In Sloan Harlow's "Everything We Never Said," Ella is grappling with the guilt and grief of her best friend Hayley's untimely death. Returning to school, she finds herself haunted by reminders of Hayley, including her boyfriend Sawyer. As they grow closer, Ella realizes she's falling in love with him, a realization that racks her with guilt. Seeking solace, Ella delves into Hayley's journal, hoping to find comfort in her friend's words. Instead, she stumbles upon Sawyer's hidden secrets and discovers that their relationship wasn't as idyllic as it appeared. The revelation throws Ella into turmoil as she struggles to reconcile her feelings for Sawyer with the complexities of his past. Ella is irresistibly drawn to Sawyer, despite the fear and uncertainty that shroud their connection. She yearns to understand the enigma that is Sawyer, haunted by the suspicion that there's more to his grief and desires than meets the eye. The lingering question of whether Hayley knew something sinister about Sawyer casts a shadow over their relationship, threatening to consume Ella in a spiral of doubt and despair. With its poignant exploration of grief, guilt, and the complexities of first love, "Everything We Never Said" is a captivating story that delves into the hidden depths of human emotion. Sloan Harlow masterfully weaves a tale that keeps readers enthralled until the very last page.

In this captivating read, the author masterfully weaves a narrative that is both engaging and thought-provoking. Through a blend of richly developed characters and a meticulously crafted plot, the book offers a unique exploration of its central themes, inviting readers to immerse themselves in the story's depth and complexity. The narrative is paced perfectly, balancing moments of intense action with thoughtful reflection, ensuring that readers are hooked from the first page to the last. The author's ability to evoke emotion and create a vivid, immersive world is truly remarkable, making this book a must-read for anyone looking for an exceptional literary experience.

Beyond its compelling storyline, the book stands out for its insightful commentary on the human condition, weaving philosophical questions into the fabric of its narrative. The author's skillful use of language not only enriches the text but also elevates the reader's experience, offering new perspectives on familiar themes. Whether it's the intricate dynamics of relationships, the exploration of identity, or the confrontation with ethical dilemmas, this book tackles complex issues with sensitivity and intelligence. It's a testament to the power of storytelling to illuminate the nuances of life, making it a valuable addition to any book lover's collection. Regardless of genre, this is a work that resonates on multiple levels, affirming the enduring impact of well-crafted literature.

This book was a great read...very relatable to today's youth...the twists and turns were well done and the book kept me turning pages for more!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers GROUP / GP Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for this book.

I have recently started enjoying mystery books and this one has both mystery and romance so I was overjoyed.

I really enjoyed this book. The mystery was not to complex for me and the romance was sweet and did not go overboard.

Perfect for me! I enjoyed everything about the book. I think the author did angreat job.

Recommend.

Ella was a shy, normal 17 year old until an event cha her the rest of her life. While driving her best friend home from a party, Ella crashes her car, killing her best friend and losing all memory of that night. What follows is Ella and Hayley’s boyfriend’s (Sawyer) attempt to process their loss and their ever growing feelings for each other. But things go sideways when Ella finds Hayley’s diary and learns she didn’t quite know her friend as well as she thought she did. As Ella tries to recover her memories from that night, more information comes to light showing that the car accident, may not have been an accident after all.

Trigger warning: domestic violence, sexual abuse, abortion

The author did a great job of showing the different faucets of domestic violence and how most relationships don’t start out as abusive but overtime escalate. It also did a good job of showing how difficult it is for victims to leave domestic violence relationships, especially when compounded with generational trauma, power dynamics, and poverty.

I didn’t feel that the ending was very realistic. However, while I was able to guess where the story was headed early on, i enjoyed the twist at the end. The twist elevated my rating of the book to ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 instead of ⭐️⭐️⭐️.

3.5 stars

Everything We Never Said was a very fast-paced, quick read! I thought the author did a great job approaching tough topics like domestic violence, child abuse, anger issues, pregnancy, and more in a manner appropriate for the intended audience. These were very heavy topics and they were written sensitively while also conveying warning signs and avenues for help. While I predicted the twists and found several plot points to be similar to other recent reads, the story was overall enjoyable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Penguin Group/G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers for the e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Read this in a single sitting and loved it! A little predictable, but I still enjoyed the ride anyway.

I really enjoyed this book and was rooting for the main characters. Ella and Sawyer were flawed but very likeable. I do think that the person who attempted to kill Hayley was pretty obvious because he was acting in a way that no teacher or counselor would act. I also think that the treatment of Sawyer at the end was pretty heavy handed. He wasn't perfect, but to expect someone to never yell again is a bit much. Also, Ella not being honest with Sawyer was problematic but not dealt with.

