Lisa Jewell is one of my favorite authors. She writes incredible mystery novels and whenever there is a new book of hers on the market, I know it's going to be good. "Invisible Girl" was no different and I gobbled it up within a day, give or take a few hours.
I received the novel from NetGalley (I'm so grateful to be part of this resource for writers and reviewers because I get the best books from them) and even though it took me a little time to read it.
"Invisible Girl" was released in August and everyone has been talking about it so I knew I had to make it one of my first reads of the new year.
Publisher's Summary
Owen Pick’s life is falling apart.
In his thirties, a virgin, and living in his aunt’s spare bedroom, he has just been suspended from his job as a computer science teacher after accusations of sexual misconduct, which he strongly denies. Searching for professional advice online, he is inadvertently sucked into the dark world of incel—involuntary celibate—forums, where he meets the charismatic, mysterious, and sinister Bryn.
Across the street from Owen lives the Fours family, headed by mom Cate, a physiotherapist, and dad Roan, a child psychologist. But the Fours family have a bad feeling about their neighbor Owen. He’s a bit creepy and their teenaged daughter swears he followed her home from the train station one night.
Meanwhile, young Saffyre Maddox spent three years as a patient of Roan Fours. Feeling abandoned when their therapy ends, she searches for other ways to maintain her connection with him, following him in the shadows and learning more than she wanted to know about Roan and his family. Then, on Valentine’s night, Saffyre Maddox disappears—and the last person to see her alive is Owen Pick.
My Thoughts
This book was very suspenseful yet not in a bad way. The entire book was unanswered questions: where was Saffyre, what was up with Owen, did the Fours family know more than they said? Everything felt so wrong and unhinged, you were just always waiting for an answer to be revealed. That was one of the reasons that I needed to read the book so quickly -- I just wanted answers.
"Invisible Girl" alternates between the POV of three characters: Owen, Cat, and Saffyre. Saffyre's is in the past before she disappears and you see how she ends up where she ends up as the book goes on which I am thankful for. I wasn't a fan of Cat, she seemed like the typical suburban housewife and I felt like she didn't really add anything to the story. It felt like her POV was more neutral and unnecessary.
However, Owen, Owen made me sad. I felt in my heart that Owen was innocent. From what you read in his POV, it just doesn't seem like he's in the wrong. He obviously says and does questionable things but I was still rooting for him the entire time. I just wanted him to be ok.
The entire plot of Owen being in trouble for Saffyre's disappearance when you knew something else was up with the Fours family was frustrating yet interesting. Things kept popping up to work against Owen which annoyed me to no end but I knew it had to work out.
Then on the flip side, you have Saffyre's obsession with Roan. It was strange and I wasn't a huge fan of it. I knew it was necessary to connect the entire story and it did make sense but the beginning was a bit odd.
The ending was semi satisfying, semi not. I felt like there was a vast, gaping hole in the story about the father, and I felt like we didn't get all the answers we deserved. However, I was happy with the ending for Owen, Saffyre, and Cat.
This wasn't the most thrilling or twisty novel but it kept me entertained, held my attention and was a quick, interesting read. If you like mystery/thriller novels, you will definitely enjoy "Invisible Girl".
What did you read this week?
xoxo
B
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