The Reappearance of Rachel Price (add-on) : Discussion Thread

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

A new true-crime fueled mystery thriller about a girl determined to uncover the shocking truth about her missing mother while filming a documentary on the unsolved case.

Lights. Camera. Lies.

18-year-old Bel has lived her whole life in the shadow of her mom’s mysterious disappearance. Sixteen years ago, Rachel Price vanished and young Bel was the only witness, but she has no memory of it. Rachel is gone, long presumed dead, and Bel wishes everyone would just move on.

But the case is dragged up from the past when the Price family agree to a true crime documentary. Bel can’t wait for filming to end, for life to go back to normal. And then the impossible happens. Rachel Price reappears, and life will never be normal again.

Rachel has an unbelievable story about what happened to her. Unbelievable, because Bel isn’t sure it’s real. If Rachel is lying, then where has she been all this time? And – could she be dangerous? With the cameras still rolling, Bel must uncover the truth about her mother, and find out why Rachel Price really came back from the dead . . .

From world-renowned author Holly Jackson comes a mind-blowing masterpiece about one girl’s search for the truth, and the terror in finding out who your family really is.

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

** Keep an eye on your email! I got a message today that my copy was printed without a certain page and that I have a new box coming my way with a new copy!

[Amanda - Cat Addict Historian]

Trisha wrote: "** Keep an eye on your email! I got a message today that my copy was printed without a certain page and that I have a new box coming my way with a new copy!"

Yes, I got the email too!

[Amanda - Cat Addict Historian]

Okay, I started reading the book and cannot stop... Hopefully, I get the new book before I get to the issue page because I will not want to stop.

Chapters 1-5 (view spoiler)[ Okay, Bel is a lot like her dad. Hiding her feelings and remaining quiet. I picked up on this with her stealing and her dad arguing with his brother (and it seems that Bel would be so disassociated from her mother because her dad must not talk about her...right?). Also, am I crazy? I felt like when the film crew was interviewing her grandpa he was silenced by his two sons. I know he is struggling with a condition but it just felt suspicious. Another question, why is Mr. Tripp in a wheelchair? Was he when he found Bel in her mother's car the day Rachel disappeared? I have so mannnyyyy questions!!! (hide spoiler)]

Chapters 6-16 Oh man, I am digging this book! (view spoiler)[ I may eat my words later but damn Bel, chill out. Give Rachel a break. I get that Bel is distrustful and does not realize she is hurt that she has not had a mom her whole life but jeezzzz the woman told you she has been held against her will for 16 years! Bel established earlier in the book that she is like her mom with forgetting and her dad also said she was having difficulty with her memory. Maybe these small mistakes or lies she is telling are due to trauma and memory issues. Trauma can make you block out many things, or if she was being held against her will but also was allowed access to the internet or whatever, fear or Stockholm Syndrome could keep her from saving herself or reaching out. Oh, and may I add, she is being like her dad again holding in all her tension and thoughts... Sighhh.... Oh, to be a teenager again where you think the whole world is against you... Not, no thank you. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 17-36 (view spoiler)[What the hell is going on??? And why is Rachel such an asshole? Am I going to regret saying that? I hope so, or maybe I hope not.? Why would her dad just up and leave? Who was the man watching the neighbor saw? Why is no one concerned about that? Why is Rachel not worried that Charlie left or is missing? If he did just need a break, then why would he not get in touch with Bel (seems wayy out of character)? I have to grade student work but all I want to do is fly through this book. (hide spoiler)]

Chapter 36-End

Here are my final thoughts.

(view spoiler)[
I enjoyed this book but I did find the ending to be hectic and weird. Who would just walk away from their child? If I was Sherry there is no way I could. I mean sure, she probably would not get custody of Carter, but I bet some digging would easily lead to the police finding out what happened at the junkyard. Also, Carter and Bel had their phones on at the junkyard and then turned them off. So the police would know their last known location. The word I would like to use would be unbelievable, but the story was unbelievable from the beginning so I won't knock it for ending up crazy too much. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

10 chapters

oooh this one is good so far
(view spoiler)[ but wow, yeah, the dad didn't act quite as happy as I thought he would
the mom's slip up was understandable but it's interesting that the daughter doesn't think so

and the documentary is just wild - the way they set up the family and that super uncomfortable moment at the school. Yikes

but I love the initial mystery of how they disappeared but Where has she been this whole time?? (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

20 chapters

(view spoiler)[ well, this set is a little weirder
I think the dad is still acting really odd. so is the mom. why aren't they all going to counseling together.
there are also typically reunification halfway houses. I can see why Bel would push back on her mom taking over the house so it's really weird they aren't all talking. like, at all.

