Well, I now need to immediately need to get Letters to the Lost as I ADORED Brigid Kemmerer's writing!

The storytelling in this immediately had me hooked, and Rev and Emma are both fantastic characters.
They both have more than their fair share of struggles, and in divulging these, and trying to work a way through them, the reader gets an almost cathartic look into various issues. It's relatable, emotional and completely addictive.

I feel like this book would be the perfect read for fans of Jennifer Niven, John Green and Sara Barnard.

Absolutely loved this book!! Everything was awesome. The characters were so well developed and they all had a meaning, like there was no useless characters. The plot kept twisting and turning and keeping you on edge. I have to say this book makes me want to pick up Brigid's other books. 
Highly recommend to everyone, even if you think you aren't going to like it, you will.

I really wanted to have Rev's story! And I could be happier to get the chance and read about Rev and Emma! Thier stories are of both heartbreak, difficult family life but also they harbor the dangers of bullying, dysfunctional families and the dark corners of the Internet.

Rev is considered to be the freak of the school, but no one knows the scars he carries from the abuse he got from his father. He is the adopted son of a black couple (I need to mention it due to some spoiler in the book), who love him very much and try to support him! They also work as a foster home for children and teens.

Emma, on the other hand, has a workaholic mom and a father who is almost absent from their lives. She is very smart and has also coded her own RPG game. When she starts receiving bullying messages in the game she will develop a friendship with one of her online friends.

I won't spoil the rest of the book, but there are some VERY, VERY important lessons anyone can take from this book. Friends, family and your closest people can be important to you and never let doubt and fear cloud your judgment. You can always ask for help too!

This is a strong-willed book for any teen out there and it offers love and compassion to anyone who needs it.

Emma is a coding gamer girl who wants nothing more than to follow in her fathers footsteps and seek a future in the gaming industry once she leaves school. When online gaming turns into bullying with an unknown source Emma struggles to deal with the bully and the thing she loves most.

Rev is an adopted eighteen year old with a horrible past that has left him broken and feeling damaged. He spends most of his time alone unless he's with his best friend declan, until he meets Emma. The two of them have completely different reasons for feeling broken but can they help each other see that they are not truly broken?

This was a beautiful story, I loved revs background story a lot I found it really sad to read and it was really moving. I'd be happy if the author did a story featuring Matthew as the main male lead as he was one of the side characters in this story.

I read this very fast and I'd love to read more by this author it was a highly enjoyable read.

This review will be posted on my blog https://almostreading.wordpress.com/ and on my goodreads a week before the book's publishing date.

***

Emma loves creating online games and she is good at what she does. Her own game is her one escape from the real world until a new player joins and leaves her feeling helpless. Rev has lead a good life after he was adopted and he has managed to deal with the demons of his past until they come back to haunt him in the form of a single letter from his father.

With the help of a dog and some chicken nuggets Rev and Emma find each other and start to realise that maybe everything will be okay, and they might not be helpless after all.

~

More than we can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer was adorable and heartwarming despite the fact that it deals with some very heavy subjects like abuse and sexual harassment. The balance between serious discussion and fun things was good and kept the book interesting.

The romance and Rev and Emma's whole relationship felt very natural from the start. Yes, it goes by quite fast, but it is never "insta love", they just get along well and are attracted to each other. It was written very realistically, which was something I appreciated. They also continue to have their own lives and deal with their own problems independently instead of being completely involved in each other's lives all the time. Aside from the main relationship, the friendships in this book were amazing and so complex, which made reading them very interesting. I love seeing female friendships that are a bit rocky but still important to both sides, and I could very much relate to the problems they were having.

The way the book incorporates gaming and the internet was great. I love seeing STEM girl rep and just seeing Emma be so passionate and sure about how it was the right thing for her was so refreshing. Though the ending was in danger of almost being a little preachy about the downsides of the internet, the storyline still kept me on my toes and I enjoyed it a lot, especially the way it showed different sides and opinions on the topic.