Everything we never said
ARC publication date - May 28, 2024

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Everything we never said is a YA thriller. Ella is navigating the tremendous loss of her best friend Hayley, when she finds herself falling in love with Hayley’s boyfriend, Sawyer. This book grapples with issues of overwhelming guilt, domestic violence, abuse, friendship, love and grief. It was a page turner for me - I read it in two days, and has some epic twists. One of the twists at the end, things started to slowly piece together, but the other came out of left field and kept me guessing until the end. It is filled with mystery and those intense emotions experienced when you’re 17 - only heightened. It goes into true scary-thriller territory at the end. I also think the story wrapped up nicely and satisfyingly with a bow at the end. Which I love.

Such a good quick read.

YA mystery/romance

It was a little predictable for me personally. But it didn’t stop me from enjoying the story.

Haley is dead and everyone believes Ella was responsible because Ella was driving. Haley's boyfriend, Sawyer, is the only one at school who supports Haley. And there is the counselor. No spoiler alerts about the story, but the characters were stereotypical. Sawyer all of the sudden gets abusive and there was too much sex for a high school audience. Skip it. Too many other good books. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc and no pressure for a positive review.

Everything We Never Said
by Sloan Harlow
4 stars
320 pages
Jan 26th to Jan 29th

This book is such a twist and turn of events, it takes a while to get into it all, but it picks up. Once it starts to pick up it gets you hooked.
I enjoyed the whole Who dun it but the romance was just not it for me. Between the Oh no he's my best friend's ex and Why did I do this and the friendships and how annoying some teens can be.
Ill keep my eye on Sloan for more books.
Thank You, Net Galley and Penguin Group for this eARC for an honest review

I gave this book a 3 out of 5 stars. Teenage me would have devoured this book in a day! Present me not so much. I thought it was a very good book. Just not as fast paced as I like books to be now a days. Again still a very good book! I can’t wait until it releases maybe I will listen to the audiobook and get a different feel for it! Thank you NetGalley for the chance of reading/reviewing this book!

This book was simply… WOW! It wove so many important messages into the words and came out perfectly! I adored the characters and loved the twist. I saw it coming, but only because the author added in the perfect amount of foreshadowing! I was honestly floored when it happened and had to take a moment to digest it all.

Also, way to tackle important issues in such a delicate, nuanced way! It was pure perfection and I seriously cannot wait for more from this author. She is ridiculously talented and I love her work!

I loved this book so much. I want to read it again for the first time. There were a few times I felt a little old while reading this, as the characters are in high school, but they are dealing with real issues, real problems, real drama.

This story was the perfect mix of drama, thriller, and even a little romance.

Everything We Never Said is an amazing story that will pull you in from the very first page! It focuses on a girl named Ella and her life after losing her best friend Hayley in a horrific car accident. Ella and Hayley's boyfriend, Sawyer, find themselves drawn to one another upon returning to school. The twists and turns that ensue will keep you on the edge of your seat and up WAY past your bedtime to reach the end. I highly recommend this book and hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

By no fault of the author, I did not realize this was a young adult novel. I started reading it and it became a bit too immature for me. After looking it up, I saw that it was YA and I ending up not finishing it.

In this gripping YA thriller, "Everything We Never Said" unveils a world of dark romance, high stakes, and unexpected plot twists, catering to fans of Colleen Hoover. Ella, grappling with guilt over her best friend Hayley's death, finds herself back at school surrounded by reminders of her lost friend—especially in the form of Sawyer, Hayley’s boyfriend. As Ella and Sawyer grow closer, a horrifying realization dawns on her—she's in love with her dead best friend’s boyfriend.

Haunted by guilt, Ella turns to Hayley’s journal, hoping for solace but instead discovering Sawyer's hidden secrets and the less-than-perfect reality of his relationship with Hayley. As Ella becomes increasingly drawn to Sawyer, she faces the unsettling truth about him, questioning whether it's his grief, unfulfilled desires, or something even darker that Hayley knew.

A dark and romantic thriller in the vein of Colleen Hoover and Laura Nowlin, "Everything We Never Said" explores the secrets within friendships, challenging perceptions of love, loss, and the intricacies of truly knowing those we hold dear. Brace yourself for a tale of suspense, twisted desires, and revelations that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the final page.

The synopsis is better than the actual book. The characters were flat stereotypes - perfect student who feels like a disappointment, angry yet sensitive guy who feels like he needs to be the man of the house, dead best friend with dark secrets. The over-the-top angst made it difficult to really connect with any of the characters.

On the other hand, I think teens would really like the book because it was an interesting read with some good plot twists and plenty of sex and drama.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC.

While I liked the relationship between the protagonist and her best friends and found the complexities of it very thrilling; I didn’t like romance. It felt forced, partly because soon after Ella and Sawyer see each other they become involved with each other, even though Sawyer is the ex of Ella’s best friend. And while I understand she is “dead”, I would expect to see more respect for her memorie. I am also aware that there is a proof of time between her actual death and when Ella and Sawyer get toguether; but we as readers do not get the full scope of the time that passed; so it actually feels super short. Especially for a best friend