Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow - A Joint Review by Mel & Sue

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Today it's a joint review with Mel and Sue!

Blurb From Amazon
What you don't know can hurt you....
It’s been months since the accident that killed Ella’s best friend, Hayley, and Ella can’t stop blaming herself. Now Ella is back at school, and everywhere she looks are reminders of her best friend—including Sawyer, Hayley’s boyfriend. Little by little, they grow closer, until Ella realizes something horrifying . . . 
She’s in love with her dead best friend’s boyfriend. 
Racked with guilt, Ella turns to Hayley’s journal, hoping she’ll find something in the pages that will make her feel better about what’s happening. Instead, she discovers that Sawyer has secrets of his own and that his relationship with Hayley wasn’t as picture-perfect as it seemed. 
Ella knows she should stay away but finds herself inextricably drawn to him—and scared of everything she never knew about him. Perhaps it’s his grief. Or maybe his desires, cut short by tragedy. Or could it be something twisted only Hayley knew about? 
A dark, romantic thriller perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Laura Nowlin, Everything We Never Said explores the secrets in even the best of friendships and asks how well you ever know the ones you love.

Click to check out the book and other reviews on Amazon.

Review

Standalone or series?
Melanie - Standalone
Susan - Standalone

How did I get this book?
Melanie - Offered to me on Netgalley
Susan - I had it on my Wishlist for ages and when Mel got a copy, I read it too.

Why did I choose to read this book:  
Melanie - Mainly because Susan wanted to read it and we could do a joint review. Although the premise did look interesting.
Susan- what Mel said LOL

Genre:
Melanie - YA Thriller
Susan - Ya Thriller 

Who would enjoy this book:  
Melanie - Anyone looking for books with a "Cruel Summer Vibe" - although this was no where near that level.
Susan- This story would appeal to anyone who wants some twists with their teen angst.

And Now To The Review!

First Impressions:
Melanie - This throws the reader in at the beginning of a school year after what we soon discover is the aftermath of the death of the protagonist's best friend, that she had been driving for, and her guilt over the events she can't remember happening. 

Susan - You jump right into the main character living with the fallout from a crash that killed her best friend and also dealing with the fact that her memories of that night are gone. 
​
General Review
Melanie - The premise definitely had interesting potential. The book deals with a lot of the regular issues that come with teenage death, while also presenting a mystery as to what actually happened. It fast becomes apparent that things aren't as they seem, and that all of these kids come from questionable home situations.

There was a lot of the story that didn't work for me as a reader. I figured out both twists very early on, the whole not reading the diary as soon as she got it didn't feel authentic, and the whole boyfriend situation just felt forced, and some of the language was so flowery (and included entries with complete word for word conversations remembered) just didn't connect for me. 

Susan - The blurb drew me in and I liked that we were immediately dropped in at the deep end. The twists I saw coming from the jump. Where the author was trying to lead the reader off the track only gave more hints to the true outcome of the book. Like Mel, the word for word recollections seemed a bit, unnatural, because in a two person conversation, two people will remember it differently- and unless you have an Eidetic memory, that's not happening, especially with teenagers. 

Final Thoughts
Melanie - I loved the idea of the story, but sadly with being able to spot the twists so easily, and the over-the-top language and word-for-word conversations recalled, it just didn't work for me. 

Susan -  The premise of the story was good, though it was ruined because I was able to spot the twists so early one. Some aspects of the way the story was retold, made it hard to believe it was YA. 

Rating:
Melanie - 2 1/2 stars rounded up to 3  The idea had potential but I felt the twist was predictable, and the writing didn't always fit the character narrative.

Susan - 2 1/2 stars for me - I just felt that the hints that were thrown in an attempt to steer you in the wrong direction, gave away more than I like when there is a mystery. 

As always let us know what you think in the comments!


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