Book Review: ‘I’m Not Missing: A Novel’ Looks At Family, Love And Life Of A Seventeen Year Old Girl

Teen angst is something that almost everyone has gone through. Either as the teenager or the parent. For 17 year old Miranda Black live is no different. Her mom took off when she was young so it has just been her with her dad (who is a great dad). She’s also had her best friend Syd along with her. They have been like sisters.

Until one night after an argument Syd has taken off. No one knows where she is. She got in her car and left. She left a note saying she was leaving. This has shaken Miranda and she tries to find her. She’s also having to deal with school, applying to college and with Nick the boy she likes who stood her up for junior prom. With Syd gone she has gotten to talking to Nick (she is still mad at him) but soon learns why he stood her up. She also finds Syd’s phone a few months after she left with some cryptic notes in her car.

She goes through the phone looking for clues and finds some mysterious texts/numbers that she doesn’t know who it belongs to. She and Nick had talked things out and are now in love and trying to figure out the college futures. Miranda keeps digging and makes a shocking discovery that upends her and could ruin her future with Nick and takes off determined to find Syd once and for all.

Author Carrie Fountain’s debut novel is beautifully written, with twists and turns that you don’t see coming. She has the perfect amount of teen drama that any teenager could be going through. From losing her mom, to first love to deciding colleges, it’s something that a lot of teens go through every year.

You can pick up I’m Not Missing in stores on Tuesday, July 10 from Flatiron Books.