That ending... I have to admit that I was sceptical when I started this book, but it was actually a brilliant book with a shocking ending.

A psychological thriller with an unsettling concept and an untrustworthy narrator, The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway drew me in right away. I was eager to jump right in. And what a journey!

From the very first page, Eve's story drew me into a universe where reality is distorted by shame and sadness and is based on flimsy lies. It was sad and disturbing how she divides herself into two parts: Eve and Gen. I sensed her weariness, her want for independence, and her gradual disintegration as the truth began to seep in.

Because of Hooyenga's incisive and captivating writing, it is hard to put the book down. With each turn, I wondered what was real and what was just Eve's last-ditch effort to live in a family that can't let go of the past. And the conclusion? It's really cool.

The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway is a must-read for fans of psychological thrillers that stick with you long after you've finished reading it. It's haunting, poignant, and utterly unforgettable.

4/5
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

There’s a lot to unpack in this book.
Twin sisters, one is kidnapped at 1 month old.
As a family struggles to cope with the devastation of losing their daughter a father makes a choice that will ruin the family he has remaining.
Eve is struggling to find herself amongst the shadow that her sister’s kidnapping has left over her life. Fear of hidden truths coming to the surface she keeps even those close to her at an arms length.
This YA novel has a bit of everything - love, lust, angst, loss, connection, and heartbreak.
There were some elements in the storyline that I feel were unnecessary and took away from the plot and the writing was jumpy in some places…. Which eventually made more sense.
Fans of YA suspense might want to check out this novel when it’s released Feb 25, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and Left-Handed Mitten Publishing for allowing me early access to this book!!

I did enjoy reading this book after I got over the hump! I would recommend this book just stick it out

I really enjoyed this book, it is my first five star read of the year. It is well written and thought provoking! I felt so many different emotions for the main character Eve, you root for her throughout this book because of how mentally broken she must be.

DNF’d at 27%. I really loved the premise of this book however I just found it too slow for me. I loved the idea of Eve unwillingly living this double life as Gen, but the pacing kept pulling me out of the story. I was excited to see where it was going and to see what the twist would be, but I found myself not wanting to pick the book up. I don’t think this is a bad book at all, I do just think the pace wasn’t for me.

This book had a really interesting premise but I found myself bored at about 15%. I then skipped to about 80% to see if it was worth continuing and found myself very confused as to how we got to where we ended. I think this was interesting to bring to light mental health disorders but if anything it was another book to demonize disorders such as DID

I tried hard to read this through the eyes of an intended audience, a teenage girl. While I don’t think I succeeded completely, I made a good guess at what such an audience would think. They would be engaged, surprised, horrified in parts, and would probably discuss this as a book they’d remember for a time. For me, there were too many characters, mundane events, and too much roller coaster emotion.

I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

This book was a trip. When the two girls were infants, Eve's twin sister was taken while they were at the park with their father. To protect her mother's mental stability, her father devises a plan for Eve to play the role of both herself and her missing sister, complete with wardrobe and separate interests. While attempting to do as her father requested, Eve slowly loses her hold on reality.

This world was nuts! I felt so bad for her. She wanted to be her own person and should have been able to do so. I am unsure how I feel about this book because I wanted to slap her father. I can't even review this book like I want to because I am going to spoil it. For her to endure this abuse for as long as she did...ugh!

I honestly couldn't put this book down because I wanted to know what happened in the end. Well done, Melanie; you held my attention when I wanted to throw my Kindle across the room!

I would like to thank Netgalley, Left-Handed Mitten Publications | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles, and Melanie Hooyenga for the ARC of this book.

Thank you to the publishers and Netgalley for an arc

Spoiler warning from this point on

I really wanted to love this book. And for the most part, I actually did! The missing twin trope is a common one, but I thought Hooyenga put a unique spin on it. I really enjoyed the premise of Eve playing both herself and Gen and the impacts of that on her psyche... though more on that later.

I just, unfortunately, didn't really connect with any of the characters. I did like Ember, Wes, and Cal, however. They are all really good friends to Eve, even when she probably didn't deserve it. She treats Cal pretty poorly, which I get; she's going through a difficult situation, but he puts up with a lot with very little explanation. Ember has an interesting storyline with her coming out and dealing with her parents' not-so-positive reaction. Wes is a really good guy as well who supports Eve and is the only one she tells her secret to. He was abused by his father in the past so he is empathetic and understanding.

Eve's dad is the real villain here. It's hard because you actually feel bad for him. He was the one who fell asleep, which led to Gen's kidnapping. However, forcing Eve to play both roles is genuinely insane behavior (which I know was the point!). At the end, Eve briefly discusses pressing charges against her father, but nothing ever comes of that, which I can accept, though she does continue to have a positive relationship with him.

