The Van Apfel Girls Are Gone

I have had to DNF this title after around 30% for a couple of reasons:
First, I was expecting the narrative to be from Tikka's perspective as an adult as opposed to as a child.
Secondly, I didn't get on with the writing style and prose. There seemed to be a simile or metaphor every other page and that became very jarring and distracting. There was a lot of unnecessary description and the story was progressing very slowly.
Owing to this, I was not enjoying the book and have decided not to force it and move on to something else.

4/4.5. Really reminded me of the Virgin Suicides.

This novel may have suffered from some poor editing choices - but the writing style kept me in. I love the combination of literary writing and exploration of crime.

im so happy I found this book.
Such a short book but everything was so detailed and I feel like I knew the characters in real life. that's how amazing the writing was.

4.5 stars. We have all read countless books about missing girls, but this felt different. It wasn't your standard mystery - so some readers may be disappointed if going into it with thriller expectations. It is a coming of age story; a division between childhood and adulthood; a before and after. I really enjoyed Tikka's narration as a child - a precocious, lively voice that made me smile.