Cover Image: Everything We Never Said

Everything We Never Said

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A fun YA thriller - with a pretty good twist! What more could I ask for? Everything We Never Said is the story of Ella, a high-school girl who got into a car accident that killed her best friend. As Ella navigates her life without her best friend, she starts to fall for her best friends boyfriend - but things are not always as they seem. I did find the diary aspect frustrating, as Ella could have just read ahead more of Haley's diary to get more answers at any time, but the final twist did take me for surprise so props to that.

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This novel was absolutely heartbreaking. It was raw and it was real. Ella’s grief tore me into pieces. Her guilt of the accident becomes all consuming. She’s isolated, lonely, and completely broken. The twists and turns I never saw coming. I was floored.
(I don’t read thrillers often so I don’t really look for clues, or notice them)

Being a teenager is hard. Navigating the world, friendships, love. It can be exhilarating at times, seeing all the world has to offer. But, it can also be exhausting. When you’re young it’s so easy to just believe what is being told to you. The gaslighting, the manipulation, it’s confusing. I think this can be a really important and eye opening read for young people navigating the ways of life. Seeing people for who they are, the friends who stick by you, learning about trust and the right people to give it to. Things happen without you ever even realizing it, because you don’t know any differently..This book gives you all of the rawness you experience after loss, after heartbreak, after betrayal.

Harlow portrayed loss, love, manipulation, and grief perfectly. This story for me was unique, it was a lovely read. I read it in one sitting. Definitely a page turner! I would highly recommend!!!

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I was in the mood for a thriller and this was everything I dreamed of! I love YA books, and this one had so many twists that made it even better than I expected. I had been in a bit of a book slump, feeling like I’ve been reading the same story over and over again but I didn’t feel that with this book. While reading the ending, I truly appreciated how well written this was. All the little clues were there along the way but were subtle enough to propel the story forward with multiple possible outcomes. I flew through this book, feeling the emotions Ella did (rooting for her and Sawyer while hoping she stayed away from him, feeling her grief and guilt). This book hit on some really meaningful messages and I think anyone who enjoys books with thriller and complicated relationship elements will love this.

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Unfortunately this one missed the mark for me.
I want to start by saying trigger warnings are very important and should be listed in the finished product. Trigger warnings should include but not necessarily be limited to- domestic violence, abuse, abortion.
This book is said to be like Colleen Hoovers but the only actual similarity is the theme of domestic violence.
There were many shortcomings for this story and because of that I have chosen to respectfully not review on Amazon or goodreads so that it may still have a chance with other readers.
I just found this to be wholly unbelievable and not something that I felt invested in.

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High school best friends Ella and Haley were in a single car accident after leaving a party. Both had been drinking, both were underage. Ella had been driving. Haley was killed in the accident, she was not wearing her seatbelt and flew through the windshield. Weirdly, due of the location of the accident, Haley’s body was never recovered. Ella had some physical injuries, now she must deal with the mental and emotional fallout: guilt, sadness, loneliness and grief among others.

It's fall and a new school year has begun. At school, Ella is at a loss, everywhere she looks she is reminded of her best friend, Haley. Their previous friend group welcome Ella back into the group but she has convinced herself that they don’t really want her. Haley’s boyfriend, Sawyer, is the only person who she believes when he says that he does not blame her.

Through a school support group Sawyer and Ella begin to develop a closer relationship and Ella worries that she is falling for him. Then, while helping Haley’s mother clean out Haley’s things, Ella discovers a hidden diary. Should she read it? She believes that Haley had always told her everything so she starts to read. It seems that there is more to Haley than Ella realized.

The beginning dragged a bit when Ella is reminiscing over seemingly every moment of her life with Haley in it. After 40% in I couldn’t go on, this was a Did Not Finish for me. I generally enjoy the Young Adult genre but this was too much... everything. Too much angst, guilt, trials and tribulations. Of course the characters are teens, of course they'll be immature but it was over the top and very repetitive as the same scene, thoughts, worries, played over and over. Maybe it wouldn't have bored an age appropriate reader; however, I’ve never felt this way about other YA novels. Everything We Never Said is promoted as a Young Adult Thriller, a dark romantic thriller romantic with plenty of plot twists. It should be noted that it also has a lot of triggers, including violence and abuse. ⭐️⭐️

Thank you to #NetGalley and publishers Penguin Young Readers Group and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for this Advanced Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review. Publication date: June 4, 2024

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Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read this book ahead of time in exchange for a review. It didn't disappoint! Must read!!

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I really loved this book even though I figured it out about halfway through. As soon as the character was introduced, I knew where this was going. Even so, I really enjoyed this book. Ella, going through a lot!! Her need/want to find someone to lean on. She wasn’t expecting that someone to be her dead best friend’s boyfriend. The ending was a little out there but still a good read!!

