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When Mimi Went Missing
Anthony award winner for Best YA/Children’s novel.
The splintered relationship between two Indian American cousins is at the center of this dark, twisty YA mystery—perfect for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson, Karen McManus, and Angeline Boulley.
Shy, nerdy Tanvi has always thought of her perfect cousin Mimi as her sister. Not only did Mimi’s family raise Tanvi after the tragic death of her parents, fierce Mimi has always protected Tanvi at school. At least until Mimi fell under the spell of their flawless, rich classmate, Beth . . . Tanvi’s biggest bully.
Fearing another terrible year, Tanvi decides to take a desperate, preemptive strike—and captures an incriminating photo of Mimi and Beth at a party. When Tanvi wakes up the next day with a bump on her head, scratches on her leg, and no memory of what caused her injuries, Mimi is gone.
When the investigation for the missing girl takes a dark turn, Tanvi begins to fill the gaps in her memory, hoping to bring her cousin home alive. She questions Mimi’s friends and enemies—including Mimi’s shady boyfriend, who refuses to answer her questions, and Beth, who catalyzed the split between the once-close cousins. Meanwhile, the cops announce that they are now hunting a murderer—are they hunting Tanvi?
To preserve her family and find the truth, Tanvi must revisit the worst night of her life and the darkest parts of her past to discover if she’s capable of murder—and the truth of what happened to Mimi.
PRAISE for When Mimi Went Missing:
"(A) heartstopping Debut" -- Teen Vogue
She Reads Most Anticipated YA Thrillers of Fall
The splintered relationship between two Indian American cousins is at the center of this dark, twisty YA mystery—perfect for fans of Tiffany D. Jackson, Karen McManus, and Angeline Boulley.
Shy, nerdy Tanvi has always thought of her perfect cousin Mimi as her sister. Not only did Mimi’s family raise Tanvi after the tragic death of her parents, fierce Mimi has always protected Tanvi at school. At least until Mimi fell under the spell of their flawless, rich classmate, Beth . . . Tanvi’s biggest bully.
Fearing another terrible year, Tanvi decides to take a desperate, preemptive strike—and captures an incriminating photo of Mimi and Beth at a party. When Tanvi wakes up the next day with a bump on her head, scratches on her leg, and no memory of what caused her injuries, Mimi is gone.
When the investigation for the missing girl takes a dark turn, Tanvi begins to fill the gaps in her memory, hoping to bring her cousin home alive. She questions Mimi’s friends and enemies—including Mimi’s shady boyfriend, who refuses to answer her questions, and Beth, who catalyzed the split between the once-close cousins. Meanwhile, the cops announce that they are now hunting a murderer—are they hunting Tanvi?
To preserve her family and find the truth, Tanvi must revisit the worst night of her life and the darkest parts of her past to discover if she’s capable of murder—and the truth of what happened to Mimi.
PRAISE for When Mimi Went Missing:
"(A) heartstopping Debut" -- Teen Vogue
She Reads Most Anticipated YA Thrillers of Fall
288 pages, Hardcover
First published November 19, 2024
17 people are currently reading
8361 people want to read
About the author
Suja Sukumar
1 book104 followersSuja Sukumar is an award winning author of YA suspense novels. Her debut When Mimi Went Missing won the Anthony award for Best YA/Children's novel and the Pencraft seasonal award for Best YA. Teen Vogue called it "a heartstopping debut". It has been featured in Crime Reads, Publisher's Weekly, Booklist, Library Journal, among others.
She is a member of SCBWI, Crime Writers of Color, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.
She is also a primary care physician in suburban Detroit, where she lives with her family.
She is a member of SCBWI, Crime Writers of Color, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers.
She is also a primary care physician in suburban Detroit, where she lives with her family.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 153 reviews
June 1, 2025
Hi, I'm the author of When Mimi Went Missing, a diverse YA thriller set in Michigan and featuring a main character from the South Asian diaspora. TW include mentions of murder, mentions of suicide, mentions of anxiety, depression, and bullying. I wrote this because I love suspense novels & wanted a YA suspense with South Asian main characters. I also wanted to show that marginalized groups aren't a monolith of stereotypes. Intersectional identities clearly exist in marginalized societies and the discriminations faced by one may not be faced by another. Showing stereotypical behaviors can isolate kids bearing these intersectional identities, while representation makes them feel included, like they belong.
Writing this story was also my way of including struggles after stillbirth (which I experienced when I lost my baby). It also helped me to get through my cancer treatments.
