Everything We Never Said is a YA book that has many trigger topics. There is abuse, death and a sexual predator: sensitive readers be warned, and maybe it's for older young adults. The main characters are normal high school students who have boyfriend/girlfriends, go to parties, gossip, and have secrets. The secrets kept me reading and guessing. This book is the perfect read for any thriller, dark romance, mystery reader. Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Group for my ARC of this book.

This is a quick YA read that sucks you in from the beginning. It’s part romance and part suspense and while it’s super predictable I still wanted to know exactly how it was going to unfold.

3.5 stars

In this YA thriller, we join Ella while she’s wracked with guilt and grief over the death of her best friend, Hayley, and she can’t stop blaming herself. Now that school is back in session, it’s getting even harder to avoid memories of Hayley. When Ella reconnects with Sawyer, Hayley’s boyfriend, and starts to fall for him Ella’s guilt gets even worse. When she finds Hayley’s journal and starts to read, everything she thought she knew is thrown into question. Will Ella be able to accept the reality of Hayley’s death or will she be pulled farther into the rabbit hole and not be able to find her way out?

I found this to be an easy to read thriller that kept me interested throughout the book. The story was easy to get into and follow and the characters were well developed. The tension in this story was good, but at times I could guess where the story was going earlier than I would have liked. This was a good read, but at times I wasn’t a huge fan of the characters and the amount of grief in the story got to me at times. The second half of the book really picked up and I enjoyed that change of pace and the way everything played out. Overall this was a good YA thriller that was a little predictable, but still easy to get pulled into. I would definitely be open to reading more by this author in the future. If you are a YA thriller fan this would be a good one to try.

ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the writing style of this book! I felt like my daughter might enjoy it more than I did since it was young adult romance and thriller. The characters were well developed but I found the plot fairly predictable for the most part. There was only one twist I didn’t see coming. I would recommend for young (high school age) readers who are into psychological thrillers, mysteries, with a little bit of spice!

Beautifully written! I cannot say enough good things about this book! Sloan did an amazing job with the characters and the plot.

I went into this thinking it was a YA romance with some sort of heartbreak so I was not expecting this to turn into a dark romance. This books main characters are high school students but it touches a lot of triggering topics. It also turned out to be a thriller as well. It felt like a whole new genre for me lol but it was a great read!




Thank you NetGalley for the arc of this book

Title: Everything We Never Said
Author: Sloan Harlow

Review:

✨★★★★☆ 4/5 Stars

"Everything We Never Said" by Sloan Harlow is a gripping exploration of grief, guilt, and the dark edges of young love—a novel that seamlessly blends romance and thriller to keep readers on the edge of their seats. Fans of Colleen Hoover and Laura Nowlin will find much to love in this YA thriller, which delves deep into the complexities of friendship, secrets, and forbidden desire.

The narrative centers around Ella, who is wrestling with overwhelming guilt months after the tragic accident that took her best friend Hayley's life. Returning to school, Ella is haunted by constant reminders of Hayley, particularly Sawyer, Hayley's boyfriend. The emotional turmoil is palpable as Ella battles her growing feelings for Sawyer, inevitably realizing that she is in love with her deceased best friend's boyfriend.

Harlow’s portrayal of Ella’s internal conflict is both heart-wrenching and compelling. Ella’s character is developed with great nuance; her struggle with self-blame and her yearning for some form of resolution pull readers into her emotional vortex. The discovery of Hayley’s journal becomes a pivotal point in the story, unraveling the illusion of Hayley and Sawyer’s seemingly perfect relationship. These revelations bring a series of plot twists that add layers of intrigue and suspense to the narrative.

Sawyer is an equally complex character, portrayed not just through Ella’s eyes but through the secrets revealed in Hayley’s journal. His grief and hidden facets make him a fascinating, albeit enigmatic, figure. The dynamic between Ella and Sawyer is fraught with tension, and Harlow does an excellent job of navigating their delicate and evolving relationship.

The strength of "Everything We Never Said" lies in its ability to keep readers guessing. The story skillfully balances romance with thriller elements, creating an atmosphere of suspense that builds as Ella uncovers more about Sawyer and Hayley’s relationship. The high stakes and darker corners of the plot ensure that the reader is continually engaged and eager to turn the next page.

