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She's Gone
7 hours, 47 minutes
How can you lie when you can't remember the truth?
When 17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes up in the hospital on the night of homecoming, he’s shocked to learn he and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers, have been in a terrible car accident. Hunter has no memory of the crash, and his shock turns to horror when he is told Chloe’s blood has been found in the car, but she has disappeared.
Back at school, his fellow students taunt him, and his former best friend starts making a true-crime documentary about the case—one that points the finger directly at Hunter. And just when things can’t get any worse, Chloe’s mother stands in front of the entire town at a candlelight vigil and accuses Hunter of murder.
Under mounting pressure from the police, Hunter takes matters into his own hands by questioning anyone who might know the truth and posting videos to prove his innocence. When Hunter learns he and Chloe were seen arguing loudly outside the dance, he faces a sickening possibility: Was he angry enough to kill the person he loved?
How can you lie when you can't remember the truth?
When 17-year-old Hunter Gifford wakes up in the hospital on the night of homecoming, he’s shocked to learn he and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers, have been in a terrible car accident. Hunter has no memory of the crash, and his shock turns to horror when he is told Chloe’s blood has been found in the car, but she has disappeared.
Back at school, his fellow students taunt him, and his former best friend starts making a true-crime documentary about the case—one that points the finger directly at Hunter. And just when things can’t get any worse, Chloe’s mother stands in front of the entire town at a candlelight vigil and accuses Hunter of murder.
Under mounting pressure from the police, Hunter takes matters into his own hands by questioning anyone who might know the truth and posting videos to prove his innocence. When Hunter learns he and Chloe were seen arguing loudly outside the dance, he faces a sickening possibility: Was he angry enough to kill the person he loved?
Audiobook
First published November 1, 2022
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About the author
David Bell
31 books2,277 followersDavid Bell is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning suspense novelist. His most recent thriller from Berkley/Penguin is KILL ALL YOUR DARLINGS. His previous novels include THE REQUEST, LAYOVER, SOMEBODY'S DAUGHTER, BRING HER HOME, SINCE SHE WENT AWAY, SOMEBODY I USED TO KNOW, THE FORGOTTEN GIRL, NEVER COME BACK, THE HIDING PLACE, and CEMETERY GIRL. He is currently a Professor of English at Western Kentucky University and can be reached via his website at www.davidbellnovels.com, on Twitter at Twitter.com/davidbellnovels, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/davidbellnovels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,070 reviews
October 8, 2022
… My girl, she was the world to me
She's gone, and that's a tragedy
My girl, is just a memory
She's been so long away
My girl (Gone, gone, gone, she been gone so long) Songwriters: Brian Macleod / William Henderson performed by Chilliwack.
Ok, I finally did it! I read a YA book!
And, wait for it…🥁🥁
I liked it!💃🕺🏻
Maybe because it was a David Bell novel? After all, he is the reason I knowingly picked up a targeted YA read.
Hunter and Chloe are your typical high school sweethearts! In love and going to their home coming dance. But after leaving the nights festivities they’re involved in a serious crash. One that leaves Hunter with a head injury and no memory of the accident. And Chloe? Well, it seems she has disappeared!
Isn’t it always the boyfriend the police look at first? Of course it is!
All eyes are cast directly on Hunter! Did he harm Chloe? Even with no memory he claims his innocence! And realizes it’s up to him to prove it.
This book is delivered in short chapters with mini cliffhangers that make you addictively keep reading more! I enjoy David Bell’s writing style and even though this was a different genre than his typical (thriller) books it still worked for me.
Am I a converted YA reader? I’m not sure I’d go that far. But I will admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this one and may be open for another down the road....maybe!😅
‼️ At the end, David Bell did include a valuable lesson in personal safety that all should be aware of. I wasn’t…but I’m in the know now!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire and David Bell.
She's gone, and that's a tragedy
My girl, is just a memory
She's been so long away
My girl (Gone, gone, gone, she been gone so long) Songwriters: Brian Macleod / William Henderson performed by Chilliwack.
Ok, I finally did it! I read a YA book!
And, wait for it…🥁🥁
I liked it!💃🕺🏻
Maybe because it was a David Bell novel? After all, he is the reason I knowingly picked up a targeted YA read.
Hunter and Chloe are your typical high school sweethearts! In love and going to their home coming dance. But after leaving the nights festivities they’re involved in a serious crash. One that leaves Hunter with a head injury and no memory of the accident. And Chloe? Well, it seems she has disappeared!
Isn’t it always the boyfriend the police look at first? Of course it is!
All eyes are cast directly on Hunter! Did he harm Chloe? Even with no memory he claims his innocence! And realizes it’s up to him to prove it.
This book is delivered in short chapters with mini cliffhangers that make you addictively keep reading more! I enjoy David Bell’s writing style and even though this was a different genre than his typical (thriller) books it still worked for me.
