Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Eight years ago, thirteen-year-old Lauren Fisher vanished. Her sister Rene has never stopped searching, even as her obsession has consumed her health, her relationships, and her grip on memory itself. Then a mysterious letter arrives suggesting Lauren might still be alive—and Rene’s fragile hope reignites.

Told in shifting timelines and multiple perspectives—including Rene, Lauren herself, and Jane, a woman who stumbles across a terrified girl in her garden—this story weaves a disturbing portrait of captivity, trauma, and the different ways people survive. The fractured memories and unreliable narration mirror Rene’s own confusion, leaving the reader constantly questioning what’s real and who to trust.

S. J. King doesn’t hold back from exploring darkness: abuse, manipulation, and the scars of family dysfunction all echo through these pages. But there’s also resilience here—moments of hope and sisterly love buried within the shadows. The writing is immersive, sometimes overwhelming, but deliberately so; you feel trapped in the same suffocating uncertainty as the characters.

Lauren is Missing is a raw, unsettling psychological thriller that lingers long after the final page. A difficult but unforgettable read for fans of dark, character-driven suspense.

I went into Lauren Is Missing hoping for a gripping, emotionally engaging mystery, but found myself underwhelmed. The premise had potential, but the execution felt flat—characters seem underdeveloped and the tension never truly builds. Despite some intriguing moments, the twists felt predictable. Ultimately, it’s not wholly unenjoyable, but not the thriller I was hoping for.

Really clever with an unstable narrator in Rene and a whole tangle of relationships to try to understand with her family, her missing sister, old friends and the police.

Wow, I did not want to put this book down. I needed to know what happened and where the stories would intersect. I thought I knew what was going on more than once and was still shocked by some of the twists. My only complaint is the end felt rushed, I needed a little more closure on some things. And the name of the book does not do it justice. Other than that, I loved the story and the writing style and would definitely read more by this author.

WOW, another incredible edge-of-your-seat thriller from S.J. King! Lauren Is Missing messed with my mind from start to finish, in the best possible way. I couldn't put it down!

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

This book actually gave me chills while I was reading. I am a huge thriller/mystery girlie so this was right up my alley. The book is dark and twisty and had me guessing right the way through. I absolutely recommend this to anyone who loves a creepy thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley and storm publishing for this ARC!

I liked this book but I couldn't say I loved it. I found it to be confusing at times. The twist was predictable and I didn't connect with the characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for an early copy of this book in exchange for a honest review. I enjoyed reading this book and read it in one sitting. I had to know what was going to happen. I could not put this book down!! I loved the storyline and the characters. I would definitely recommend this book.

Very dark and utterly compelling. Lauren vanished one day and has never been seen since. This is a fascinating book with more than one narrative and a brilliant ending.

|:: Lauren is Missing
By S. J. King
Chapter Thirty-Two Page 170
Rene Before
5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

{ Pete shrugs, something so nonchalant. But what he says next cuts deep into me, shocks me. The shrug was just another nervous mannerism, not a dismissal. He did like her. She dumped him.
‘Lauren was going to be something. I wrote that in a song for her: “One day, she'll set the world on fire”.’
He sparks the yellow lighter between his fingers, holding the flame up, the light of it dancing in his eyes.
‘Corny, I know, but she was going to be something.”
I think of the letter, the horror she described. A tear streaks down my face. Pete was not mean, just young and naive and not really what she wanted, beyond being a cute guy with a pretty face. Nothing more. Cross him off the bad list. }

Lauren is missing, they know where she is, she left them a note but they don't want her anymore. That's what Keele said. He had taken her in when her own parents had lied to her, hurt her and now had left her in a place with him. It all started with a yellow rose on a very inch night, but she can't think about these things, not while Lauren needs her. She is relying on her, to fetch the police, to fetch someone, anyone.. everyone, they needed to listen.

Why was no one helping her? Why was no one helping Lauren? She needed them but yet her mum still went shopping, her dad still fixed her bike, Peter still found time to come in and David still pushed her to find the truth. And then there was Nana.. that is where it all began. Nana and the curse. That is where we should start. Nana and the yellow rose.

When I started reading this, I felt like this was going to be one of those stories that would stay with me. You know you read them stories that you just think of years later. Sort of like an itch you will have to scratch, ten, fifteen years later and you will scrabble to cry and get a copy to read all over again. It was that good. But in the same instance terrible and morally wrong. I didn't want to know what happened to Lauren but I had to know.

There were so many twists and turns I could hardly keep up with events but I felt like that was what the author wanted, to give you so much information it almost bombarded you, blinding you to a single, strain of explanatory story that would link together. And it was there, after you understood everything, the single strain was there mocking me all along. Looking back I was mad at myself that I didn't get it sooner. The facts were there, it was such an amazing bit of writing that I just got caught up in every new fact, every new tiny detail was embellished!

I think I also really connected with Lauren who had no alternative but to find a way to survive, to recognise that she was making the best of a bad situation, her ideas were all right, but sent/hidden/ forgotten about in all the wrong places. I felt so much pride for her and in the end, I appreciated Rene for what she did. I saw so many Lauren's growing up in a world that was safer than the one we have today. It's scary. To a girl 14 is old enough. To a woman 14 is still on the cusp of leaving girl hood. We need more protectors against Keele.. we need more readers to read Lauren is gone and see the blaring warning twisted within it.

