This is an emotional and heart-wrenching story of three women, Alice, Molly and Margaret. Molly is writing a book about abused children, yet she’s never experienced abuse as she had a happy childhood and now still has a happy life. Alice, on the other hand, suffered horrific abuse as a child and as a result ran away from home leaving her sister, Lilly behind – something which she has never forgiven herself for. Margaret, a depressive alcoholic is Alice and Lilly’s mother. This is the stories of these three women, each told from their own perspectives – Alice and Molly in present day and Margaret in the past.

I’ve read books before by this author, so I knew I was going to be reading a story which was full of emotion! I empathised with all three of these women at some point in the book, despite there being times, particularly with Margaret’s story, where perhaps I really shouldn’t have done! As you are reading, it’s obvious where Alice and Margaret’s stories link, being mother and daughter, but Molly was a bit of a mystery initially for me. She hadn’t suffered anything like Alice had gone through in her childhood years, and was researching child abuse victims for a book she was writing. Yet, there was something which obviously connected Molly to the other stories and it left me on the edge of my seat waiting for her story to get to the point where it was revealed.

As with the other books written by this author, this story will have you reaching for the tissues not very far into the book. It does feature a lot of difficult subjects which may be a trigger for some people. It is, however, all written with great sensitivity. Based in Australia, this story switches between time frames, although this is done without any confusion and was very easy to follow. Whilst the story was very well written and researched, it is a tough read and did require a couple of breaks to compose myself (and to restock the tissues!). Without revealing any spoilers, the ending of the book tied up all the ends nicely and I was left with a satisfied warm feeling in my heart!

A difficult subject to read and write about, but the author has done such a great job with this one! Would definitely recommend, but keep the tissues handy.

What a heart wrenching story!

"She has no home. She has a house where other people live. Other people who hurt her or ignore her, other people who don't deserve children."

This is the story of 2 woman. The 1 struggling to have a baby and the other 1 trying to forget about her terrible past. A past of verbal, physical and sexual abuse. A life where a 10 year old had to make a decision that whould shape the lives of many people. It is also a story of hope and love and family.

It is beautifully written and it breaks your heart because these are things that is happening daily.

Thank you to Netgalley and Bookouture for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

A really good read which was an emotional rollercoaster. Three women’s stories are intertwined. Parts are horrific and there is so much pain and suffering. Everything is written about with feeling and empathy.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

The Nowhere Girl is a gripping family drama with some suspenseful elements and illustrates just how far we are willing to go if someone were to threaten our precious family. Alice and husband Jack have three sons Isaac and twins, Gabe and Gus. However, Alice suffered horrific abuse as a child and so grips onto her children a bit too tightly; when they depart their home Alice is filled with overwhelming anxiety, fear and paranoia about making sure she protects her children at any cost. All of this stems from the fact that she ran away from an abusive home as a child leaving her little sister Lilly at home and Alice blames herself for not been able to keep her safe from harm. Now, three decades later, someone is taunting and tormenting her and letting her know that the secret she has kept all this time is not, in fact, a secret.

The plot is told through three main characters: Alice, Margaret and Molly and the timeline runs from the 1980s to the present day. This is a profoundly emotive and moving read and is simultaneously heartwarming and heartbreaking. I was held captive in its grip right the way through but this is definitely not for the faint-hearted as the story revolves around domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. Alice has grown into such an amazing wife and mother despite all she went through; I can relate to her a little in the sense that I went through mental/emotional abuse too. I found it was very well researched and it came across as believable. I was also so satisfied with the fitting ending. An intense, emotional and absorbing read and I am sure many people will enjoy the grittiness. Many thanks to Bookouture for an ARC.

Thank you NetGalley, Nicole Trope and Bookouture for the advanced copy of The Nowhere Girl. This was my first book I have read by Nicole and it won't be my last. I stayed up late last night because I couldn't go to sleep until I learned what happened in this twisted page turner. Told by three different women's perspectives who are connected keeps the pace light and for a fast read. I liked going back and forth between each woman and the time frames because it felt as if you saw all the sides of the story and it showed how each of them dealt with the horrifying circumstances they were in. The disturbing domestic subject matter did make it difficult at times to read, but as Trope wrote in her letter at the end, she writes about these situations because unfortunately they still happen every day. I would recommend this book, but definitely warn people of the triggers associated with it and the emotions you will feel during and after reading it. All in all, the emotional rollercoaster is worth it in the end!

