I wasn't planning on writing a review for this, but I can't get it out of my head and I need to share my thoughts.

Things I liked: how incredibly readable it was. For a 500-page book that switches back and forth between a lot of perspectives and multiple timelines, it somehow was never slow or boring. I was entirely hooked right from the start. I genuinely couldn't put it down. It's written so well and I was very invested in what happened.

Things I didn't like: the ending. (Major spoilers ahead.)

First of all, we're supposed to buy that a thirteen year old living alone in the woods for five years is the best solution they could come up with here? That a cop would allow this, too? Idk. I get that her family wasn't treating her well, but TJ especially has seen the fallout of what happened with lying about Bear, and you'd think she'd be worried about the domino consequences of everyone presuming Barbara is dead or missing for years. Like. Come on. I'm very glad Barbara was okay but I'm not buying it. Also, why didn't we get to see Alice's perspective at the end, of finding out what really happened to Bear? I get why Tracy needs to not know about Barbara, and her storyline is wrapped up as well as it could be. But Alice??? I need to know how she felt finding out. It feels like such a gaping hole after how long we spent with her up until that point.

Overall I liked this book, but man, it would be 5 stars up until the ending.