Thank you for reading and for giving this story a chance <3
Writing this story was also my way of including struggles after stillbirth (which I experienced when I lost my baby). It also helped me to get through my cancer treatments.
Thank you for reading and for giving this story a chance <3
November 22, 2024
"Back then, I didn't know promises were just words - as lightweight as ash scattered by the wind - brittle like shattered glass."
⚠️⚠️
Bullying, murder, suicide, sensitive mental health topics e.g. ptsd after miscarriage
Story told from Tanvi's POV. Tanvi lost both of her parents in a car accident and she was adopted by her aunt. She and her cousin Mimi were very close until one day they just started to drift apart after Beth came into the scene. She will soon discover the truth regarding both her parents' death and cousin's sudden disappearance. This is a missing girl with a sort of unreliable narrator trope which will keep you guessing until the end. Does she have something to do with it at all? Is there any truth about her mom being a killer and is she also the same? Narrated by Rita Amparita and the audio narration is great. I like how clearly it is narrated that I had no issues listening whilst also playing video/mobile games at the same time.
Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the arc. I received an advance review copy of the audiobook for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.🖤
3.45✨
🎧📖
⚠️⚠️
Bullying, murder, suicide, sensitive mental health topics e.g. ptsd after miscarriage
Story told from Tanvi's POV. Tanvi lost both of her parents in a car accident and she was adopted by her aunt. She and her cousin Mimi were very close until one day they just started to drift apart after Beth came into the scene. She will soon discover the truth regarding both her parents' death and cousin's sudden disappearance. This is a missing girl with a sort of unreliable narrator trope which will keep you guessing until the end. Does she have something to do with it at all? Is there any truth about her mom being a killer and is she also the same? Narrated by Rita Amparita and the audio narration is great. I like how clearly it is narrated that I had no issues listening whilst also playing video/mobile games at the same time.
Thanks to NetGalley and RB Media for the arc. I received an advance review copy of the audiobook for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.🖤
3.45✨
🎧📖
December 6, 2024
Tanvi was such an intriguing FMC. The mystery surrounding Mimi going missing really had me on the edge of my seat. I kept trying to guess who did it and what happened, but I was wrong in the end. I loved the twists. I loved Tanvi's determination to figure out what happened to Mimi. It truly showed they had such a good cousin bond. The ending truly shocked me, like what??! That's wild.
I received this Audiobook ARC from RBMedia/Recorded Books and NetGalley to listen/review. All of the statements above are after I fully listened to the audiobook.
I received this Audiobook ARC from RBMedia/Recorded Books and NetGalley to listen/review. All of the statements above are after I fully listened to the audiobook.
December 7, 2024
1.5 rounded up.
This had a promising premise but was poorly executed. It was bogged down by endless rehashing, stiff dialogue, clunky plot devices, and flat characters. It desperately needed editing to help with the flow and trim down the repetitive narration to keep the plot moving.
Energy: Lost. Grieving. Melancholic.
🐺 Growls All the friendships lacked warmth or authenticity – Krista read more like a friendly on-call AI robot than a friend. The narrative kept circling back to repeat background details we already knew, sometimes word for word (I even double-checked a few times to see if I had accidentally flipped backwards). The musing were overly repetitive (like, ‘Did I do something? No, I couldn’t have. But did I? No, it’s impossible. But did I?”). Painfully slow pacing. Motivations were clumsily delivered by villain monologue right in the middle of an escape attempt, where everyone inexplicably paused to listen instead of running for their lives 😂.
🐕 Howls The characters felt like stiff caricatures. All the teenagers were rigid and spoke so formally even with each other. The story relied too heavily on contrived plot devices. The characters withheld vital information for absurd reasons, making the plot feel artificially dragged out. Even during high-stakes scenes, the tension was lost because we kept pausing for the repetitive musings and reflections of the main character. The villain was cartoony and predictable (that one may just be because I’m an adult).
🐩 Tail Wags When things finally started happening in the later parts of the book, it was slightly better. Letters and journals provided some intrigue.
Scene: 🇺🇸 Set in Orin, Michigan, USA
Perspective: Our main character got bullied a lot growing up because of a family tragedy. Their cousin, who they lived with and were super close to, always had their back and felt more like a sibling. But things changed when the cousin got into the popular clique at high school and started joining in on the bullying. After sneaking out to a party, the cousin goes missing.
Timeline: Current (2020s). Late summer/early Fall.
