I didn't expect to like this book as much as I did when I first started reading it, although I'm glad I did. The plot was fascinating and I really enjoyed it. The book covered a lot of important themes that aren't approached on enough nowadays and Vicki breached these topics carefully and successfully. It is written in a multiple perspective and very well. Viv, one of the main character's is in a coma after taking a pill at a party, and her friends insist to the police that Viv doesn't do any drugs, drink or participate in any other impulsive behavior, much to the disagreement of others. The story goes through the events leading up to the party and what might have happened to Viv. The story was written so well and absolutely unique, I loved it.

This one starts with a tragedy and then reveals the events that led up to the night of the party. Viv and her friends work at the local med school as simulated patients. Before each shift, they study scripts and are made as if they have different diseases or injuries. Under all of that makeup, Viv is concealing real symptoms and hurtling towards the night where she'll overdose at a party. There's video of Viv swallowing the pill, along with a roomful of witnesses. But no one has any idea where she got the drugs or if her overdose was deliberate. After a slow start, this one really picks up speed and by the end I was filled with mounting dread.

I didn’t know what to expect with this novel, but quickly became engrossed in it (read it in a day!).
Tell Me When You Feel Something is perfectly titled and I think is an important story to read for several reasons (trigger warnings: addiction, depression, abuse).
Although considered a YA novel, there is serious subject matter that could be triggering and quite disturbing for many readers. I applaud Vicki Grant as she is able to approach these sensitive subjects successfully.
I really think there need to be (and hope there will be) resources mentioned in the final version of this novel* for those who may be suffering in similar situations to Viv, or know someone who is and trying to help out (Tim, Davida and Jack). *I am reviewing based on the early draft I read.

On a lighter note, absolutely loved some of the Canadian references (Wunderbar, Caramilk, Canadiens sweater).

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for this ARC, I really enjoyed it.

The book Tell Me When You Feel Something, is a mystery and romance combined. The book shows two perspectives, the main character and the girl who OD'd. It travels from before the accident from the OD girl and after the accident with the main character slowly revealing what really happened. The plot is amazing and very interesting. 10/10

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. This book is set to be published on June 15th, 2021.

TWS: substance abuse, sexual assault

If you're a fan of One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus, this book is for you.

After taking a pill at a party, Viv is in a coma. Viv's friend (of about a month), Davida, goes to the police investigating the so-called overdose insisting that Viv doesn't drink, do drugs, or engage in any reckless behavior at all. Other witnesses, however, say otherwise.

The story is told through 3 POVs: Viv, Davida, and Tim (Viv's friend & Davida's boyfriend). Police interview transcripts are also written in throughout the book to bring in various other viewpoints and opinions about our comatose MC (main character) and what actually might have happened to her.

We are taken through all of the events from the month or so leading up to the party, most of them involving our MCs and their part-time jobs as SPs (simulated patients) at a medical school. You slowly start to learn that Viv's life isn't what her friends and boyfriend thought it was, there is a lot going on under the surface that is unpacked throughout the book.

The plot and pacing of this book is spectacular. The story is entirely original and unique from other mystery novels that are currently out there (I did NOT guess the ending, which is something that unfortunately happens to me a lot when I read mysteries). The answers you are seeking as a reader unfold at a pace that keeps you interested and at the edge of your seat.

The main characters are interesting and each of their POVs are written in a unique voice that helps make the book feel more feel and made me feel more connected to the characters. You can tell that the author put a lot of effort into creating a unique writing style for each POV that matched the character's personality and quirks (Tim is my favorite).

Overall, I gave this a 4/5 stars. I am excited for this book to be printed in June. I definitely intend on purchasing it and re-reading it in its final format. If you are a fan of mysteries with lots of twists and turns (think Karen M. McManus books), "Tell Me When You Feel Something" is for you.

