Fifteen-year-old Austin Bowman vanishes off the face of the earth. Was he kidnapped, abducted by aliens, or murdered by his hotheaded brother, Colton? Despite the rumors and his troubled kid reputation, only Colton knows he didn’t kill Austin. He also knows what drove his brother from the house that rainy day. Or does he?
Riddled with guilt, Colton spends every waking moment trying to find Austin. Searching online for similar missing kids, he meets Keilani, a girl from Hawaii whose younger brother vanished the same day as Austin. Internet explorations reveal other kids who also disappeared, always on rainy days. Since none of these kids have been heard from since, alien abduction seems the most likely answer.
Colton endures years of frustrating dead ends and high school graduation beckons. Then something so shocking occurs that the world descends on the Bowman home in the form of media, law enforcement, even Homeland Security, and Colton’s life will never be the same.
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Reviews:
“If you’re a fan of books that blend real-world emotion with eerie mystery—think Paper Towns meets Stranger Things—this one should be on your TBR.”
– Kim Bartosch, author of Ask The Girl
“Losing Austin made me emotional, made me angry, and made me believe in the impossible for a second. If you’ve ever loved someone who was hard to understand—or ever felt like the world misunderstood you—this book’s going to resonate with you.”
– Literary Titan
“This book is an amazing mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the very end. The characters are complex and realistic, and the themes of connection and forgiveness are beautifully portrayed. The author is a master of the ‘twist’ and the last third of the book is a masterpiece. Highly recommended.”
– Megan at Goodreads
“Losing Austin by Michael J. Bowler is a haunting and emotionally charged story that leans heavily into grief, family, and the mystery of a missing loved one.”
– Jamie at Readers’ Favorite
“Quietly powerful and unforgettable.”
– AWA
“This book is not just about a missing boy. It is about grief. About the way loss fractures a family, leaving jagged edges that do not quite fit together anymore. It is about guilt and redemption and that desperate, aching hope that maybe, just maybe, love can transcend time, space, and even reality itself.”
– Ralphseyi at Goodreads
“I like how the narrator of the story, Colton, told the story in a way in which it felt like he was having a conversation with the reader. The language used in the narration felt realistic to how a teen would talk, and this made the book stand out compared to other novels I’ve read.”
– LitPick
“Recommended to young adult mystery lovers and readers of coming-of-age tales!“
– Pikasho at Readers’ Favorite
“Perfect for fans of Gone Girl, We Were Liars, and The Vanishing Season, Losing Austin is a thought-provoking, heart-pounding read that explores the power of grief, the depths of obsession, and the mysteries that exist just beyond our understanding.”
– Literary Global
“Losing Austin by Michael J. Bowler is a heart-wrenching novel that explores themes of family bonds, guilt, and the quest for understanding in tragic circumstances.”
– Carol at Readers’ Favorite
“Powered by the realistic, flawed, likeable character of Colton, the novel is quite simply gripping, often surprising, and hard to put down.”
– Diane Donovan, Sr. Reviewer, Midwest Book Reviews
“Every page oozes emotion, whether that is sadness, hope, or poignantly painful growing up. Losing Austin is all about loss, love, and the resilience of the human spirit, and I would really recommend it. 5 stars without a doubt.“
– Maria at Goodreads
“This is a wise book with a sensitive heart.”
– US Review of Books
“Losing Austin left me lying there staring at the ceiling, feeling so much, and honestly? I would read it all again just to feel it one more time.”
– Kayla for eBookFairs
“Losing Austin is a thought-provoking, deeply affecting novel that merges psychological depth with eerie suspense. Fans of speculative fiction and emotionally charged coming-of-age stories will find it a compelling, unforgettable read.“
– American Writing Awards
“But what really sets this book apart is its obstinate, gut wrenching hope. Colton refuses to give up on Austin, even when everyone else tells him to. And when he finally gets the answers he is searching for, the payoff is bittersweet in the best way possible. It is not the ending you necessarily want, but it is the one that works, one that leaves you staring off into space, feeling everything all at once.”
– CELEstial at Goodreads
“This book hit close to home, not for the plot twists and turns but because everything is just so real, so raw, so exposed, so visceral.”
– Cephas for eBookFairs
“A gripping drama for young adults packed full of suspense – and mystery!”
– The Wishing Shelf
“For readers who seek stories that are emotionally rich, unafraid to confront difficult truths, and tinged with just enough mystery to keep the pages turning, Losing Austin is an unforgettable experience. It is a novel that lingers, like a memory, like a question, like the ghost of someone you are not ready to let go.”
– Aulia at Goodreads
“The relationships between characters are portrayed with a raw honesty that doesn’t shy away from the complexities of love and family dynamics, adding layers of depth that make the emotional stakes feel genuine and impactful.”
– Louise Jane of The Golden Wizard Book Prize
“This well-written book incorporates humor and an intriguing alien plot, making it a must-read for teenagers and fans of the genre.“
– Scovia for eBook Fairs
“This is a deeply humane, speculative mystery that pulses with empathy and aching truth.”
– The Praires Book Review
“Losing Austin by Michael J. Bowler is a powerful and emotionally engaging story about a young boy’s journey to find his missing brother and confront his inner guilt. While targeted towards middle and high school students, adults who enjoy emotional family stories will also find value in this book.”
– Gladys at Goodreads