The Last Lost Girl

The story of an Irish family (mother, father, and three sisters) whose lives change forever in the summer of 1976. A dual timeline story, it follows the three girls in 1976 as the summer progresses toward the social event the eldest (Lilly) looks forward to. Lilly is 15 and pushing boundaries. Gayle, the middle daughter desperately seeks approval from everyone. Jacqueline, the youngest, spies on her sisters. Dad drinks more than he should, and the mother has aspirations to a better life. All of this leads toward a family tragedy that Jacqueline tries to unravel as an adult. This was a very well-written book - the sisters' characters are sharply defined as early as the first chapter - with lovely prose. The story kept my attention; I show more burned through it over a weekend. I didn't find the characters unlikeable; I found them to be deeply human with the strengths and faults so many people have. Overall, a very enjoyable book. I received a copy through the Early Reviewers Giveaway. show less

Presented as a story told in alternating chapters, Hoey’s story captures that long hot Irish summer when Lilly disappears and Jacqueline’s search for answers all those years later. The story is steeped in sadness and grief, loss and longing. Beautifully written, this story is an emotional account of how destructive family secrets can be. the narrative brings to life the events of that 1976 summer as seen through the eyes of then eleven-year-old Jacqueline. Even though Jacqueline has a tendency to listen at doors and “sneak” around, her sister’s disappearance is one that has haunted Jacqueline all these years. The characters are complex and well written. I really like how the reader is limited to what Jacqueline knows from show more first-hand experience or what she learns as she works to uncover what happened to Lilly all those years ago. The reveal at the end is shocking – I did not see that one coming! – and makes all the pieces presented earlier in the story fall perfectly into place.

A well written debut novel that beautifully portrays a family forever changed by a terrible event. show less

This is a beautifully written exploration of grief and loss. Jacqueline is determined to find out what happened to her sister, Lilly, who went missing years ago. Still a young child at the time, she has in many ways been frozen at that point time, unable to move forward until she discovers the truth. This story is as much about what happened to Lilly, as it is Jacqueline's journey to find herself. Alternating between the past and present, the story slowly unfolds to reveal a psychological study of a family that is struggling with the normal pressures of family-life before and after a shattering loss.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book in a LibraryThing giveaway, in exchange for a fair review.

I received a free copy of this book through LibraryThing's Early Reader Scheme.

I loved this book, it's very different from the books I usually read, and I couldn't put it down. It centres on Jacqueline, the youngest of three Irish girls growing up in the '70s and their parents. I love the way the story was told simultaneously in two different times - 1976 when things change for the family and "now" when Jacqueline decides to investigate what happened to her family. The characters aren't perfect and Jacqueline isn't the nicest of children, but these flawed personalities are perfectly portraited. I did sort of work out what happened, but not everything and whilst the big reveal could have been done in a different way, I personally didn't show more feel it detracted from the story. A lovely story and worth a read, preferably in an orchard on a hot sunny day! show less

The Last Lost Girl is an interesting story of how family loss and secrets can have lasting effects. Jacqueline's sister Lilly disappeared when Lilly was fifteen, and after her father dies middle-aged Jacqueline stumbles upon a postcard that leads her to a guesthouse in a seaside town, on a search for answers to what happened to her sister. The story alternates between the present day, as Jacqueline struggles with the loss of her father and her search for the truth, and memories of the summer Lilly disappeared, showing the personalities of the young Jacqueline and her sisters Lilly and Gayle and the events leading up to the disappearance of the willful Lilly. The mystery is intriguing, and the challenges that Jacqueline faces venturing show more out are at times both entertaining and heartbreaking. The impact of her sister's disappearance on the family is undeniable, and when the truth is finally revealed it may not be the closure Jacqueline would have liked. show less

Great debut novel, well written with rich characters. The plot was unexpected, and I wasn't quite sure how it would end until it was over.

I particularly enjoyed reading about an average family and seeing them both in the present and flashbacks to 1976. Even though the story moved quickly, the author really takes their time to explore the emotions of the family in the aftermath of the disappearance of the elder daughter Lilly. It was rewarding to see Jacqueline discover herself as she works to solve the mystery of what happened to Lilly.

Early Reviewer Book. Very well written story about an Irish family and how each member deals with the disappearance of the oldest daughter. I enjoyed the plot and the pacing of the book. I thought the characters were well thought out and could sympathize with each one except the stupid 16 year old self-centered daughter. Don’t want to spoil the ending but there is a bit of a twist at the end. Well done.