A NEW YORK TIMES “TEN BEST BOOKS OF 2022”
An Oprah’s Book Club Selection • An Instant New York Times Bestseller • An Instant Wall Street Journal Bestseller • A #1 Washington Post Bestseller
“Demon is a voice for the ages—akin to Huck Finn or Holden Caulfield—only even more resilient.” —Beth Macy, author of Dopesick
“May be the best novel of 2022. . . . Equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking, this is the story of an irrepressible boy nobody wants, but readers will love.” (Ron Charles, Washington Post)
From the acclaimed author of The Poisonwood Bible and The Bean Trees, a brilliant novel that enthralls, compels, and captures the heart as it evokes a young hero’s unforgettable journey to maturity
Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. Relayed in his own unsparing voice, Demon braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.
Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can’t imagine leaving behind.
Jessica.books.coffee
OMG this book blew my mind. There was so many twists and turns. I kept trying to come up with what’s going to happen next and most of the time I was completely wrong!!This book took me on an emotional roller coaster, being a mother and reading about certain things just destroyed me. Makes me want to hold and love my children extra today.I couldn’t imagine what Laurel went through. And being a mother it just hurts more. Such a heart breaking story with a surprising ending!I seriously couldn’t put this book down and this is hands down the best thriller that I’ve read this year. I was in the edge of my seat most of the time wanting to know what was going to happen next! I couldn’t predict what the outcome was going to be.
Hillary Stamey
This book kept me engaged the entire time and constantly trying to figure out what was next. Definitely a must read! You will not be able to put it down.
Azyamarie
This was my first time reading a book by Lisa Jewell and I don’t even know what else to say but OMG!!! This book had such a hold and grip on me and if it wasn’t for being an adult I wouldn’t of put this down!!So many twists and turns and omg what just happened! As well as I did not see this happening at all!! With being a mother myself this book broke my heart and shattered me at times. I felt for the main character so much.This book was so compelling, breathtaking, and compulsive and will grab a hold on you and won’t let you go!I absolutely loved this book and it was just what I needed to get out of the mini reading slump that I was in this month! Please check for trigger warners prior to reading this book.
PZ
Very suspenseful and towards the middle it was quite disturbing. It’s going to take me a bit to shake this one!
Maria D Alvarado
I enjoyed reading this thriller…
LinHui
This book was 10/10 definitely recommend as a mother slowly learns, grows, and move on from her daughter’s disappearance.
Casey Almeyda
If you like drama thrillers, this is the book for you! I read it front to back in three days. I couldn’t stop reading it.
Mini
Laurel experiences the unthinkable: her fourteen-year-old child goes missing. Not just her child — it is THE child, the one she favors over her three children. Ellie goes to school one day and never comes back. She’s there one moment, and then she’s gone. Ellie is a smart, carefree girl with a crush on a guy who shares her passion for academics and good grades, so she’s no runaway. The years go by, and just when the police give up, Laurel gets some rather devastating news…The years pass. Laurel trudges through her days, picking up the pieces of her broken life. She tries to make amends with her daughter Hannah and her son Jake, but they’re all grown now, with their own lives to worry about. Her marriage is long over, her ex now in a steady and loving relationship with a pleasant lady. Laurel’s life couldn’t be worse if she tried…And then she meets Floyd. It’s a chance encounter, a semi meet-cute at a café. He tells her about his books — academic books about math — and about his #1 fan: his nine-year-old daughter, Poppy. Hope flares for Laurel. Will she find happiness with Floyd? And then she meets his daughter — and it’s like taking a trip to the past. Poppy is almost the splitting image of Ellie. Laurel is floored. How is it possible? This is only the beginning though. She’s opened a Pandora’s Box of disturbing revelations that even she wouldn’t have been able to imagine.I’m not a fan of child abduction thrillers, but THEN SHE WAS GONE is one harrowing and amazing read! I couldn’t put it down. This book was on my TBR pile for over a year. I took it with me for my French Polynesian holiday because, why not? I’m so glad I did. The sea-salt breeze, the hammock, the sunset, this book — sweet memories are made of this! I took three books with me, and this one practically read itself. The writing is amazing, well crafted and riveting, with no over the top twists for shock value. Everything serves a purpose in this book. Many of us will guess the outcome, but that’s beside the point. There are so many surprises — so many “mini twists” — that you’ll love it for the character-driven piece of brilliant suspense that it is. The psychological aspects are amazing. There’s a character with Borderline Personality Disorder in this book, and the author touches on various subjects, like triangulation and toxic enmeshments. It’s all done in an organic, not-in-your-face way, which makes it more appealing. I’ve always loved Lisa Jewell, have loved her since her early “chick lit” days. I’m glad she now gets to write the genre she loves.Downsides? Just one. Floyd is a socially awkward mathematician, but he says “Brangelina” at one point. I can’t picture a man — let alone a middle-aged one — saying something like this. I’m surprised the editor didn’t pick up on it. Other than that, I love this novel. One of my favorites this year. Five solid Pecan and Toffee iced lattes, with extra vanilla-flavored oat milk!
Hay
Its a very good book, love the plot and setting.
Francine
I enjoyed this book. It was filled with interesting characters & a suspenseful storyline. I liked the way Lisa split the book into 5 parts. Each character was the narrator throughout the book so I was able to see things from their perspective. There were some surprises & I thought it had a good ending.