The Reappearance of Rachel Price
Ratings93
Average rating3.9
i think this should have been a little bit shorter bc it felt like it kinda lost its pacing at some point and never got it back, just meandered for a bit
all in all it was still a very carefully crafted mystery and i liked seeing the protagonist uncover every secret!
I thought this was really fun and bingeable. Rating got bumped down because some parts were super far-fetched (especially the ending) and only one twist grandpa being involvedsurprised me. But overall a solid YA thriller. It felt fun and fresh and not super juvenile. A rare find for me.
4.25/5 ⭐
The ending in this one made sense and she tied up all the loose ends making for a satisfying ending. I know people have mixed feelings about Bel. I didn't feel too strongly about her. I thought she was funny sometimes but I can agree that the book way overused the f-bomb. It was everywhere. I usually don't care that much about language in books but it was used for no reason at all 3 times in one sentence. Calm down. Learn some vocabulary. I loved Carter. I got full-body chills when it was revealed that she and Bel are sisters. I know some people predicted that but I'm slow ok? Rachael acted super suspicious which doesn't totally make sense after learning what really happened. She was super strong for going through what she did in that track (she literally birthed a baby alone in there and then had her taken) but it was hard to get past the way she was acting for most of the book. Like why was she so protective over her phone and popping up places in the most suspicious manner? I get that it's to make her a suspect but it didn't make sense that she was acting like a cat burglar because she didn't want to hurt Bel's feelings. There was also the romance between Bel and Ash. I didn't really care for Ash for most of the book. Then when I finally started caring a little about their romance, it's over and he's leaving. I didn't think that Bel needed a boyfriend. Especially when we had so much other stuff going on. Charlie and his gaslighting were well-written in my opinion. I didn't pick up on it but it made sense when revealed. It was a little hard to believe that he went from a normal-ish human to this murderous controlling psychopath at the end. But I get that he had to be normal so that he wasn't suspicious. So yeah I really liked this one (I don't read that much mystery because I'm a scaredy-cat)
I'm gonna agree with the author on this one: it's very long. I was hooked for about 50% of this book during random bits, but some of it was a little too lengthy for my taste. I liked it! But it didn't grip me as much as AGGGTM.
3 stars only because I give 4 stars to books I really like and 5 stars to the few books I love.
read for reading my most anticipated 2024 releases vlog: coming soon
i LOVEDDDDDD the ending of this. it had me shook, shaken, and stirred truly. this had the typical holly jackson engaging, unputdownable writing but i did still think this book was a tad too long. BUT THE ENDINGGGGGGGG
This novel was just fine for me. It was one of my most anticipated releases of this year so I am a bit let down, but I don't want to say I'm completely disappointed because I did enjoy my reading experience and my time with the story for the most part! I really like Holly Jackson's writing, I think she's a great storyteller, though I don't thing this is her strongest novel to represent that.
For this story in particular, I didn't feel strongly for the characters one way or another, but I will say at times Bel was a little insufferable to me. She victimizes herself throughout the entire book until she magically understands the concept of interpersonal relationships at the end of the book as her character development. Like girl I understand your abandonment issues but please stop saying everyone leaves you when you actively push people away and are well aware of that.
I don't think the romance subplot was needed because it didn't add anything to the story, except maybe help move along Bel's character development, but maybe I'm just biased because I didn't really care for it.
I wasn't a fan of how slow moving this book was. I would say for about 70% of the book it was just us following Bel & her suspicions. A lot of breadcrumbs. I wish there was more going on and more action sooner. With that being said, the last 25-30% things started to pick up and absolutely did not slow down from then on!
Something I feel that was done greatly was how during the suspenseful and intense scenes I was truly enthralled and kept on the edge of my seat! This book was such a page turner for me during the chaotic moments and I loved that!
I absolutely adore a good family drama, but for this book it didn't work for me. The ending was so unbelievable and I didn't like it at all. It was honestly stupid and doesn't make any sense. I read a review where someone said they think it would've been better if the mystery stayed outside of the family and I wholeheartedly agree!
I wouldn't go into this book with the expectations of feeling the same way about it as AGGGTM if you really enjoyed that series because you will probably be let down. Regardless I enjoyed this book for what it was and I'll still be reading more from Holly Jackson in the future!
