old in multiple timelines, Lauren is Missing focuses on the disappearance of Lauren, a troubled fourteen-year-old. Her sister Rene is convinced that Laurean is not dead, but no one seems to believe her. Can she get anyone to help her?

Get ready for a wild ride! S.J. King crafts a tale that keeps you on the edge of your seat—a tense story of unreliable narrators and deception. What seems like a very straightforward thriller will jerk you around when you least expect it.

Advanced reader copy provided by Storm Publishing. All opinions are my own.

This book had me hooked from the start. There were bread crumbs throughout, but I didn’t catch them until later. I was so invested in the story, then I tried piecing it all together, and in the end, I was NOT disappointed. I loved every second of this. Do yourself favor and put it on your TBR. Thank you Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

I would like to sincerely thank Netgalley, the publisher, and the author for allowing me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

To begin this review, I want to clarify that this was by no means a bad book; however, I also do not consider it the best book ever. In this narrative, we encounter a story that features multiple perspectives and a dual timeline, which is a creative and unique concept. However, I believe it was not executed well, leading to confusion in the reading experience and a muddled plot. Additionally, I think the plot itself was an intriguing idea, certainly one that could draw in many readers. Moreover, the characters in this narrative were well-developed, but I feel they were also flawed and could have benefited from further fleshing out. In conclusion, while this narrative was interesting, it could use some refinement and editing before its final publication.

I've always loved a good thriller book, however when you combine that with a perfectly suspenseful mystery story it was everything I didn't know I was missing in my life. When Rene's sister Lauren goes missing at fourteen Rene's whole world changes. They tried everything to find her but years later with no leads and no answers the case has just gone cold however Rene doesn't believe that her sister would just leave like that and is determined to find out what happened. This book jumps between Rene and Lauren but then it also switches to our other main character Jane. Rene and Lauren talk about when Lauren was captive and Rene was determined to bring her home (which was my favourite part by far) and Jane's point of view how she now owns Lauren and Rene's old home when she finds a young girl mysteriously in her garden. I loved trying to figure out how both stories would connect in the end. Even though there was multiple switches I found this book very easy to follow and to get lost in. I loved the characters but it was the plot that really stood out for me. This book was extremely well written and I couldn't get enough of our characters Lauren and Rene. Their parts in this story were just captivating and left me transfixed on what was going to happen to them. This was a great read however it was the plot and character development that really pushed this book over the edge for me. As this is a new author to me I was very impressed with the writing style and the character development even though the plot could have been very dark and complex it was anything but. Fantastic job and I can't wait to see what she comes out with next because I will be first in line to check it out. The thing I loved most about this book was we had all first person perspective so the plot with Lauren was great especially since I had a feeling from the beginning she was going to be an unreliable narrator, which I have a love hate relationship with. Check out this book for sure, you will be pleasantly surprised at how mesmerizing it is. The ending was fantastic and left me speechless.

LAUREN IS MISSING BY S. J. KING.
Release date set for the 2nd of July 2025.
This book suprised me big time with my emotions. I felt so sad at times while reading.
Really great and loveable characters.
There's multiple POVs but so easy to follow along.
This is my second book by S.J. KING and I very much look forward to the next one ☺

Wow, I can't believe what I just read 😱! Lauren Is Missing was brilliant, fantastic, and twisty in a grand way, and the shocker was delightful. 💫💫💫💫💫

Lauren has been missing for 8 years, and even though it seems like her parents have given up on her search, her sister Rene hasn't given up. We get Rene and Lauren's point of view, past, present, and future. We are privy to the emotional, physical, and psychological abuse that they both endure. It seems like their experiences are mirror images of each other. Rene is Lauren's saviour. Will she save in her time?

Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this thrilling ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

3.8⭐ I was not expecting the story to be a dark psychological thriller, some of it was hard for me to read, ( I was so upset by the dog scene) so sometimes I was pushing through to get past and other times I was pushing through to see where the story was going to turn. I did like the twists ( I didn't see that coming) and the multiple povs and if you are looking for an eerie and gripping thriller with an end you don't see coming pick this up on 7/2/2025!
thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing and S.J. King for the ARC. This is my second read from King, and I will look forward to her books each time the release

Pretty confusing at first but it all comes together in the end. I mostly enjoyed it, my first read by this author.