🔥 Fuel: Why is the main character’s cousin suddenly ghosting her and cutting her out of her life? What happened at the party? Is her cousin alive or did something terrible happen to her? Why did the main character wake up with dirty clothes the night her cousin went missing? Can we trust our her take on things?
📖 Cred: Suspended disbelief realism
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Acrid scent. Shadowy wisps. Bruises. Musty earth. Beach. Black candles.
• Family tragedy
• YA amateur sleuthing
• Potential unreliable/untrustworthy narrator
• Missing cousin mystery
• Friends taking different path betrayal
• Mean girls popularity contest
• Missing memories
• Eavesdropping on mc thoughts
• Dense reflection and inner monologue
• Heavily withholding and over-hinting
Content Heads-Up: Bullying (high school; non-consenting recordings, peer rejection, purposeful triggering). Loss of parent (as child). Murder-suicide (off page). Betrayal (secrets, bullying). Panic attacks. PTSD. Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Drug use (cocaine, marijuana). Dismissive, disbelieving authorities (police). Pandemic (very brief mention). Gun violence. Physical attack. Murder. Grief. Miscarriage (off page recall; after-effects, psychosis). Healing cons/fraud.
Rep: American. Indian-American. Mixed race (Indian-White). Cis. Deep brown, light brown, black, and pale skin tones.
📚 Format: Library Digital
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
This had a promising premise but was poorly executed. It was bogged down by endless rehashing, stiff dialogue, clunky plot devices, and flat characters. It desperately needed editing to help with the flow and trim down the repetitive narration to keep the plot moving.
Energy: Lost. Grieving. Melancholic.
🐺 Growls All the friendships lacked warmth or authenticity – Krista read more like a friendly on-call AI robot than a friend. The narrative kept circling back to repeat background details we already knew, sometimes word for word (I even double-checked a few times to see if I had accidentally flipped backwards). The musing were overly repetitive (like, ‘Did I do something? No, I couldn’t have. But did I? No, it’s impossible. But did I?”). Painfully slow pacing. Motivations were clumsily delivered by villain monologue right in the middle of an escape attempt, where everyone inexplicably paused to listen instead of running for their lives 😂.
🐕 Howls The characters felt like stiff caricatures. All the teenagers were rigid and spoke so formally even with each other. The story relied too heavily on contrived plot devices. The characters withheld vital information for absurd reasons, making the plot feel artificially dragged out. Even during high-stakes scenes, the tension was lost because we kept pausing for the repetitive musings and reflections of the main character. The villain was cartoony and predictable (that one may just be because I’m an adult).
🐩 Tail Wags When things finally started happening in the later parts of the book, it was slightly better. Letters and journals provided some intrigue.
Scene: 🇺🇸 Set in Orin, Michigan, USA
Perspective: Our main character got bullied a lot growing up because of a family tragedy. Their cousin, who they lived with and were super close to, always had their back and felt more like a sibling. But things changed when the cousin got into the popular clique at high school and started joining in on the bullying. After sneaking out to a party, the cousin goes missing.
Timeline: Current (2020s). Late summer/early Fall.
🔥 Fuel: Why is the main character’s cousin suddenly ghosting her and cutting her out of her life? What happened at the party? Is her cousin alive or did something terrible happen to her? Why did the main character wake up with dirty clothes the night her cousin went missing? Can we trust our her take on things?
📖 Cred: Suspended disbelief realism
Mood Reading Match-Up:
Acrid scent. Shadowy wisps. Bruises. Musty earth. Beach. Black candles.
• Family tragedy
• YA amateur sleuthing
• Potential unreliable/untrustworthy narrator
• Missing cousin mystery
• Friends taking different path betrayal
• Mean girls popularity contest
• Missing memories
• Eavesdropping on mc thoughts
• Dense reflection and inner monologue
• Heavily withholding and over-hinting
Content Heads-Up: Bullying (high school; non-consenting recordings, peer rejection, purposeful triggering). Loss of parent (as child). Murder-suicide (off page). Betrayal (secrets, bullying). Panic attacks. PTSD. Generalized Anxiety Disorder. Drug use (cocaine, marijuana). Dismissive, disbelieving authorities (police). Pandemic (very brief mention). Gun violence. Physical attack. Murder. Grief. Miscarriage (off page recall; after-effects, psychosis). Healing cons/fraud.
Rep: American. Indian-American. Mixed race (Indian-White). Cis. Deep brown, light brown, black, and pale skin tones.