Am I a converted YA reader? I’m not sure I’d go that far. But I will admit that I thoroughly enjoyed this one and may be open for another down the road....maybe!😅
‼️ At the end, David Bell did include a valuable lesson in personal safety that all should be aware of. I wasn’t…but I’m in the know now!
Thank you to NetGalley, Sourcebooks Fire and David Bell.
October 31, 2022
I have come to the conclusion that David Bell's writing is just not for me. I thought the concept of this YA novel sounded exciting and such a catnip premise for me (I love when a mystery centers on someone missing without a trace). Unfortunately, this book did not live up to my expectations.
We have high school senior Hunter who has survived an accident on Homecoming with a severe concussion and no memories from that night. His girlfriend Chloe was with him but has disappeared. As suspicion swirls around Hunter, he sets out to prove his innocence and find out what really happened to Chloe.
As with the previous books I've read by Bell, I get bogged down by the over writing. There is so much foreshadowing and lead up to a simple thing. One of Hunter's friends says he needs to tell him something important that happened at Homecoming.
Instead of just coming out and saying it, there's a whole setup to meet at an alternate location, and then a lot of "what do you need to tell me?" "Oh, let me tell you" "What? If you don't tell me right away I'm leaving" "Oh I'm getting to it" "Well what is it?" over and over again. It repeats when another friend wants to show him a video with something very important shown about that night. We go around and around and around until the two get in a big fight and HUNTER NEVER WATCHES THE CRITICAL PART. Overall I find the dialogue very stilted and unrealistic.
I wasn't enamored with the solution to the mystery, I thought the two big reveals were pretty obvious and not very creative. It reminded me of a very basic Scooby-Doo episode.
As I said, Bell's writing is not for me. But those who have enjoyed his previous novels and who like YA mysteries might enjoy this one. There are short chapters which keep the pace moving quickly and can encourage readers who might get bogged down with a longer narrative. The male POV is refreshingly different and should appeal to a male YA audience as there aren't as many male narrators as female in today's novels.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
We have high school senior Hunter who has survived an accident on Homecoming with a severe concussion and no memories from that night. His girlfriend Chloe was with him but has disappeared. As suspicion swirls around Hunter, he sets out to prove his innocence and find out what really happened to Chloe.
As with the previous books I've read by Bell, I get bogged down by the over writing. There is so much foreshadowing and lead up to a simple thing. One of Hunter's friends says he needs to tell him something important that happened at Homecoming.
Instead of just coming out and saying it, there's a whole setup to meet at an alternate location, and then a lot of "what do you need to tell me?" "Oh, let me tell you" "What? If you don't tell me right away I'm leaving" "Oh I'm getting to it" "Well what is it?" over and over again. It repeats when another friend wants to show him a video with something very important shown about that night. We go around and around and around until the two get in a big fight and HUNTER NEVER WATCHES THE CRITICAL PART. Overall I find the dialogue very stilted and unrealistic.
I wasn't enamored with the solution to the mystery, I thought the two big reveals were pretty obvious and not very creative. It reminded me of a very basic Scooby-Doo episode.
As I said, Bell's writing is not for me. But those who have enjoyed his previous novels and who like YA mysteries might enjoy this one. There are short chapters which keep the pace moving quickly and can encourage readers who might get bogged down with a longer narrative. The male POV is refreshingly different and should appeal to a male YA audience as there aren't as many male narrators as female in today's novels.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
October 31, 2022
This fast-paced YA thriller by David Bell makes perfect timing on the suspense. Some YA's are cheesy, but this one never felt like that degree. The characters were typical for sweetheart teenagers and kept me going enough to finish. When Hunter felt he had it all with his girlfriend, Chloe, he was not expecting it to end so abruptly and tragically. It was after their homecoming dance that it shifted against them. They left the dance and crashed into a tree leaving Hunter with no memory of the accident and Chloe missing. Her blood was found at the scene, but to no avail was she.
Fingers are pointed at Hunter as if he did something to her. Chloe's family and friends hold a candlelight vigil where the taunting begins against him even by her mom. Although Hunter makes some stupid decisions afterward, I felt sorry for his character and hoped for closure.
When his best friend makes a true-documentary capturing some sketchy scenes of the night, the case begins to unravel but not without someone being murdered and people close to him have some clues to add to that night.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Fingers are pointed at Hunter as if he did something to her. Chloe's family and friends hold a candlelight vigil where the taunting begins against him even by her mom. Although Hunter makes some stupid decisions afterward, I felt sorry for his character and hoped for closure.
When his best friend makes a true-documentary capturing some sketchy scenes of the night, the case begins to unravel but not without someone being murdered and people close to him have some clues to add to that night.
