Not that I could tell

 I received a copy of this book through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review
2.5 stars

Let me be straight forward and say, this book is pretty boring. I went into this thinking I was going to get a mystery with lots of conflict from Izzy's ‘crisis' coloring things too. This isn't a spoiler, I swear, I'll save you all by letting you know her ‘crisis' as the synopsis puts it is a broken heart because the man she loves has married her sister. There isn't really a crisis here. So, truly what this story feels like is Women's fic, since we learn more about the moms in the neighborhood and how Izzy doesn't deals with her broken heart and feeling of betrayal even if no one else knew she loved the guy.

Even the mystery wasn't mysterious since we pretty much know what happened with Kristin (the missing mom) and her children from early on. I honestly thought I was being led astray at first, but it is so SO obvious since the book is literally telling you. I won't say how or where, since some people might consider it a spoiler, but... trust me, you'll know.

So, this ends up being mostly a character driven novel–a women's fiction novel which isn't usually my thing. Izzy's chapters are the ones I skimmed the most. She laments about her love for her sister's husband all the time! It is annoying!! I understand it is hard to get over, but she's had months already. Then she feels her family is pulling away from her and that they don't really care... some of it was hard to read and you do feel for Izzy, but nothing really happy happens with her, not does Kristin the missing woman get brought up often, unless it is in connection with Paul, her husband, who Izzy is giving the benefit of the doubt.

Clara's chapters were more prevalent, thankfully, and are the ones where insight can actually be found into the mystery or... theories repeated over and over. But, I liked Clara, I think it is hard not to.

I was holding on til the end of the book because I read that the ending is good. I agree. The last about 10...maybe 15% of the book was intense and interesting which was so different from the rest of the book. There is action, we learn what happens to Kristin, and there is a twist I didn't see coming. It is the ending which gave the book an extra .5%.

Do I recommend this book? I do, for people who like women's fiction. This is not for people looking for a mystery.