Ah, a book with feels and thrills.

Molly was writing a book on abused children. She apparently had a happy childhood, but had visions of being shut in a cupboard. Alice had escaped an abusive childhood, now had loving husband and kids. But they didn't know the truth. Margaret was an alcoholic and a mother of two. This was their stories.

Having read a lot of books by this talented author, I knew that Nicole Trope would take me on a ride. A master storyteller of such domestic thrillers, she could keep me hooked to this book from the beginning to end, my craving to know the secrets written in between the lines kept increasing as I tapped the kindle.

Told in multiple POV, Alice and Molly in the present, and Margaret in the past, the author laid down careful crumbs for me to follow her on this merry trail. I loved the way she linked the stories all together, giving me a book which thrilled me to the core. There were secrets hidden in all the women, and it kept me on the edge of the seat to get to know it all.

Heartbreaking issues of child abuse and domestic violence were written into the story which made me slightly emotional, I had to skip through some rough parts. But it was ulrimately thriller which kept me captivated.

An engrossing read, barring the tough sections.

I have two different views on how The Nowhere Girl panned out so I’ll do my general review first and then a personal review.

General:
This book really has everything: suspense, mystery, drama, violence, heartbreak, and satisfying resolutions. The summary originally pulled me in with some vague interest but I was not ready for what lay beyond the cover (or within the e-book in my case). I was left ugly crying through the first half of the book from the vivid descriptions that made me sick without being overly graphic. The book covers a very sensitive topic but I don’t want people to shy away from it unless you really have to. I would mark it as a highly-recommended read for 2019. Nicole does a beautiful job conveying mental illness and the post-traumatic effects of abuse.
4/5 stars

Personal:
I loved it.. up until the second half.. It started off painful and beautiful, and hurt in all the right places. I cried, I was disgusted, I wanted someone else to read it with me so I wouldn’t be alone with Alice and Margaret.. But Molly ruined it for me. The perfectly timed coincidences and the absolute melodrama this whole saga turned into ruined everything even more. I was hurting and then I was rolling my eyes. I find books with unrealistic happy endings frustrate me to no end. Although I should be satisfied, I’m left feeling cheated like Alice did - as if the book is unfinished and there is so much more we could have unpacked if we stopped focusing on Molly.. Not bad, overall, but it left something to be desired.
3.5/5 stars

Loved this book - it was heart-breaking, heart-wrenching yet heart-warming. A story of two sisters in the worst of circumstances. A story of sacrifice and love born out of pain and abuse. Trope manages to capture each character (a broken woman, a broken girl and a young woman searching for the truth), with their corresponding emotions perfectly so that you are not only transported into their lives but you empathise with the pain of each of them. At times, a difficult read due to the subject matter and maybe a ‘too perfect’ ending, but definitely a good, emotive read that will leave you thinking about it long after you have finished.

I’d like to thank Bookouture and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read ‘The Nowhere Girl’ by Nicole Trope in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Alice and husband Jack have three sons, Isaac and twins Gus and Gabe, but due to what happened in her past she’s paranoid about protecting them. She’s told Jack most of her past history but can’t bring herself to reveal the truth even to him about how she failed to keep her little sister Lilly safe. It’s thirty years later and Alice is receiving threatening emails, and a soft toy and pink blanket that belonged to her sister are delivered to her home. Who else knows she holds herself responsible for Lilly’s death?

‘The Nowhere Girl’ is a beautiful and gripping drama told by the three main characters of Alice, Molly and Margaret whose story starts in 1987 to the present time, and focuses on the heart-breaking subjects of domestic violence, child abuse and sexual assault. I was so proud of Alice who at ten years old was responsible for her own care and that of two-year-old Lilly. She had to endure terrible abuse that no child should ever have to experience and yet still grew into a loving wife and mother. I became so involved in the story that by the time I reached the end there was a lump in my throat and tear in my eye and I’m so pleased there was a rightful and well-deserved ending. This is an amazing and wonderful story and I’m grateful that Bookouture have allowed me to read it.

