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Finding Jake

Bryan Reardon (Goodreads Author)

3.96 · Rating details · 13,316 ratings · 1,393 reviews

A heart-wrenching yet ultimately uplifting story of psychological suspense in which a parent is forced to confront what he does—and does not—know about his teenage son, in the vein of Reconstructing Amelia, Defending Jacob, and We Need to Talk about Kevin.

While his successful wife goes off to her law office each day, Simon Connolly takes care of their kids, Jake and Laney. ...more

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Hardcover, 264 pages

Published February 24th 2015 by William Morrow (first published February 1st 2015)

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FEBRUARY 2015 LIBRARY READS

10 books — 28 voters

2015: What People Born in the 1980s Have Read in 2015

1,896 books — 517 voters

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Oct 20, 2014 Will Byrnes rated it really liked it

Life is kind of like that, picking the memories you want to frame. We all have an idea of how it should be, all smiles and swing sets. There are the more unsavory moments that we leave in the box stashed up in the darker parts of our psyche. We know they exist but we don’t go flaunting them in front of the dinner guests.

There are three main elements in Finding Jake, the parent/child relationship, the way the world treats those who are different, and the mystery of what happened leading up to, ...more

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Aug 25, 2014 Diane S ☔ rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Sep 29, 2014 Jill rated it it was ok · review of another edition

t's become the norm today for a publicist to compare a new book to one that's earned accolades in the past. In this case, Finding Jake is compared with Lionel Shriver's We Need To Talk About Kevin.

The problem is: that book was filled with confident and powerful prose and acute insights into a damaged and unknowable child with serious psychological issues. In this case, the prose is faltering, which made me not at all sure I could trust the author to take me through the story.

Unflaggingly support ...more

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May 06, 2016 Sharon rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: own-read

Simon Connolly's world is about to be turned upside down when he learns about a shooting at the school his kids Jake and Laney attend. With no time to spare Simon races to where the nightmare is unfolding. Simon is fearing the worst, but he never imagined to be confronted with what he was about to see.

Finding Jake was a page turner and one in which I really enjoyed. Not only was it a psychological thriller, it was also a tale about courage, love and strength. I have no hesitation in HIGHLY reco ...more

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Apr 20, 2016 Linda Strong rated it it was amazing

Shelves: read-in-2016

Simon Connolly is a stay-at-home dad, raising two children, while his wife who is an attorney, works. Not the ideal situation for everyone. but this has been the norm for the Connolly family for 17 years ... when Jake first came home from the hospital.

Simon is starting to feel the empty nest syndrome ... both kids are in high school. He's a dedicated father, and fears for his children. He listens to the news, reads the newspapers, knows that danger is out there.

And then comes the phone call that ...more

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Mar 01, 2015 Philomena Callan Cheekypee rated it it was amazing

This was a gripping read. As soon as I started I just had to finish it.

Simon is a stay at home dad to his two kids Jake and Laney. When he gets a text saying there is a shooting at his kids school his world is torn apart. We read this story through Simons point of view with alternating chapters going back and forth from past to present. We read of the turmoil Simon goes through with his insecurities about rearing his son.
There is so much more to this story. I'm really glad I didn't read any spoi ...more

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Feb 07, 2015 Becky rated it really liked it

Shelves: review-copies, 2015, mystery-and-thrillers, owned, politicalish, tear-jerkers, reviewed

Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC of this book for review from the publisher.

We Need To Talk About Kevin was one of my favorite books of the last few years. It is one of those books that is powerful and gripping and terrifying all because of the fact that it is so realistic. I loved it and thought it was brilliant, so the recent spate of what-kind-of-child-did-you-raise books are coming as no surprise to me.

And for the first quarter of this book, I will admit that it did feel like We Need To T Disclaimer: I was provided an ARC of this book for review from the publisher.

We Need To Talk About Kevin was one of my favorite books of the last few years. It is one of those books that is powerful and gripping and terrifying all because of the fact that it is so realistic. I loved it and thought it was brilliant, so the recent spate of what-kind-of-child-did-you-raise books are coming as no surprise to me.