Thank you NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 8, 2022
17-year-old Hunter Gifford does not recall the event leading up to and including the car accident that he was in with his girlfriend, Chloe Summers. He does not recall walking up to the emergency room nor does he know what happened to Chloe. What he does know is that the police and everyone else believe he had something to do with her disappearance and the accident.
As the police interview Hunter and those in Chloe's life, Hunter does some investigating on his own when not making ridiculous decisions. Oh, to be young, to act on impulse and not think things through.
She's Gone is a fast paced thriller which kept me on my toes. I enjoyed the length of the chapters, and the Scooby Doo detective work Hunter did. He had some help along the way from his sister and friends. The mystery of what happened to Chloe had me turning the pages and doing my own super sleuthing.
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
As the police interview Hunter and those in Chloe's life, Hunter does some investigating on his own when not making ridiculous decisions. Oh, to be young, to act on impulse and not think things through.
She's Gone is a fast paced thriller which kept me on my toes. I enjoyed the length of the chapters, and the Scooby Doo detective work Hunter did. He had some help along the way from his sister and friends. The mystery of what happened to Chloe had me turning the pages and doing my own super sleuthing.
Thank you to SOURCEBOOKS Fire and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
October 6, 2022
Hunter has been in a very awful accident with his girlfriend Chloe after Homecoming. He remembers absolutely nothing and she is missing. That is the whole story. Hunter spends a bit of time trying to find out what happened to Chloe and is hoping she is still alive while fighting his amnesia . The entire book revolves around this but feel once we get around to the reveal its more telling then showing.
I love David Bell's adult books because he writes characters and story's very well and they resonate with you. This worked if you like YA. However, It all seemed very simplistic. The characters were written very well but the story didn't work. I struggled through it because Hunter's plight along with the dialogue he had with his Dad and his teacher just didn't resonate as something someone would do. But I thought Olivia was written out very well
I think if you are the right audience for this it will work but as a David Bell adult fiction writer fan this wasn't my fav.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my advanced copy.
I love David Bell's adult books because he writes characters and story's very well and they resonate with you. This worked if you like YA. However, It all seemed very simplistic. The characters were written very well but the story didn't work. I struggled through it because Hunter's plight along with the dialogue he had with his Dad and his teacher just didn't resonate as something someone would do. But I thought Olivia was written out very well
I think if you are the right audience for this it will work but as a David Bell adult fiction writer fan this wasn't my fav.
Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for my advanced copy.
November 30, 2022
i have a BONE to pick with this book…
here’s my thing: if you hate young people, maybe don’t write a book about them? why the hell was the author inserting all this nonsense about being anti social media? like once or twice i would allow but it got to the point where i literally rolled my eyes at the sheer amount of times it was mentioned in a bad way. like it wasn’t just one character that was anti social media, it was MULTIPLE and not just older characters. like we get it girlie!
also, do NOT just put queer and bipoc characters in your novel for diversity brownie points when you have NO IDEA how to write them beyond just the surface level (i hesitate to say racist, but i’m thinking it!). when the lead detective made the comment about being black and therefore knowing about hunter’s dad wanting to protect his son from the police i ROLLED MY EYES! why would you make the only explicitly black character a COP? also why were like 80% of gabriela’s lines about being mexican and a child of immigrants? it’s literally offensive at this point.
another point. was hunter supposed to be a likable character? because i hated his dumb ass. constantly making those videos when his LAWYER told him not to while also saying his boomer bs about social media being shit. and breaking into houses when he’s a prime suspect? you know what even though hunter didn’t do shit throw his ass in prison for being an IDIOT!
ANOTHER POINT! hunter and chloe’s relationship was not developed at all. i actually did not give a single fuck about their relationship. also what was hunter’s obsession with sex? it was so weird and narcissistic i felt disgusting as hell reading his wack ass thoughts about the time him and chloe had sex and him making it into something it wasn’t.
i hate ripping a book apart because i know authors work very hard. but this one pissed me off y’all 🤗
here’s my thing: if you hate young people, maybe don’t write a book about them? why the hell was the author inserting all this nonsense about being anti social media? like once or twice i would allow but it got to the point where i literally rolled my eyes at the sheer amount of times it was mentioned in a bad way. like it wasn’t just one character that was anti social media, it was MULTIPLE and not just older characters. like we get it girlie!
also, do NOT just put queer and bipoc characters in your novel for diversity brownie points when you have NO IDEA how to write them beyond just the surface level (i hesitate to say racist, but i’m thinking it!). when the lead detective made the comment about being black and therefore knowing about hunter’s dad wanting to protect his son from the police i ROLLED MY EYES! why would you make the only explicitly black character a COP? also why were like 80% of gabriela’s lines about being mexican and a child of immigrants? it’s literally offensive at this point.
another point. was hunter supposed to be a likable character? because i hated his dumb ass. constantly making those videos when his LAWYER told him not to while also saying his boomer bs about social media being shit. and breaking into houses when he’s a prime suspect? you know what even though hunter didn’t do shit throw his ass in prison for being an IDIOT!
