Name: Before We Were Strangers
ISBN: 9780778309079

Brenda Novak

A New York model returns to her small Texas hometown to discover the truth about her mother's disappearance--and her father's involvement --

Before We Were Strangers

Something happened to her mother that night. Something no one wants to talk about. But she's determined to uncover her family's dark secrets, even if they bury her. Five-year-old Sloane McBride couldn't sleep that night. Her parents were arguing again, their harsh words heating the cool autumn air. And then there was that other sound--the ominous thump before all went quiet. In the morning, her mother was gone. The official story was that she left. Her loving, devoted mother! That hadn't sat any better at the time than it did when Sloane moved out at eighteen, anxious to leave her small Texas hometown in search of anywhere else. But not even a fresh start working as a model in New York could keep the nightmares at bay. Or her fears that the domineering father she grew up with wasn't just difficult--he was deadly. Now another traumatic loss forces Sloane to realize she owes it to her mother to find out the truth, even if it means returning to a small town full of secrets and lies, a jilted ex-boyfriend and a father and brother who'd rather see her silenced. But as Sloane starts digging into the past, the question isn't whether she can uncover what really happened that night...it's what will remain of her family if she does?

Geneviève Rouleau

First things first, I want to thank the author Brenda Novak for contacting me on Instagram, in order to send me a free copy of her book!!

This is the story of a young woman, Sloane, who travels back to her hometown after she exiled herself a decade ago. However, she isn't going back in order to reconnect with her high school friends. She's going back because she wants to solve the mystery behind her mother's disappearance, once and for all. According to her father, her mother abandoned them when she was 5 years old, never to be heard from again. However, Sloane always disagreed with that explanation. Despite her young age, her memories of that night are frightfully clear. This is how Sloane embarks on a suspenseful journey, as she uncovers many hidden truths in her childhood town. Her father, who is now the Mayor, tries to hinder her every step of the way. She then has to form unlikely allies, as well as rekindle her old high school romance.

So. This book started off pretty amazing! I used to read a lot of suspense / thriller / mystery novels when I was in high school. It felt nice to read something other than my usual genres. If you're into some possible murder-solving books, you'll definitely enjoy this one. It is also obvious this is not Novak's first book, because the sentences are well written and there are no grammatical errors, yay!! The dialogue was also believable, and I loved how forgiveness for past mistakes isn't readily offered. These things take time, and that's what the author illustrated. Also, Novak brilliantly depicted the small-town dynamic, with the overly-controlling mayor, and all the gossiping!

However, I started having issues with this book about two thirds through. I felt like the author was focusing too much on the love triangle between Sloane, her high school best friend (Paige), and her high school boyfriend (Micah). I felt like the disappearance of Sloane's mother became just a background story. ALSO. The first intimate scene. It lasts for a whole chapter. And the people involved keep chatting throughout, having conversations about everyone in the town that is possibly involved in the suspected murder case (total turn-off, no? ahaha) I was also a bit annoyed with Paige's deep jealousy surrounding the relationship between Sloane and Micah. I have a problem with the fact that she constantly blames Sloane for every mistake she has made in her life, never once admitting her own fault (except towards the end, yay!)

At the beginning of the book, Sloane mentioned a close non-romantic relationship with a man named Clyde I loved how she described her love for him, however I wish that relationship was explored a little bit more.

Despite all of this, this story was definitely enjoyable. I loved the unexpected turn of events towards the end, as well as how all the problematics throughout the book are resolved. Who doesn't enjoy a nice conclusion?

Before We Were Strangers

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