📚 Format: Library Digital
My musings 💖 powered by puppy snuggles 🐶
June 3, 2024
3.5 stars, rounded up
This was fast-paced and gripping, even if I though the villain was a bit too obvious. Definitely recommended if you’re in the mood for a YA mystery.
I received an advance copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
This was fast-paced and gripping, even if I though the villain was a bit too obvious. Definitely recommended if you’re in the mood for a YA mystery.
I received an advance copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
November 26, 2024
never a good sign when memory loss is the main contributor to the mystery🥴
April 28, 2025
“i never knew grief could hurt like this. it feels like a physical pain, shriveling my skin, eating into my bones until they shatter.”
January 25, 2025
I love YA mystery/thrillers, and When Mimi Went Missing did not disappoint. It was fast paced and intriguing. The main character was unreliable and sometimes a bit annoying, but at the same time I appreciated her growth. I saw the ending coming, but I still enjoyed this book very much and thought it was a solid debut novel. The narration was good, but my only critique is that I wish YA thriller/mystery audiobooks would feature narrators that actually sound like their age in the book. A lot of times the narrator has a very mature almost gravely voice - such was the case with this narration.
Thank you Netgalley, Suja Sukumar, and Recorded Books for the advanced listening copy.
Thank you Netgalley, Suja Sukumar, and Recorded Books for the advanced listening copy.
to-watch
January 15, 2024the author told me that she wanted to write this because she loves YA thrillers but there aren't enough with south asian rep and i'm so proud and excited for her for giving us this gift 🥹
November 16, 2024
I'm torn with this book, on one hand it was interesting and mysterious but on the other hand it was incredibly predictable. (at least to me) I kind of guessed what was happening after about 20% in so the rest after that just felt repetitive and frustrating. I also don't know if I can look past the whole bullying someone with trauma till they almost go insane plot line.
while the plot was not my favorite the characters were incredibly well done. All of them had so many layers to them especially Tanvi.
while the book may not have been for me I know for a fact it will find it's audience. It's well written, quick pace, with really great characters. I do look forward to see more from the author!
also this cover is sooo pretty 😍
Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for a copy of the audiobook! All opinions are my own!
while the plot was not my favorite the characters were incredibly well done. All of them had so many layers to them especially Tanvi.
while the book may not have been for me I know for a fact it will find it's audience. It's well written, quick pace, with really great characters. I do look forward to see more from the author!
also this cover is sooo pretty 😍
Thank you Netgalley and RB Media for a copy of the audiobook! All opinions are my own!
November 14, 2024
This one really had me all over the place with the whole unreliable narrator and the red herrings.
December 3, 2024
2.5. I read this in one sitting but that was only out of spite. I knew who committed the crime in the first five chapters. It was GLARINGLY obvious. And the fact that it took until the last three chapters for the reveal was absolutely atrocious. Because it wasn’t the big reveal the author thought it would be.
Also, the amount of “I couldn’t hear over the pounding of my heart” made me want to scream!
Also, the amount of “I couldn’t hear over the pounding of my heart” made me want to scream!
March 24, 2024
ARC for review. To be published November 19, 2024.
Tanvi and Mimi are cousins but they feel like sisters; Mimi’s mother raised both girls after the death of Tanvi’s parents. Mimi has always been Tanvi’s protector, up until recently when she became aligned with Tanvi’s biggest tormentor, Beth.
Then Tanvi takes an incriminating photo of Mimi and Beth and a party and, that same night, Mimi vanishes. The next morning Tanvi wakes up with injuries and no memories of how she got them. The police are investigating Mimi’s disappearance and Tanvi decides to do the same, hoping to regain her memories and discover what happened to Mimi.
This was a bit of a mess in that the timelines for what happens with the girls don’t seem clear. Several times Tanvi talks about how she, Mimi and Grace were inseparable…but what about Krista, who seems to be Tanvi’s great and wonderful friend who would do anything for her. Did she just appear from nowhere? The book makes it appear as if she did. And were Mimi and Beth friends for about three weeks? That makes no sense to me.
Then there’s Tanvi’s investigation. She does incredibly stupid things, over and over again. She breaks into people’s property. She returns to a place WHERE SHE HAS ALREADY BEEN PHYSICALLY ATTACKED AND COUNTS ON THE SAME STUPID ROPE TO SAVE HER A SECOND TIME?!?! She is nearly killed multiple times. And she’s supposed to be the hero of this book? Nope. Just didn’t care for it.