Loved it so much! I could tell one of the twist from chapter 4 but I like it because Holly payed it out like little Easter eggs and she was the bunny. lol. Can't wait to see what she does next and I'm also excited for AGGGTM tv show that's coming out soon.
₊˚⊹♡ pre-reading
hello! i am soft-dnfing this because it doesn't fit into my schedule right now - however I'm trading it off for another holly jackson book - don't worry
ok getting out of the slump hasn't begun because im a little too “who's afraid of little old me” right now
getting out of the slump part 2:
in holly jackson we trust
4.3/5
The story is about Bel, an 18-year-old dealing with her mother's disappearance sixteen years ago. The case was heavily covered in the media, affecting Bel's life greatly. But then a woman claiming to be Rachel suddenly reappears, making the entire thing questionable.
The beginning chapters move slowly as they set up the backstory, but Jackson skillfully creates an intriguing plot that quickly picks up pace. I can see all the comparisons to Gone Girl, and it makes sense as the book offers similar suspense and unpredictability, but with an edgier YA tone.
While the gripping plot shines, some readers may find Bel, the main character, less compelling than Pip from Jackson's previous A Good Girl's Guide to Murder series. Pip's investigative drive resonates more strongly with me. I'm so sorry for making this comparison
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!
2 disappointing stars. This was such an interesting concept, but it really did not work for me. There was so much potential for this to be a great mystery-focused thriller, but I felt the execution was really bad and boring.
There was no depth to anything. Not the characters, not the plot, not the writing. Everything was surface-level and none of it made much sense.
The characters don't sound or behave like people at all! It got quite infuriating. The main character is annoying and a horrible person to a degree that goes beyond an “unlikeable” character who is fun to read about. The plot is weak and very slow-paced. You have to wait quite a while for that blurb- and title-promised reappearance and you can figure out most of what's going on about 20% into the novel. The documentary and the people making it? Not actually that important or involved in the story!
It's also insanely repetitive. The same ground gets covered again and again. There is no tension at any point and with so little going on in this, it could have been a novella. It might actually have worked in that format!
Some of the commentary on parenting is also more than questionable.
beginning dragged but the ending made it so much better even though it was kind of predictable
Many plot holes and the most predictable twist. The reading experience wasn't too bad though, I enjoyed it
I loved this book! Everything about it from the plot to the storyline. The characters I loved the way that they all worked together. The wittyness of Charlie and Bel I found hilarious. I was on the edge of my seat the entire time trying to figure out what had happened and what was going to happen next! No matter what I couldn't figure it out. The ending so good and I wasn't expecting any of it! Holly Jackson did it again. Definitely gives me the AGGGTM vibes, but I had enjoyed those as well!
I received this as an ARC! Thank you Netgalley and publisher!!!
Holly pretty much woke up and said let's write the most messed up thriller of all time, huh? When you think you have the answers they turn out to be way more twisted than you could EVER imagine. You can't even trust the main character's thoughts, because she's just as messed up, but...i'm not mad about it. Reading this, I even started to get paranoid with the main character, i was getting chills with every little detail she was catching and every single lie. In fact, I even AGREED with her on things in real life i would certainly NOT do. This scream lights, camera, BIG secrets EVERYWHERE, DONT TRUST ANYONE. This might even be better that A Good Girl's Guide to Murder, it gave me all the feelings of that series in one perfect book.
Reading “The Reappearance of Rachel Price” was such an intense experience! From the very beginning, I was immediately drawn into the mystery surrounding Rachel's sudden return. Holly Jackson has a knack for crafting narratives that keep you guessing, and this book was no exception. I found myself questioning who to trust at every turn, which only heightened my engagement with the story.
One character that stood out to me was Bel. Her presence adds an intriguing layer to the narrative. Bel's relationship with Rachel is complex, filled with a mix of loyalty, tension, and unspoken history. As Rachel reintegrates into her life, Bel's reactions and decisions leave you wondering about her true feelings and motivations. I often found myself analyzing her interactions, unsure if she was a friend or a potential adversary. This uncertainty makes Bel a compelling character; she exemplifies the theme of trust and betrayal that runs throughout the book.
The way all the characters are developed is impressive. Each seems to have their own secrets, making it difficult to figure out who is being genuine. I loved that sense of unease—trying to decipher who might be lying or hiding something kept the tension high. It was a bit unsettling at times, but that made the reading experience all the more thrilling!
