Nearly Gone by Elle Cosimano is a page turner through and through. Not only does Nearly Boswell have a unique name, but she has a unique hobby and a unique ability - one that she's kept secret her whole life ... Unfortunately, her hobby has made her a prime suspect in a long line of murders at her school. However, while the police is investigating the innocent Nearly, the serial killer is running amok and nobody's safe. The question is; why? Why is the serial killer dead-set on implicating Nearly as the killer? What has this silent, intelligent girl from the wrong side of the tracks done to piss off the murderer? All of these questions are answered, and yet the story will leave you wanting more.

Filled with mystery and intrigue, Nearly Gone is well-balanced, nicely written, and the female protagonist is a strong and surprisingly realistic character. There's a bit of romance (not so much that it clutters the plot, but just enough to keep you intrigued), a lot of death, and a twist that I didn't see coming. Also, the characters are quite relatable. Total win, right? Frankly, I can't wait for the second book in this fantastic trilogy (series?), coming out June 2015, called Nearly Found.

Basically, if you're looking for a young adult thriller with a good plot, this is the book you want to get your hands on. It's fun, and you won't be able to put down the book. Definitely perfect for a stocking filler this Christmas.

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I had to fight the urge to abandon this book early on, but finally about 50 pages in, it gained traction. Nearly (that actually IS the main character's name) aka Leigh Is desperately hoping for a message in the personal ads from the dad who abandoned her and her mom 5 years earlier leaving them struggling to make ends meet. Living in a trailer park with her stripper mom, Nearly sees the school's scholarship contest as her ticket out. But after one of Nearly's classmates goes missing, her dreams of winning the contest slowly begin to unravel. When she goes to the police with a message in the personal ads that she is sure is a clue, she only succeeds in becoming the prime suspect. She is convinced that bad boy Reece is trying to get close to her in order to feed information to the police.

As the story progresses more clues send Nearly on desperate attempts to intercept the killer as more students suffer tragic deaths. She only succeeds in placing herself at the crime scene and putting herself in more danger. As much as she tries to convince herself that Reece is up to no good, she can't suppress the growing feelings she has for him or the feeling that he just might be on her side after all.

It turns out that the author does an excellent job of keeping the reader in the dark about who the killer might be until the very end. The plot is full of action and suspense that moves the story along. The only part that I felt was unnecessary and actually detracted from the story was a strange ability Nearly possesses that allows her to sense a person's true emotions simply by touching them. It added a hokey quality to the story that I didn't care for. It so rarely came into play in the story that I just didn't get why the author felt the need to add that in. All in all a good book for teens who like a good crime mystery. ( )

If I had to describe Nearly Gone using one word, I'd say edgy.
This book literally had me on the edge of my seat. The plot was so twisty and the mystery sucked me right in. I was racking my brain trying to figure out who the killer was and well... I didn't even come close. The Author is a pro at thought manipulation. She pushed us one way and was quick to pull us back. There was intrigue, romance, thrill, and danger. I wanted a thriller and that's exactly what I got.

Nearly is addicted to personal ads. Every week she finds herself consumed by words hoping to find a note from her long lost father. It's an innocent hobby that quickly turns into a dangerous game. Before she knows it she is communicating with a killer through the newspaper. Each week there is another clue and each week Nearly is too late... Another person connected to her is murdered. She seeks the help of the police only to end up as the lead suspect with a hot bad boy on her tail. The bad boy, Reece, is a narc. He is sent to follow her and figure out how she is connected to the murders. She knows what he is and vows to steer clear but finds herself caught up in his good looks and his kind heart. In order to get answers they start working together... A swoon worthy romance forms and secrets are revealed.

I really liked this book a lot. The writing was top of the line and the story kept me glued to the pages. I found the characters to be relatable and well developed. I definitely recommend it to all readers who enjoy danger and good girl/bad boy romance.



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Very well written. Such a clever story and well plotted mystery. This is a "Thinking Person's" novel. It kept me on the edge of my seat and kept me guessing all the way to the end. I really enjoyed "the game" of trying to solve the mystery as I read. And as i said, it's one the more clever mysteries that I've experienced. ( )

Nearly (Leigh) Boswell is wicked smart in science and math. She is also addicted to the Missed Connections section of the personals. In truth, she is looking for a message from her missing father. But one day she finds a cryptic ad that later seems to be connected to the attack on a student. Now she is searching the ads every Friday, and sure enough, more ads appear and students start dying. Not just any students, the students that Leigh is tutoring.

This book is really interesting. Leigh is an interesting character with a special gift. She is smart and strong. And in this book I was really stretched on the mystery. I suspected everyone and found myself thinking about the mystery even when I was not reading the book. To me that is a sign of high engagement. There is a bit of romance but it is not all gooey. I think older teens will enjoy the book as well adults YA readers. So excited that there is a sequel. ( )