Tanvi and Mimi are cousins but they feel like sisters; Mimi’s mother raised both girls after the death of Tanvi’s parents. Mimi has always been Tanvi’s protector, up until recently when she became aligned with Tanvi’s biggest tormentor, Beth.
Then Tanvi takes an incriminating photo of Mimi and Beth and a party and, that same night, Mimi vanishes. The next morning Tanvi wakes up with injuries and no memories of how she got them. The police are investigating Mimi’s disappearance and Tanvi decides to do the same, hoping to regain her memories and discover what happened to Mimi.
This was a bit of a mess in that the timelines for what happens with the girls don’t seem clear. Several times Tanvi talks about how she, Mimi and Grace were inseparable…but what about Krista, who seems to be Tanvi’s great and wonderful friend who would do anything for her. Did she just appear from nowhere? The book makes it appear as if she did. And were Mimi and Beth friends for about three weeks? That makes no sense to me.
Then there’s Tanvi’s investigation. She does incredibly stupid things, over and over again. She breaks into people’s property. She returns to a place WHERE SHE HAS ALREADY BEEN PHYSICALLY ATTACKED AND COUNTS ON THE SAME STUPID ROPE TO SAVE HER A SECOND TIME?!?! She is nearly killed multiple times. And she’s supposed to be the hero of this book? Nope. Just didn’t care for it.
February 2, 2025
This book had a very promising story but unfortunately the delivery was lacking in many aspects for me.
We follow Tanvi, who after losing both of her parents in a car accident, was adopted by her aunt. She and her cousin Mimi were very close until one day they just started to drift apart after Beth came into the scene.
Beth is the popular mean girl at school and Tanvi doesn’t understand why her cousin would ditch her for popularity.
Tanvi is considering retaliating and seeking revenge against her cousin, when Mimi goes missing.
As we learn more and more of what happened the night that Mimi went missing, we will uncover all the secrets the girls are hiding.
Unfortunately even though I was really invested at the beginning, the book started to get repetitive too quickly. It was rehashing the story, the dialogues were a bit stiff and it lost a lot of steam really quickly for me.
When things finally started happening in the later parts of the book, it was slightly better. Letters and journals provided some intrigue.
While this book might not have been for me and it was too predictable, I am pretty sure many other readers will enjoy it. I considered DNFing it but even though the book was repetitive, it still was fast paced so I was able to push through.
I did enjoy the end reveal but at that stage the book had already lost me.
We follow Tanvi, who after losing both of her parents in a car accident, was adopted by her aunt. She and her cousin Mimi were very close until one day they just started to drift apart after Beth came into the scene.
Beth is the popular mean girl at school and Tanvi doesn’t understand why her cousin would ditch her for popularity.
Tanvi is considering retaliating and seeking revenge against her cousin, when Mimi goes missing.
As we learn more and more of what happened the night that Mimi went missing, we will uncover all the secrets the girls are hiding.
Unfortunately even though I was really invested at the beginning, the book started to get repetitive too quickly. It was rehashing the story, the dialogues were a bit stiff and it lost a lot of steam really quickly for me.
When things finally started happening in the later parts of the book, it was slightly better. Letters and journals provided some intrigue.
While this book might not have been for me and it was too predictable, I am pretty sure many other readers will enjoy it. I considered DNFing it but even though the book was repetitive, it still was fast paced so I was able to push through.
I did enjoy the end reveal but at that stage the book had already lost me.
January 5, 2025
I received an ARC audio copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
3.5☆ rounded up
This fast-paced novel pulls the reader into the many possibilities of what could have happened to Mimi. As the FMC, Tanvi was unreliable as a narrator, making the story intriguing to discover what was true or a piece of a fuzzy memory of Tanvi. As a reader, I could sense some misdirect and wasn’t surprised by the reveal. That being said, I valued Tavi’s self-reflection and healing of what happened to her parents. Even through the traumatic experiences she has, she stayed determined to find the truth even if it scared her and faced her past with healing, releasing anger, and finding some inner peace with what happened.
I agree with some readers that some of the narration felt repetitive in describing the plot and circumstances. And I wish her remaining friend was more involved in her journey and that she wasn’t alone in finding the truth about what happened. But I felt that this was a great first novel, and I would read something from Sukumar in the future.
