The Long Way Back
Table of Contents
The Long Way Back
The Long Way Back is the latest novel to be checked off my to be read list. Given how much I enjoyed Everything We Didn’t Say, I had very high hopes for this one. This is the second novel from Nicole Baart that I’ve read.
I am also looking forward to reading more books from Nicole Baart in the near future.
This post contains affiliate links
Have you read The Long Way Back? Come on in and let me tell you about it!
About The Long Way Back
When an Instagram-famous teenager mysteriously disappears, her mother grapples with the revelation of dark secrets in this twisty, atmospheric thriller—from the author of the “poignant, riveting” (Wendy Walker, author of Don’t Look for Me) Everything We Didn’t Say.
Mother and daughter Charlie and Eva never sought social media fame, but when a stunning photo of Eva went viral, fame found them. Now, after more than two years documenting life on the road in their vintage Airstream trailer, the duo has temporarily settled on the North Shore of Lake Superior. Eva is happily finishing her senior year of high school and applying to college, but Charlie longs for the adventures they left behind.
When Eva goes missing less than a week before her graduation, it’s Charlie who is immediately suspected of foul play—not just by their fans, but also by the police and the FBI. As a fight about one more road trip comes to light, and the truth about their relationship is questioned, Charlie realizes the rosy facade they portrayed online hid a complicated and potentially dangerous reality. Now, to clear her name and find out what has happened to her daughter, she’ll have to confront her own role in Eva’s disappearance—and whether she knows her daughter at all.
Thoughts on The Long Way Back
I’m torn on this book. If I’m comparing it to Everything We Didn’t Say, it was terrible. If I’m talking about it as just another novel, it was pretty decent. It was a good book, but once I have a favorite, it is easy to compare them. This is probably the one big problem I have when reading an author multiple times, is I often compare each of their books to each other.
The Long Way Back starts off a bit slow, and seems predictable. A very slow burn, but done well. Then it takes an interesting turn in the second half, and it honestly feels like a completely different book.
I still haven’t decided if I like the strange left hand turn that it took, especially because it left me with so many questions. Being left with questions is something I really dislike when it comes to books. I think plot holes and questions can be easily overlooked when it comes to movies and tv shows, but I really dislike it in books.
Reading other reviews, because I was curious, it seems that the twists and turns the book took have mixed reviews. So you may very well enjoy them, where I wasn’t so much of a fan. I encourage you to read The Long Way Back and form your own opinions about the twists and turns in it.
The messages in the box are mixed. Is social media a good or a bad thing, especially when it funds experiences? Does it damage children? Are parents blind to the struggles of their children? Do children need to keep secrets?
I really enjoyed the first part of the book, the middle was strange, and the ending was a letdown for me. I wanted so much more from the end, and I really don’t understand what Eva’s role was in “the family” and why she was there, or why she was supposed to be recruited.
Final Thoughts on The Long Way Back
I ended up listening to this book as I was crocheting. I find it easier to listen to books sometimes because that and crocheting settle my brain and let me focus more on both tasks.
I’m not sure I would have enjoyed The Long Way Back the same way if I had read it as a physical book or on my Kindle. It feels like it may have been a do not finish this way, so I am very glad that I was listening to it. Sometimes the enjoyment of a book fully depends on the medium and how it comes to the reader.
The Long Way Back started off as a strong four star read for me, but the weirdly random twist in the middle and the letdown of an ending brought it down to three stars. I’m disappointed in this fact, but I’ve settled on a three star rating. I didn’t hate it, but I didn’t love it either.
This is the second Nicole Baart novel that I’ve read, and despite the fact this one wasn’t my favorite, it isn’t a deterrent to reading more of her writing. I am still looking forward to reading other books from her.
Discussion
Have you read The Long Way Back or any other writing from author Nicole Baart? Are you a fan? Let me know your thoughts in the comments!
About the Author
Nicole Baart is the author of ten novels, including Everything We Didn’t Say (an October 2021 Book of the Month selection and the FabFitFun 2021 Winter Book Club pick), You Were Always Mine, and Little Broken Things. She lives in Iowa with her husband, five children, two turtles, and their beloved dog.
Purchasing The Long Way Back
If you are interested in buying the paperback version of The Long Way Back, click here.
Click here for the Kindle version.
Click here for my favorite Kindle I currently own.
More From Nicole Baart
Did you enjoy my review of The Long Way Back? Need another great Nicole Baart novel to read? Here are my favorites!
Amazon Notice
The Reading Wife is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com, at no added cost to you.