Rev was such a sweet character in so many ways and you could feel his struggle right from the start. It was interesting to see how though he was so self-aware about so many things he still couldn't help his actions and thought patterns. His whole character arc was brilliant and seeing his development from someone who was very easily influenced by other people into starting to be in control of his own thoughts and feelings was something I very much enjoyed. What I especially loved was how though other people helped him, most of his progress was still made by him and not, for example, by him "wanting to be better for Emma" which is a trap some books seem to fall into. This was also a common thing I noticed: I thought the book was going a certain direction and heading towards cliches, but it always managed to turn around and surprise me.

Emma was a character who I could really relate to. She is very independent and straightforward, both qualities that she also prides herself on and it sometimes gets her in trouble. I do have to say that some of her comments did cross a line for me, I am not sure if it was done on purpose by the author or not, so just brace yourself. I loved how she was so strong-willed but we also got to see her struggle with a lot of things in a very human way.

All of the romance was adorable and what I loved was the CONSENT! There is communication! And asking if something is okay! God, we need more of this in fiction. Another great thing was how even though I did not always agree with their actions or decisions I could always see why the characters did what they did, which is always a sign of great writing and made me not be frustrated with the decisions that drove the plot forward.

Overall this book was great and I would definitely recommend this, just be warned that it isn't all fluff and sunshine. Also trigger warning for explicit descriptions of abuse, sexual harassment, sexual abuse. I'm giving it a strong 4/5 stars!

Bloomsbury were kind enough to approve me for a Netgalley of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was lured in by the mentions of gaming in the blurb, ended up entranced by this beautiful love story of two people who are both broken in their own way finding some kind of solace in each other. Both Rev and Emma are fantastic characters, as are a lot of the side characters. I have a special soft-spot for Declan and rushed off to get "Letters to the Lost" as soon as I finished this one. Absolutely would recommend.

Letters to the Lost was one of my favourite books in 2017, so when I heard there was going to be a sequel, it immediately shot to the top of my anticipated books list. This all sounds like I was hugely disappointed by this book, but I wasn't. I just didn't like it so much as the first one. 

It had all the same elements as Letters to the Lost: amazing writing, angsty family relationships, Rev and Declan's friendship, and it almost made me ugly cry (Letters to the Lost actually did make me ugly cry though). But it was just missing something for me. I loved Rev, and I loved his family, and his friendship with Declan was definitely my favourite part of this book. I just didn't really like Emma all that much. 

I couldn't really tell you what about her I disliked - all I know is that I found myself almost just wanting to get through her parts quickly so I could get back to Rev's. I think part of that was because she felt a little unsympathetic especially given how she treated Cait and, from time to time, her mother. 

That being said, it was still a really good book, and there were scenes that had me almost crying. Admittedly, they were mostly Declan and Rev scenes, because that was about my favourite part of Letters to the Lost too. I was a little disappointed not to have enjoyed it as much as that, but I still really enjoyed it.

When life tests you, when it throws everything at you, who can you turn to, who can you trust? Once again, Brigid Kemmerer has created a heartbreaking, emotional and moving novel. As a companion to Letters To The Lost, More Than We Can Tell evokes the same emotional response as the characters face a crisis point in their lives, fall in love, and learn to lean on the support of those around them.

Rev Fletcher has found safety and love with his adoptive parents. But when his biological father reaches out to him, it threatens to shake and destroy everything. In the midst of this turmoil, Rev meets Emma. They attend the same high school but have never really crossed paths until now. Emma, too, knows what it feels like to have her world turned upside down. Her parents are constantly fighting, her father barely acknowledges her existence, and her mother is constantly on her case, and then there is the online stalker sending her horrible messages. When things escalate for both Rev and Emma, they will need to learn to lean on each other as well as drawing on the support of the people around them.