I'm not sure I believe her mom either. the story is weird, the instant buying all the stuff with their money is weird. negotiating her own contract- all really weird. (hide spoiler)]

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

30 chapters

huh (view spoiler)[ her dad disappearing was NOT what I expected. could he be tracking down who was holding her?
and why would they make her disappear? this is all so odd.

There's definitely something going on with Carter too! her mom is really awful to her about making sure she eats little and does the dancing. I wonder if Carter really wants to. . .

and Sherry was really nasty to Rachel. what is really going on here?

and the money and Rachel appearing to try to run. that's an interesting twist too. I'm just shocking all these people were keeping these secrets after Rachel went missing (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

I am just about ready to start it. I had my grandchildren today and I've been up since 5:00 so I'm pretty tired but seeing that you two like it, I am excited to dig in!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

oh no! I hope you get more sleep tonight!

I'm done!

(view spoiler)[ so good. so dark and twisty.
wow, that they held her!! and THEN she held Charlie there!
and wow about Carter, I didn't see that coming either! (hide spoiler)]

I loved this one! I can't wait to see what you think!

[Vicki]

I'm so glad you loved it! I am actually JUST NOW starting it. lol Where does the time go!

[Vicki]

LOL I fell asleep last night and so I'm finally actually reading it today.

Chapters 1-10

(view spoiler)[At this time in the book all I could do was wonder why the engine on/off thing was such a big deal. I did think the return was rather odd for sure! Her husband seems to have really loved her, and I get the shock, but why no hug or huge "OMG I"M SO HAPPY YOU'RE BACK!"? I understand Bel feeling strange since she doesn't know her mom, but she's so suspicious. If she is lying, WHY and where was she really then? (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Chapters 11-21

(view spoiler)[A lot has happened and it does appear that she's lied to everyone. I think it would be strange for some guy to kidnap a woman for 16 years, never rape her or touch her but then suddenly bring her back. Hmm... Rachel seems too interested in shopping and she seems too "normal" for having been in a basement for 16 years with no TV or books etc. Makes no sense. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Chapters 22-30

(view spoiler)[What the H-E-L-L is going on?? I am so confused! I agree, Trisha, that something is very off with Carter and her mom, but I just can't figure out what.

Also, when Bel looked in Rachel's phone and saw she was in there under the correct name, it made me wonder because all along I keep wondering why she keeps calling her Anna or Annabel, like seeing her daughter after 16 years I would think she'd be so careful to call her by the name she's used to. It's almost like she's purposefully calling her anything other than Bel.

Jeff? Hmm, again, no idea what's going on with Grandpa. Could they both be involved somehow? (hide spoiler)]

This has me on my toes!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

ha!! I'm glad you are loving it!

[Vicki]

Chapters 31-36

(view spoiler)[It seems all I can say is What the HELL is going on!? I need to know!

I don't believe that Charlie would've up and left without telling Bel. If I (Rachel) were innocently looking for something to get for a person's birthday, I seriously doubt the first thing I would spot is a hidden camera. She had to be looking for it to make sure she wouldn't be recorded.

It also seems fishy that the cup that Bel was looking for was emptied with the trash just in time. Why would the garbage cans still be out there? Why would Rachel be stupid enough to bring home a cup from Vermont (right?) and dump it for evidence? She seems too smart for that. I'm so confused!

I think something is up between Rachel and Carter, but again I have no idea what. (hide spoiler)]

[Vicki]

Finished

(view spoiler)[What the hell!! Wowzer! I thought this was SO freaking good! I kept thinking things were off with different people, but it took me time to suspect Charlie because Bel was so sure of him and his loyalty, but boy were she and I both wrong! lol

I knew something was up with Carter! I wondered if she might be Rachel's daughter but I couldn't see how since she'd been gone for 16 (15) years. Now I know. lol I love it! It seems like pretty much everyone was (and now is) complicit in some wrong doing. (hide spoiler)] Wow! I loved it!

[Trisha, lives on coffee]

YAY!! I'm so glad you loved this one too!! So good right?
and I never guessed the twist and ultimate reveal!

[Vicki]

Neither did I! Lol Just loved this one!