Plot Overview: Three years ago, Beth’s little brother, Sam, seemingly disappeared without a trace after going out to ride bikes with his friend, Josh. Beth tries to distance herself from the tragedy while she and her step-father try to deal with Beth’s mother receding into grief and despair. Josh has moved to a new neighborhood and has risen in popularity since the disappearance.

Suddenly the new lives that Beth and Josh have built for themselves in the wake of Sam’s disappearance are shattered when Sam is found and returned home. Everything should be normal and return to the way it was before Sam disappeared, or at least that is what Beth’s mom believes. Still, Beth can't help but feel like something is wrong, as her mom refuses to bring up what happened to Sam during those three years and Sam struggles to fit back into the life and family that he lost three years ago.

Meanwhile, Sam’s reappearance dredges up old guilt in Josh, who failed to tell the police everything that happened the day that Sam disappeared. Josh soon finds himself simultaneously drawn to Sam and tormented by the possibility that Sam might have never disappeared had he divulged everything that happened that muggy summer afternoon to the police.

Critique: I found the story to be very compelling, as it largely looks into the aftermath of a kidnapping rather than the event itself. The way the characters slowly uncover just what happened to Sam during those three years while also dealing with their complex feelings over his reappearance and reforging relationships with Sam is compelling.

Part of me wishes that the book had some segments from the perspective of characters besides Beth and Josh. While their perspectives are interesting, some other points of view on Sam and his reappearance would have been interesting.

Star Rating: 4/5