Marlene Adelstein

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.


First off, anyone interested in reading this needs to be aware that there is self-harm throughout this book. So please have that knowledge when going into it!

With that said, I really enjoyed this book. It kept me wondering and curious about what happened as it moved the plot along. There wasn’t really a point where I wasn’t wondering what had happened, even as I was piecing things together on my own. The author did a good job with keeping you wondering and wanting to find out what happened.

The characters were likable (or unlikable for a few but I believe it was meant to be that way) and I enjoyed seeing them develop throughout the story. They never really felt flat to me, there was enough depth there with them for a stand-alone novel. It was easy to pick out a favorite character, which for me isn’t common in stand-alones. Typically I don’t have favorites in them because you don’t get the chance to connect with them well.

The only thing that stopped me from giving this a five star rating was because of a little bit of a lackluster ending. It was still a really good ending but I felt there could have been a little bit more to it? It just fell a little flat at the end for me, felt a little rushed. There were things that I wanted to know that just weren’t answered but that happens! It was still a wonderful read and I don’t regret reading it at all. I would happily read more by this author.… (mais)

Jesse is a broken woman, forever lost in the cycle of searching for her lost ten-year-old little girl Sophie. She sees her everywhere. In the tiny bird patterns in shirts and in the walk of every teenage girl that passes her. Star, Sophie’s best friend, also sees her friend everywhere she goes. When both women embark on a journey for answers, they find the horrible truth.

This book was a roller-coaster of raw emotion, exploring the pain and grief of a mother’s loss. The trauma experienced by the main characters bonds them, making them stronger as they must live with the loss of Sophie. Star and Jesse were very easy characters to sympathize with and throughout the story, their vibrant emotions were incredibly well-written. Through and through, this is a very haunting story.

The narrator did an excellent job of weaving the emotions, especially the pain and grief, into each character. Every emotion that she demonstrated was very realistic, adding that extra level to the book which made it all the more impacting.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.
… (mais)

This book moves slowly but it is not a bad thing. Usually, moving slowly through a story can be a bad thing as it means that the pacing has slowed down but this is not the case with this story. Yes, the events that take place within the story are subtle but that is because the story is meant to really slow down and focus on the characters "raw" emotions. Jesse and Star are the main leads. Although, Tuck is instrumental in helping Jesse to find peace. Truly, it was Jesse and Star that healed one another. They were both grieving and hurting inside. By the end of the story, a weight had been lifted off their shoulders and they could start to move forward.

Because of how wounded everyone is in the story; the tone of the story could have been very depressing but it wasn't. The author did a very good job of keeping this from happening. Instead, I felt for Jesse and Star. While, Sophie was already missing at the beginning, through both women, I felt as if I got a good glimpse into who Sophie was. She was loved and a joyous girl. If you enjoy reading books in the vein of Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult than, you need to pick up a copy of this book, Sophie Last Seen by Marlene Adelstein.… (mais)

Lindas Book Obsession Reviews “Sophie Last Seen” by Marlene Adelstein, Red Adept Publishing

Marlene Adelstein, Author of “Sophie Last Seen” has written an amazing, captivating, intense, intriguing, suspenseful and edgy novel. Marlene Adelstein is an amazing writer, and vividly describes the characters, birds, scenery and landscape. Utilizing all of my senses, I could see, hear, feel, touch, taste and smell many of the events described. The Genres for this story are Fiction, Mystery, Suspense and Thriller. The author describes her colorful and quirky characters as complex, complicated and dysfunctional. The timeline for this story is in the present and goes to the past where is pertains to the characters and events in the story.

Jesse has lived other mother’s nightmares for the last six years. Can you imagine your daughter disappearing? Jesse had taken her daughter Sophie shopping, and within a few minutes Sophie disappears. Sophie is ten years old with a fascination and obsession with birds. Sophie often compares the characteristics of birds to people. Sophie has shown her mother that crows are extremely intelligent. After feeding them, the crows often leave Sophie shiny and small objects as gifts. Sophie can also have tantrums if she doesn’t get her way. On this particular day, Sophie is upset that Jesse won’t stop to see a certain bird, and then becomes upset that Jesse won’t let her have a certain shirt from the store.

Star, one of the few friends that Sophie had, is reminded that she broke a promise to go with Sophie shopping the day that Sophie was last seen. Star also has tremendous guilt. Both Jesse and Star are working in Star’s father used bookstore, and struggle with Sophie’s loss.

Both Jesse and Star haven’t found closure with Sophie’s loss, and live dysfunctional lives. They both try to use Sophie’s bird journals for clues to what could have happened to Sophie.

The author discusses the importance of forgiveness, acceptance, faith, hope and love. I would highly recommend this suspenseful novel for those readers who enjoy this genre.… (mais)