Wow! I loved this novel. It is unpredictable, original and timely. The characters were believable and my heart went out to both Viv and Davida. I like that my opinion of just about every character changed by the time I got to the end of the book. The author is dealing with a lot of serious issues, like grooming, drug and alcohol abuse but she handles it all with deft compassion. There were neither cardboard characters nor scenarios in this novel. Well-written and paced like a racing heart. Brava. #netgalley #penguinteen

I received an ARC for this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review! Thank you!

TRIGGER WARNINGS: sexual assault and grooming.

Where were the trigger warnings in this book?? This book is written in detail and it deserved a trigger warning at the beginning- this is one of the reasons why I’m lowering my rating!


This book hooked my attention from the beginning. I also really enjoyed the writing style,short chapters and the time jumps that’s why I was able to read it in 2 days! I was really invested in Vivis story and I really wanted to find out what had happened to her. However the ending did not live up to my expectations. I saw that ”twist” coming from the beginning of the book and I was really disappointed.
In the end I would recommended this book for people who are scared of thrillers and are not triggered by its content. If you are a thriller lover and have read a lot of ya/adult thrillers I would skip this one. It’s nothing new or something you would go crazy over.

Not really my taste, but definitely interesting for fans of the genre. The writing style was super clunky to be honest, but I think the plot had a lot of potential!

3.5/5. I really wanted to loved this book because I'm always up for a good YA mystery, and even though it started really well -at least in the middle of the book, I struggled a little bit in the beginning-, the ending was disappointing. I struggled at first because I couldn't get a connection with the characters, but I actually liked how the autor added the transcripts with the police. Once I got into the book I read until the end. The author showed us the development of the characters and I finally got a bonding with some of the end. Everything was going great -though I'm not sure if some of the trigger topics where treated with the sensibility they deserved-, until the end. It was too abrupt and everything was figured out in the last pages, with many questions left. I don't know, felt like the big secret and the relationship of one of the characters only took like 5 pages to explain, and I missed something else. One last chapter, or at least an epilogue. Overall I enjoyed the book but in the end, It felt a little bit flat.

Had some really mixed feelings for the first half of this book but it won me through the second half!
First of all, the concept is very interesting and I thought it was quite original! The setting of the local med-school and the idea of simulated patients was very intriguing and it built a good atmosphere.
The plot was also intriguing, it moved fast and it kept me turning the pages to find out what would happen next. I was guessing some plot twists a little before they happened but not in a way that annoyed me, since I feel like the story had a lot to give when it came to the effect of what was happening to the psyche of the characters.
The characters themselves were quite unlikeable, like most teen characters in YA thrillers tend to be, but I guess it was about sympathizing for them without having to like them.
I also had to take that one star away because a lot of comments the characters were making went from ''cringey'' to problematic. I feel like they made occasional comments about things like eating disorders, mental illness, relationships, that lacked sensitivity and that would upset me at times.

Big trigger warning for sexual assault as well, even though I feel like the aftermath of it was handled quite well. I think that could upset quite a few readers, but, all in all, it was a very enjoyable fast-paced thriller!

I love a good YA thriller/mystery. The concept of this story drew me in - the simulated patient program, a supposed overdose - and the fast-pace and twists kept me reading. While it did take me a little while to get fully invested, once things got going I found it hard to put down. When the pieces started coming together I was screaming about the glaring evidence and the ending was such sweet satisfaction. A great read!

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book!

Trigger warnings: sexual assault, drugs, alcohol

Tell Me When You Feel Something was super interesting. I didn't suspect the guilty person until the last 20% of the book and even then I was still kind of wrong. The jumping around between different points of views, times and detective interviews took me a while to understand. I usually have issues with books that have points of views before and after the big plot point as I don't really pay much attention to time stamps (more on me than the author). Just having to jump between the different points of views was confusing. The reader is supposed to understand the character of Davida when you don't really get to read much of her points at all. The book is mainly about Viv, which is fine, I didn't like her character much at first but she grew on me as you read more, but I feel as if there should have been more development behind Davida. It almost feels like a rushed book and especially a rushed ending when there could have been so much more development in order to make the book more understanding to the readers. I also think Tim's point of views were unnecessary and just annoying thankfully they were short. Like, yes, we understand, you're weird and different and in love, yay.

