I hated it. Not enough to DNF clearly, but I'm left here wondering what the point was. 

However; If you're a Liane Moriarty-stan you will likely enjoy this book as it is evident I am just NOT Liane's target audience. 

My first problem with this book is My Own Fault - I keep believing that her books are THRILLERS and not MYSTERIES. It is not helped that so many people lump the two genres together when they can be incredibly different story telling mechanics (every thriller is a mystery, but not every mystery is a thriller folks). So right off the bat I was expecting something more fast paced and thrilling. 

This is a slow burn and I'm sorry but it has no pay off. The beginning is strong - an overturned bicycle, that looks like maybe the rider was attacked and kidnapped. 
I loved how the past and present was narrated. The present was told from the perspective of various town folks reacting to the Missing Persons disappearance. That was really neat and something I really can appreciate. While the past was narrated by the family. 

When Savannah shows up on the Delaney's doorstep one night she says she was beaten by her boyfriend and thought their house looked safe. Is she telling the truth, who can we trust? 

In the present Stan looks guilty of murdering his wife, and does absolutely fuck-all to prove his innocence. 

and just some word vomit about things I didn't like in a spoiler tag so i can just rant. 

Savannah was insane.... and it had NO pay off. She was planning to exact revenge on the Delaneys.... who i guess are responsible for the worst day she had at 8 years old? I mean sure they were rude to her but it's also not entirely their fault either? and it was just terrible motive ....

but also. instead of exacting revenge she just.... becomes their live in housekeeper and takes care of them and only kind of tries to hurt them. This "BIG REVEAL" that she was Harrys sister was just.... dumb. I'll admit I didnt see it coming but the fact that she knew the Delaneys was well seeded. 

and then after she "exacts revenge" (or ...whatever) she dips. and then RANDOMLY CALLS JOY AGAIN AND THEY JUST GO ON A 21 DAY VACA because... wtf why? 

the fact that Simon figured out the text message but the police didnt even like try to look into that??? 

the clean boy every kid had, like of COURSE Logan got Indira back and he got into coaching. and Troy gets to be a part-time dad with his ex-wife (admittedly this isnt exactly that weird given the circumstances but it annoyed me because it just furthered the whole 'life isnt complete unless you have a baby' narrative this book was SHOVING DOWN MY THROAT and i hate. ) 

Amy suddenly decided she was in love with Simon, which again wouldnt be that weird but it wasnt developed enough at all. 

and then there is the whole Joy being just eternally distraught she didnt have grandkids thing which was SO annoying. as a Childfree Millennial whos mother badgers her about having kids I just wanted to throttle Joy so many times. I can appreciate she did not seem to put this burden on her children but it was annoying to read nonetheless (though this is a Me issuse). 

and then - are we SUPPOSED TO LIKE STAN?! because we spend the entire book making him out to be the worst - and dont even get me started on the reasoning as to why he just walked off from his family. because FUCK that. like its some happy ending---- except Stan was never painted in a good light? so I'm nto really happy they're back together. 

and sure he didnt beat his family instead he just straight up ignored them for DAYS because he essentially WANTED to beat them. - i am projecting here that is not explicitly stated but that is how it felt. 

Ultimately i found all the characters unlikeable, the most interesting character had not enough of a story arc and their story would have been a much better story to focus on...

AND the inclusion of Covid in hte last 10% was.... weird. it made logical sense, esp after bringing in the topic of the raging 2020 fires it was logical to include the next big thing but it really didnt ADD anything to the story. This story could have taken place just as easily in 2010 as 2020 or 2030. So it felt weird to tell this entire story and at the end be like "oh yeah and now we're dealing with Covid so thats a thing" 

I say i'll stop reading Liane's books but god damn if they arent good at roping me in with a description. 
(if you see me add anymore of her books to my TBR PLEASE BRING ME BACK TO THIS REVIEW AND REMIND ME I WONT BE HAPPY