E. E. Cooper

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: Three best friends, one vanishes without trace, another commits suicide and the one left behind has to unravel the mystery.

Opening Sentence: Tempation is a tricky thing-just ask Eve.

The Review:

Kalah, Beth and Britney are best friends. Beth and Britney have been best friends for years and in the last few months have brought Kalah into their inner circle despite her being a year younger than them. Kalah and Beth have a flirtation going on, or maybe the start of a relationship, but before Kalah can confess her real feelings Beth disappears. Kalah falls into a talespin and before she can really figure anything out, gossip about Beth and Britney’s boyfriend sends Brit into a destructive fall.

Kalah’s just barely figured anything out after Beth’s disappearance and the rumors about Beth and Britney’s boyfriend when she is hit with the news that Britney has disappeared too. Although she quickly finds out that Britney has supposedly committed suicide. Kalah really starts to fall apart after that but just when she thinks she might have to deal with Beth being gone and Brit being dead, Beth starts to message her. Soon Kalah realizes things aren’t what they seem.

I really enjoyed this book, despite having some issues, which I will get to but first! Kalah is Indian and bi-sexual or possibly gay, which the book really presents in a great manner! Kalah is really trying to grow and figure herself out in the book. Sadly, I don’t think it really gets figured out, but given that this is the first book perhaps the meatier stuff will come in book 2. Beth, whom we really only get to know through flashbacks and brief appearances in the first chapter loves Alice in Wonderland and all kinds of amazing quotes and tidbits about the book are throughout this entire book. In fact it helps Kalah figure out some important information later on in the book.

Which of course lead to my issues, for starters the budding romance between Kalah and Beth while interesting and short lived is also Kalah cheating on her boyfriend, which I am not a fan of cheating in any circumstances. She does later breakup with her boyfriend but Beth is also gone by this point. Of course my next issue kind of ties into the first one, nothing really feels resolved in this book. Granted it’s a first book and the author does drop a bombshell (which sadly can be figured out way before you get there in the book), I think we all want to feel like something got figured out or resolved by the ending of a book.

That being said, I loved Kalah for the most part; she was a great main character not necessarily preppy and blonde, but a little geeky and diverse! I did have some issues but overall I really enjoyed this book despite seeing the major bombshell from about a quarter of the way in. I loved the Alice in Wonderland parts, it really added to the story and it’s always great to see the characters be geeky and love reading! I can’t wait to see what happens in book 2.

Notable Scenes:

“Being let into Brit and Beth’s circle had been like discovering a portal to Narnia in the back of the closet.”

“Beth disappearing was one thing, but there was sex and scandal mixed in”

“And I was going to figure out a way to make Britney pay for it.”

“Her hand reached up and touched the small blue teacup hanging on a thin chain.”

FTC Advisory: HarperTeen provided me with a copy of Vanished. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review.… (mere)

I think this book had way more potential than what was delivered.
Kalah is the narrator of this story. Although she has been dating Zach for some time, she is confused by her feelings for one of her best friends, Beth. Beth seems to return her feelings but before things really get off the ground, Beth disappears. Kalah doesn't know what to do with all the feelings she has, but before she has time to recover, Britney, her other best friend, is dead.
There was no element of surprise or mystery here. Kalah is playing detective, figures out the whole scenario and outlines it all for us. I kept waiting for the twist that never came.
I couldn't figure out why Kalah even wanted to be friends with either of them. Beth was clearly the more likeable of the two, but I couldn't shake the feeling that she was just playing around with Kalah's feelings, which Kalah voiced over and over, I really just wanted her to shut up about it, it made her seem really weak and silly. Britney clearly was not friend material. And Zach? Wow, just stomp on her while she's already down.
I get the cliffhanger since this is the start of a series but realistically I don't see things going well for Kalah. Britney isn't an idiot and I don't think Kalah is that good an actor. I don't know her but her fumbling around with questions and explanations wouldn't be fooling Brit.
While it was a quick read, it was okay but not a very exciting read.… (mere)