With her trade mark style of writing Lisa Unger has delivered another first class psychological thriller.
Wren meets Adam through an online dating site. They are a perfect match and are so right for each other, but after a few passionate dates he ghosts her. Wren is determined to find out why. Did she share too much about her tragic past? It doesn’t take long for her to find he has dated other girls through the same dating app and they have all disappeared without a trace. As she looks for him, he is following her.
The story is not as straight forward as all that. Wrens past is woven through the book, she is not who she seems . For one thing she is Dear Birdie, an advice columnist with a well known publication, she is also a girl called Robin, whose father murdered her family.
Great read if not a bit too long for me.

#lastgirlghosted #netgalley

4.5★s
“Once you ditch that phone, everything that you think tethers you to your life will fall away. Cash. A burner phone. A map—a real paper map!—marked where she should stop for gas, to spend the night. Places that took cash, that didn’t have cameras. It’s not forever, he told her. Think of it as a life reset.”

Last Girl Ghosted is the nineteenth novel by award-winning best-selling American author, Lisa Unger. After three intensely romantic months with Adam Harper, Wren Greenwood is suddenly, inexplicably, ghosted. What was a hook-up from the Torch app soon developed into more; it felt like the real thing, and Wren just can’t believe she got it so wrong. Her best friend Jax tells her to chalk it up to experience and move on, but Wren can’t let it go.

Then PI Baily Kirk turns up on her doorstep, looking for Adam Harper or Raife Mannes or the man who goes by any number of other names. His client’s daughter hooked-up with the man on Torch: now she and all her money have been missing for nine months. She’s one of at least three similar stories, all of whom have had some trauma in their early lives, all of whom have connected with this apparently charismatic, Rilke-quoting ghost.

Wren too, has had trauma in her youth, but she’s a survivor, a success: her popular advice column, Dear Birdie runs in the New York Chronicle, helping many; she owns a brownstone in Brooklyn Heights; she has friends and interests. But she wants to find Adam too. Do she and Bailey join forces? Does she actually believe the disturbing things that Bailey tells her about the man she had fallen in love with? And what happens if she finds him?

The story is told in a first-person narrative that is addressed to Adam, which sometimes makes for momentary confusion, but ultimately works well. While Wren is a protagonist with whom many readers can empathise, it’s disappointing that Unger inserts her into that overdone trope of naïve arrogance where she enters an almost-certainly dangerous situation alone, without any protection or means of summoning help, and without telling anyone what she is doing. Sure, it does later allow her to be kick-ass, but it’s getting a little tired.

However, she does give the reader a gripping thriller, the bones of which are easily believable: the potential dangers of online dating are well-documented. There’s plenty of enjoyable banter between friends, some good detective work, and a few action scenes in the lead-up to a nail-biting climax (or two). The support characters are an appealing bunch that Wren is lucky to have beside her. A guaranteed page-turner.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and HQ Fiction.

This is a complex novel with contemporary themes and a sinister, unsettling ethos that resonates. Wren is intelligent and successful but has never found the one. Encouraged by her friend, she joins the world of online dating and meets Adam, who appears to be a soulmate. Then he ghosts her, and she wants to know why. The story moves between the past and present. The suspense builds as new characters and discoveries emerge. Wren and Adam are multi-layered characters who immerse the reader in their stories. This is a gripping read that intrigues and engages to the end.

I received a copy of this book from HQ via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I was in such a reading slump for around a month and this book was just what I needed to pull me out of it. It was my first Lisa Unger book and now I am excited to read the rest.

The synopsis doesn't even scratch the surface with what this book is about and how deep it is.

Wren Greenwood is a blogger-cum-"agony aunt" style writer with her own podcast. She keeps herself anonymous. In fact, Wren Greenwood isn't her birth name. Upon encouragement from her best friend Jax, she signs up to a dating site called Torch, has a couple of dates that go nowhere until she meets Adam. She is completely smitten and they see each other every day. One night, she tells him something she has never told anyone before and then she never hears from him again.

It turns out that Adam has form and Private Investigator Bailey Kirk shows up at Wren's house, claiming that Adam had met his client's daughter Mia and she had now been missing for nine months. The two team up together to try and get to the bottom of it.