Alice has a husband who loves her and three beautiful sons, if you didn't know her secrets, you would say she has it all. She wants her children to know that they can count on her and she will always be there for them, unlike her childhood where she had no one to protect her.

Molly is studying personal stories of child abuse for her next short story when one of the Blogs, My Secret, awakens something in her that she just can't shake.

Margaret, a drunk, feels judged by society and her daughters. It's not her fault that there isn't any food in the house, she's going to get her act together as soon as she finishes this last drink. Vernon's not so bad, he brings them food and her an occasional bottle. Margaret understands that she makes him so mad that he hits her.

Told in the alternating voices of the three women, this psychological thriller hooked me from the very beginning. Alice's first email, "I know what you did," left me guessing as to who did what and how someone else knew. With its many subplots, you will feel like you are on a roller coaster and not want it to stop. No spoilers here, the ending ties everything together perfectly! This is my first book by this author, however, it will not be the last.

A very emotion fuelled book, upsetting subjects covered and at times not an easy read but very well written and you will find yourself immersed in the story, probably angry and upset at times ,as say a very emotive read

Alice has survived an awful childhood, full of the worst kinds of abuse, and though she now has a loving husband and a wonderful family there is still one secret that she lives in fear of being revealed. Molly is a young author, writing fictional accounts of the tales of abused children in a desperate attempt to give them the acknowledgement they deserve. But one day, her research leads her to discover something that will change her life forever...

I’ve never read anything by this author, and if I’m honest, I think the synopsis does this book a disservice. I went into it expecting a fairly bog standard thriller of some sort, but instead got something completely different. I admit, it may be that I read the synopsis in the wrong way, but I did not expect the emotional family drama that I got! The author is clearly incredibly skilled, and I would almost say manipulative in her writing - I mean that in a good way I promise! I simply mean that she is very skilled at encouraging you to really feel the emotion in every second.

The novel alternates between Alice and Molly’s POV in the present day, along with chapters from the perspective of Alice’s mother set during Alice’s childhood. This does take a few chapters to get to grips with, but once you do it is a really effective narrative strategy, especially contrasting Alice in the present with her mother in the past. I thought the author was incredibly talented in how she depicted the gradual decline into alcoholism of Alice's mother, and I especially appreciated the way that she offered an unbiased view into the mind and actions of an abuser. It was refreshing to see a perspective that was offered free of bias, and that also showed the trauma Alice's mother had experienced.

As for the big twist, personally, I will admit to seeing it coming a mile off. But then I'm not actually sure if it was meant to be a surprise? Either way, it didn't affect my enjoyment of the book, but I did think it could have been slightly more skilfully disguised if that was the intention. Nonetheless, I still thoroughly enjoyed this book, and I cannot wait to go back and visit some of the authors previous reads, as I'm sure they will be just as emotional and heart wrenching as this!

I’ve read a few books by Nicole Trope. And, while they can all be a bit predictable, her stories have been suspenseful enough to keep me interested. This one is not for the faint of heart as it does involve the sexual abuse of a child. But it tugs at your heartstrings in a multitude of ways-the desperation of a child, the selflessness of that same child, the hopefulness of an adult trying to get over her past. My heart broke for young Alice while admiring adult Alice for her bravery. A bit difficult to follow at first due to the multiple perspectives as well as past & present storylines but worth sticking with!

This book is told from the perspective of three different women -- Alice and Molly both in the present time, and Margaret, mostly in the past, although her chapters cross into the present time toward the end.

Alice is a married mother of three with a horrific past. Molly is a loving and very loved daughter and sister who has had six miscarriages and wants a baby more than anything. Margaret is a non-recovering alcoholic and a mother of two, to Alice and baby Lilly, who suffers from horrible depression and lives with an abusive partner. All three are trying to come to terms with their past and their present.

I had a bit of deja vu at the beginning of this book, although I've read books by this author before, so perhaps it was just the writing style that stood out. It was fairly obvious who each woman was in relation to the others from their early chapters, which did make it harder to get through the first half or so -- I read on my phone and found myself clicking away from the book more than I should have. However, it was still intruguing to read how it would all turn out for them in the end.