3.5☆ rounded up
This fast-paced novel pulls the reader into the many possibilities of what could have happened to Mimi. As the FMC, Tanvi was unreliable as a narrator, making the story intriguing to discover what was true or a piece of a fuzzy memory of Tanvi. As a reader, I could sense some misdirect and wasn’t surprised by the reveal. That being said, I valued Tavi’s self-reflection and healing of what happened to her parents. Even through the traumatic experiences she has, she stayed determined to find the truth even if it scared her and faced her past with healing, releasing anger, and finding some inner peace with what happened.
I agree with some readers that some of the narration felt repetitive in describing the plot and circumstances. And I wish her remaining friend was more involved in her journey and that she wasn’t alone in finding the truth about what happened. But I felt that this was a great first novel, and I would read something from Sukumar in the future.
September 3, 2025
A-MA-ZING new favorite 10 outta 10 would recommend ✌😗
January 15, 2025
This a YA Thriller that I received from NetGalley. The story follows a girl who has been placed to live with her aunt and cousin after a tragic accident happened within her family. We follow the MF character as she tries to solve the mystery of her missing cousin. This book is rather boring. This may be because it’s YA but, I was not fond of this book.
November 28, 2024
arc from netgalley
This book was a fast-paced, gripping read that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The twists and turns in the plot were thrilling, and the stakes felt high throughout. I did find the villain a bit too obvious early on, which took away a bit of the suspense for me. Despite that, the mystery itself was still engaging, and I appreciated how the author built tension with clever red herrings and well-timed reveals. The characters were relatable and well-developed, adding an emotional depth to the story that kept me invested. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book if you're into YA thrillers.
This book was a fast-paced, gripping read that kept me on the edge of my seat from start to finish. The twists and turns in the plot were thrilling, and the stakes felt high throughout. I did find the villain a bit too obvious early on, which took away a bit of the suspense for me. Despite that, the mystery itself was still engaging, and I appreciated how the author built tension with clever red herrings and well-timed reveals. The characters were relatable and well-developed, adding an emotional depth to the story that kept me invested. Overall, I’d definitely recommend this book if you're into YA thrillers.
December 31, 2024
the ending was CRAZYYYY
December 5, 2024
Update/
I received an audio ALC of this book and I have to say I enjoyed it more the second time around and now have a solid 4⭐️ rating.
The narrator did a great job with the serial. She read the material very well where she kept the story driving forward but didn’t get too dramatic and this taking away from how I experiences the book.
So I highly suggest the audio for those that prefer to consume books that way! It comes out Nov 19th 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley and SoHo Teen for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a decent YA thriller that I have at 3.5⭐️ and rounded up.
I loved the representation of an Indian American and the cultural custom references throughout.
While I figured out the culprit it wasn’t an easy thing to figure out. I liked going along for the ride as Tanvi looked into what happened to her cousin while trying to remember what happened to herself along the way.
While there was a bit too much repetition of certain things and Tanvi constantly declaring her love for her cousin there was plenty to keep the reader engaged in the mystery as well as Tanvi coming to terms with her own history.
So for those that like YA out this on tour TBR list for November 2024
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
I received an audio ALC of this book and I have to say I enjoyed it more the second time around and now have a solid 4⭐️ rating.
The narrator did a great job with the serial. She read the material very well where she kept the story driving forward but didn’t get too dramatic and this taking away from how I experiences the book.
So I highly suggest the audio for those that prefer to consume books that way! It comes out Nov 19th 2024.
Thank you to NetGalley and SoHo Teen for the arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.
This was a decent YA thriller that I have at 3.5⭐️ and rounded up.
I loved the representation of an Indian American and the cultural custom references throughout.
While I figured out the culprit it wasn’t an easy thing to figure out. I liked going along for the ride as Tanvi looked into what happened to her cousin while trying to remember what happened to herself along the way.
While there was a bit too much repetition of certain things and Tanvi constantly declaring her love for her cousin there was plenty to keep the reader engaged in the mystery as well as Tanvi coming to terms with her own history.
So for those that like YA out this on tour TBR list for November 2024
My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars and I rarely round up.
⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again
December 23, 2024
maybe 3.75?
solid YA thriller that got a little too wild at the end. but i was interested the whole time and really enjoyed the audiobook. not too bad just a solid YA
solid YA thriller that got a little too wild at the end. but i was interested the whole time and really enjoyed the audiobook. not too bad just a solid YA
November 16, 2024
audio-ARC from NetGalley.