In her acknowledgments, Brigid Kemmerer notes that after writing Letters To The Lost she knew Rev would need a story that reflected Dec’s level of childhood trauma. And she certainly didn’t hold back. As Rev slowly shares his past with Emma, the true depths of this trauma are revealed in horrible detail. Rev is an easy character to love. His self doubt, the sudden loss of security he faces, the way he struggles to connect with others, and his resilience and strength all make him a beautiful character. Watching him face his demons was so satisfying. Meanwhile, Emma is confronted with online harassment, as well as the breakdown of her family. Again, Emma is a character I connected with straight away. 

Rev and Emma’s romance is very much a push and pull relationship. Both are reeling emotionally, and while their connection is profound, they struggle to balance supporting each other with pushing too hard and causing harm. This angst only makes their romance all the sweeter. 

More Than We Can Tell is the companion novel to Letters To The Lost. Neither book needs to be read prior to the other and both can be read as standalones. However, both books are brilliant and well worth reading. It was lovely to catch up with Dec and Juliet from Letters To The Lost, and I loved that Rev got his own book. In both books, the secondary characters play such important roles, and once again family is a central theme of the story. 

More Then We Can Tell is perfect for readers who enjoy emotional and character-driven stories, where resilience and love triumph over much hardship. With strong characters, sweet (slightly tortured) romance, and an emphasis on the support and love of family, More Than We Can Tell is a heartbreaking and yet uplifting YA novel that is very easy to enjoy. 

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review (and you cannot understand how excited I am to be able to type those words). 

I really enjoyed More Than We Can Tell. It's rare that a contemporary YA novel manages to balance such serious themes with genuine friendship, and I thought it was really well written in this respect, especially in Rev's story. The relationships between Emma and Rev and their parents were also explored in detail, which I often find lacking in ya novels, and I found myself really invested in their relationships with their respective parents (Geoff and Kristin are epic) and their friends.

I also really appreciated the inclusion of Declan and Juliet; I haven't read Letters to the Lost, but I want to now. I think Declan and Rev's friendship was the source of a lot of moving moments in the novel and really added depth. I think this is partly because Declan felt like a fully rounded character, something that's often missing in the 'best friend' in YA fiction. I also really loved Cait, but I don't think she was as fully developed as her character kept getting sidelined by Emma's situations - perhaps though this is a lead in to another book. 

However, while I loved Emma, mainly because of her interest in video games and her focus, I feel like she would have been a stronger character in another book. Her storyline and her themes are incredibly important topics but combined with the nature of Rev's backstory it just came off as whiny. I know it's not an angst competition and that it did develop into a serious situation but it felt unbalanced. I was especially annoyed at her treatment of Cait and her mother, though a later moment between her and her mum did make me tear up a little. This also may just be my personal mood but I am bored of romances; I would have loved to see them work this out as friends.

Overall I'd like to give More Than We Can Tell 3.5 stars. Although there were some elements that irked me and there were almost too many plot elements at times, I did get emotionally invested in the characters and their story lines and I really felt for them. It definitely made me want to read Letters to the Lost (and wonder if there's another book in there for some of the side characters).

Thank you for giving me a copy of this book! 

I enjoyed every page! 
I also thought her first book was beautiful and she continued that in this book. She writes so beautifully and truly that it is almost impossible not to live with the story. The way she sometimes puts life lessons into the story remains beautiful.
I also like to read that she has included characters from the first book and I found out afterwards that Rev appeared in the first book. I forgot this. 

We follow Rev and Emma who both have experienced something / experience what it is worth to tell and give us an idea of ​​how this shapes their lives. Even though they are still young, there are certain life lessons that might be too mature for them, it certainly fits in the story.

I love Brigid Kemmerer's writing - she creates the very best book boyfriends! More than we can tell follows two main characters meeting as they face their own family dramas. Rev has an especially traumatic background and I feel the author wrote about children in care and children of trauma exceptionally well. I work with a lot of kids in foster care and they have similar emotional issues. 
At some points, some of the drama seemed to much to take or seemed too superficial (for instance I've never known an 18 year old get quite so upset over their parents divorcing but perhaps that is a cultural difference). 
Overall a great book!

Brigid has done it again. The amazing Rev, best side character in Letters, gets center stage here in this wonderful story about strength and courage. He and Emma suffer through some incredible things and both come out bruised but stronger.
I was worried about one particular character and I was sad to realise I was right, but that was true to life as well. I loved all the rest of the side characters, especially Dec. Their friendship was amazing.
I think I cried three times during this novel, which is more than Letters. So they're clearly getting better. Can't wait for the next one.

Trigger Warning: Abuse, Sexual Abuse, Violence

4 Stars!

When I first read Letters to the Lost, I loved the characters in that book, Rev was 100000% included, in fact he was probably my favourite, and this time around we got Revs story and my heart is bursting with love for him. I knew this book was going to be slightly darker, but it had to be as we only knew bits and pieces of Revs story.

It starts off with Emma who is a gamer and trying to live up to certain expectations, it all gets a bit much for her, and then we have Rev who receives a letter from his “father”. This is where the two come together after both going for some down time and talk to each other about certain issues going on in their lives. 

Characters:

Rev is hands down a character that I will NEVER stop loving. He is going through a very very difficult time, he believes that one day he will become violent like his father, and once the emails/letter starts he has a hard time coming to terms with what he actually wants to do. A new foster brother is introduced in to the mix who also has issues. I LOVED them talking to one another and growing closer, it was tough for them both, but we see a mutual respect come to light. Along with this Revs parents are the most wonderful parents I’ve ever read in a book. They are just so loving, caring and understanding it honestly made me see how much my parents do for me, and that loving parents can help define who you are as a person. 

It’s really hard to talk about Emma, I liked her and I didn’t like her. I understand that she’s going through a difficult time as well, especially with her parents and her game that she’s built. What I found difficult was she seemed to push EVERYONE away, and sometimes her own needs had to come first. She praises her dad a lot because he also works with games and coding, but puts down her mum even though she tries to be there for her. That’s my negatives with Emma, but my positives with Emma are how understanding she can be. In particular with Rev, she doesn’t push him to do anything he doesn’t want, she makes things easier for him by texting each other back to back (SO CUTE I CANNOT), when he showed her his scars, she saw past them, it was just so lovely to see!

What I liked?
- REVS PARENTS DESERVE THE WORLD
- We still got to see Declan and Juliet and how their relationship was
- The back story of how Rev and his parents connected, I was just so touched.
- How Rev picked his name!
- The best moment in the book for me is when Rev has had a really REALLY bad day, and his dad picks him up and he’s trying to be there for him and Rev is pushing and pushing, yet his dad is STILL there for him
- So MUCH acceptance!
- We got to see Declan re-connect with his father!
- All of the links!

What I didn’t like?
- My only issue with this book is, that we didn’t get a definite outcome on a certain situation, and I kind of wanted to know what happened…

Overall I really really enjoyed this book, it deals with some tough topics that some people have to face in real life. I’d love to know more about these characters, and I’d recommend people to read this.

This was a great hard hitting YA novel. The characters were flawed by likeable. There were some heart in your throat moments & some twists I didn't expect!

Finished in one day. Just could'nt stop reading. I really liked Emma (kick ass) and Rev. Declan has also a big part. Some important themes are waved trough out the book. Very well done. No "whining" teenagers. But "normal" thinking ones. Hope that the Dutch fans get an translation. Read this one thanks to Netgalley!

I just loved it! 
I didn't know this author and her first book of this series. No need to have read the first one to read this one and just...go for it! The characters are wonderfully well worked, their feelings and the secondary characters around them. Rev and Emma are so adorable and I had a lot of trouble discovering their stories...my heart... 
I had guessed the end, what would happen to Emma but it didn't spoil my pleasure! 
I go to buy Letters to the Dead, because I looooved Declean and can't wait to learn more about him!

Very poignant, deep book.
About Rev Fletcher, who receives a letter from his abusive father and reliving the traumas of his childhood.
Quite sad so be prepared

I read Letters To The Lost last year and absolutely loved it. Rev held such a special place in my heart upon reading that and when I heard he was going to have his own story, I was so excited. 