Trigger warning: A lot of this book is focused on domestic violence, sexual assault, and child rape, so know that going in. It's a big focus of this one, so you'll be skimming a lot if you skip over those parts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with the ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. It has not influenced my opinion.

It took me about eight chapters to become really into the book, but once I was I couldn’t stop reading! This is the first Nicole Trope book I have read & I read the last half of the book all in one morning (during a snow day from school!). Couldn’t put it down! I couldn’t believe the strength & courage of the characters; specifically Alice. I am not a person who typically gets emotional when I read books but the last 4-5 chapters had me so emotionally connected to the characters. Highly recommend! Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy.

An incredible book by a incredible writer!
This book had me hooked from the very first page and kept me reading right through the night. I am a relatively slow reader but I devoured this book in one sitting as I just couldn't put it down.
Fans of Lucinda Riley and Rachel Hore will love this book.
It well deserves every five star review it receives.

'The Nowhere Girl' is one of the most evocative, captivating books that I had the pleasure to have read in a long time. As told through the eyes of the victims, Molly, Alice, and Margaret, their story is an unapologetic view of how the traumatic events of their lives had both damaged and refined them. This is not a surface-level book that skims over weighty topics—Margaret's depression and alcoholism, Alice's abuse, Molly's abandonment/infertility.

The characterizations of the three flawed women were sympathetic yet honest. All were broken but not all were beyond repair. Alice was one of the truest of heroines. As a ten-year old child forced to endure unspeakable acts of cruelty, she was wise beyond her years, yet she still held on to a child-like innocence that propelled her to act as she did in order to protect her baby sister.

This story was not well-written—it was exquisitely crafted. Sensitive yet unflinching, it was a beautiful, riveting tale of souls being lost in ugliness and suffering, but somehow, through the power of love, they had begun to heal. Within this past year, 'The Nowhere Girl' is unequivocally one of the best books that I have read—Jaw-Dropping good! 5+ stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Bookouture, and Nicole Trope for an ARC of 'The Nowhere Girl' in exchange for an honest and voluntary review.

Jeez, Louise!!! This story kept me reading and reading like there was no tomorrow!

How is it possible that there are such disgusting, despicable monsters on this planet? They lie, cheat and are abusive in every meaning of the word. If you are capable of acting like this, you are not worthy being called human anymore.

The might get a sentence of a few years, but their victims are left behind, having to deal with a life full of pain, heartbreak, a guilty conscience and regrets.

But on the other hand there are people who open their heart and love someone unconditionally.

Grieve can turn your world upside down and that's when you need people reaching out to you for the right reasons.

This story is very beautiful and very ugly at the same time, filled with love and hate, sadness and happiness. 

I adored it and I resented it. It made my heart sing and weep. It made my eyes leak and my mouth smile. It was utterly gripping and devastating. 5 stars.

Thank you, Nicole Trope and Bookouture

An engrossing, emotional and thought provoking domestic thriller. It deals with tough topics like child abuse, alcoholism, and the emotional toll of loss and death. However, the writing is sensitive and also shines with the power of love and hope.

Told from the perspectives of Molly ( the step sister), Alice ( the main character), and Margaret ( the mother).

Alice is a happy wife and mother who worked really hard to overcome the horrors of her childhood, her husband knows all about her history aside from one secret she didn't share with him. Now she realizes that someone knows about that secret and she has to fight for her family.

Molly is the step sister whom Alice thought was dead in a car crash while she was very young. However, Molly is still alive and didn't even know that she was adopted until she reads a blog written by Alice.

And then there is Margaret the mother who couldn't cope with the sudden death of her husband (Alice's father), and her abusive second husband who was not only violent to her but did horrible things to Alice. So she turns to alcohol to numb the pain.

Tough read which addresses serious topics, recommended.

Thanks Netgalley, Bookouture, and author Nicole Trope for a chance to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This domestic thriller is one of a kind. I think fans of Picoult, Moriarty and others will love the one. I was blown away by the story and the characters. However, the subject matter at times was a little hard to read. I did enjoy this one and would love to read another story from this author again.


Go Into This One Knowing: Disturbing Subject Matter