When She’s Gone by Rea Frey

Publish date: January 14, 2025 (ARC)
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Trigger warnings: violence, murder, mental health issues, body horror
Short description (created with AI):
Cora Valentine, a young gymnast, escapes from a kidnapping that becomes a public spectacle, overshadowing her Olympic dreams. Years later, she strives to protect her daughter from the horrors of her past, but on Halloween, her daughter disappears. Cora must confront her trauma and is faced with a desperate choice: to take another child in order to rescue her own. As the haunting memories resurface, Cora realizes the past is not yet finished with her.

Frey did a fantastic job of capturing a mother’s desperation and determination. Imagine losing your kid to crazy kidnappers? The twist was predictable, but still gripping. I loved the complex family dynamics and secrets into the plot, making it feel authentic and raw. The pacing was consistently just right and definitely not dragging. I also appreciate that we made Cora a smart MC. It’s very rare in thrillers nowadays. May I also say (though I’m not sure if it’s intentional or it’s just me) I loved the subtle ~humor~.

I got this good little ebook from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review before its publication. It was my first time picking up a Rea Frey book, so I was super excited and even more so when I saw the average rating of the book on Goodreads (she got above 4!) and I thought i’s pretty high for a pre-published work.

I am a thriller girlie. Yes, I do read wide varieties of genre, but my go-to is and always will be a thriller pick. Thriller books are like a rollercoaster ride for my mind (and sometimes, heart). They keep me on the edge of your seat, heart pounding, desperate to uncover the next twist or turn. The best thrillers pull me into their world, making me feel like I’m right there with the characters, solving the mystery or escaping danger. And that’s exactly what Rea Frey delivered. Will I read more of her works? OF COURSE.

This book is like a thriller on caffeine. It follows a mother who’s just enjoying the Halloween and suddenly finds her daughter missing, and the only clue is a cryptic note. (Yeah, my way of saying it is lame, but it’s more scary when you actually read it from the book.) Of course, she does what she can (some are horrrible things uhuh) just to find her daughter. It’s a wild ride where every page turn feels like a plot twist waiting to happen. And I’m not even exaggerating. Maybe it sounds overreacting but hey, I’m a mom. This kinds of plots are a horror for me.

“Not being able to see makes everything scarier.”

Rea Frey, When She's Gone

I am judging just for this book, but I sure will read more. Rea Frey masterfully crafts a tale that starts with a bang, walks into a non-stop thrill ride. To be honest, the plot is kind of predictable, and all the characters’ actions are expected. But still, the thrill is so good in jolting you awake just when you think you can relax. Frey’s writing is on point, easy and light, and oh, so witty. I really am bothered that the subtle humor and funny points were not mentioned in some reviews, but I bet you’ll find yourself.

It’s a perfect blend of heart-pounding action and emotional depth, making it a must-read for any thriller enthusiast. So, if you’re looking for a book that will keep you up all night just so you have your eyes to your kid 24/7, When She’s Gone is your ticket to an unforgettable adventure.

View my vlog about When She's Gone!

characters

atmosphere

writing

plot

intrigue

logic

enjoyment

I am using the CAWPILE rating system, though please remember a reader’s taste may change from time to time, so I’m not sure if you can trust me here unless this was a recent read. Leaving my ratings anyways because this was totally how I felt the time I read this book. *winks*

Reading an ARC is such a challenge I’d like to face everyday. And yes, I do like being challenged despite the pressure. I live for it. If you think there’s a book you can recommend for me to read, please do not be shy to leave the titles in the comments or a link to where I can get them! Thanks!

Here are other reads if you liked or interested with When She's Gone:

Click the book covers to go to Goodreads.

From Rea Frey
Missing Kid
Motherhood (thriller)

In Every Life by Rea Frey

What happens when a husband’s dying wish is for his wife to find a new love… before he’s even gone?

Harper is living a life she never expected. After a failed attempt at making it as an artist in New York while falling for and losing her first love, her dreams crumbled in the span of a week. A decade later, Harper is happily living a simpler life as an art teacher in Chattanooga with her beloved new husband, Ben.

When Ben is diagnosed with late-stage cancer, their whole world shifts. Despite the bad news, Ben comes up with one final wish for his wife: he wants Harper to find a new partner before he dies. When the New York Times sends a journalist to do a feature story about Ben’s life, Harper comes face to face with Liam Hale, the man she fell madly in love with all those years ago and never saw again.

Suddenly, Harper is faced with all of those old what-ifs: What if Harper had ended up with Liam instead of Ben? What if she’d pursued life as an artist instead of teaching? What if it had all turned out differently?

After making a wish, Harper wakes up to find herself in a parallel universe . . . where her what-ifs become a reality. Is the grass really greener, or is she standing right where she should be—no matter the cost?

I Will Find You by Harlan Coben

David and Cheryl Burroughs are living the dream – married, a beautiful house in the suburbs, a three year old son named Matthew – when tragedy strikes one night in the worst possible way.

David awakes to find himself covered in blood, but not his own – his son’s. And while he knows he did not murder his son, the overwhelming evidence against him puts him behind bars indefinitely.

Five years into his imprisonment, Cheryl’s sister arrives – and drops a bombshell. She’s come with a photograph that a friend took on vacation at a theme park. The boy in the background seems familiar – and even though David realizes it can’t be, he knows it is. It’s Matthew, and he’s still alive.

David plans a harrowing escape from prison, determined to do what seems impossible – save his son, clear his own name, and discover the real story of what happened that devastating night.

Saving Noah by Luinda Berry (I gave this a 5!)

We forgive murderers, not pedophiles.

Not since Lionel Shriver brought us We Need to Talk About Kevin has a writer delved into the complexities of a disturbed mother/son relationship. Until now.

Meet Noah—an A-honor roll student, award-winning swimmer, and small-town star destined for greatness. There weren’t any signs that something was wrong until the day he confesses to molesting little girls during swim team practice. He’s sentenced to eighteen months in a juvenile sexual rehabilitation center.

His mother, Adrianne, refuses to turn her back on him despite his horrific crimes, but her husband won’t allow Noah back into their home. In a series of shocking and shattering revelations, Adrianne is forced to make the hardest decision of her life. Just how far will she go to protect her son?

Saving Noah challenges everything you think you know about teenage sexual offenders. It will keep you up at night long after you’ve read the last page, questioning beliefs you once thought were true.