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I really enjoyed this YA book. I liked how the author developed the characters….. it had a nice twist near the end. I will look forward to reading. More by this author

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I was a little hesitant to pick up this book because I am firmly an anti-fan of Colleen Hoover. As a side note, I have tried to read several of her books and could never finish them. So, when I saw that this one was "perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover," I want in with a fierce skepticism. But I loved it. I couldn't put it down.

The story centers on teen, Ella, who is still reeling from a summertime accident that claimed her best friend's life. Of course, Ella's the one who somehow slammed a car into a guardrail, sending her friend hurtling into the raging river and never being found again. She was probably driving drunk, or so she's been told, but Ella can't seem to remember more than bits and pieces from that night, none of which make sense with the reality of what has happened to Hayley.

The suspense and mystery itself is SO INTRIGUING. I didn't catch onto the culprit until 3/4 of the way through, which, for me, is a sign of a good mystery thriller. I won't see much more on this aspect so as to not ruin any surprises or give any hints to solving the mystery too early.

I gave it 4.5 stars because I thought the steamy sex scenes were unneeded, but, see, that's my qualm with Colleen Hoover. So, if you're into that, you'll probably enjoy the heck out of this book. But, it's just not for me. Also, audience-wise, this would be best in a high school library or older. It's too mature-content-filled to be in a junior high setting. Aside from these scenes, though, it'd have been perfect for a junior high audience or up.

I am grateful to the publisher, Penguin Group Penguin Young Readers Group and #Netgalley for the advanced reader's copy of this book in exchange for my honest feedback. I look forward to reading more books by this author!

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3.75 star. wow. i was not expecting to like this book as much as i did. this book touched on so many different topics like grief, forbidden romance, domestic violence, manipulation/grooming. loved reading Hayley’s diary entries and finding out her secrets along with Ella. the plot twist really got me but felt there were to many plot holes for it to really make sense.

thank you to the Penguin Group for the gifted ARC provided through NetGalley.

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This is fine.

It’s more sad romance than dark romance. Definitely very tragic. Also very predictable.

It’s compared to Colleen Hoover. I don’t read her, but I’ve heard enough about her to think that may be accurate.

The romance was kind of a mix of sweet and ick, trending slightly more toward the sweet.

Our main character was okay, but her personality never really meshed for me.

I do think the book is fine if you’re in the mood for something sad.

• ARC via Publisher

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I thought the book was very well written. It follows Ella a girl who was in a car accident and lost her best friend. It takes place her senior year of high school she finds her best friends journal and begins the quest to find the truth! It has some twist and turns that definitely were unexpected!

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A genuinely beautiful and heartbreaking novel. Those first pages introducing us to Ella's and her enormous loss and the way she feels alone. It's so breathtakingly real. My heart ached for this lost, lonely girl.
And then she's given this lifeline in her best friends boyfriend. Who else would it make sense to lean on?

I think this may be a really important read for teens. The gaslighting, abuse and manipulation that goes on...it's so easy to get into these types of relationships and not know it. Especially one that's love bombing and forbidden like told here. When you read Hayley's diary and see how it started and got worrisome rather quick...that's scary and unfortunately real. The isolation she felt being unable to turn to anyone because that puts them in danger too. Maybe this will help someone out there.


Going back to the storyline. There's two major plot reveals. The first I'd long figured out. For one reason only. *spoiler alert* what person in a position of power at school, let alone a school counselor, would let another student say the despicable things Scott said to Ella and just stand there?
The second reveal was huge and I didn't see coming.

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I was hooked right from the start! I don’t read a lot of YA books but this one gripped me. I thought I had the “twist” figured out and then got completely blindsided at the end. I feel like the author did a great job of bringing the characters to life and making the reader feel their emotions. I can’t wait to read more from this author!

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This is the first book I've read by this author and I was pleasantly surprised. I found it to be really well written. I thought I knew what the answer was (without giving out any spoilers), but I was wrong at first, I did finally come up with the correct answer. It was definitely a good read and I'm excited to pick up another book by this author. There was lots of suspense and action. I even cried a couple of times.

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This book is mixed with so many emotions! Ella is grieving the loss of her best friend, Ella starts having feeling for her best friends boyfriend! Just omg. Such a great book. Totally recommend.

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This is my first book by Sloan Harlow. I enjoyed it, very fast read and the storyline is engaging. It's the perfect book for a YA.

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A haunting yet hopeful story that touches on some heavy subjects and holds your attention from start to finish. There were a couple times I thought I had the twist figured out, but there were enough red herrings to keep me guessing til the end, and a couple surprises along the way. I would recommend this novel as a good YA thriller.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

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3.5 stars. This one was definitely a YA, which I was in the mood for, and there were some twists at the end that I did NOT see coming. Overall, fairly unbelievable, but it kept me turning the pages! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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When I began this book, I thought the storyline would be about a girl filled with angst over the death of her best friend and her crush on the best friend’s boyfriend. All that is true, but there is much more to the story. I did figure out the plot twist before it was revealed, but there was another twist at the end I did not see coming! I love a good mystery and this book checked all the boxes. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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