This book is so heartbreaking, raw and real. It deals with very serious subjects and Brigid does an incredible job of sharing this story. It’s also cute and fluffy in parts. 

I loved Rev & Emma and following their different but similar stories and how they come together.

I would recommend this book to everybody.

'More Than We Can Tell' by Brigid Kemmerer was eye opening.

Synopsis: Emma can code, and she has made her own game, but with this comes a quiet kind of danger. Rev has turned eighteen and this means his father is able to contact him again, however there's a reason he wasn't able to before and it's one that is constantly on Rev's mind. Emma and Rev both have demons to battle in their lives no matter how different they are, it's how they deal with them that could make or break them.

Emma had a lot of fire, but whether this is solely part of her personality or more with the environment she is in is the question. She mentions in the book that it's difficult to remember that when you speak to someone in real life, you're not in a game. On the internet you can say what you want as generally there are no consequences. Surprisingly it was easy for me to remember that they she was a teenager. Her emotions are all over the place on a normal day but when you factor in the divorce and online abuse, you can see why she acts the way she does. I'm glad Rev notices this (although I would have preferred if he had done it a bit earlier).

Speaking of Rev, I think he contrasts well to Emma. I was fascinated by his background and also extremely uncomfortable. Religion is something that I find difficult to wrap my head around but this was something else. What's more bizarre is that I can totally see his story being on the news. Like Emma's story, this happens on a daily basis. I think Rev handled everything the best he could. Sure he had a few flips but I can forgive him that. He's got a caring heart and I'm glad he makes use of it especially when it came to Matthew.

Both of the main issues in this book had me scared. Emma's 'Nightmare' problem spooked me the most because it's so easy to get into a situation like that. I dread the day my daughter starts to use the internet because of this exact reason. Harassment and grooming are both things that aren't easily seen. You couldn't look at a child and know that they are being groomed. You don't know who you're talking to on the internet sometimes and it is frightening to see how easy someone can turn your information around to form a connection. Rev's situation is also something that you can't see. Mostly because the main event happened in the past but his issue is just as scary. How a religious madman was able to abuse his own child in such a way is an abhorrent idea to me.

This book was better than I expected it to be. I didn't know that this was sort of a follow on from a previous book (Letters To The Lost) but I liked that it was also a standalone. It was a great book. I like books that tackle difficult subject matter and this one did exceptionally well with it all.

“We all push sometimes, just to make sure someone is on the other side, pushing back.”

Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars

More Than We Can Tell follows the story of Rev and Emma, We first met Rev in ‘Letters to the Lost’ but this can be read as a stand-alone.

Rev and Emma both have personal struggles; Rev is a foster child who was taken in and adopted by amazing parents and continue to help him to move forward after surviving an abusive childhood; when he is contacted by his birth father it triggers past feelings and hurt as well as confusion, his parents have also taken on a new foster child so there are a few changes in his life. On a night out he comes across Emma who is a game designer with a father who is quite absent and a mother who doesn’t understand her passion; they connected despite their differences.

Honestly, I was intrigued by both of these characters and their back stories but I didn’t find any chemistry between them and their dialogue felt stilted, I also felt they were quite reliant on one another despite barely knowing each other; they also spent a majority of the book apart so there wasn’t a lot of face to face interactions.

Brigid Kemmerer covered a lot of subjects in this book such as cyber bullying, physical, sexual and mental abuse, relationship breakdowns and friendship drama but I would have liked more of a resolution to these problems rather than a mention.

What I did enjoy was the mystery of Emma’s troll, I had an inkling of who it was from the onset and I was right! I was also quite intrigued about Matthew, the new foster child and my heart truly broke for him. I thought Rev’s foster parents were wonderful.

Overall, I didn’t love this book; it had its positives but for me there was more negatives and the biggest of all was the morose feel that it had. I couldn’t fault Brigid Kemmerer’s writing but I will have to pass on any more books in this series.

Thank you to Bloomsbury Publishing via Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this title.