And for the first quarter of this book, I will admit that it did feel like We Need To Talk About Kevin lite. We learn that something very bad has happened, and that a teen was involved, then meet the parent who has mostly had the responsibility of day-to-day care, and from the parent's perspective, we go back to the early days and see just how we got to where we are today. But from there, things veer off into a different direction.

In a way, I think that both books are more about parenting than about the actual tragedy that was the catalyst for the examination. I am not a parent, but I imagine that it's got to be one of the most terrifying things ever. You hold the shaping of a person's life in your hands, and what you do with it can have the most unexpected consequences... or maybe none at all.

I think that Reardon did a good job showing the psyche of a parent who recognizes this, and who tries hard to shape and mold with that thought in mind. "If I let him down, will it cause a wrinkle that could grow into something important?" Or "I taught this lesson, but the application of it was taken in a direction that I didn't see and am a bit afraid of... but I can't back down now, because THAT might cause a wrinkle..." It's like a real-life game of Minesweeper where every move is OK at the time, but causes a chain reaction you'll never see coming later on.

I also was really interested in the witch-hunt aspects of the story, and thought that this was handled pretty well also. It goes to show that when people are grieving and scared, anything can be sinister, and people will grasp at any sort of explanation as to why something terrible has happened. We need to know what the monster looks like, or at least what it wants, so we can steer clear and delude ourselves that we're safe. The way that people twisted introversion into being a murderer is chilling to me, because there's a real stigma surrounding introversion, as though it's essentially the same thing as psychosis. You're quiet, you're a loner, you're different... you're scary.

So there were a lot of things that I liked about this, but there were other things that I had some issues with. I feel like this book was a little short for the subject matter, and I wish that it'd been fleshed out a bit more. I wanted to know more about Doug, and his family. I wanted to see more of Jake's teen years, the ones leading up to the event, rather than so much of his younger years.

And I feel like, despite Simon's lack of confidence in his son, I was pretty sure that I knew what really happened that day, and I was right. I figured it out a little before the midpoint of the book, and all that was left was to keep reading to see if I was right. I usually dislike guessing things like this, and want mysteries to string me along better - and for the ruining of that suspense, I partially blame the blurb on the back cover (which I'd tried to avoid and failed) for mentioning that it was a "heart-wrenching yet ultimately uplifting" novel. Now, that could actually mean lots of things, but I made the assumption about why it would be said about this book, and I was right. But I can't put all of the blame on the blurb, because Simon's memories shed quite a lot of light on how Jake was raised, and, as an introvert myself, I recognized a lot of the suspicious traits, and know how they could be interpreted. So, in that way, it felt a bit predictable, but I think that the societal issues raised more than make up for it. I just kind of wish it wasn't touted as a suspense novel when it seemed clear where it was actually going.

So, overall, this was a pretty good book, and the fact that I wanted more of it is a pretty good endorsement. I'd like to see a cleaned up edition, because there were some errors and... interesting phrasings that I hope don't make it into the final copy. But I can definitely see myself recommending this book to others. It's a quick read, and interesting on many levels, and hopefully makes us think - not only about how we'll shape the lives of those around us, but how we judge their actions as well. ...more

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Jan 15, 2015 Licha rated it it was ok

I ran out of steam to want to review this book. There were too many things I did not like about it that did not allow me to fully enjoy the book, as excited as I was to start it.

I found mom and dad unlikable. There was no chemistry between the two and there was no chemistry between the dad and his kids. I didn't quite feel that bond that united dad to Jake, much less to Laney, the youngest daughter. I found the dad to be whiny and insecure and boo-hoo-hooing every other chapter about how he felt ...more

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Jan 31, 2015 Kelli rated it really liked it

I don't feel good about reading books that are ripped from the headlines and based on national tragedies. That being said I do seem to manage my way through that as I have read both Nineteen Minutes and Defending Jacob. I haven't yet been able to bring myself to read We Need To Talk About Kevin or Columbine. I still can't believe these things happen outside of fiction, let alone the regularity with which they occur. This is the stuff of the most horrific nightmares imaginable.

