author has in store for the future, as there are moments in this that were truly golden, and I’ll gladly read whatever she comes out with next
MAY CONTAIN SPOILERS:
How would you handle if your child went missing? Would you give up? Or fight to the end? I found this book a deeply intimate portrait of just that story. It was, at times, painfully realistic. The mother in this story struggles as most mothers would - feeling anger, frustration and taking it out on the wrong people. At times, it made me want to shake her by the shoulders, but then realize I might not act that different in her shoes. I found this deeply realistic. My only wish is that we had gotten to see more of her positive attributes to even it out, particularly after knowing she did some hard work to get herself better. I loved the second chance love story between the couple, and vastly enjoyed the love the husband had for his wife. I was rooting for their happy ending and glad they found it. This was a great debut and I can’t wait to see what this author has in store for the future, as there are moments in this that were truly golden, and I’ll gladly read whatever she comes out with next
March 11, 2023
This book shattered my heart…and then put the pieces back together page by page
Soooo WOW. Ok so this book was an emotional rollercoaster the entire way through. A 3 year old little girl is taken from a carnival and missing for 5 years. All the dad did was bend down to tie his shoe and poof..GONE.
My heart wrentches at the pain the mom and dad went through. The story is about the challenges of the marriage and a seperation and loss and heartbreak. Just soooo many emotional things. It was so so good. I was waiting for one singular thing to happen and when it did I sobbed. I had to set the book down every 50 pages or so. It was a lot to handle which meant it took a bit to get through. Putting myself in their shoes was so hard and sooooo difficult. I couldn’t even imagine. 😭
I gave this a solid 5🤩
Soooo WOW. Ok so this book was an emotional rollercoaster the entire way through. A 3 year old little girl is taken from a carnival and missing for 5 years. All the dad did was bend down to tie his shoe and poof..GONE.
My heart wrentches at the pain the mom and dad went through. The story is about the challenges of the marriage and a seperation and loss and heartbreak. Just soooo many emotional things. It was so so good. I was waiting for one singular thing to happen and when it did I sobbed. I had to set the book down every 50 pages or so. It was a lot to handle which meant it took a bit to get through. Putting myself in their shoes was so hard and sooooo difficult. I couldn’t even imagine. 😭
I gave this a solid 5🤩
August 15, 2023
I listen to the audiobook, and I found it very entertaining. I was hooked from beginning to end. The story follows an estranged couple after their three year old daughter is kidnapped and returned five years later. The storyline bounces between the past events in the aftermath of the kidnapping, and the present as they struggle to adjust.
I highly recommend this book and I really like this author. I think the only thing it was missing was the mother confronting the woman who took the daughter. I would have loved to have seen how the couple handled the drama of the court proceedings. However, the ending was very satisfying.
I highly recommend this book and I really like this author. I think the only thing it was missing was the mother confronting the woman who took the daughter. I would have loved to have seen how the couple handled the drama of the court proceedings. However, the ending was very satisfying.
January 23, 2023
Emotional Rollercoaster
This book really took me through all of the emotions, lows and highs. The characters are some of the best I have ever read. The storyline is honestly such a hard road, and so much happens with the fmc, but I love how the author painted her picture. The details, the story itself, how things ended. It was an amazing story and I can’t believe I didn’t finish this sooner!
Highly recommend
This book really took me through all of the emotions, lows and highs. The characters are some of the best I have ever read. The storyline is honestly such a hard road, and so much happens with the fmc, but I love how the author painted her picture. The details, the story itself, how things ended. It was an amazing story and I can’t believe I didn’t finish this sooner!
Highly recommend
April 6, 2025
The only regret about the book was that we didn't know anything about who kidnapped the child, what life she led during the 5 years of her disappearance, and how all of this affected Lulu. The book was probably intended to follow the personal lives of Jo and Nick, a couple who could be torn apart by such an event. I really would have liked to know more about their daughter and what she went through, but the story was good enough that I enjoyed to know about the two of them.
June 17, 2023
I was so sucked in while reading this page-turner! I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next. I also really enjoyed the decision to have chapters go back-and-forth in the timeline. It kept me intrigued, wanting to find out all that they went through to get to where they were in the other chapters. I'm going to read Lucy Ones by AG Hawkins next!
August 13, 2023
A roller coaster ride of emotions. The despair and sadness of a child gone. The angst of a mother Jojo & dad Nick - their fight to survive as a couple. Will they ever find Lulu or has she gone forever🌺 No spoilers from me📚
February 14, 2025
Audiobook was not listed on Goodreads. The performance by Laura Horowitz elevated what I felt was a somewhat weak novel. The characters didn’t feel particularly well-drawn, and the time-hopping didn’t contribute much to the pacing.
October 9, 2023
Lovely book, explored some topics, very relatable emotions as being a parent. Predictable to say the least but still a heartwarming ending.
September 23, 2025
I kept listening in hopes something would actually happen in this book. I was hoping this book would have a climax. but it really didn't. all in all I was very disappointed 😞☹️
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews