Review: Gone Girl

Gone Girl

By Gillian Flynn

Genre:

Psychological Thriller

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

4/5 stars

Gone Girl was a whirlwind of emotion. I found myself relating with both main characters at times, rooting for them one second then unsure whether I even liked them the next.

This book is set in two perspectives: in the present with Nick as his life is turned upside down at his wife’s disappearance, and alternately in the perspective of his wife, Amy, in the form of diary entries leading up to her disappearance.

I found myself highlighting sentences throughout the book, many of them that struck me personally or I just found well written. And I don’t normally highlight much (if any) in books. But there was definitely something about the way this story was written that stuck with me and made me feel refreshed, despite the more serious subject matter that kept growing as the story went along.

These characters were extremely well written and, best of all, realistic. Most of the time, at least. I mean, I hope I never find myself in this kind of situation—who knows how “realistically “ I’d react to certain things too! But I’m getting ahead of myself here.

Hmm...How can I give you a good summarization of this book without giving too much away?

Let’s focus on the characters. Nick and Amy. Amy and Nick. The dynamic duo who have a crap-ton of issues roiling underneath their pretty, smile-plastered faces.

“Because isn’t that the point of every relationship: to be known by someone else, to be understood? He gets me. She gets me. Isn’t that the simple magic phrase?”

This sentence was the first I highlighted in the book. I was barely into the story and yet I felt that this phrase would somehow play into the rest of what was unfolding before my eyes. The inherent desire to be understood, to be truly loved, by your significant other. Isn’t that what we all want deep down?

It comes to this:

Nick is handsome, a writer, and he seemingly has it all together. Or does he? We learn quickly that while Nick says the right things and smiles that winning smile of his, there is much below the surface of his well-tempered veneer.

His character was oftentimes relatable, with his need to please and keep emotions in check. I felt for him, despite his flaws. And he had many! But that’s the makeup of a good character—they’re human, and we love them for it.

And Amy. Poor, sweet, striving Amy. Her diary entries are beautifully written. I love how her voice in the story feels completely different than Nick’s. Their two perspectives intertwine wonderfully, each with their own cadence and life that perfectly portrayed their unique thoughts and feelings.

I found myself empathizing with Amy in the beginning. She told her and Nick’s love story with an authenticity that pulled at my heart. Their first kiss was written with such lovely eloquence, the scene so sweetly set on the page, that I could imagine it with clarity. Two people drawn together by chance, a spark of connection, and powdered sugar tinged air. I saw them. I loved them.

But Amy’s diary entries grow heavier with each recorded year. We live with her through the blossom of their new love through the wilting of their stress-filled life together.

Nick and Amy aren’t perfect. And that becomes exceedingly clear as the story progresses.

I found myself hypothesizing so many different outcomes when it came to Amy’s disappearance. Through the lens of Amy’s diary entries, I felt like I had a good idea of what had happened to her. And when it came down to it, I was right.

Mostly.

But just when I thought I had it all figured out, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place and I realized, with pleasant surprise, that the picture was even bigger than I had realized. The way the author pulls all of the loose threads together and weaves a wonderfully rich tapestry of cunning, brokenness, and raw human emotion was impressive.

If you haven’t read this book, I highly suggest you get your hands on it soon. This is a psychological roller coaster of twists and turns, and I very much enjoyed the ride! The ending did feel a bit anticlimactic to me after so much buildup throughout the whole story, which is why I’m giving it a 4/5 rating, but everything else in the book makes the somewhat lackluster ending worth it to me.

I’ll leave you with this: Love can bring out the absolute best in all of us. But it can also bring out the darkest, worst part of us as well. When the threat of losing love is thrust into your life, what would you do to ensure that you can keep it within your grasp?

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I look forward to reading more of Gillian Flynn’s work. Her writing is intelligent, well-paced, and refreshing!

Have you read Gone Girl? If so, what were your thoughts?

Until the next book,

Hogan