The book flits between past and present, the past delving into Wren's childhood and relationship with her father but also backgrounds to other women that Adam has had encounters with. I felt completely invested within the first 10 pages and I was desperate to know the outcome. It is written in a way that builds a lot of suspense early on and you feel like you just need to keep reading.

I am never a fan of COVID-19 being written into a book but it isn't the main focus of this one and it makes complete sense given Wren's father's theories when she was a child. It is a book that makes you think, especially about personal data and what can be found about you online. Nothing is ever really deleted and no matter how careful you are, things can still be found out.

I fell out of love with this book because I was frustrated by Wren’s actions. As a successful agony-aunt, she is very good at giving out advice but rubbish at following her own common sense! This dating thriller fell flat about half-way through the story as it became a game of cat and mouse with no real sense of danger or threat.

Unger’s story is definitely reflective of the times with using apps to find your true love. Wren has not gone on many dates but it would seem her connection with Adam is genuine. Consumed by her feelings for him, it doesn’t take long for the couple to call in to the honeymoon stage of their relationship: they cannot spend enough time together and isolate themselves from their friends. Although Wren’s close friend, Jax, voices concerns, this does not step Wren from falling deeper in love with Adam. Convinced that this is a secure relationship, Wren opens up to him in a way that she hasn’t ever before. However, the following day, Adam abruptly disappears. No responses to her texts, a phone that goes to voicemail, and uncertainty over where he actually lives, Wren comes to the realisation that she has been ghosted.

Yet, this is just the beginning. Although Wren advises people of New York city about how to handle relationships, she seems a fool when it comes to her own. There is even an acceptance from the character herself that she cannot follow her own advice. Rather than letting this relationship pass her by, Wren’s obsession with wanting to know more leads her back to her home town. It is at this point that the novel takes a different turn and rather than just being about an obnoxious man who suddenly dumps women, there is a focus on Wren’s family and her childhood. It all gets a bit sinister.

I was intrigued by Wren’s past and could not foresee how the plot would develop. This was definitely an important element as I struggled to sympathise with Wren’s circumstances. Even when a Private Investigator calls at Wren’s house, also searching for Adam, does she not take this as a warning to back off and move on with life. It’s a grim portrayal from Unger about how people can be fully invested in a relationship but this is not always returned.

About half way through the novel, I decided that I could not feel sorry for Wren because she was behaving so erratically. Despite being respected for her sound advice to others, she sure made some foolish decisions and could not see how ill-thought her actions were. I couldn’t understand the appeal to Adam because he behaves like a jerk but, I guess Wren was reflecting the known proverb of love being blind.

Although my attention in this story did wander, I found myself being gripped again in the last few chapters. I was curious to see how the plot would conclude and Unger does the story justice. Therefore, I think the best parts of the book were the first and final quarters, with the rest a bit slow and lacking tension. It was a good concept for a story but, because I was so annoyed with Wren, this impacted how much I enjoyed it.

I know that this writer is well-celebrated for their thrilling books but this one did not deliver. It’s my first read by this author and I will certainly not be put-off with this taster! This read is a decent enough thriller that explores the emotions of developing relationships. The hidden past adds a different dimension to the story but I think a bit more tension and excitement would have been well-received.

With thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Wren Greenwood has been convinced by her best friend Jax to try a dating app. After a few failed attempts Wren meets Adam, and she instantly feels a strong connection. The pair spend a few intense weeks together and things seem to be going really well until one evening he doesn’t turn up for their date, and disappears completely. Thinking she has been ghosted, Wren starts to take a closer look at Adam and begins to realise that he might not have been the person she thought he was. How much of what he told her was the truth? Did Adam have any real feelings for Wren or was it all part of an elaborate scam? More importantly, if Wren is able to find Adam, will she be able to forgive him considering she wasn’t completely honest with him about her own past?

Last Girl Ghosted is a captivating and modern take on a psychological thriller. This is the first book I’ve read which uses this kind of digital world as its foundation. A predator is using a dating app to select his victims, and Wren uses everything at her disposal to chase his digital trail, even going so far as paying people in Bitcoin to do searches on the dark web. It also firmly cements itself in the modern day with its references to current issues such as Covid-19 and the bushfires in Australia in 2020.