In the same vein that Eve's dad is the bad guy but I still somewhat like him, I felt the opposite about her mom. She's a victim in this situation, but Hooyenga does a good job of making her feel unlikeable from Eve's perspective. That's the hallmark of good writing when the reader can know something but still feel differently. I felt bad for her mom, she really should've been given the help she needed from the very beginning (which again circles back to the dad being very wrong in this situation).

There were too many side characters who I think had a lot of page time and ended up being relatively unimportant. Both of Eve's partners for the project, Willow and Noah, only serve the purpose of helping her complete the project -- which also has no real bearing on the plot other than the competition is where Eve and Sky meet.

I'm gonna briefly talk about the project and then get back to the characters --

It seemed like the project was going to have a greater meaning, such as the note in the margin of Eve's information for the project and the locked folder on her computer she was working on, but nope, we never figure out why those were relevant. I understand that it's to make it clear (in the end) that Eve has multiple personalities, but -- for example -- the note encouraging her to look up missing persons cases is irrelevant, 1. because Eve ignores it, and 2. because it wouldn't have provided her any new information anyway. Sorry, that was my brief rant about that. However, I think Hooyenga successfully executed this idea she was going for much better with the bookmark situation. That was a twist that actually got me and had me rethinking things.

Back to the characters --

Noah does have the point of taking pictures of Sky that they use in the project, which was an interesting twist, though pretty easily guessable once Eve notices their similarities in the photos. Unfortunately, after the competition, Eve never talks to him or Willow again. Mariela also suffers the same fate. She and Eve have a cute little moment at a baseball game, which leads to a good period of self-discovery for Eve as she realizes she also likes girls. Unfortunately, after she and Mariela hook up, she never sees her again or even talks to her. That's not too big of a deal because she did serve a purpose at least, and a moment like that doesn't have to lead to a relationship. I was just personally rooting for them, LOL.

Well, since we got on the romance train, I think it's time to address it. If you've read the book, I'm sure you know what I'm talking about. Eve talks to Sky online before they meet and starts to develop feelings for her. Lo and behold, Sky is actually her sister. Obviously, neither of them could have known, but what I did find minorly uncomfortable was the repeated mentions throughout of how she did have feelings before. It's like maybe Hooyenga was really trying to emphasize that those feelings are gone, but did it in a way that comes off a little weird. I think it's an interesting dynamic to include and one that I haven't seen explored in other books, but I feel like there was a bit of an overcorrection that ended up drawing more attention to it, and it just didn't read right to me.

As I mentioned earlier, I really did enjoy the premise of Eve playing both roles. Her diagnosis of a multiple personality disorder was also interesting, especially since she feels like she hears Gen in her mind and they have a connection. I liked the distinction between Sky and Gen and how that impacts Eve. She has created a Gen in her mind that she's had to make real for 18 years, and the consequences of that are severe. I think the portrayal of mental health throughout was strong and pretty realistic.

I guess we have to talk about the end now. "Why?" is the first thing I'm going to say. I thought the first part of the book was really interesting, and it even makes the reader feel emotionally drained by Eve's need to act and be Gen (a good thing). After the Sky reveal, the drama amps up even more. I was flying through those chapters. Towards the end, it slows down a little, and I'll admit I wanted a bit more to just happen. It was a lot of Eve running on the beach, haha! I avoided talking too much about Sky earlier so I could discuss her here, but I really wish we got more from her. We never learn who kidnapped her, her real feelings on the situation- such as whether she wants a relationship with her bio parents- Eve and her dad meeting her adopted parents happens off-page, and we know very little about who she is as a person. And then Eve kills her!!! Like, what?!? I truly was not expecting that at all and I don't think I was surprised in a good way, more like "Why did they do that?"

I understand it was "Gen" doing it, not Eve, but it just did not make sense to me. I can understand the rationale of choosing that sort of ending -- if you set it up from the start -- but it didn't feel earned. Maybe some people will like it but unfortunately I didn't enjoy it.

I did, however, really like that Eve's story, when you reflect on it, seems to mirror her mother's. Despite her resentment for her mom, they end up being quite similar, with both having versions of Gen that are real inside their heads. They also both end up having to go to in-patient mental hospitals. I also really enjoyed the end, where Eve tells the group her name is Genevieve. It was a good call back to a mention in the beginning and really the heart of the story.

