I’m having a hard time coming up with the words I need to describe this book. I loved Never Knowing and was excited to start Still Missing. I’m not sure what I was expecting when I started read it, but I certainly wasn’t prepared for what I went through reading this book.

I love the way Stevens wrote this book as a set of flashbacks, each “chapter” book ended by Annie’s therapy sessions. I think the reason I love it so much is because it makes this a story about Annie and how she deals with the world after this horrible things happens to her.

The one line from the book that really stuck out to me was, “I just wonder why nobody cares much about the after—just about the story. Guess they figure it stops there. I wish.”

It’s one thing to write a moving story about the “during,” but to tackle a novel about the after really got to me. Yes, Annie’s depictions of what happened to her in the cabin were horrible, and there were times I had to stop reading for a little while. But what really made me feel for Annie was her struggle to return to something normal, her fights to eat whenever she pleased, or to sleep on a bed instead of in the closet.

Annie fought in one way to stay alive when she was in captivity, but she was fighting a completely different fight when she returned to her life. That is what made me love this book. Everything is out there and it’s raw and while I have never been through anything Annie went through, I felt a little bit of her pain.

The last line of this book made me cry more than I thought a book could make me cry. This is a book that has made me think and feel and I will tell anyone who will listen to read this book.

I was up until 2 in the morning finishing this book. Stevens had me glancing at my windows to make sure there wasn’t anyone there, and I’m still a little wary of answering my phone. I was on the edge of my seat at times, and I found myself trying to figure everything out as I read.

Sara’s desire to know who her birth parents are starts a reaction that makes for a fast-paced and thrilling read. Stevens is able to make you feel something for every character, even the bad guy. She creates interesting character relationships where everything may not be as it seems. It’s hard to see the twists and turns coming and I was constantly surprised.

This was a great book and I was so happy I decided to read it. I’m looking forward to reading more of Stevens’ books in the near future.