Finding Jake is a s ...more

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Oct 02, 2014 Tracy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I finished this book in one day, which, given my busy schedule, says a lot for the story. It had me hooked from the first page. There will be many people who compare this book to other books about school shootings, but I honestly don't see how a comparison can be made. This is a unique story about a stay at home dad, Simon, and his deep thoughts, astute observations and never-ending concerns surrounding the upbringing of his children, his marriage, and his inner battle about the parental role he ...more

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Apr 28, 2017 Cesar rated it really liked it

Shelves: adult

4.5 stars

"You may have heard of my son, Jake. Most people have, but they don't know him. Not really."

Being a parent is hard. I myself am not a parent, but I have seen many parents who say it's hard raising kids. They are happy, of course. From the moment their child is born till they leave for college, there is a love for them to see them grow up and be happy. But, in between those years, and sometimes even past adulthood, it can be hard. Deciding what's good for them, seeing how they interact ...more

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Apr 04, 2015 Michael rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorite-books

Simon Connely has a supporting wife and two loving children. Jake his son is a introverted child who always took care of the ones around him, caring and sensitive are one of his many unique traits. When Simon agreed to become a stay at home Father, He did not know how much he would enjoy it. Laney his daughter is a bright girl who has grown accustomed to her brother playful teasing, together as siblings they are inseparable. Simon's relationship with his wife is suffering due to the lack of affe Simon Connely has a supporting wife and two loving children. Jake his son is a introverted child who always took care of the ones around him, caring and sensitive are one of his many unique traits. When Simon agreed to become a stay at home Father, He did not know how much he would enjoy it. Laney his daughter is a bright girl who has grown accustomed to her brother playful teasing, together as siblings they are inseparable. Simon's relationship with his wife is suffering due to the lack of affection and attention. Jake as a child often came between them as a couple, but all for the "right reasons." Jake was simply a young kid that wanted to please his parents in every area, thus making it extremely hard for him to ever be disciplined. Yet when he befriends a boy name Doug, his life is put at risk when a shooting at a school leaves many missing or dead. Now Simon must question his loyalty to his wife and most importantly to his child, Jake.

The story shifts from Past to Present, all leading up to Jake disappearance. Simon blames himself for not taking care of Jake when he was little. Startling questions start to whirl around in his head such as: Was Jake too quiet growing up? Why did he always want to hang out with Doug? Was he a good sibling to his sister? Did he overlook some things about his erratic behavior for the sake of pleasing his son? Is his son a murderer as some starts to believe? These and many other questions consumes his thoughts and mind. Simon's marriage is put in jeopardy when the two share different perspective about what really happened on the day Jake disappeared.

Taking from his own personal diary, notes from friends, and the advice of strangers:Simon's life is not worth living, not for his attached daughter Laney or his distant wife. The only person he wants to find alive and well is Jake, the child that has put a wedge between his marriage but also the same child that is the glue that holds his life together.

This is by far the best book I ever read this year! The characters was so emotionally charged that I deeply sympathized with all of them: I share similarities to Jake shyness, Laney attachment and Simon doubts of fear and anxiety.

Perfect characterization, splendid consistency and an unforgettable novel that exceeded my expectations.

It has now become one of my favorite books,kudos to Bryan Reardon, I will look forward to reading more of your work! ...more

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Dec 30, 2016 Erika rated it it was ok

Shelves: books-read-in-2016

Simon is a somewhat angst-ridden stay at home dad with two kids and successful-attorney wife. There’s a mass shooting at the local high school, and it looks like his son was involved. The novel alternates between the present and flashbacks of Jake’s childhood, as Simon frantically tries to figure out what happened.

Addictive plot, tight structure, large issues, so why only two stars?

