An important book about abortion, religion, and the choices we have to make in this world. I loved every bit of this wonderfully sad and hard book.

What They Don’t Know by Nicole Maggi was a very deep and very important story that I feel everyone should read when it comes out on October 2nd. This is about two girls, Mellie and Lise, who both have two major secrets but have the opportunity to help each other with those secrets. I literally could have read it in one sitting but had to stop myself😂 My one minor complaint is that I feel like the whole diary entry thing wasn’t necessary (I mean who would open that much to their teacher?). Anyways, I highly recommend this!

Trigger warning: rape & abortion

Thank you very much to the publisher for providing me with a copy!

WOW this book was way better than I thought it was going to be! I thought the journal entry style that it was written in wouldn't encompass the whole story and all the feeling of the characters, but I was SO wrong. This is a very real look at the life of a teenager from a very religious, pro-life family, who has been raped and then finds out she is pregnant. Mellie is one of six kids and her father is mayor of her small town. They go to a very conservative church and adhere strictly to the beliefs of their religion. Most of the community seems pretty conservative, which is actually the same type of town I live in now. Mellie does not know what to do. She is LOST until an old friend of hers, Lisa notices her odd behavior and starts following around and talking to her, trying to help. Lise is such a kind caring person and she helps Mellie as much as one friend could possibly help her in this situation. Throughout the story, Mellie grows stronger and becomes more firm in her belief that having an abortion is the right thing to do for herself, her body, and her life. I dont want to ruin the story but she ends up on the other side of this situation in a much better place than she started in. Although I would never wish this on anyone, obviously, I think that the author did a great job in portraying this type of strict religious family and how their beliefs affect the children (who also believe) but need to know that their parents will be behind them if something bad happens as in this case. Mellie is raped by a man who is very close to their family and she is terrified of him. And of anyone finding out. She is right that the fallout will be bad and it is, but she comes through it a changed person...for the better. Very emotional but highly recommended! Great writing, story and characters.

WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW delivered an emotional and deep story about heavy topics like rape. Honestly, I wasn't expecting this story to be as deep as it was, but it was a very good read nonetheless.

I loved the fact that the book was written through diary entries. I felt as though I could feel the emotions as I was flying through the pages. WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW was a phenomenal read. It will make you angry, sad, hopefull, speechless, the whole nine yards.

The only real fault that I found was the changing of POV simply because it confused me a bit in the beginning. I felt as though the first few diary entries sounded very similar as if Mellie and Lise had similar if not the same voice.

WHAT THEY DON'T KNOW is a powerful novel that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster that you cannot prepare for.

My Personal Review: I received a copy of this book for a fair and honest review. This book does have some triggers in it. It is about a young girl named Mellie who is raped and becomes pregnant as a result. This is a secret that she is keeping from her family for she knows they will not accept what happen and will blame her. Lise is a fellow classmate that knows that something is going on with Mellie. They becomes friends and Lise does her best to be there for Mellie as she makes her life changing decisions. That is as much as I dare say. Don't want to give away too much. I enjoyed that it was told through journal entries of both girls. That way one got to see how this was changing them and how they were dealing with all the pressure. I did find a bit of it one-sided on some of the tough views to deal with. I don't think this topic is as black and white as the author has made it. But it is well thought out and well written. I recommend that this is a must read.

I received a copy of WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to the publisher and author.

Five stars and here's why:

WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW will keep you turning the pages! Nicole Maggi delivers an emotional read that will have your heart and head reeling for days to come. Total book hangover. I was not prepared to devote an entire night to reading this book in one sitting. But, it hooked me from the first chapter and kept me up all night long.

It’s a difficult read. No question about it. Mellie is 16, and finds herself pregnant after a rape from someone she knows in her basement. Her family is fundamentally against premarital sex, and she’s caught between doing what’s right and what’s best for her. This book is told through journal entries to her English teacher so it’s an epistolary novel, which I enjoy very much.

This book should be required reading. It definitely would spark thoughtful discussions about the importance of family, values, and the definition of love. The author and publisher took some very delicate subjects and treated them with respect and sensitivity.

If you love incredible writing, strong heroines, and a timely plot, then this book is for you! Highly recommend!

I was hoping to really get into this book as the plot sounded right up my alley.

Instead, this book felt disjointed to me and the writing was so slow that I simply gave up. 2/3 into the story.

Just not what I was hoping for.

Oh my god. I was so NOT prepared for that. This is one of the most emotional books I have ever read and I feel like it discusses SUCH an important issue. Definitely a must read for everyone. I am speechless.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is likely aimed at younger readers -it’s not woke feminist YA fir adults, it’s woke feminist YA 101 for young teens who are still thinking and learning about abortion. However, this is probably important for a lot of kids that age to read and would be very age-appropriate in teaching a young teen about the importance of reproductive rights Will not likely be interesting for anyone over 16, and that’s fine.

