I found Hideaway to be a good book, but it was trying to be too many things for me to really enjoy it. The book was divided into four parts and told primarily from Cate’s point of view, but it occasionally jumped around to several other characters’ POV as well. Part 1 introduces the reader to the Sullivan family and the ensuing kidnapping of the child Cate. Part 2 follows Cate as she deals with her situation and growing up, a bit of a bildungsroman. Part 3 follows Cate back to Big Sur as she finally settles into life as an adult. Part 4 develops her life there as the “mystery” ramps up to its conclusion.

As a family drama, it was very successful. I really enjoyed Part I exploring the family dynamics and the action-y kidnapping drama. Great characterizations. The next part of the book seemed to slow down a little too much for me and I lost a bit of interest while Cate “grew up” and explored acting. As a mystery or suspense novel, it was ruined for me by the small blurbs from the point of view of certain characters, or “bad guys” if you will, that gave away the story. The romance seemed like a foregone conclusion that lacked development between the friends to lovers jump. As a reader, I felt like I knew what was happening without it actually being spelled out on the page.

Read this book for the family dynamics and not for the suspense or romance angles.