I’m a big believer in the old writing adage, “Show, don’t tell.” When an author conveys deeper truths through ima ...more

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Oct 05, 2014 Shawn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

There's no way for this not to be compared to "We Need To Talk About Kevin". I think the author knew that would be the case, and the development of the story and "creative" ending was designed to lessen the "knock off" accusations just a bit. If imitation is the highest form of flattery, Lionel Shriver is beaming. To Me, however, this is a much better novel. This felt more authentic, and less pretentious than "Kevin" did. The writing is solid enough to lend forgiveness to areas of the story that ...more

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Aug 09, 2018 Emer rated it it was ok

Recommended to Emer by: JENNY

Shelves: abn-sum-2018, 2stars, reviewed, general-fiction, read-in-2018

Read as part of the ABN Summer Reading Challenge recommended by Jenny

(view spoiler) ...more

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Sep 24, 2016 Linda rated it really liked it

Shelves: audio

Finding Jake was a very good read!

It the story of a stay-at-home dad, named Simon, and his experiences when there is a school shooting at his children's high school. The book is told in the past and the present (the time of the shooting). It is very cleverly done.

Finding Jake centers around a school shooting but is so much more. It touches on parenting and stereotypes. As a parent, I found myself easily relating to Simon throughout the story. That said, it got pretty emotional for me. And it re ...more

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May 18, 2018 Rheama rated it it was ok

After a high school shooting, Jake disappears. His family is left confused and shattered. Was Jake an accomplice or a victim?

I was quite bored with the first eighty percent of the book which mostly consists of mundane details of Jake’s childhood filtered through the lens of an insecure stay at home dad. The "current" scenes describe the family waffling between Jake's guilt or innocence in a variety of settings. Rinse, wash, repeat.

Then the final leg of the book ripped my heart out and left me de ...more

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Feb 24, 2015 Mark Rubinstein rated it it was amazing

Finding Jake is a lyrically-written, heart-wrenching novel about a father's fears and doubts concerning his son. A school shooting has occurred, and Simon Connolly learns the shocking news that his son was seen leaving the school after the incident. Adding to the horror of it all, is the fact that Jake is now missing, and his blood is at the scene of the shooting. Simon begins second-guessing himself, wondering if he ever really knew his own son, one he raised as a stay-at-home father. The writi ...more

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Jul 06, 2015 Randee rated it liked it

Shelves: the-great-escape

This was a quick and easy read and I found it interesting as it moved along quickly. I would have given it 4 stars except that after I finished, I felt unsatisfied. I found that it lacked a viewpoint as to why the tragedy took place. A sweeping panorama of bullying off in the wings (as opposed to front and center in the story) and a stay-at-home father's constant doubts about his parenting skills did not give me enough to have it resonate and touch a chord within me. For those who do not like th ...more

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Oct 25, 2014 Judy Collins rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2015-new-releases, books-read-in-2015, adult-fiction, school-shooting, family-drama, suspense, bryan-reardon

FINDING JAKE by Bryan Reardon is a compelling and heartfelt tragedy; A psychological intense suspense, keeping you page-turning to learn the fate of a teenage son.

Simon Connelly is a freelance writer, and a devoted upper-middle-class suburban stay at home dad to his son, Jake and his daughter Laney, while his wife, Rachel is busy with her legal career.

Presently, the kids are teens. Laney, outgoing and Jake, introverted. They have weathered the storms of typical teenagers, until one day a text ...more

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May 04, 2015 Amanda Cinelli Keith rated it it was amazing

4.5 stars. I did not want to book this book down. As expected, it was tragic, suspenseful, heartbreaking, and made you question so many of your own parenting decisions. Although the Dad got on my nerves at times, I was fascinated by the husband/wife role reversal in this story.
Our book club could probably discuss this one for hours! Must read.

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Mar 19, 2018 Justin rated it liked it

Well, that was depressing! A good book, just a bummer of a story. As a new dad, there were a couple of spots in this book that hit me right in the feels pretty hard.

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Jun 17, 2016 Marla rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobooks

A sad and heart wrenching story. Every parent's nightmare. Very well written and enjoyable as an audiobook.