ANOTHER POINT! hunter and chloe’s relationship was not developed at all. i actually did not give a single fuck about their relationship. also what was hunter’s obsession with sex? it was so weird and narcissistic i felt disgusting as hell reading his wack ass thoughts about the time him and chloe had sex and him making it into something it wasn’t.
i hate ripping a book apart because i know authors work very hard. but this one pissed me off y’all 🤗
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 2, 2022
You got me again, David Bell. This newly released YA thriller had me turning the pages as quickly as I could. Surely Hunter is not guilty, right? I had my fingers crossed for all 360 pages. What really happened the night of Homecoming? Where is Chloe?! Once again, we have a protagonist who is an average guy, facing very unusual circumstances. Are mistakes me? Plenty, but you still want to root for the guy. This reminded me a bit of Thirteen Reasons Why, as we reconstruct the last days of a girl who is not available in person to speak for herself. The ending really caught me by surprise. I really expected things to go a different direction. Liked this better than The Finalists. Still want to read some of David Bell's earlier titles. This is a fantastic title for fall reading.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and Edelweiss+ for a DRC in exchange for an honest review.
September 13, 2023
✰ 3.5 stars ✰
“I don’t know who to trust. I can’t even trust my own mind.”
Ron nods as though he understands. “You’ve become the unreliable narrator of your own life.”
A fast-paced YA thriller, She's Gone is David Bell's first foray in the Young Adult demographic and also my first experience with his writing style. Was it good? Eh, it wasn't bad - I mean, it kept my interest for a solid hour and a half, because I'm always up for a good mystery - no matter in which way it's delivered. ✨✨
With no memory whatsoever of what happened that fateful prom night, it's very easy for all fingers to point at Hunter as the one culpable suspect for Chloe's disappearance. And he feels it, too; armed with only the memory of his relationship with Chloe, Hunter tries his hardest to piece together the puzzle that may lead him closer to the truth of what really took place that tragic night. With short chapters and cutting dialogue, David Bell elevates the tension by keeping Hunter on his toes by showing just how far people will go to keep the truth from coming to light.
While the mystery, itself, was quite weak with the suspects being very obvious right from the start 🙄🙄 - I literally rolled my eyes at how blatantly the clues were hinted at - the writing still kept my interest. It was gripping and exciting to see how Hunter would eventually bring the real culprits to justice, as he stumbled and fumbled his way through his memory and his life to see what really could have happened to Chloe. And even as predictable as the ending was, I did love how dark and unexpecting the ending was to Hunter - how the fear was heightened in that shocking reveal for him in a highly tense and suspenseful scene.
“I guess I’m not sure what to do next. I don’t know what my life will be like. But I’m just going to do what I have to do and hope it works out.”
Some of Hunter's actions were rather questionable - those video logs were sending me! - but, through all his traumatic ordeal, I'm glad that he showed some personal growth in understanding a little bit about himself that needed change and how he viewed relationships that were once appropriate to him, maybe were not intended to be. How the author was able to weave those significant points about himself into the mystery and suspense was quite well-done and never felt too contrived. 👍🏻👍🏻
“Dad?” I ask.
“Yes?”
“Do you think Chloe is still alive?”
Dad doesn’t hesitate. “Until we know otherwise, there’s always hope.”
There’s no awkwardness between us now. He said exactly what I wanted—and needed—to hear.”
I liked Hunter's younger sister, Livvy - she was a strong constant at his side, who steadfastly supported him, when everyone's distrustful feelings towards him became too much for him to bear. I also really appreciated how involved Hunter's father was in his situation. Most YA thrillers fall victim to parents acting as passive participants and allowing their kids to be drawn into situations beyond their capabilities. It was refreshing to see a father who was actually aware of what was happening in his son's life and not be just a passer-by through it all. It definitely made for a much more enjoyable read. 👏🏻👏🏻
“I don’t know who to trust. I can’t even trust my own mind.”
Ron nods as though he understands. “You’ve become the unreliable narrator of your own life.”
A fast-paced YA thriller, She's Gone is David Bell's first foray in the Young Adult demographic and also my first experience with his writing style. Was it good? Eh, it wasn't bad - I mean, it kept my interest for a solid hour and a half, because I'm always up for a good mystery - no matter in which way it's delivered. ✨✨
With no memory whatsoever of what happened that fateful prom night, it's very easy for all fingers to point at Hunter as the one culpable suspect for Chloe's disappearance. And he feels it, too; armed with only the memory of his relationship with Chloe, Hunter tries his hardest to piece together the puzzle that may lead him closer to the truth of what really took place that tragic night. With short chapters and cutting dialogue, David Bell elevates the tension by keeping Hunter on his toes by showing just how far people will go to keep the truth from coming to light.
