Everyone has a story, and maybe everyone needs a little help toward healing.
Popular podcaster and ex-reporter Faith Byrne made a name for herself telling stories of greatness after tragedy — but her real life does not mirror the stories she tells. While her daughters spend the summer in Hawaii with her ex-husband and his new wife, she must manage life on her own. All of that changes when she’s asked to spotlight her childhood best friend’s missing person case on her podcast.
Dora Crane has never accepted that her younger daughter could be dead, keeping her home looking the same as when her daughter disappeared. But when her husband leaves her and her old daughter intervenes, she agrees to counselling and to pack up her missing daughter’s belongings under one condition: Faith Byrne comes to Deep Valley and sheds light on the cold case.
As the long-abandoned investigation moves forward, old wounds and long-buried secrets are exposed. Will these two women, whose lives have never been the same, finally get the answers they need to reconcile the past and the future?
My Review:
Enthralling is an apt descriptor for this unputdownable novel. I stayed up until midnight (which might not sound late to you, but I’m of the early to be, early to rise mindset) to finish reading What Happens Next because…well…I needed to know what happened next! And, oh, what an incredibly emotional read! My heart felt like it had been yanked out of my chest and stomped on and then crammed back in — upside down and inside out. 🙂
The story is told from three points of view: Dora (the mother of the missing girl) and Faith (the childhood friend) in present day and from Heather in occasional flashbacks to that fateful summer. They flow together beautifully, building tension and plot while delivering emotional sucker punches left and right.
And there are so many layers to each character, which kept me on tenterhooks as well. I could sympathize with each of them and it was easy to lose myself in the drama unfolding right in front of me. At least, it felt like I was there, living out that long ago summer and this present day one, my heart on my sleeve.
Mesmerizing. Captivating. Unforgettable.
Book provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications Inc.
GIVEAWAY OPPORTUNITY:
This giveaway is for a gently read paperback copy.
If you would like a chance to win a copy of What Happens Next, leave a comment below or email me at kavluvstoread AT yahoo DOT ca. If you add an email to your comment, remember to use AT and DOT instead of @ and . in order to protect yourself from spammers. If you enter the draw via email, please add the title to the subject line so it’s easy to spot your entry. Draw will be held and winner announced on Saturday February 4, 2023. Offer open to International Readers.
Kav's Best Reads 
Got your email of a new blog post, so it’s working well!👍🏻
According to your review this is something I must read.😃
Mbaaij at gmail dot com
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Yay! I’m so relieved! Best Reads is back in business. Good luck, Marian!
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Great review! I sure have missed them. 🙁 This book has been on my wishlist, but I wasn’t sure whether I’d like it. I’ve heard great things about this new-to-me author & your glowing review sealed the deal. A must read for sure!
dianalflowers (at) aol (dot) com
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She’s an amazing storyteller. I haven’t read all her books but I’m aiming to hunt them down. Good luck, Diane!
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First off, I have to say how happy I am to have you back in my morning emails! The second is WOW what a way to start your comeback!
“What Happens Next” sounds absolutely amazing and a must read for me. Love it when it’s a can’t put down book because you MUST have the answers on top of an amazing storyline. Very intriguing to be from three view points and I oh so love when they blend the past and the present seamlessly.
Thank you for the wonderful chance to win a copy. I’d love the opportunity to read this book (now on my TBR list – which I’ve missed having you add to it daily) and review it.
2clowns at arkansas dot net
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I’m so happy to be back too…and to see all your smiling faces 🙂 Glad I can contribute to your TBR list, Kay, because we know we can never have too many books on our lists. Bwahahaha! Good luck!
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Received your email from my sign up with the “flirty” follow button and I am actually able to do this on my iPhone, too!
So good to have you and the group back. Just chiming in only.
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Snicker — ‘flirty’ button. Too funny. I actually spotted it on my phone and it does seem to like to play hide and seek. Thanks for chiming in on my first (of many!) blog post!
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New author for me!
psalm103and138atgmaildotcom
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Glad to make the introduction. Good luck, Caryl!
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I have this one and will be reading it soon! Excellent review 🙂
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Thanks, Cindy. Enjoy the read!
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Intriguing review. The three point of views would be interesting. It is great to be reading your thoughts again. We missed you!
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Thanks, Sherida. I’m so happy to be back blogging. 🙂 Good luck!
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It’s so good to have you back and just from the little you’re showing us of this new blog, I like it already. I can’t believe how much I’ve miss this. Good luck with it all.
Your review of this book “What Happens Next” tells me I need to read it soon. rrwalter34atgmailDOTcom
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Yay — thanks for joining me here, Becky. I’ve missed this blogging community too so glad to be up and running again. (Well, maybe more like hobbling, but we’ll get there.) Good luck!
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Christina is also a new author to me! I normally like woman’s fiction type books, and the mystery sounds good.
pattymh2000(at)yahoo(dot)com
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I think you’d really like this one, Patty. It’s women’s fiction with a bit of intrigue. Good luck!
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Kav, so glad to see you are back up and running! I’ve been noticing this book so am glad to see that it’s a winner in your books. Count me in, please! 🙂
ckbarker at gmail dot com
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I was enthralled from the get go and I’m sure you would be too. Good luck, Cheryl!
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I absolutely adore Christina’s books! I think I’ve read all but her earliest two. As soon as I got done with “More Than We Remember”, I was hooked. She has a way of drawing you into the story & keeping you there until the very end…..bleary eyed and all 😁
So happy for your shiny new blog back online. Now I can’t wait to add many more books to my want-to-read pile!
teamob4 (at) gmail (dot) com
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One of her books — the one with bunny on the cover and the Gray-blue background — is on audible plus. I’m going to listen to it soon. Good luck, Trixi!
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