He's Gone by Deb Caletti

*I received this book through Goodreads First Reads.*

He's Gone by Deb Caletti

3.5 stars

Dani Keller wakes up with a slight hangover to the sound of her and husband’s boat, The New View, banging against the dock. She thinks nothing of it and goes about her day on her Seattle houseboat. This Sunday morning isn’t like the rest though. Her husband Ian isn’t home. As the hours pass, Dani tries to go on about the day without worrying, but she starts to panic. Ian doesn’t return and irritation at him not being there turns into worry then panic. Dani realizes that Ian’s gone. He might never come back. The police try to figure out where Ian could’ve gone. Dani refuses to believe that Ian is dead and is sure he left her. Dani recounts her relationship of where their adulterous relationship began to the difficulties of the word soulmate and what it means for them, she examines all of the sins and choices she’s made and the one that she can’t seem to remember. I have read some of Caletti’s YA works and have a soft spot for them (my little sister who has discovered her love for contemporary can’t say the same). Caletti has a way of capturing my attention in her books and I was entranced with Dani’s recount of her sordid affair and just overall life story. This being Caletti’s first delve into adult romance I really enjoyed it. I’m a teenager that loves adult romances and I think I have developed a taste for what I like in my romances and this isn’t my usual romance, but I really enjoyed it. I haven’t really read Nicholas Sparks (mostly excerpts in my world that counts), but I have seen a lot of the movies based on his books. Each one of those movies has a certain feel to it and He’s Gone is very reminiscent to that feeling.


The main female character is Dani. I really liked Dani. She was strong and really funny. I appreciate Dani’s humor because without it this book would’ve been extremely depressing. Dani was always able to make the hard times of her life have a bit of humor in them and I admire her for it. I felt bad watching Dani go from a normal housewife to a wife desperate for answers. I immediately picked up on a pattern in Dani’s life about men and I happened to notice it before she admitted or even realized to it. I personally don’t condone cheating and it was probably the one thing that bothered me the most about Dani and her past choices. I don’t condemn her for it and as the story goes on my early revelation becomes something she addresses.


Kick-Butt Heroine Scale: 8

The main male character is Ian. Ian isn’t ever present in the present of the novel, but he is always there. I personally didn’t like him very much, but there were moments that made me love him as much as Dani did. There were things about their relationship that were sweet and things that weren’t. I hated seeing their relationship change once they were married. It was so different and it’s like Ian changed altogether. That change is what made me not like him.


Swoon Worthy Scale: 6

The Villain- There is no villain. It’s not that kind of story. Sometimes a book doesn’t need a battle to face with someone, but a battle within.

Villain Scale: Nonexistent

Dani’s mother and daughter played a big part of Dani’s story. Dani’s mom was hilarious and she like Dani has a funny personality, but is much cruder. I liked how her family was there for her and showed their support. There are other characters of course, but I won’t talk about them in the review because I don’t want to reveal everything that happens and each character plays a role in some way. I already feel like I've revealed too much.


Character Scale: 8

This is a very strong emotional journey. It started out as what could’ve been a romance and became a story about realization and evolving like butterfly (See what I did there? You’re probably really confused but if you’ve read the book it makes sense.) I definitely recommend this. I’m not sure for when maybe a rainy day. Since this story is based in Seattle it seems fitting. Give Caletti a shot she’s definitely worth it.


Cover Thoughts: The cover is beautiful in person. I love it and I just think that it somehow fits and it explains a lot about Dani’s journey. I’m probably interpreting the cover all wrong and thinking about it too much but I’m sticking to it.