Weeks after her cousin's devastating betrayal, Tanvi awakens covered in bruises, coated in mud, & completely unable to remember why. Within hours, she discovers that her cousin Mimi is missing. Police deem her a runaway, but Tanvi isn't convinced: Mimi is not the type to run. But no one has a reason to hate Mimi ... except Tanvi herself.
With a family history of murderous madness & no memories of what occurred, Tanvi begins to wonder if it's possible she killed her own cousin.
And, if so, why? And where is she?
I was hooked from start to finish. Tanvi's decision-making was frustrating at times, but I really appreciated the exploration of nature vs. nurture & self-doubt.
The ending gutted me, though. I am not okay.
Weeks after her cousin's devastating betrayal, Tanvi awakens covered in bruises, coated in mud, & completely unable to remember why. Within hours, she discovers that her cousin Mimi is missing. Police deem her a runaway, but Tanvi isn't convinced: Mimi is not the type to run. But no one has a reason to hate Mimi ... except Tanvi herself.
With a family history of murderous madness & no memories of what occurred, Tanvi begins to wonder if it's possible she killed her own cousin.
And, if so, why? And where is she?
I was hooked from start to finish. Tanvi's decision-making was frustrating at times, but I really appreciated the exploration of nature vs. nurture & self-doubt.
The ending gutted me, though. I am not okay.
June 9, 2024
What a pageturner! I could not put this book down, and I read it in under 24 hours. Sukumar has created compelling and empathetic characters and penned a twisty mystery that pulled on my emotions at every step and kept me guessing until the very last page. In this own voices story, she captures the unique cruelty and violence that can exist in teenage girls, paralleled with the universal yearning for acceptance and belonging so common at this age, as well as weaving in elements of loss and grief. I cannot wait to read more by this author!
July 17, 2024
*3.5 Stars*
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to love this, but it was just fine to me. The characters weren't as layered as I would have like? And there were so few twists that surprised me. I was expecting a little more, I think. So it wasn't bad, really? My hopes were just a little too high really. I didn't really connect with the main character and I didn't really understand her.
Still, this is a debut and I did enjoy it overall. I'll have to come back to this author for her next books!
I was provided an ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I really wanted to love this, but it was just fine to me. The characters weren't as layered as I would have like? And there were so few twists that surprised me. I was expecting a little more, I think. So it wasn't bad, really? My hopes were just a little too high really. I didn't really connect with the main character and I didn't really understand her.
Still, this is a debut and I did enjoy it overall. I'll have to come back to this author for her next books!
October 27, 2024
Middle school appropriate. I read an advanced uncopyedited edition. This story really kept me on my toes. The author did a great job of making everyone seem like a viable suspect. I lived the way that even the narrator wasn’t reliable and the reason why was totally plausible. The absolute vicious way the students were so willing to turn on each other was a realistic touch. An engaging read I couldn’t put down.
November 9, 2024
I really enjoyed this book. It was a fast paced, twisty, YA thriller. I liked the aspect of a sort of unreliable narrator who over the course of the book remembers more and more about what happened to her and her cousin. The author did a good job making you suspect multiple people throughout the story.
Thank you NetGalley and Soho Press/Teen for this ARC!
Thank you NetGalley and Soho Press/Teen for this ARC!
March 16, 2023
A dark, twisty YA thriller full of family secrets - what's not to like?
May 14, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley, RB media | Recorded Books, and the author for the ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
When Mimi Went Missing follows the story of Tanvi and her cousin Mimi, their fractured relationship, tortured history, shared losses and love. Tanvi has always idolised her cousin who took her under her wing and protected her from bullies and became her best friend after Tanvi lost her parents and had to move in with her aunt and Mimi. All this until Mimi became friends with the 'perfect' Beth, who is perfect to the world but Tanvi's biggest bully. Mimi started hating and pushing Tanvi away. When after a party, Mimi disappears, A party that Tanvi crashed before the beginning of the school year to get some dirt on Beth to hold her accountable, and Tanvi wakes up bruised and hurt with no recollection of what happened. Tanvi has no choice but to try and figure out what happened to Mimi and to her.
What follows is a story of a teenager dealing with grief over her mother's actions and her losses while questioning her own choices, slowly piecing back together her memory until she finds Mimi – but is it too late? And is she responsible like Beth keeps telling her?
The story was fast-paced and intriguing. I love the fact that even though I guessed the ending and the culprit, the author still had me on my toes second-guessing myself. The depictions of grief, isolation and abandonment in children were vivid and shown with all consequences out to see. I was disappointed how 'dark magic rituals' were brushed off and not clearly talked about at all! That could have added lore to the story and more depth culturally.
