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#31
What a great read..but a very hard subject

Ugh, did NOT like this book. The summary made me expect one thing and I got something completely different. It wasn‘t suspenseful because you know what‘s going on a few pages into it and it was SO cliche. It has lots of good reviews on goodreads which really surprised me. I finished it, but definitely don‘t recommend it.

Parts of the book frustrated me — mainly because of the characters but you really shouldn‘t like them. I hated that the past portions weren‘t in alphabetical order and that they switched perspectives every page and a half.

This book was an incredibly challenging, emotive, and enriching journey. I think it‘s the first time that I‘ve had a delayed reaction to the fact I was crying while reading. That‘s how engaged and impacted I was by this story.

Me: 👀😳

First finished book of the year. I really enjoyed it. It really made me think about the depth of human trafficking and the victims. It‘s a very serious issue. I loved the character ark of Clara. She was so easily manipulated because of her age. She also was much stronger than she thought she would be. 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Morning view with this little babes. 😍 This book on the other hand. I feel bad for Clara because she doesn‘t know any different but I can‘t help but wonder if she understands that life could be better?

Clara is suddenly yanked from her home and placed in a facility, questioned repeatedly by strangers. Her situation quickly becomes apparent, but the true horror gradually unfolds through alternating timelines. A great psychological thriller that does get dark and violent.

#ReadingUSA2019 #Iowa

This book was sooooo good. 😍 Dark. But REALLY good.

Just started listening to this! #audible

The Girl Before alternates from the present day to flashbacks, so I was expecting twists and turns but instead the story unfolded predictably - but that shouldn't be viewed as a negative. The appeal in this book is not discovering the what happened, but instead taking the reader on a powerful emotional journey. The narrator Clara is a very believable character, and even when she is wrong, as a reader you cannot help but understand and empathise

This was a perfect vacation book because it was easy to put down when it was time to go off on another Amalfi adventure. And then easy to pick back up. Story of a girl kidnapped at a young age and brainwashed into thinking she and all the other girls are being groomed for a better life...when they are really going to be sold into the sex trade.

Wow. A compelling story and so many triggers. #2018christyread

Iced coffee with a dash of cinnamon and a book- my perfect morning

Surprise book mail from an old coworker! Book mail is the best mail, and I can't wait to jump into these.

I've been wanting to read Olsen's The Girl Before for a while now, but I feel like JP Delaney's The Girl Before stole the moment.

I haven't heard of The Thunder Beneath Us until now, but it sounds intriguing! Denial, grief, and broken pasts.

I chose to read this book after both a coworker and a customer raved about it. They were right! It was the very definition of a page-turner. I couldn't stop reading. I especially liked the way the chapters alternated between "Then" and "Now" as it helped me to understand why the protagonist made the decisions that she did. A great read about a very difficult and timely subject.

This is just written so poorly and the plot was predictable from the beginning.

#gonebabygone. This was so good! And the author is from my home town.

This book proved me wrong again and again. Just when I thought I couldn't possibly become anymore more disgusted, this book achieved it. I mean the depths of sickness knew no bounds in this book. This is a book about human trafficking, make no mistake. However that said I couldn't look away from the train wreck that was the narrator's life. So there you go.

Listening to this in the car and while editing photos. #audiobook

I loved this book! This is a book that will probably stay with me forever. The story is so raw and real and incredible! I don't wanna give too much away, but what would you do if the only family you've ever known was never even your family at all? I highly recommend this book. You will not be disappointed

What a disturbing, unsettling, sad book! I need to gather my feelings, very mixed feelings for this book!! I loved the writing, I loved how they moved from past to present. I felt sorry for some characters, but also disgusted for what they have done. The ending was beautiful, and perfect. Such a heavy, and important topic. It's sad how kids can grow up to believe what they have been told just to survive.

My tentative February #tbr pile. #feistyfeb

Finally reading this book, and I cannot be more excited. It was recommended by one of my dear bookish friends so I have high expectations for this one!

My first book on OverDrive. Loving it so far!

Today's assortment of recommendations from Kobo. #girlinthetitle much?!

I was inspired to do this over at @gibblr page #2017bookishhorroscope (I hope that is the hashtag ?)
"We continue to back up until Papa looks over his shoulder. His men are waiting for us at every possible escape route."
Well 2017 sounds lovely ?