However, some readers might find certain elements of the plot slightly predictable. Additionally, the pacing, while mostly taut and effective, can occasionally feel rushed, especially as the story hurtles towards its climax.

Despite these minor setbacks, Harlow provides a satisfying and thought-provoking read. The thematic exploration of how well we really know the people we love, intertwined with the mysteries and twists, gives the reader much to ponder.

In conclusion, "Everything We Never Said" is a darkly romantic thriller that captivates with its intricate plotting and deep emotional resonance. Sloan Harlow has crafted a narrative that’s as unsettling as it is enthralling, making this book a must-read for fans of angsty, suspenseful YA fiction. Prepare to be hooked from the very first page and to stay up all night devouring every twist and turn.

This YA dark romantic thriller had me glued to its pages from the beginning! I figured out both twists early on, but it never took away from my enjoyment of the story. Seeing it all unravel was thrilling for me. Once I started, I didn’t want to stop reading.

"I keep thinking about everything I never told you, everything we never said, wondering if it all could have turned out differently if only I'd confided in you."

Ella is starting senior year filled with grief over losing her best friend Hayley in a car accident in which Ella was driving. Out of everyone, Hayley's boyfriend Sawyer is the only one to understand how Ella is feeling. Soon lines start to blur and feelings start to arise for both of them. But Ella found Hayley's diary, and she discovers dark secrets that Hayley never told Ella, dangerous secrets that could've been the reason for Hayley's death.

I was beyond impressed by this novel. I felt like I was a character in the story, watching everything from afar, with how vivid the author's writing is. Everything played out as if it were a movie in my head, and I now need this to be picked up for an adaptation!

Add this to your tbr, because this is THE thrilling read of the summer.

*While YA, it does contain mature themes, bordering on NA.

I happily requested an ARC of Everything We Never Said after reading the description -- I was extremely intrigued by the plot. Overall, I was so impressed with Sloan Harlow's writing. I loved the setting, loved the characters, loved the drama, and loved the plot. I truly could not put Everything We Never Said down and am waiting anxiously for Sloan's next book!

I got this book from netGalley in exchange for honest review.
This book was pretty predictable, which normally makes me not like a book. But I absolutely LOVED this book. Even though it was predictable 1 of the 2 major twist still got me. I highly recommend this book!

Quick read. Not really YA, has pretty graphic sex scenes described as well as domestic violence that to me don’t fit the genre.

Main character has this clueless self absorbed trait that definitely feels YA but couldn’t really make myself like her or relate to her.

Could feel that S described in diary wasn’t going to be what you thought it would be.

Overall was okay read, not making my favorites list. Was going to let my teen daughter read but have decided against that.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for my electronic advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for an eARC.

I wish I read the description more thoroughly before requesting this book as it wasn’t really according to my taste.

Wow. Just Wow.

That is really what my brain thinks when I sit and think about this book.

Sloan Harlow has written words that spoke to my teenaged soul. And I'm long past the teenage years!

First of all, really, I was so drawn into this book, that I read it in one sitting. I couldn't stop. It started out on a sad note - first day of senior year after a tragic accident just before Junior year ended, and Ella is struggling so much. Her heart is broken, and she cannot move past the feeling that she is to blame for everything that happened (no spoilers).

We follow as Ella barely makes her way through the first day, with an impromptu meeting for the senior class with the school psychologist, which pushes Ella close to Sawyer, whom she has and will avoid like the plague - or will she?

This book does cover some dark themes - including physical abuse, mental abuse, and emotional abuse, all during the teenage years; however, as a survivor of a teenage/early adult many years long relationship containing all of these things, there were not any 'triggers' for me, it just really put me back in the spot I was in. The circumstances were absolutely different, of course, but man, did it bring up past occurrences! I do not regret the read, at all, however, and feel that it brought so much to light in my 40+ year old mind that I just continuously overlooked and excused throughout those years of my life. It really put so much into perspective for me, and I really had to think about this read for a while before I could put my words together for this review.

This is absolutely a 5 star read for me. I loved the theme of the story, and the twists in the mix. I started the read thinking it would be about one thing, and then it mixed to something else for me, and then the twist at the end threw me off balance. This was a beautifully written YA thriller.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Penguin Group/Penguin Young Readers Group for the opportunity to read this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review. And thank you to Sloan Harlow for writing such a great debut!