I know I had quite a few criticisms, but I want to say that I actually did like this book!! I feel like the idea was interesting, and while it didn't work for me, I don't think it is a bad book by any stretch of the word. There are probably a lot of people who would love and really enjoy it. While I had fun reading it, I just think it didn't work totally for me personally.

2.5 stars rounded up

I was on the edge of my seat for this whole book, it was bloody fantastic! That last line? I am obsessed!

I really liked this book, and felt really drawn into the story. There was a bit at the end where I did feel like it started to slow down and drag, but overall this was a really interesting story about a teenage girl in a horrible situation who loses her grip on reality. I don’t think we’re necessarily meant to like the main character, especially not as the story progresses.

You stay inside the mind of the main character the whole time, and follow her through her journey, not entirely sure the whole time whether or not she’s a reliable narrator. Some twists I saw coming, some I didn’t.

This was a unique, interesting YA thriller. Not the most realistic, but what is? I loved reading this and would recommend it to anyone else.

A slow burner of a book, with insights into mental health. Well written but at times the pace was too slow for me. Great ending.

This was a good read but ended on such a strange note. No spoilers ahead, but just really finished feeling like I wanted a very different ending.. yes, it was surprising, but not in the way that leaves me excited.

This was a hard read. The level of abuse on Eve by her father, the deceit going on for 18 years when she must pretend to not only be herself, but her missing twin Gen is hard to cope reading. It is a book I will think about for quite some time.

I would have preferred if a little less chats and text messages in the book since that really makes it a bit hard to read on occasion.

This book had me going through all the emotions, i laughed, i cried, i got mad as hell. However i loved this book. I couldnt stop reading it and was up all night to read it.

The premise of this book is absolutely bonkers and I was excited to get my hands on it but the story really dragged for me and was sometimes confusing because of the imagined dialogue between Eve and her twin. I did find it hard to even really like Eve which is unfortunate because the real villain in this story is clearly the dad. The twist at the end was jaw dropping but I wanted more action in the middle.

I thought this thriller was okay, but not amazing. I'm not really into stories set in high school anymore, so maybe I shouldn't have picked it up.

The story felt a bit unrealistic to me. I couldn't believe that Eve's mom wouldn't see a doctor, and it was strange that they never found her "Twin" (Read the book and you will know.) The whole book had a kind of sad vibe, which I'm not a huge fan of. But of course, I should have expected that from a thriller.

I skimmed through a lot of it, and I don't think I missed much. The writing was fine, but the story just wasn't for me. I think it could make a decent movie though.

**5-Star Review for *The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway* by Melanie Hooyenga**

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

*The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway* by Melanie Hooyenga is a beautifully written, emotionally charged novel that explores the complexities of mental health, self-identity, and the intricate process of healing. From the very first page, I was drawn into Eve’s world, a young woman grappling with her inner demons, trying to understand herself and the relationships around her.

Hooyenga’s writing is simply captivating. The portrayal of Eve’s emotional journey is raw, authentic, and deeply moving. Through Eve’s eyes, readers experience her struggles with anxiety and the quiet unraveling of her once-stable life. The author’s ability to capture the nuances of mental health—how it affects both the individual and their loved ones—is incredibly insightful and thoughtful.

What truly stands out in this novel is how well Hooyenga balances the heavy themes of mental illness with moments of hope, growth, and resilience. Despite the challenges Eve faces, there is a constant thread of strength and determination that runs through the narrative, making her journey both painful and inspiring. The characters around Eve are equally well-drawn, each adding depth to the story and reminding us that healing is often a collective effort.

The pacing is perfect, allowing for quiet moments of reflection while keeping the plot moving forward in an engaging way. The emotional payoff is immense, and the ending left me with a sense of peace and hope for Eve’s future.

*The Quiet Unraveling of Eve Ellaway* is a must-read for anyone who enjoys character-driven stories that delve into the complexities of mental health and personal growth. Melanie Hooyenga has crafted a poignant, heartfelt novel that is both thought-provoking and deeply rewarding. Highly recommended!

Baby Gen Ellaway is kidnapped one day, while out for at the park with twin sister Eve and their father. Gen was never found. Grief stricken and under fragile mental state, their mother never recovers. Eve has been playing the part of Gen since the Kidnapping, to protect the already difficult mental state of their mother. 18 years; Eve is counting down the days till she graduates and goes away to Collage. Freedom! What will happen once Eve leaves for Collage? how will they break the truth to her mother about Gen not actually being found? Slow paced, goes through a young adults daily routine through senior year in high school. Plenty of conflict and drama, Eve struggling for her own independence and craving to just be herself. Family dysfunction, some suspense, mental health. Some romance although not very prominent for the storyline. Great story!

Thank you Netgalley for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.