3.5 stars

Last week, Wednesday Books surprised me with a copy of this book I’d never heard of. I decided to give it a try, and I’m glad I did. Though lacking in some structural and technical aspects, Jane Anonymous was a captivating novel and an intriguing addition to the YA mystery genre.

I want to start by giving Stolarz major props for writing such a gripping story. The prologue was only two pages, but I was instantly hooked. From there on out, I flew through the chapters, ever curious to discover what would come next. The more I read, the less desirable any other task or pastime became.

The story was incredibly fast-paced, with the kidnapping taking place within the initial thirty pages of the novel. Jane woke up imprisoned before page forty. I believe that taking this route allowed Stolarz to really emphasize the physical and mental trauma of such a horrific experience.

Another interesting stylistic choice Stolarz made was to split the novel into two timelines: the duration of the kidnapping, referred to as “then”, and the aftermath, referred to as “now”. Both were equally interesting, with one focusing on the confusion and fear Jane felt and the other detailing her residual paranoia. In this regard, the story was well-written.

Unfortunately, not every element is worthy of such praise. Jane didn’t feel like a fully-developed protagonist, and the side characters felt two-dimensional. Questions were raised regarding Jane’s father that were never answered.

Fast pacing, intrigue, and my own insatiable curiosity aside, the plot itself had a few issues as well. There was one enormous missed opportunity, and I don’t think enough effort or emphasis was put into the explanation for the kidnapping. Additionally, the ending seemed anticlimactic. It wasn’t difficult to piece things together as I read, and in the end, I was just a couple of details away from predicting the twist entirely.

Lastly, I want to bring up something that, despite occurring only once and not truly being significant, bothered me: Stolarz’s use of outdated text speak. From “I rly need 2cu” to “Ru there?” and “Cu then”, the whole exchange rubbed me the wrong way. Jane and her best friend Shelley are teens, yes, but I think most people stopped texting like that in 2014. (Snippets taken from the ARC. These may be different or absent entirely in the final copy.)

I think I’ve covered everything. Jane Anonymous was a gripping mystery told in a unique dual timeline, but unfortunately, there were issues in major and minor elements alike. I’d recommend this novel to those looking for a quick, intriguing read that also grapples with heavier topics.

CW: stalking, kidnapping, imprisonment, trauma, panic attacks, blood, self-harm, vomiting, hallucinations

Copy sent to me by the publisher. This doesn’t affect my opinion or the content of my review. Out now.