While the mystery, itself, was quite weak with the suspects being very obvious right from the start 🙄🙄 - I literally rolled my eyes at how blatantly the clues were hinted at - the writing still kept my interest. It was gripping and exciting to see how Hunter would eventually bring the real culprits to justice, as he stumbled and fumbled his way through his memory and his life to see what really could have happened to Chloe. And even as predictable as the ending was, I did love how dark and unexpecting the ending was to Hunter - how the fear was heightened in that shocking reveal for him in a highly tense and suspenseful scene.
“I guess I’m not sure what to do next. I don’t know what my life will be like. But I’m just going to do what I have to do and hope it works out.”
Some of Hunter's actions were rather questionable - those video logs were sending me! - but, through all his traumatic ordeal, I'm glad that he showed some personal growth in understanding a little bit about himself that needed change and how he viewed relationships that were once appropriate to him, maybe were not intended to be. How the author was able to weave those significant points about himself into the mystery and suspense was quite well-done and never felt too contrived. 👍🏻👍🏻
“Dad?” I ask.
“Yes?”
“Do you think Chloe is still alive?”
Dad doesn’t hesitate. “Until we know otherwise, there’s always hope.”
There’s no awkwardness between us now. He said exactly what I wanted—and needed—to hear.”
I liked Hunter's younger sister, Livvy - she was a strong constant at his side, who steadfastly supported him, when everyone's distrustful feelings towards him became too much for him to bear. I also really appreciated how involved Hunter's father was in his situation. Most YA thrillers fall victim to parents acting as passive participants and allowing their kids to be drawn into situations beyond their capabilities. It was refreshing to see a father who was actually aware of what was happening in his son's life and not be just a passer-by through it all. It definitely made for a much more enjoyable read. 👏🏻👏🏻
October 11, 2022
I’m so glad I kept an open mind on the author. I read Bell’s previous work, The Finalists and was somewhat disappointed. So, I was a bit skeptical going in. But I promised myself that I would give Bell a second chance. Sure enough, Bell delivered with She’s Gone.
Geared for the teen and young adult audience, the characters are high schoolers going through the typical teenage and social media angst. I liked a majority of the characters and I seem to think that Bell has found his niche market in the teen and YA genre. All of the main characters are well developed and diverse. Though I think some readers may be put off by the lesbian relationship (mild) in the novel.
The plot isn’t complicated and it’s the typical whodunnit. However, it does seem to drag along in some places. But, just when it seems to seep into that valley, there is a plot twist that brings back the suspense. There aren’t too many surprises and it was somewhat easy to determine who the perpetrator was in the novel. It’s still an engaging read, nonetheless.
Will I continue to read more novels from the author? If it’s anything like She’s Gone, I most certainly will. Four superb stars.
I received a digital ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Fire through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
Geared for the teen and young adult audience, the characters are high schoolers going through the typical teenage and social media angst. I liked a majority of the characters and I seem to think that Bell has found his niche market in the teen and YA genre. All of the main characters are well developed and diverse. Though I think some readers may be put off by the lesbian relationship (mild) in the novel.
The plot isn’t complicated and it’s the typical whodunnit. However, it does seem to drag along in some places. But, just when it seems to seep into that valley, there is a plot twist that brings back the suspense. There aren’t too many surprises and it was somewhat easy to determine who the perpetrator was in the novel. It’s still an engaging read, nonetheless.
Will I continue to read more novels from the author? If it’s anything like She’s Gone, I most certainly will. Four superb stars.
I received a digital ARC from SOURCEBOOKS Fire through NetGalley. The review herein is completely my own and contains my honest thoughts and opinions.
November 1, 2022
This young adult thriller was a fast and fun ride. I like when a story centers around missing memories and the search for trying to recover them. I did find the main character to be too intensely focused on his girlfriend’s ex-boyfriend for little to no reason for so long, but the last third of the book was filled with sleuthing and a decent reveal. 17 year old Hunter woke up after the Homecoming dance in the hospital with a concussion and no memories of the dance or what happened after. This is particularly problematic because his girlfriend who was presumably in the car with him when it crashed is no where to be found. The whole town thinks Hunter is guilty but he is determined to find Chloe and figure out what exactly happened.
December 4, 2024
Actually...The title of this book was repeated several times...
But... You can look at the cover of the book and see it for yourself, I don’t need to repeat it for you. Oh, my dear. This was difficult to like.
Why?
You have a teenager who wakes up after a car accident not sure what occurred, with his only memory being that he was on his way to a homecoming dance with his girlfriend.
But... When he wakes up in the hospital all eyes are on him, because his girlfriend isn’t anywhere to be found.
So...Let’s now accuse him of murder.
Then... His friend starts investigating, and now he winds up dead.