A huge thank you to S. J. King, Storm Publishing and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and relay my honest feedback. ::|

Lauren is Missing by S.J. King is a perfectly twisty psychological thriller. Rene's sister Lauren went missing with no leads, until Rene receives a letter letter her know that Lauren is alive. This book was gripping from the very beginning.

I read this book in practically one sitting. It drew me in from the very first chapter where we are introduced to Jane who finds a young girl digging in her garden. The book alternates between before with chapters from Rene and Lauren and now with chapters from Jane. I’m not going to give a rehash of the story but suffice to say that it is very well plotted, extremely well written with a sensitivity of all the machinations of the human mind. This is one that will stay with me for a long time.

This books premise drew me to it. It was a good book overall with a final twist that I sort of predicted but was still really good. It did jump around a lot and at times I wasn’t sure who was talking, but I kept going because I needed to see how it ended. Thank you Natgalley and Storm Liblishing for the arc.

✨BOOK REVIEW✨

Lauren Is Missing by S.J. King
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publication Date: July 2, 2025

“Memory is fragile.”

🌙 One night Lauren, Rene’s sister, goes missing. Rene is committed to finding her sister, who she believes is still alive, but Rene experiences a host of issues that prevents her from being her best self. Rene’s memory is not quite clear. Images pop in and out of her mind but she has a difficult time turning the images into memories. She can’t fully connect the dots to help solve her sister’s missing case. Rene is not sure who she can trust and turn to for help. As time is running out, can she collect herself, and her memories, to rescue the person she loves most?

“Wishes for the past are just regrets by a prettier name.”

🌟 S.J. King does it again! I love that this book was COMPLETELY different from her last novel, demonstrating the diverse layers of her talent as a writer. This book had me confused in the greatest way possible. As I was reading, I knew there was going to be a purpose for my confusion. I was holding my breath racing through the pages, feeling anxious for Rene and the twisted happenings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 4 stars!

#thriller #readersofinstagram #sjking #laurenismissing #pageturner #psychologicalthriller

This book consists of multiple points of view and multiple timelines. Some parts are before and after the incident that occurs when Lauren goes missing and some parts are after. You are also reading between Rene and Lauren's alternating points of view. The timelines do jump around, and I did have to go back multiple times to check who was talking and when, if it was during the before or the after. If multiple timelines are not for you then this book might test you. It did lose my attention during a few spots, and I felt those areas were repetitive, so I caught myself skimming. I needed to know what happened to Lauren and if she made it out of danger. But the big twist at the end I didn't predict.

I received this story as an ARC from NetGalley.

The story is set in the past and the present and has multiple points of view. There is Lauren who has been kidnapped, her sister Rene and Jane the lady who finds Lauren. The story jumps through time and people and in the beginning I was getting confused on who was who and when. However once I got properly into the story it was easier to keep track of.

I enjoyed the story, I didn't think the "major twist" was that difficult to see coming. It was ok, I've read it, don't think I would re-read.

"Lauren Is Missing" chronicles the intense journey of Rene, who is resolutely committed to finding her sister Lauren, who vanished eight years prior. Rene's fixation on locating Lauren has consumed her existence, resulting in mental health challenges and a strained relationship with her parents, whom she perceives as having abandoned the search prematurely. Clinging to her memories of Lauren, Rene receives a letter that implies her sister may still be alive, reigniting her hope and determination to rescue her.

The narrative unfolds through multiple viewpoints, primarily centering on Rene, Lauren, and Jane, a woman who inadvertently becomes involved when she discovers a distressed young woman excavating in her garden. The story alternates between past and present, offering insights into the sisters' tumultuous upbringing and the circumstances surrounding Lauren's disappearance. As the timelines merge, the emotional complexity of the characters is accentuated, revealing the impact of trauma on familial bonds.

While the storyline is engaging, at times, the pacing is sluggish due to certain moments that feel extraneous. However, the emotional investment in the characters' struggles, particularly Rene's resolve and Lauren's distressing experience, adds a profound layer of depth that resonates throughout the text. In summary, "Lauren Is Missing" offers a dark and compelling narrative that explores themes of resilience and the quest for truth within a fractured family. With a fusion of suspense and emotional storytelling, this psychological thriller will captivate you.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the advance review copy in exchange for my review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️
Lauren Is Missing was a bit of a tough one for me to follow. The story jumps between timelines and different points of view, and at times it felt a little all over the place. I found myself having to backtrack more than once to figure out who was who and when things were happening. That said, I’m really glad I stuck with it, the twist at the end genuinely surprised me and made it feel worth it. Not my favorite in terms of structure, but the payoff was solid.

Thank you to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC!

Thank you NetGalley, SJ King and Storm Publishing for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I wanted to love this book, the blurb had me intrigued but I found the delivery a bit confusing at times but I did enjoy the twists and turns and would try other books from this author.

A stunning thriller, a greta story very well executed. Filled with twists and turns this strange and emotional book kept me turning the pages. The characters are very well developed and the plot is paced beautifully. A very satisfying read.