I got access to this book through NetGalley in exchange for a review.
“Payton forced another smile and couldn’t help but wonder if there had been a real moment between them the entire day. How long have I been faking my life?” (loc 755)
Losing Brave is about the bond between two twin sisters. Within the first few chapters of the book, the reader learns that Dylan, one of the sisters, went missing a year ago. While many would like her to move on, she can’t help but believe her sister is still out there. The storytelling switches between scenes from the past and present to provide the reader with a context for the twin’s relationship and the social climate in their neighborhood. The novel focuses on the issue of being true to yourself despite social expectation and perception. They live in Mississippi, where the authors appear to be making a critique of the culture of gossip and expectation. Payton and Dylan are judged based on their mother’s past, the ways they choose to carry themselves, and their social standing.
Payton, introduced at the beginning of the story, is not the most likable character, but my opinion of her changed as she continued to grow and change. At first, I thought she was a shallow socialite, only concerned with her mentions on Twitter. As she continues to grow, she searches for friendships with more depth than the ones she currently keeps only to benefit her social climb. She even starts to defend Dylan’s old friends against the social elite who outcast them. This transformation is what makes her a likable character by the end of the story.
Besides the character development, the book does a good job maintaining the suspense as the characters search for Dylan’s kidnapper. I really liked the inclusion of a clearly identified “villain” to play the prime suspect in the kidnapping only to surprise the reader with an unexpected twist near the end of the novel. Very subtle allusions to the truth are left for the reader, simultaneously being covered up by the blatantly obvious connections and clues pointing to the “villain” in the story. The build-up and conclusion to the story was very satisfying!
This story was an easy page-turner! I would add this novel to my classroom library and would recommend to students who are interested in mystery and/or crime stories.
Rating: 4/5
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