So...The more we keep looking in to things, the more complicated the story becomes, until a climatic ending, which is really kinda creepy.
And...I’m not going to spoil it for you.
The good news is, the boyfriend didn’t kill his girlfriend. Go with that, and try and figure out the rest if you want to stay with it.
It is a quick read. After all, with this rain, I’ve been digesting books, and streaming videos left and right these days!
But... You can look at the cover of the book and see it for yourself, I don’t need to repeat it for you. Oh, my dear. This was difficult to like.
Why?
You have a teenager who wakes up after a car accident not sure what occurred, with his only memory being that he was on his way to a homecoming dance with his girlfriend.
But... When he wakes up in the hospital all eyes are on him, because his girlfriend isn’t anywhere to be found.
So...Let’s now accuse him of murder.
Then... His friend starts investigating, and now he winds up dead.
So...The more we keep looking in to things, the more complicated the story becomes, until a climatic ending, which is really kinda creepy.
And...I’m not going to spoil it for you.
The good news is, the boyfriend didn’t kill his girlfriend. Go with that, and try and figure out the rest if you want to stay with it.
It is a quick read. After all, with this rain, I’ve been digesting books, and streaming videos left and right these days!
July 22, 2024
My 100th read of 2024 🎉 It read really slow 🐌 I didn’t guess the ending 👍
June 21, 2022
Hunter and his girlfriend Chloe are driving home from the Homecoming Dance when they have an accident and smash into a tree. Hunter wakes up in the hospital that night, not remembering anything from the the accident, but is told that Chloe is missing and nowhere to be found. Everyone thinks Hunter has something to do with Chloe’s disappearing, so he decides to investigate the disappearance on his own. Did Hunter have something to do with Chloe missing? Or is someone else involved here?
I have read almost all of David Bell's books and I am a huge fan, I absolutely LOVED this book! From beginning to end, I was fully engaged and couldn't wait to see what happened next. I usually don't read many Young Adult books, but this one was exceptionally good. The pacing was great and I enjoyed the short chapters. I am looking forward to seeing what David Bell comes up with next. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
I have read almost all of David Bell's books and I am a huge fan, I absolutely LOVED this book! From beginning to end, I was fully engaged and couldn't wait to see what happened next. I usually don't read many Young Adult books, but this one was exceptionally good. The pacing was great and I enjoyed the short chapters. I am looking forward to seeing what David Bell comes up with next. Highly recommend!
Many thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This review will be posted to my Instagram Blog (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.
October 20, 2022
We follow Hunter's story after a car accident on Prom night leaves him with a concussion and his girlfriend Cloe vanishes in thin air.
This book gives a hint of thriller and loads of YA. We get to know the characters as the events of that night start to resurface. I would have liked to see a bit more character development for some of Hunter's friends. We receive a little twist at the end which brings the story to a nice close, although it felt a bit rushed. We had this whole scene build up and then it was over.
Not a bad read and perfect for older teens. Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC.
This book gives a hint of thriller and loads of YA. We get to know the characters as the events of that night start to resurface. I would have liked to see a bit more character development for some of Hunter's friends. We receive a little twist at the end which brings the story to a nice close, although it felt a bit rushed. We had this whole scene build up and then it was over.
Not a bad read and perfect for older teens. Thank you Netgalley and Sourcebooks Fire for this ARC.
July 24, 2023
one of the worst books i’ve ever read tbh. the main character was so stupid and pissed me off so many times. i was so disappointed w how it ended and how quickly and briefly the ending was explained. do not recommend to anyone
September 9, 2022
Thank you to Sourcebooks Fire and David Bell for my copy of She's Gone. This book is about Hunter, a boy who wakes up in the hospital on the night of homecoming to find he has been in an accident with his girlfriend Chloe. He can't remember the accident and Chloe is just gone. When he gets back to school, he finds out that his old best friend has started to make a documentary about the case, and are blaming him for Chloe's disappearance. Hunter decides to try to clear his name by investigating what happened to Chloe and what he can't remember.
Thoughts: I think David Bell is a great addition to the YA world. I haven't liked his books previously, and this was a nice change of pace. This book has lots of mysterious layers that are fun to unravel. It does a great job of embodying the mob mentality and how something small can snowball into something much bigger. The book has short chapters and was a quick and fun read. The ending was just okay but I did enjoy the book! 3-stars.
Thoughts: I think David Bell is a great addition to the YA world. I haven't liked his books previously, and this was a nice change of pace. This book has lots of mysterious layers that are fun to unravel. It does a great job of embodying the mob mentality and how something small can snowball into something much bigger. The book has short chapters and was a quick and fun read. The ending was just okay but I did enjoy the book! 3-stars.