Overall, I really did enjoy this book. It was a quick read and very interesting once you read enough to understand what is going on. Definitely a great book if you're looking for something kind of similar to One of Us Is Lying!

Tell me when you feel something covered a lot of ground and was a good story. Just wish there was more, the ending kinda left you wondering what happened

Thank you to NetGalley and PenguinTeen for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Overall, Tell Me When You Feel Something is a poignant and timely young adult thriller dealing with some heavy topics with admirable skill. The book jumps between multiple POVs, as timid Davida realizes that she knew much less than she thought she knew about her fast friend Viv, who has ended up in a coma after an alleged overdose at a party. The two knew each other through a volunteering gig at the local teaching hospital, which may hold the answers to what happened leading up to that night.

Content warnings for topics include but are not limited to sexual assault, alcohol abuse, alcohol and drug use in minors, mental health disorders, abuse of an authority figure, and family dynamics.

THOUGHTS
The writing was very readable, and the book was suspenseful and page-turning. I like how the story was broken up with multi-media sections. It helped keep things fast-moving, especially in sections that could have gotten bogged down with the multiple POVs. Despite figuring out the “big bad” pretty early on, the book was still super engaging as you waited for the characters to catch up. I think that the heavier topics it covered are really necessary in today’s day and age, and I’m happy to think of some people younger than myself picking this up at just the right time.

In the final fifth of the book, some of the pacing and logical premises grew a tad iffy. What was previously believable, maybe with a touch of suspension of disbelief, began to get too convenient when it came to information coming to light. Some discoveries felt a touch too convenient the second-time around, perhaps as a way of wrapping up the plot without drawing it out another hundred pages in a book already lengthy for the age-group and genre.

Would I recommend this book? I would!
Would I read more from this author? I’d be interested in how this author writes thrillers moving forward.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Random House Canada, Penguin Teen for early access to the novel in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Viv tries to keep up the appearance of a perfect life. She has secrets though, darkness around her that becomes buried within her. Davida, a shy outsider, becomes friends with Viv, and thinks she knows her. When Viv ends up in the hospital, Davida searches for answers. Despite knowing Viv better than many, she learns more than she imagined could be true. We learn about Viv, Davida, and their friend Tim through their points of view woven together with a series of police interviews.

Overall, the story is interesting. However, the very end was disappointing. The charachter development was strong throughout, but in the last scene, it falls flat; significant issues (Viv's status in the hospital and the relationship between Davida and Tim) are resolved in a couple sentences with no real meaningful connection to the rest of the story.

There were many strong plot points, but some just seemed over the top and overly detailed for the weight they should carry in relation to the core story. Additionally, the one action that causes Davida to figure things out is not really believable.

This has the potential to be a powerful novel. I'd wish for additional editing to refine it more, tweak the turning point, and build out a stronger ending.

Spoiler below:



The subject matter is mature for many teens, and I believe they should be warned beforehand that there is pedophilia, date rape drugs, and suicide. This is the type of book, though, that to do so would give away the story. This bothers me and makes me hesitant to recommend it to teens.

3.5 ⭐️

Interesting plot. I was glued from the start until the end because I would like to know where the main character was able to collect the said drug. The story is very intriguing although it was a bit of a slow pace in the beginning.

The story was told from multiple points of view and the author was able to describe the strengths and weaknesses of each main character.

Thanks to the author, to the publisher, and to Netgalley for letting me read and give my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, this book should have included TW from the start, which is why I’m taking away some of the stars. There are major TW for SA, alcoholism, pedophilia, sheltering/protecting assaulters.

Now, I did like how this book had multiple POVs and went between past and present, it felt really easy to follow while you’re trying to piece together everything that happened. I never felt lost or confused on perspectives or time. I thought the interviews with police as well were placed correctly as we got more development.

