ARC Review: Vanishing Girls
Vanishing Girls by Lauren Oliver
Expected Publication Date: March 10th, 2015
Format: eARC - from Edelweiss/Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review.
Rating: 4/5 stars
Part of a series? Nope!
Goodreads
Preorder links: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - The Book Depository
Rating: 4/5 stars
Part of a series? Nope!
Goodreads
Preorder links: Amazon - Barnes and Noble - The Book Depository
Dara and Nick used to be inseparable, but that was before the accident that left Dara's beautiful face scarred and the two sisters totally estranged. When Dara vanishes on her birthday, Nick thinks Dara is just playing around. But another girl, nine-year-old Madeline Snow, has vanished, too, and Nick becomes increasingly convinced that the two disappearances are linked. Now Nick has to find her sister, before it's too late.
In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.
In this edgy and compelling novel, Lauren Oliver creates a world of intrigue, loss, and suspicion as two sisters search to find themselves, and each other.
I had certain expectations for Vanishing Girls, as a person usually does for novels written by authors he/she likes. And while Vanishing Girls wasn't anything like I thought it would be (in a good way!), I still really enjoyed reading it.
*WARNING: This review contains mild SPOILERS.*
The characters spoke to me, Nick especially. Nick feels this fierce need to protect Dara, even though they don't talk and she didn't approve of most of Dara's pre-accident activities. I get that; my little brother frustrates me to no end, but I'll probably always feel the urge to protect him. Their relationship as siblings felt realistic. I really felt for Parker, too. He was part lost puppy, part dark, brooding teenage boy, part adorable, fun boy next door, and it doesn't sound like it would work, but it worked. Also, he has all these articles of clothing with nerdy sayings on them, and it was amazing. Parker is definitely my kind of guy.
It has Lauren Oliver's signature writing style. If there ever comes a day where I'm not interested in the plot of a Lauren Oliver book, I might just read it anyway because I love the way she writes. Man, does this woman know how to tell a story. This book has a bit of everything. There are angsty, angry scenes and sad scenes and hopeful scenes and quick, heart-pounding scenes, and each is wonderfully written. I also liked how she kept the romantic feelings a minor part of the story instead of letting the romance completely overtake the plot. I like swoony things just as much as the next girl, but the minimalist romance thing was definitely the best choice here.
There were important, relevant topics worked in. Dara gets into scary business involving having scandalous pictures of herself taken. It was crazy but also really frightening to think about how this happens all the time now, and it's with people my age. I know it happens, but this was still kind of eye-opener for me because it's so easy to forget that even though the internet can be a safe place, it can also be the most dangerous place to be.
THE ENDING. (PSA: This review is so short because really all I want to do is talk about the ending because OMG.) If you read my review for We Were Liars, you'll know just how bad the end of it screwed with my head. It was a total "WHAT THE HECK?!" moment. I had a similar reaction upon reading the climax for this book. Talk about a plot twist. I don't want to go into it too much because it's major, but ohmygosh, guys. I can't wait for you to read this.
Vanishing Girls had me turning the pages and needing to know what happened next until the very last page. You can find out what happens on March 10th! Pick up a copy and experience the feelings.
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