Bone Gap

by Laura Ruby
Bone Gap cover
Good Books rating 3.83
Magical Realism
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Format • £8.54
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  • ID: 3673
  • Added: 2025-10-18
  • Updated: 2025-10-19
  • ISBN: 9780571332762
  • Publisher: Faber & Faber
  • Published: 2016-12-27
  • Formats: 1
  • Reviews: 3

Bone Gap is a town filled with gaps—gaps that can swallow people whole, leaving no trace behind. When Roza, a young woman of striking beauty, goes missing, the townsfolk aren't surprised. But Finn O'Sullivan knows something different happened. He's convinced Roza was kidnapped, though he can't remember the face of her abductor. As Finn and the beekeeper's daughter, Petey Willis, delve into the town's melancholic past and present, they uncover layers of truth that challenge the perceptions of everyone in Bone Gap. The narrative weaves together the stories of Finn, Roza, and the townspeople, revealing a complex tapestry of secrets and uncertainties that ultimately lead to the truth about Roza's fate. The novel is praised for its lyrical prose and the way it explores themes of memory, perception, and the power of storytelling. It's a captivating blend of magical realism and mystery that keeps readers on the edge of their seats.

Reviews
Heartful of Books · 2017-12-17
mixed 3.00

The reviewer liked the budding relationship between Petey and Finn but felt it wasn't enough to drive the story forward. They found some elements engaging but not compelling enough to sustain interest.

The reviewer at Heartful of Books had mixed feelings about Bone Gap. They appreciated the developing relationship between Petey and Finn, finding it to be one of the more engaging aspects of the novel. However, they felt that this relationship alone wasn't sufficient to carry the entire story. The reviewer found some parts of the book interesting but ultimately felt that it lacked the depth and momentum needed to keep them fully engaged throughout.

Quick quotes

    I liked some elements. Like the budding relationship between Petey and Finn, for example, but it wasn't enough to drive me through the story.

    The story had moments of intrigue and emotional depth, but it didn't quite come together for me.

    I found myself wanting more from the characters and their journeys.

Once Upon a Bookcase · 2016-12-27
heartwarming 4.50

The book is praised for its heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic and mystery, regret and forgiveness. The reviewer highlights the story's emotional depth and its exploration of complex themes.

This reviewer found Bone Gap to be a deeply moving novel that expertly weaves together themes of love, loss, magic, and mystery. They appreciated how the story delves into the complexities of human emotions, particularly regret and forgiveness. The reviewer also noted the vivid and realistic portrayal of small-town America, which adds to the novel's emotional resonance. However, they felt that the story's emotional depth and the way it challenges societal expectations make it a standout read.

Quick quotes

    acclaimed author Laura Ruby weaves a heartbreaking tale of love and loss, magic and mystery, regret and forgiveness

    a story about how the face we present to the world is not always the one we hide beneath

    The novel is a powerful exploration of the complexities of human relationships and the masks we wear

The New York Times · 2015-05-08
compelling 4.00

The reviewer praised the vivid and realistic portrayal of small-town America, including its eccentric characters and unkind rumors. They found the novel to be a compelling exploration of societal expectations and the masks we wear.

The New York Times reviewer highlighted the vivid and realistic depiction of small-town America in Bone Gap, noting the presence of violent bullies, local eccentrics, and unkind rumors. They appreciated how the novel delves into the societal expectations placed on women and the masks people wear to conform to these expectations. The reviewer found the story to be a compelling exploration of these themes, making it a memorable and thought-provoking read.

Quick quotes

    In 'Bone Gap,' the texture of small-town America is vivid and realistic: There are violent bullies, local eccentrics and unkind rumors about the town and its inhabitants.

    The novel is a powerful exploration of the masks we wear and the societal expectations that shape our lives.

    Ruby's writing is both lyrical and haunting, drawing readers into a world that is both familiar and strangely unsettling.

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