This story really did break my heart, I think it’s important for people to realize that when people experience SA, it’s usually by someone they know and trust. At first, I thought the person responsible wasn’t the one who it actually turned out to be. As a young female myself, this book felt extremely realistic to the horrors of SA, the last 1/4 of the book had me feeling sick because of the horrors Viv had experienced. These things happen in real life and it’s important to educate and let people know there are resources out there and people who will support them.

In personal opinion that has nothing to do with my review, I think books that take these topics head on, in a really realistic narrative, should include resources in the back of the book for anyone who could be experiencing it

I finished this book within 4 days. This review is also posted on my goodreads account which is linked to my net galley.

really wish i loved this one more than I did. the ending was incredibly lacking, and I wasn't able to connect to the characters in any way.

I do believe that there are some readers that may enjoy this, but it just seemed quite similar to books I've previously read, and therefore couldn't fully appreciate it.

As a lover of mystery and medical student, I immediately knew that I had to read this book! Charismatic and well-loved Viv works at the local medical school, the kind of job that's every high schooler's dream. Her life seems almost perfect to those outside looking in. But when she ends up in a coma after an overdose, she leaves behind a trail of confusing and knotted clues as to what really happened to her that fateful night.

I think that my favorite thing about this book was the way that it showed the heartwrenching effects of Viv's trauma up close and personal. Viv may have looked like she had it all together, but this book did a wonderful job of showing the internal struggles of regular teenage life combined with traumas that no one should ever have to experience. This book made the reader really and truly feel for Viv in a way that can't even be explained in words. Her story was one that brought every single emotion into play, sometimes all within the span of a few pages. It left me rooting for Viv and wanting more for her and of her.

I wish we'd gotten to know more about Davida and Tim throughout the book, but I also understand that this was Viv's story and not theirs. They were wonderful characters who did everything they could to support their friend, and they only strengthened the love that the reader felt for Viv.

My biggest issue with this book was that I was thoroughly confused for quite a bit of it. The way that it was written in the alternating points of view as well as alternating timelines made it very hard to get into at the start. Once I got a majority of the way through it, I was completely hooked and was able to keep up with what was going on in each timeline, but it was very hard to get into originally.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and will definitely be recommending it to my friends. It was a mystery that had me on my toes until the very end, and I greatly appreciate a gasp-worthy plot twist!

Tell Me When You Feel Something tells the story of somewhat-friends Viv and Davida in the lead-up and aftermath of a tragic event in their lives. When Viv is seen taking a pill that causes a potentially fatal reaction at a party, Davida is desperate to prove that this was some kind of mistake; but as we witness the weeks leading up to the party, it becomes clear that maybe nobody really knows Viv enough to understand what’s going through her mind at all.

This book is very intense and covers some incredibly serious and troubling subjects including addiction, sexual assault and drug use, but this is definitely handled carefully and, sadly, believably. The book is told from Viv, Davida and Davida’s boyfriend Tim’s perspectives, with police interviews with all involved parties mixed in following any big reveals in the plot. This was a really fascinating style for me, as I loved that the police interviews were almost responses to Viv’s chapters, and that the police were discovering things just as the reader was.

I can see from the twists and even the characters why this book is compared to One of Us is Lying and I would absolutely recommend it to fans of Karen McManus’ books, or anyone who likes intense, high-school set thrillers and contemporaries. It was a fast-paced, serious story with a troubled set of characters, an impossibility to determine who to trust, and a page-turning quality that no other book has gripped me with for a while.

Not only was the end a surprise, it was also fascinating to see Viv throughout the story in situations that you wouldn’t expect and reacting in ways that were completely unpredictable. She's a likeable, realistic character who is in no way to blame for anything that happens to her and that really makes this a heart-breaking tale and a saddening warning about society and the struggles that young people go through in the wrong situations.