December 24, 2022
I love me a David Bell novel, so when I saw he had a new young adult mystery/thriller out, there was no way that I wasn't going to read it. She's Gone is just as fast-paced as his adult books and there is quite literally never a dull moment. The whole story is told from Hunter's viewpoint, and I have to admit that I spent the entire time doubting his reliability. I think Bell did a great job making the reader suspect a lot of different characters and I didn't see any part of the resolution coming at all. While this might be a YA book focusing on a 17-year-old boy, it didn’t feel super juvenile or anything and I really enjoyed all of the components of the narrative and plot.
I listened to the audiobook and even though the narrator Eddie Lopez is obviously an adult and not 17, I still loved having him for the narration. I wouldn’t say he sounds particularly young or anything, but his voice still seemed very fitting for Hunter, and I had no complaints at all about how he narrated this book. I honestly don’t have a ton to say about She's Gone other than it was a fun and captivating read and it is so quick that it’s hard to put down. There was also some seriousness to the story that I think was really important, especially for teens to read about. Bell knows how to write a well-paced novel no matter what audience it is being written for, and I would most definitely recommend it to the adult readers out there who enjoy YA.
I listened to the audiobook and even though the narrator Eddie Lopez is obviously an adult and not 17, I still loved having him for the narration. I wouldn’t say he sounds particularly young or anything, but his voice still seemed very fitting for Hunter, and I had no complaints at all about how he narrated this book. I honestly don’t have a ton to say about She's Gone other than it was a fun and captivating read and it is so quick that it’s hard to put down. There was also some seriousness to the story that I think was really important, especially for teens to read about. Bell knows how to write a well-paced novel no matter what audience it is being written for, and I would most definitely recommend it to the adult readers out there who enjoy YA.
May 3, 2023
I wish I could give this zero stars. I don’t know how to say it without just saying it but you can tell that a middle aged, white man wrote this. 0/10.
August 12, 2024
A quick and satisfying read.
August 2, 2022
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
Hunter woke up at the hospital with some blind spots in his memory. He and his girlfriend, Chloe, were in an accident and can't remember anything about it, Chloe is missing and no one knows what happened to her. Hunter is obviously a suspect in the eyes of everyone but he is helpless and desperately wants to figure out what happened that night.
The story was exciting and able to keep me hooked, but at the same time, the first half of the book was lacking that mystery element that motivate the reader to finish the book. I felt that story was more focused on family dynamics and people related to Hunter which is not a bad thing but I felt the balance wasn't there. However, the chapters were short and easy to follow. The story seemed to be more suitable for a young audience. The ending felt rushed and left me wanting more human emotions.
Hunter woke up at the hospital with some blind spots in his memory. He and his girlfriend, Chloe, were in an accident and can't remember anything about it, Chloe is missing and no one knows what happened to her. Hunter is obviously a suspect in the eyes of everyone but he is helpless and desperately wants to figure out what happened that night.
The story was exciting and able to keep me hooked, but at the same time, the first half of the book was lacking that mystery element that motivate the reader to finish the book. I felt that story was more focused on family dynamics and people related to Hunter which is not a bad thing but I felt the balance wasn't there. However, the chapters were short and easy to follow. The story seemed to be more suitable for a young audience. The ending felt rushed and left me wanting more human emotions.
October 24, 2022
Wow! I think I found a new author that I love. This is my first by David Bell and also my first YA, which I loved! The chapters were short and it had me flying through the pages. My eyes were stuck on this book and I just had to find out the mystery. I had my suspicions on a few individuals but I never would have guess what happened to Chloe. My mouth hit the floor when the big reveal made its debut!
If you want a good YA suspenseful mystery you should read She’s Gone. I know I will be checking out more of Bell’s work, regardless if it is YA or adult fiction.
***** Many thanks to Sourcebook Fire, David Bell, and NetGalley for the #gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.
If you want a good YA suspenseful mystery you should read She’s Gone. I know I will be checking out more of Bell’s work, regardless if it is YA or adult fiction.
***** Many thanks to Sourcebook Fire, David Bell, and NetGalley for the #gifted copy as it was provided to me in turn for my honest opinion.
November 14, 2022
I think I need to give up with this author. I continue to try to like him and to try new books but so much of this is a little dumbed down for me. I really have a difficult time with this author’s dialogue between characters- it feels really silly and unrealistic. Unfortunately I could not get past it.
January 15, 2023
4⭐
MOODS
➨ YA Mystery
➨ Light Suspense Thriller
➨ Fast-paced
WHAT YOU GET
➨ An Accident and a missing girl
➨ Her boyfriend can’t remember what happened
➨ Did he kill her and where is her body???
➨ Low-key Drama, especially for YA
This was a super quick engaging listen that I finished in a day. I barely noticed that it was YA, which could be due to the fact that this Author doesn’t normally write YA novels. My only qualm was how the author was always beating around the bush, so to speak, with most of the reveals, like I just wanted to tell them to spit it out, already. In real life, people don't dance around the truth like that, not if they are really wanting to tell you something.