Superb. One of the most gut-wrenching and beautifully written books I’ve read in a long time. What They Don’t Know by Nicole Maggi will make you feel sadness, anger, indignation, but most of all hope and encouragement. A deeply moving account of two teenage girls and how their lives intersect and what it means to take a stand, be a true friend, and face an unimaginable situation and decision. The true take away is that we never know what the other person is going through and that we must never judge or impose our beliefs as we don’t know what we would do ourselves in certain situations until we actually in that situation.

There were so many powerful moments in this book and how the main characters express themselves. The author does a fantastic job of telling this story. The story unfolds in journal entries, assigned by their teacher, but told in poignant, breathtaking ways that have the each character’s emotions leap off the pages. One of the most powerful lines is in the acknowledgments section and the message to “all the women and girls out there…I see you…” That is beautiful. So many people feel alone and not heard when a controversial issue has been politicized, so this statement is powerful in its message of letting women and young girls know that there are people that do see them, do support them, and will stand by them.

I wish I could give the book a 10 star review! This is a great book with rich characters, excellent storytelling and development, and a truly powerful message.

So, before I get into my review for this book I just want to say that there are some trigger warnings. There is talk about rape, abortion, bullying and verbal abuse.

When I read the description of the book I was really interesting in to see where it was going to go. I have to say after reading the book, I was shocked. I really enjoyed this book. It is told in duel POV’s

Sixteen year old Mellie comes from a very conservative family. So you can image what happened when she found out that she was pregnant. Mellie isn’t sure what she wants to do. She has always believed that having an abortion was was wrong but she knew she didn’t want to give the baby up to someone else.

Lise is Mellie’s friend, when she finds out that her friend pregnant she try’s to help her out.

This book was told in a journal entry in Lise and Mellie’s English class. I thought that was an interesting to the story. I was a tad confused at first because I thought it was all from Mellie not just her and Lise.

I given this book as an Arc from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to sourcebooks fire for the arc of this book, I started off a little confused with the two journal entrys as I thought at first it was the same person with a nickname.
But I got used to it and enjoyed the book.

I'm a fan of the YA novels from this publisher so I decided to give this novel a read. The cover is great and it was a interesting read.

This book was incredible. I wasn’t expecting it to be about what it was but I’m so glad it turned out the way it did. The story is beautiful and heartbreaking. I think all young women should read this book because this is something that could happen to any of us.

**SPOILERS IN THIS REVIEW**
Mellie is 16-years-old and pregnant after she is raped by her sister’s fiance. She’s also the mayor’s daughter, a mayor that has built his political career and personal life on his opposition to abortion. Gender issues pervade the novel as Mellie struggles to consider her options -- including abortion. Her classmate, Lise, is a clinic escort and budding activist, but also faces hard questions about how to help her friend, whether she is ready to have sex with her boyfriend, and who to trust with the fact that her mother is the head doctor at local clinic. Told through a series of journal entries, this novel can be heavy-handed at times, but still offers a sympathetic portrayal of how to survive sexual assault, a clear account of what an abortion procedure looks like, and how restrictive abortion laws put young women in danger.

This was a very well written novel about a young girl who becomes pregnant after being raped and the decisions she makes as a result of living in an ultra conservative home. It is an epistolary novel, which I love. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for giving me an opportunity to be an early reader in exchange for my honest review.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW by Nicole Maggi in exchange for my honest review.***

5 STARS
GRADE: A+

Pregnant by rape, sixteen-year-old Mellie knows her zealously fundamentalist family will blame her for the attack and take away her choices. Lise, her classmate, senses she can help. Told in letters/journal entries to their English teacher the young women develop a deep, trusting friendship.

I knew I was reading something special a few pages into WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW, I had no idea how significant Nicole Maggi’s would be. She created sympathetic characters, Lise strong, empowered all her life by her mom and Mellie, raised in a home where women and girls were dominated by boys and men.

Despite rape, abortion and choice being a central theme, WHAT THEY DON’T KNOW is a sex positive book. Mellie thought she’d be a virgin until marriage, Lise assumed she’d have sex, but isn’t ready. Mellie’s family views sex as sinful, Lise’s mom is all about making wise choices. Mellie’s choice is taken away from her, Lise chooses not yet.

Other themes include: and unconditional friendships, women supporting women and sisterly bonds, judgment, bullying, toxic masculinity, religion and safety.

#WhatTheyDontKnow gets my highest recommendation.