This was not my favorite Joy Fielding book. All the whining about Julia and ignoring Heather. ( )

One of Joy Fielding's better stories and the first one set in her home town of Toronto. She is a very formulaic "damsel in distress" writer and you either enjoy her it or read something else. I found the ending a pleasant surprise with the characters responsible for their own choices instead of being rescued. That said, the characters are rather poorly written although everyone is beautiful with plenty of time and money. ( )

It is hard to like a book when none of the characters are likeable. That is the case in this book. Julia Carver is a beautiful, young, aspiring actress who disappears after trying out for a role in Toronto. She is self-centered, narcissistic, and has no redeemable characteristics. Her mother, Cindy, jumps off the handle, doesn’t think anything through, and is overall really annoying. None of the side characters are likeable either.

As if that wasn’t enough, this is a long, dull, uninteresting book. There are an overabundant amount of flashbacks that add nothing to the story. There is very little actually going on in the story, and most of what is written is superfluous and unnecessary. This is novel could easily be cut in half and not miss anything. I didn’t like much about this novel, and was just hoping that it would end soon. It was painful and not worth reading. This is a novel you will want to skip.

Carl Alves – author of Reconquest: Mother Earth ( )

Daughter goes missing. Mother's relationships with ex husband and neighbours and new boyfriend are explored. Unsatisfactory ending. ( )

Lost is a book of patience. You have to endure the protagonist being treated poorly by her own family, constant mention of the family dog, (not sure what the point is there, but it's overkill), and the ending: a group of people's total lack of regard for another's well being. Despite the above, a good read. ( )