The Long Way Back

Charlie and her 15-year-old daughter Eva become Instagram influencers almost overnight and have a following of thousands who tune in to see their cross-country adventures. But when they return to their small Minnesota town and Eva goes missing, Charlie and the police fear the worst.

The story is told from the POVs of Charlie and Eva in two different time frames - when they were touring the country in their Airstream filming their adventures for their fans, and current day when Eva goes missing. I loved the addition of Charlie and Eva's podcasts, Eva's college application essays and social media comments from their fans which gave the story a unique feel with interesting perspectives. 

The story felt like it was in three distinct parts. The beginning where we meet the mother-daughter Instagram duo felt like a contemporary fiction read. The middle, focused on Eva's disappearance and added suspense, but readers are soon privy to what happened to Eva going into the last third which had a surprising but far-fetched detour that finds Eva at the mercy of an even bigger threat. 

My favourite part was Baart's exploration of the complicated mother-daughter dynamic between Charlie and her daughter and the added layer of social media - its influence, impact, and potential threats. There were a couple intense, nail-biting scenes (so good!), a twist or two that kept me guessing about what happened to Eva and some morally gray characters to keep things interesting. But once we learn what happened to Eva, we lose some of the tension but soon gain a bold, unexpected (and out of left field) plot twist and conclude with an ending that felt a bit rushed.  

The Long Way Back was an interesting blend of domestic drama, suspense and social commentary that had some twists and an interesting mother-daughter relationship that has seen its fair share of emotional ups and downs. This is a unique read about complex relationships, secrets and may even inspire you to hit the road on your own adventure.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the author and Atria Books for the advanced copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

My Rating: 3.5 stars

Author: Nicole Baart

Genre: Contemporary Fiction, Suspense, Canadian

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from author

Publisher: Atria Books - Simon and Schuster Canada

First Published: June 13, 2023

Book Description from GoodReads: When an Instagram-famous teenager mysteriously disappears, her mother grapples with the revelation of dark secrets in this twisty, atmospheric thriller—from the author of Everything We Didn’t Say.

Mother and daughter Charlie and Eva never sought social media fame, but when a stunning photo of Eva went viral, fame found them. Now, after more than two years documenting life on the road in their vintage Airstream trailer, the duo has temporarily settled in a tiny Minnesota town. Eva is happily finishing her senior year of high school and applying to college, but Charlie longs for the adventures they left behind.

When Eva goes missing less than a week before her graduation, it’s Charlie who is immediately suspected of foul play—not just by their fans, but also by the police and the FBI. As a fight about one more road trip comes to light, and the truth about their relationship is questioned, Charlie realizes the rosy facade they portrayed online hid a complicated and potentially dangerous reality. Now, to clear her name and find out what has happened to her daughter, she’ll have to confront her own role in Eva’s disappearance—and whether she knew her daughter at all.