With interesting characters, an unsettling storyline and some fantastic twists and turns - this is definitely a book that will keep you up all night reading! In a way, it was more disturbing than other (technically darker) thrillers because somebody faking their identity is a scenario that could easily happen in real life. In a very complex storyline, the more traditional thriller elements are also broken up with flashbacks to Wren’s traumatic past. It’s this combination of cat-and-mouse chase suspense, and empathy towards the main character that make Last Girl Ghosted such a gripping read!

This is a very contemporary novel dealing with dating apps and ghosting- an uncomfortable reality, as well as other issues such as PTSD , control and also a nod to Covid.

In this story, the interesting Wren has met Adam , and believes they are a perfect match, until he disappears. But she doesn't want to give up on him, and determines to find out why he has ghosted her.

From then on the story moves at pace, layer upon layer of Wren's life is peeled back, and the twists start.

The likeable detective Bailey reveals that other girls who had relationships with Adam are missing , but Wren is sure that she was different.

As a reader you feel very connected, as the story is told mainly in the first person..and when it cleverly changes, I was concerned!
A dark and 'enjoyable' hard to put down novel, full of suspense, and right to the end I wasn't sure what the outcome would be.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. Not sure what to say about this book as although I finished it I really did not enjoy it, did not like the storyline or the characters. Sorry

Hmmm… still not 100% sure how I feel about “Last Girl Ghosted” but it will not be one of my favourite reads this year. I thought the premise was timely (dangers of online dating). I felt the story dragged a bit at times, where I found myself skimming more than carefully reading the page. I thought it started off well and fairly strong in concept and then just lost the momentum, and the ending was both underwhelming and odd..
I did NOT like the random and occasional references to COVID sprinkled throughout- I found them to be a bit of a sloppy afterthought and felt they were almost inappropriately included and totally unnecessary.
Thank you NetGalley and HQ for opportunity to read this ARC- unfortunately it wasn’t for me, but I will pick up another Lisa Unger book in the future.

The Author has outdone herself. This is her best book yet IMO. Internet dating, the dark web, a twisted psychopath. I read this book in two sittings. I could not put it down. I was glad Wren had Jax and Bailey looking out for her. I highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and the Author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have posted this review on Barnes and Noble. Sorry, I couldn’t find the link to post here.

Thank you Netgalley, the publisher and Lisa Unger.
Let me start by saying I’m a Lisa Unger Fan. I love how she weaves her stories.
This is the story of Wren, past and present. Wren friend Jax convinces her to put her profile on a dating app.
Wren meets Adam which appears to be a wonderful guy, they hit it off.
Then, all of a sudden Wren is ghosted. This is the adventure of Wren trying to find Adam and how the past meets the present.
Fast paced, page turner. Lisa Unger did not disappoint in this novel.
Highly recommend
5 stars

This is definitely an author I need to read more of as this is only my second book but, like the first, I thoroughly enjoyed it. A real page turner that had me gripped from start to finish and I liked all the characters. I thought the ending was perfect, not rushed, not over the top and it tied up all the loose ends. A very satisfying read. Thank you to NetGalley and HQ for letting me read and review this book.

💙 Review 💙

Last Girl Ghosted by thriller queen @launger ; for me was a mix between the TV show Without a Trace and the book The Others by Mark Brandi. If you like both of those then I highly recommend you get your hands on this book.

Wren Greenwood has entered the world of online dating. Wren eventually finds her perfect dream guy named Adam all was going well until one day, he ends up ghosting her. Not wanting to be the Last Girl Ghosted, Wren decides to dig into Adam's life and a previous life she once had. How are their lives both connected? Can they bypass their dark histories to fall in love with each other once again?

I really love the mix between Romance and Thriller in this book, for me it was equally blended in this book without it feeling like a "creepy love stalker story".

I was quite torn between Wren and Adam's relationship. To be honest I was quite falling over heels on how they matched perfectly 🥰
I was secretly hoping they could put their dark secrets aside and fall back in love 🤞 Do they get to fall back in love might you ask? I guess you have to read the book to find out.