The narrator did a good job with all the characters. I only had one complaint, which is possibly a niche complaint – I did not understand that the Indian roots of the girls and the moms were from Kerala – the pronunciations were butchered. It was not until the mention of a 'Malayalam song from 90's' (I would have loved it, if the actual song had been mentioned??) I was like, wait, are they Mallus? Look, I understand the MCs are 2nd generation immigrants, but they have been to Kerala at least once as per the story, and if you are just going to include the barest of the mentions, they could have been pronounced properly? At least better than the fully whitewashed one!! So that docked a star! It is so rare to see Mallus in such books already, so this was very disappointing in retrospect.
Anyways, other than that, a very good thriller with a good plot and pace.
TW: Death of parents. Murder, PTSD, depression, Anxiety attacks, loss of a child, Grief, Bullying, Drug abuse, Parental abuse
When Mimi Went Missing follows the story of Tanvi and her cousin Mimi, their fractured relationship, tortured history, shared losses and love. Tanvi has always idolised her cousin who took her under her wing and protected her from bullies and became her best friend after Tanvi lost her parents and had to move in with her aunt and Mimi. All this until Mimi became friends with the 'perfect' Beth, who is perfect to the world but Tanvi's biggest bully. Mimi started hating and pushing Tanvi away. When after a party, Mimi disappears, A party that Tanvi crashed before the beginning of the school year to get some dirt on Beth to hold her accountable, and Tanvi wakes up bruised and hurt with no recollection of what happened. Tanvi has no choice but to try and figure out what happened to Mimi and to her.
What follows is a story of a teenager dealing with grief over her mother's actions and her losses while questioning her own choices, slowly piecing back together her memory until she finds Mimi – but is it too late? And is she responsible like Beth keeps telling her?
The story was fast-paced and intriguing. I love the fact that even though I guessed the ending and the culprit, the author still had me on my toes second-guessing myself. The depictions of grief, isolation and abandonment in children were vivid and shown with all consequences out to see. I was disappointed how 'dark magic rituals' were brushed off and not clearly talked about at all! That could have added lore to the story and more depth culturally.
The narrator did a good job with all the characters. I only had one complaint, which is possibly a niche complaint – I did not understand that the Indian roots of the girls and the moms were from Kerala – the pronunciations were butchered. It was not until the mention of a 'Malayalam song from 90's' (I would have loved it, if the actual song had been mentioned??) I was like, wait, are they Mallus? Look, I understand the MCs are 2nd generation immigrants, but they have been to Kerala at least once as per the story, and if you are just going to include the barest of the mentions, they could have been pronounced properly? At least better than the fully whitewashed one!! So that docked a star! It is so rare to see Mallus in such books already, so this was very disappointing in retrospect.
Anyways, other than that, a very good thriller with a good plot and pace.
TW: Death of parents. Murder, PTSD, depression, Anxiety attacks, loss of a child, Grief, Bullying, Drug abuse, Parental abuse
November 18, 2024
This book was definitely fast paced and kept my interest as far as wanting to know what actually happened both to Mimi and to Tanvi. Suspense-wise, well done. This is not a bad book.
But, while reading this book, I realized that I really dislike books about mean girls who gaslight and bully and manipulate other girls. Like, reading them makes me feel physically sick to my stomach. This kind of behavior happens in real life and it causes so much harm and I don't want to read it as entertainment. So there's that side of this story. There's your trigger warning.
The audiobook narrator, Rita Amparita, did a nice job.
Thanks to NetGalley, Recorded Books, and the author for the advanced copy.
But, while reading this book, I realized that I really dislike books about mean girls who gaslight and bully and manipulate other girls. Like, reading them makes me feel physically sick to my stomach. This kind of behavior happens in real life and it causes so much harm and I don't want to read it as entertainment. So there's that side of this story. There's your trigger warning.
The audiobook narrator, Rita Amparita, did a nice job.
Thanks to NetGalley, Recorded Books, and the author for the advanced copy.
December 5, 2024
I enjoyed this YA thriller debut that has Tanvi, trying to piece together what happened to Mimi, her cousin and the girl she thought of as a sister when she wakes up not remembering what happened at a party the night before. This was a twisty psychological thriller featuring a South Asian lead who has anxiety and panic attacks that was good on audio. Definitely recommended for those looking for a fresh take on the genre and fans of A good girl's guide to murder. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early audio copy in exchange for my honest review!
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