Turn to page 117 of a book to your left. The second sentence will show you how 2017 will be for you. Give it a try!

I liked coming into this book knowing the broad basics, thinking it meant one thing but quickly being shown it was about another.

Written from Clara's perspective the consequences and reality of her past are revealed to the reader in the same, drawn out manner as the development of her own understandings.

This is a thought-provoking tale, worth the contemplation.

Curious to know how Clara's life lead to this moment and how she could be so indoctrinated and disillusioned. #tequilathehonduranhound just wants an ear rub. #currentlyreading

Next read. Hope this is as compelling as the last. 🤞🏻

This was a pretty good book. I read this for one of my book clubs. I wasn't sure of the plot at first but it held my interest to finish in one night.

One of my 2 books with girl in the title. Not pictured, The Danish Girl. #girlinthetitle #readJanuary

Ooh this is gonna be a good one! #curatedbooksubscriptionbox #ReadDogBox #thriller #readjanuary Day 12 'Girl' in the title @RealLifeReading

http://read.dog/monthly-book-subscription

My first 5⭐️ book of 2017. This is a heartbreaking look at the human trafficking industry through the eyes of a victim. It was interesting to see Clara come to terms with the life she'd lived. This is my debut novel for #readharder and Letter O for #lisyAtoZ and I'm still debating what to log it under on #litsyreadingchallenge as it could fulfill a couple categories. Likely "recommended by" my sister-in-law.

Distorted #bookface for #readjanuary. I'm excited to read this one this month! @RealLifeReading

🌟🌟🌟🌟
The POV of Clara is what made this psychological thriller stand out. Instead of the typical 'captive' perspective, we learn about a human trafficking ring through the eyes of a woman who grew up in this world. Through alternating 'Then' & 'Now' chapters, we learn how she goes fr helping to 'train' these young girls, to being captured & learning that her whole life has been a horrible lie & that her real life was stolen from her long ago.

Well, it's the last #socksunday before Halloween and I thought I would pull out a few thrillers I am hoping to get to. The Girl Before is a psychological suspense, which are my favorite. It will probably be the first of these three I pick up! What thrilling reads do you have planned before the holidays hit?

Because tacos go with everything❣?????

After this yummy spread with my cousin, I'm now happily stuffed to the gills and settling in for the night with my current psychological thriller. ???

Oh, and "Hocus Pocus" is on TV!!??☻????

'We see her now, sequestered in a barren room, questioned by men&women who call her by a different name- Diana- & who accuse her husband of unspeakable crimes.' 😲

Oh snaps....SOLD!🙆

Working the evening shift tonight at the library & it's deadly quiet. 👻

So HELLO?! Duh! It's OBVIOUSLY the perfect time to start a new creepy 'Criminal Mind-esh' psychological thriller! Who doesn't love those?!☻🙊 #PsychologicalThriller #CreepierTheBetter

I love how creative this cover is. Once you begin this it jumps right into the action and I'm enjoying it so much!! #thegirlbefore #psychothriller #thrillsandchills #thriller #readalong #amreading #amlistening

I'm sure I am in for a thrill with this one. I have an mp3 version of this and plan on enjoying #audiobook #thrillervibes #suspensethrills #givemechills #psychologicalthrills #thegirlbefore #nowplaying

To start off #booktober I finished this half is sept and half in Oct!
First off I'm a sucker for then/now narrative. That aspect drew me in right quick. You feel for the main character you see her growth, realizations and frustrations coming full circle. I wasn't expecting this to be about human trafficking. It shed an entire new light on manipulation and what children, especially, will believe. I found it raw, loving and forgiving. #muchlove

Similar to Dot Hutchinson's The Butterfly Garden, The Girl Before is told in two parts, then and now. With the "Then" time line swirling us through Clara's past and the "Now" time line being linear, this story grips you. A must read.

My perfect Sunday. What's yours?
#muchlove

I can't stop listening to this book!

#mystery #thriller Hope it's good!

This book grabbed Jennifer from the opening lines.
http://wp.me/p4kTLQ-vA

This book grabbed me from the opening lines.
http://wp.me/p4kTLQ-vA

This book grabbed me from the opening lines.
http://wp.me/p4kTLQ-vA

I loved this book. I could not put it down and finished it in a day. Although, I had an idea of what was happening early on, the way the author unravelled Clara's story kept me hooked. This was a fantastic first novel!