Review of 'Everything We Never Said'

Everything We Never Said deals with heavy themes, suitable for young readers, Harlow delivers a story that is both gripping and addictive.

Storytelling

I was hesitant with this novel mainly because while this is a young adult book, the marketing called Harlow “the next Colleen Hoover.” I understand the marketing practice to appeal to the masses. However, we must remember that Colleen Hoover is not always suitable for teens younger than 16.

So that made me skeptical.

However, after reading it, I can safely say the novel is for books ages 14+.

The story follows Ella, who is still reeling from the death of her friend, a car accident she is partly responsible for since she was driving intoxicated.

While cleaning Hayley’s room, she discovers her diary and uncovers the many secrets her friend had. All while falling in love with her boyfriend, Sawyer, who has just as many secrets.

A dual POV novel, it goes between Sawyer and Elle and includes Hayley’s diary entries, making it partly epistolary. But Hayley never names anyone, calling everyone by their first initial, making her quite the unreliable narrator.

Given how the story unfolds, we don’t know who to trust or suspect, making it quite exciting and engaging to read.

Someone else was there the night of the car accident, but who?

While jumping between voices, we get a sense of these characters, who they were, and the complexities of their lives, making it a well-rounded narrative.

Final Thoughts

Everything We Never Said does deal with some heavy themes, such as mental abuse, physical abuse, and toxic relationships. However, Harlow develops these themes in a thoughtful and not explicit way. It forces the reader to look at the behavior in the book. It allows them to recognize what is bad behavior. It is a book worth reading, from a teacher to a class, to a parent to their child. Recognizing those signs is essential and should be discussed.

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About the Author

Cynthia Bujnicki graduated from Emerson College with a BA in Writing, Literature and Publishing. She has always loved to read since she was a child. A contributing writer for YA Fantasy Addicts, she is also the Editor-in-Chief for Cyn's Workshop. She lives in sunny South Florida with her husband, two kids (the perfect pair), and their two cats Mr. J the Kitten and Nyx (aka Girl).