I was biased with this one since my name is Lauren , it’s not typically a cover that would draw me in. But I’m so glad I gave it a chance! This was truly thrilling.

Gripping right from the very first page I couldn't put this book down and read it in one short sitting. Full of suspense, atmosphere and twists it kept me guessing until the end which was definitely helped along by the multiple pov within the book.

This is one of the hardest reviews I have ever had to write. Looking at other reviews from various readers everyone seem to have loved this book. I guess I am one of the few who did not. I just could not get into this book. There were different characters going back-and-forth and I got confused. Once that happens, I totally shut it down yet. I did finish it and I have to say the last three or four chapters were the best that has the whole book.

Lauren is missing who could’ve taken her? There are so many people looking for her yet all the police really looking into who could have taken her? Her family life seem to be a mess yet she spoke about her sister Renee as if she was with her. Then there was Jane, who is in the present tense and I just got very confused. I love a great who done it but this book just did not do it for me. I am so sorry.

Thank you NetGalley and Storm publishing forARC. I ONLY WISH I COULD’VE GIVEN IT A BETTER REVIEW. S J King in the future.

This was a page turner book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I did guess one of the twists, but the second big twist was a surprise. The book touches on many important aspects that could be linked back to real life occurances so, while it was fiction, it didn't seem unrealistic which I really appreciated about this book.

Lauren Is Missing is an emotional rollercoaster of the human condition.

Following the disappearance of sister Lauren, her family starts to slowly fall apart.

Her sister, Rene, has increasingly vivid visions and dreams about the what could be possibly currently happening in Lauren’s world, confusing the reader alongside her.

Not for the faint of heart, this book uses In Media’s Res to keep the story going at a whiplash speed, and is entirely worth the sleepless night I had, desperately trying to finish it so it wasn’t playing on my mind!

I found this novel rather disjointed, so wouldn't rate it amongst my favorites. It was OK. I didn't like the jumping back and forth in time or the multiple POVs. It was all very confusing

oh my gosh can you give a book more stars!? ive still got tingles and even more tense tingles now talking about this book. wow. what a stellar book and this book needs to be read, applauded and winning awards pronto. because gasping, gripping and brilliant it was. just yes yes yes success in a thriller!
this book goes dark and emotionally deep. we get a dual timeline so it can reveal just what happened then and where we are now.
i loved how Rene never ever gave up on searching for her sister. she was strong, and capable and isn't going to stop until she knows or finds her. the bond there was just so impactful. and of course we get to know just what happened to Lauren in the before timeline. and boy do we get given a tale of hard hard events.
i also really enjoyed the different Pov. so we really do get to see what happens and what did happen through all the different points of view. its gives such a broad and harder hitting view of the events and characters. you feel it so much more. and then how slowly the arcs and POVs come careening together to meet. to stop. to be together and we get revealed it all in the 'now' and just where our woman are and how. and the unveiling of it all really does grab your heart and pinch your emotions tight.
this is going straight to the top of my thriller books for a while. and yes i might say that to something else next week or even tomorrow. but for now, come on , let lets this book have its pride of place because books like this are inspiring in their brilliance. and deserve every second of praise they get.
it feel such an honour when books come across your life like this. we truly are lucky lucky people.
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A dark, and hauntingly tense psychological thriller, that kept me guessing right to the end.

This story has an interesting premise - told through multiple perspectives, before and today timeframes, as well as clever exploration of a fragmented mindset. The storyline had me questioning everyone's motives and perspectives.

This is the second story I have enjoyed from S.J. King and I am keen to read what she writes next.

This book kept me guessing and kept me questioning every character! I was thoroughly impressed by the twists in this story!

"Lauren is Missing" by S.J. King was a great psychological thriller that makes you want to keep reading.
Lauren lives a happy life with her family, until tragedy strikes and she goes missing. While Lauren is trapped her family never stops looking. Rene keeps looking for her sister even when she thinks no one else is. Enter Jane who finds Rene digging in her garden. As the story unfolds more trauma comes to light.
Highly recommend for those that like to be keep guessing until the very last page.

3.75/5 rounded up! Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the electronic ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review. This book was really confusing at times and kept me guessing throughout, but had such interesting, well-developed characters. There’s not much to say without spoiling it, but I definitely recommend to all mystery and thriller lovers.

WHAT?!!!!! did I just read? I did not see that coming! Edge of my seat from the first page to the last. Could not put this down.