I really liked this book. Without giving spoilers, I kept changing my mind about “S”. Ella loses her memory of the day she was in an accident and her best friend died. She finds Hayley’s diary and realizes that she didn’t know everything about her best friend. This story had my attention and it’s a great read.

Ⓑⓞⓞⓚ Ⓡⓔⓥⓘⓔⓦ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

𝔼𝕧𝕖𝕣𝕪𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕟𝕘 𝕎𝕖 ℕ𝕖𝕧𝕖𝕣 𝕊𝕒𝕚𝕕
𝗦𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗻 𝗛𝗮𝗿𝗹𝗼𝘄
Teen & YA
320 pages
Pub Day: May 28, 2024

Sʜᴏᴿᴛ Sʏɴᴏᴘsɪs
After a car accident that left Ella’s best friend Hayley dead, Ella finds solace with Sawyer, Hayley’s boyfriend, but the guilt is tremendous.

Then she reads Hayley’s diary, bit by bit. That diary tells her things about Sawyer that scare her. What happens will knock your socks off. Things aren’t always as they seem.

Mʸ Tᴴᴼᵁᴳᴴᵀs
I love a good YA book & this is definitely a good one!

It shows the innocence of the teenage mind when it comes to relationships. It also includes physical abuse, so if that is a trigger for you, take that into consideration.

The teenage characters act like typical teens but also have a maturity about them. They navigate difficult situations without adult help.

The ending is my favorite part. Though some may figure it out, I didn’t. It was the perfect way to put this story to bed!

💕Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing this ebook for me to read and review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are my own

Addictive story from the very beginning. I highly recommend this thriller for both YA and adults alike, as a 40 year old I have recommended this book to my friends

This is a dark romance book that has many trigger topics. There is abuse, sexual predator, and others that would give away too much of the book to mention. If you are sensitive to many topics, I would double check the triggers for this book before you read it

Everything We Never Said is an amazing young adult thriller. The main characters are high school students and they are true to the high school world. They have boyfriend/girlfriends, they go to parties, they gossip, and they have secrets. The secrets are the best part of this book. Hayley’s death is just the start of the story. As the book goes on there is so much more that is revealed. I looked forward to each new reveal, hoping that it would give away the rest of the story.

I was kept guessing, turning pages, and wanting to read just a few more pages every time that I needed to set the book down. This book is the perfect read for any thriller, dark romance, mystery reader. I will recommend it to many of my fellow book lovers.

This book was toxic in the best way! It had friendship, betrayal, secrets, and twists I didn’t see coming. EVERYTHING WE NEVER SAID had the fast-pace I love in YA novels and the writing of a well-seasoned author! This was an amazing debut! Read this if you love mysteries and YA books!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC!

The big twists in this book have been done before, and if you read (or watch) a lot of thrillers you probably have a good idea of what is going to happen. Although there are a couple of red herrings that keep things from being totally predictable when the truth is revealed it doesn't feel like anything that's never been done before.

The book does have a lot of great characters and relationships, however. Ella and Sawyer seem very cute together but to say more about their relationship would reveal too much about the plot. There are a lot of great family connections as well. There is Ella's relationship with her parents and even more so her relationship with her younger sister as well as Sawyer's relationship with his mom and his younger brother. There is also a nice friendship between Ella and her extremely supportive pal, Seema. It is hard to believe that Seema would be so willing to overlook their past history and be such a supportive friend, however. All in all, this book is a decent read though it would have been better if the big twists were more unique and surprising.

Everything We Never Said was my first YA dark romantic thriller, so I wasn’t totally sure what to expect, but YA thrillers are my favorite jam so I gave it a chance. I definitely enjoyed it, and can see why it was marketed as similar to Colleen Hoover. While I was able to predict the “who” easily enough, it was still interesting to read as all the clues came together as to the “why”. The characters were a little flat and one-dimensional, but I still found the pace and plotting to be good. The diary entries were a nice touch to add detail. While not on par with something like the Good Girls Guide, it was still a worthwhile read. The murder mystery twist at the end was worth it.