Thank you so much @netgalley and @hqstories for allowing me to read Last Girl Ghosted in exchange for an honest review.

T.W murder, shooting and dead animals.

#LastGirlGhosted #LisaUnger #HQStories #Netgalley #NetgalleyReviewer
#Thriller #Romance #BeingGhosted #OnlineDating #Relationships #ReadAndReviewed

This is the first time reading a Lisa Unger novel. Such a lot of thought process throughout the story as it weaves from past to present, tension rising as Robin becomes Wren and Wren moves to dissolve Robin. Confused, it all becomes clear as her father, the man she loves but can't forgive but her taught her so much helps her understand what she needs to do to right so many wrongs. The power of our parents and the effect they have on our lives, good or bad plays out in Wren's head throughout this brilliantly written story. It really makes you think how much of an influence we have on our children. Girl ghosted is a masterpiece of mind games and how one person can have the power to manipulate others.

This book was an excellent example of perseverance and how far you would go to find the truth. I loved the main character, Wren, and felt myself gripped into the storyline until the last page.

The writer sends you on a journey with a story that weaves back and forth in current and past tense. I loved this story and I love this author.

Pleased to include this novel in the autumn instalment of Thrills & Chills, my seasonal round-up of the latest crime and mystery thrillers for Zed, the books section at Zoomer magazine.
Full review feature at link.

Okay. I admit I should not have started reading this on a night when the wind was up. But hindsight is 20/20, right? This book scared the crap out of me. Not because of dead bodies etc., but because of the plot and the wonderful writing. An on-line dating meetup goes bad. The heroine is ghosted after one meeting with the hot guy. She wants to find out why, but as she searches him out, things that she does not want to know starts to surface. Including a threat to her own life. I was so nervous half way through the book, that I had to put it aside until daylight to finish reading it. I cannot recommend this enough for anyone who loves suspense novels,
Thanks to NetGalley for providing this copy in exchange for my unpaid, honest review

.5/5 stars

Last Girl Ghosted is a new psychological thriller.

The main narrator of this story is Wren (1st person POV). She writes an advice column. But she has a dark past and she has secrets.

The story is told in a Then/Now format (mostly now).

Wren's best friend convinces her to try a dating app. But who is the man that she meets?

The book features a private investigator and lots of intrigue. Although the middle was a bit slower.

The book mentions a deadly virus starting in China. But I feel like this should either have been explored more fully or dropped altogether. But the mention of it was chilling.

The end was full of action and very interesting. I was on the edge of my seat. I had no idea how it was going to end!

Absolutely fantastic book which keeps you guessing all the way through. A complete page turner with amazing character development. The constant question on the tip of everyone's tongue all the way through: who is Adam, really?

TW: murder, domestic abuse, stalking, people gone missing, online dating gone wrong;

Thank you so much @netgalley and publisher HQ Stories for the gifted digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed this book despite not being quite what I hoped for!

I thought this would be a mind-blowing thriller with jaw-dropping twists, especially towards the end of the book. It was not like that because it wasn’t the whodunit type of story, but rather when and how the criminal (kind of known from the beginning) will be found.

However, it was still suspenseful from start to finish and what I loved the most was that the characters were so well developed, their voices were so strong and their background stories so complex and full of layers. All the characters had great background stories, but I especially loved and related to the main character’s journey.

Wren Greenwood is a brave and smart woman who managed to survive a heartbreaking childhood trauma and who managed to change her life and start fresh while still struggling to learn how to love and how to forgive.

Even though her story and mine are very different, they also have some similarities and I totally understand how difficult it is to bury a childhood trauma, heal from it and learn how to forgive and love the parent responsible for that trauma because I am still struggling with this today.

I thought the ending was cute and inspiring for other people who might go through similar things!

It was a very fast paced read and I found the main plotline unique and captivating!

I actually rated this book only 4.5/5 on my blog, but I rounded up on here. The only reason why this isn’t a solid 5 star read for me is because as I said I expected more plot twists, but it was just a personal expectation and I still managed to see past this and appreciate the book for what it is: rather a story about forgiveness and healing with lots of suspenseful moments throughout than a jaw-dropping thriller.