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$PinkAmy loves \\u0026#x1f495; books\\u0026#x1f4d6;, cats\\u0026#x1f63b; and naps\\u0026#x1f6cf;$

May 20, 2017 PinkAmy loves \\u0026#x1f495; books\\u0026#x1f4d6;, cats\\u0026#x1f63b; and naps\\u0026#x1f6cf; rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-can-never-reread-too-many-t

A school shooting.
13 dead.
One suspect dead.
One missing.
How well do we really know our kids?

Stay-at-home dad Simon Connolly never liked his son Jake's friend Doug. Simon always taught his kids to be kind, but when quiet, introverted Jake takes his dad's words to heart, befriending the unlikable, bullied boy Doug, Simon actively tries to dissuade the relationship. His perfect marriage to Rachel begins to show cracks as Jake and younger sister Laney hit grade school. Rachel wishes she were home mo ...more

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Oct 13, 2014 Karyn Niedert rated it liked it

Shelves: can-t-wait-to-read, 2014-challenge, edelweiss, will-read-all-by-this-author

This book was extremely close in nature to Lionel Shriver's "We Need to Talk About Kevin", but Reardon's take on the buildup and aftermath of sorrow after a violent and deadly school attack was unique and powerful. His narrative POV from stay-at-home father Simon was heart-wrenching yet familiar to all parents whose children suffer through a difficult time in adolescence. I was hooked throughout the story, and managed to read this in a day. The denouement was EXTREMELY satisfying, as Simon find ...more

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Oct 24, 2014 Tikaa rated it really liked it

As a parent, I connected to this book on so many levels. The ending hit me like a ton of bricks, and now I'm crying like a damn fool. Tour stop + review coming May 7th!

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Sep 26, 2014 Kelly rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book reminded me a lot of "We Need To Talk About Kevin" by Lionel Shriver and "Defending Jacob" by William Landay. Very similar plot lines (even down to the first name) about a seemingly nice boy from an upper middle class family with professional, successful parents, living in a small, east coast town in the U.S. All three boys are around the same age, all seem to be "a nice kid" (though upon reflection, have instances of possible mental health issues that the families remember later) AFTE ...more

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Apr 18, 2015 Ashley rated it it was ok

Shelves: 2015, library, 2-stars

I don't know why, but I love books about school shootings. But the thing is, when I read about these horrific crimes, I want to be on the edge of my seat. I want my heart to be pounding. I want to feel the worry and anxiety and the fear that I'm reading about. And I didn't feel that way reading this book. Don't get me wrong, the first ten or so chapters - at least the parts set in present-day - were pretty exciting, getting the story laid out. But then things dragged. And the chapters set in the ...more

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Oct 05, 2014 Sheree rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I started reading this book Friday night after a long day at work. I was immediately drawn into the story and although feeling exhausted, could not put it down. It seemed written from the heart and any parent who has raised their child with constant self doubt and second guessing will really relate to the author's telling of this story. It is a book about family and the choices we make as parents and our fears about how these choices will affect our children. On many levels this is every parents ...more

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May 10, 2016 Irene rated it liked it

There has been a mass shooting at the local high school. Witnesses report two gunmen, but only one has been found, dead of a self-inflicted wound. The other is believed to be Jake. Chapters alternate between that fateful event and moments from Jake’s growing up, all told through the eyes of his stay-at-home father. The book was an easy, engaging read. The ending meandered into over-sentimentality.

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About Bryan Reardon

Bryan Reardon

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I write psychological thrillers. The stories tend to surprise me. Taking a left when I signaled a right. Life when I felt death nearby. The characters are not alive. They do not exist. Yet I try to slip into their skins as I write. Mining for the emotions that flood during times of stress and tragedy and adventure. When the journey ends, a hole opens. A sense of deep mourning. And from those ashes ...more

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Quotes from Finding Jake

“Life is kind of like that, picking the memories you want to frame. We all have an idea of how it should be, all smiles and swing sets. There are the more unsavory moments that we leave in the box stashed up in the darker parts of our psyche. We know they exist but we don’t go flaunting them in front of the dinner guests.” — 4 likes

“Any anger I feel vanishes. What is left cannot be described. It is guilt piled onto emptiness and set afire.” — 2 likes

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