Rachel herself is complex and intriguing. Her reappearance raises so many questions, not just about her but about those around her as well. As she navigates her old life, the dynamics between her, Bel, and the other characters become increasingly complicated. Jackson delves into themes of trust and betrayal, making me reflect on how easily relationships can be fractured by secrets.
The pacing of the story was perfect, with just the right amount of suspense to keep me turning the pages. I found myself immersed in the plot, eager to uncover the truth behind Rachel's disappearance and the motives of those in her life. Every revelation felt like a new puzzle piece, and I was constantly reevaluating what I thought I knew.
Overall, “The Reappearance of Rachel Price” is a fantastic read that kept me on my toes. The uncertainty about who to trust, especially concerning Rachel and Bel, added a rich layer of intrigue to the story, making it difficult to put down. Holly Jackson has once again delivered a captivating tale that explores the intricacies of human relationships and the shadows that linger in the past. If you enjoy psychological thrillers that challenge your perceptions and keep you guessing, I highly recommend this one!
dont mind me just casually SOBBING two years in a row because ms holly jackson KNOWS how to write a compelling mother-daughter story arc...
3✰
“the people who loved you, the ones who really cared, they would always come back. sometimes, they even came back from the dead.”
There were certain vibes of the story that I enjoyed, with the subtle slip ups and odd behaviour of the characters, but I also felt that there was a discrepancy in pacing between the first and latter half of the book.
There was a lot of setup in the first half, with the film crew, and then the whole plot twist. It was slower than I would have preferred, but it was balanced in the information that was being fed to us. Then the latter half came and it was just a lot of plot twists and information in one big pile of spaghetti. There was so much going on, so much being unravelled, that it was almost too much.
The ending wrap-up was to be expected, similar vibes to As Good As Dead, which can put some people off I suppose. But overall, it was a good read - I found the chapter lengths and writing style easy to read in long periods without feeling like I was forcing myself.
[3.5]
The Reappearance of Rachel Price is a new mystery novel from the author of A Good Girl's Guide to Murder with a brand new story, and a brand new heroine.
The writing was just as easy and fast to read as in AGGGTM, the mystery just making you keep going and being unable to stop. The book was a lot of fun from beginning to the end and I had a blast but sadly I do not think it quite reaches the quality of AGGGTM.
First things first, the heroine is an absolute edgelord. She constantly made me think of a 14 year old going through her emo rebel phrase (not an insult, I also went through an emo rebel phrase at that age), she's 18 though. I think Holly Jackson meant to make Bel unlikable and i both enjoyed it, and found the way it was done cringe. Bel is brash, hurts people to keep them away and is all around unpleasant. I didn't mind it (for the most part) but I know a lot of people will have less patience to a character like this than me so here's your warning. What did bother me though, is that Holly will beat you over the head with reminding you that she keeps hurting people cause of trauma so don't worry, you wont forget it. I get irked when an author doesn't trust me enough to understand what they're trying to portray after saying it once or twice. Instead, lets say it 15 times to make sure I remember. I will say however, I really did find it refreshing to have a character so different from Pip. I like Pip, but it was nice to see such a different voice with a different approach.
There was a lack of paper clippings, recordings etc. which were my favorite part of AGGTM. A bit of a bummer but I think it makes sense in the way the story was told. Bel isn't a journalist like Pip, she doesn't want to solve the murder as much as she just wants to be left alone with the people she cares about. She is more emotional and cynical, and isn't quite as experienced as Pip. She isn't going into it prepared, she just kind of does things the moment she gets an idea in her head.
The mystery was interesting and kept me going, I did guess the captor early on but there was enough twists and turns to keep me second guessing myself and overall i enjoyed that part of the book the most.
Sadly, my biggest complaint was how disappointing the ending was. The last 30% of the book are super dense, and overly dramatic, and the conclusion just left me wishing for way more. I will refrain from saying more as it's a new release, and I would hate to ruin or accidentally spoil the experience for others.
The audiobook is superb, and i highly recommend it.
Don't get me wrong - I really liked this book! HOWEVER, it felt like it went on foreverrrrrr
I feel like 30% could have been cut and I would have gotten the same enjoyment out of the book