NARRATION=🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
📣 Eddie Lopez was killing it. His voice was a perfect fit for this…an effortless listen.
i>Total Score 7.69 /10 | Opening-7 | Characters-7.5 | Plot-7.5 | Atmosphere-7.3 | Writing Style-8 | Ending-8.5 | Overall Enjoyment- 8
MOODS
➨ YA Mystery
➨ Light Suspense Thriller
➨ Fast-paced
WHAT YOU GET
➨ An Accident and a missing girl
➨ Her boyfriend can’t remember what happened
➨ Did he kill her and where is her body???
➨ Low-key Drama, especially for YA
This was a super quick engaging listen that I finished in a day. I barely noticed that it was YA, which could be due to the fact that this Author doesn’t normally write YA novels. My only qualm was how the author was always beating around the bush, so to speak, with most of the reveals, like I just wanted to tell them to spit it out, already. In real life, people don't dance around the truth like that, not if they are really wanting to tell you something.
NARRATION=🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️🎙️/5
📣 Eddie Lopez was killing it. His voice was a perfect fit for this…an effortless listen.
i>Total Score 7.69 /10 | Opening-7 | Characters-7.5 | Plot-7.5 | Atmosphere-7.3 | Writing Style-8 | Ending-8.5 | Overall Enjoyment- 8
Read
January 6, 2023Dnf 22%
October 8, 2025
2 star is generous lol - i guessed who was involved and what happened from the beginning. felt like i was reading a middle school book… nothing terrible but not great
August 31, 2022
A read in one sitting Young Adult mystery from David Bell, extremely addictive, a classic page turner.
A car accident, a missing girl and a loss of memory sets the scene for a twisty thriller that is utterly gripping first page to last.
The writing is immersive and the characters intriguing plus it really is unpredictable and the finale is equal to the rest of the narrative.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Sometimes Young Adult Mysteries outdo their Adult counterparts. Recommended.
A car accident, a missing girl and a loss of memory sets the scene for a twisty thriller that is utterly gripping first page to last.
The writing is immersive and the characters intriguing plus it really is unpredictable and the finale is equal to the rest of the narrative.
I thoroughly enjoyed this. Sometimes Young Adult Mysteries outdo their Adult counterparts. Recommended.
October 13, 2025
She's Gone was just okay for me. It certainly wasn't horrible, but not quite memorable either. Much of the dialogue, and actions of the characters, didn't seem plausible to me. It was a quick read with great chapter lengths though.
January 13, 2023
A gripping and suspenseful read!
Hunter Gifford and his girlfriend, Chloe Summers get into a car accident the same night as their homecoming dance. Hunter wakes up in the hospital but has no memory of the accident. In fact, most of the evening is a blur. Then he finds out that no one has seen or heard from Chloe.
She's gone...
Things quickly go from bad to worse.
Where is Chloe?
I've read quite a few of David Bell's novels and have enjoyed them. This is the author's first foray into Young Adult novels and I think he did a very good job. The story is told from Hunter's point of view. I really liked the short chapters. This was a quick, exciting, and enjoyable read.
I was able to switch back and forth between audiobook and eBook. The narration on the audiobook was very well done.
I look forward to reading more from David Bell!
I'd like to thank the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
February 1, 2023
there are a lot of things to say about this book—and yet, at the same time, there is nothing at all to say about this book. it’s definitely YA, hard emphasis on YA. i mean the amount of times the app TikTok was mentioned was almost enough to ruin the whole book for me, luckily i guess the plot was intriguing enough. there were a lot of parts where i feel like the author could have moved things along faster instead of filling chapters when we all know what clue will be revealed next anyways, it’s just pointless. the plot itself was pretty predictable, in fact it was very predictable, and when the ending was revealed i was unsatisfied with how unsatisfying it was—if that makes sense. however i did read this book in like a day, so it is fast paced, and it does have you wanting to know what exactly went down that night. but other than that there’s nothing i can say for it. actually the characters were decent, kind of boring but whatever. the writing was honestly corny and a little cliche, i didn’t like it. if you read this you’ll understand. but i’m giving it 3 stars because it fits the plot of every other YA thriller ever written, the characters are the same, the writing. there you go. that’s it.
May 20, 2022
I just flew through this clever YA novel! Hunter awakens from a coma after getting a concussion during an accident after Homecoming. But even more disconcerting is where is his girlfriend, Chloe? As he begins to piece together the night and its aftermath, more questions begin to plague him as nothing seems to make sense of the wrecked car and what caused the accident. His dad and sister attempt to help but when another death occurs, things get even more confusing and dicey! Great humor and tension in setting the scenes and taking us back to the comfort as well as terrors of high school and family life!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
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