Secrets are exposed about an elite private school when a lawyer brings a case against the school up, asking for students to testify. What is revealed is shocking!

I don't read dark academia often but when I do, I'm always amazed at how much I enjoy it. This book fits into the same category and I was stunned to find out it is the author's debut! The narration had me on edge throughout, it was amazingly done with the storyline so riveting, though it was hard to read in some parts due to the nature of the plot. I am predicting this book to be a bestseller - make sure you get your hands on a copy!

This story weaves back and forth between two timelines about a privileged girls school and the secrets that went on there, notably sexual assault and the grooming that is perpetrated before such assault can take place. Louise Manson is a teenager from a working class family headed by a single mother who receives a scholarship to attend Highfield Manor, Dublin’s exclusive private school. She does not fit in with the rich girls that attend. As she navigates her way through trying to blend in by she meets another young girl, Shauna who she feels an instant attraction to. They become good friends and are both athletes that are singled out by the head swim coach. They both enjoy his attention as it makes them feel special, that is until Lou is unnerved by some of the touching and other inappropriate behaviors by the coach. She tells Shauna of this and Shauna doesn't agree, she is willing to go along with such behaviors as it's 'just the way coach is'. The whole thing culminates at the schools swimming pool and Lou is accused of murder. Years later there is another abuse case that has come up and Shauna's brother, a lawyer wants Lou to testify in this trial and speak of her experiences from the past because it has taken place at the same school, Highfield Manor. This is the last thing she wants to do but agrees so she might finally move forward from the guilt and pain she carries from the past. This was a really interesting and captivating novel. It has a lot of secrets that don't come to light until the very end. Well written with a powerful message for readers. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

Many thank to Net Galley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to listen/read an audio version of this novel.

I am very interested in the premise of this novel however I found the audiobook narration so drive that I struggled to get immersed in the story. I will instead try to get ahold of a physical copy of this book.

I requested this one because it might be an upcoming title I would like to review on my Youtube Channel. However, after reading the first several chapters I have determined that this book does not suit my tastes. So I decided to DNF this one.

Very good, but disturbing private girls school tale about repeated abuse and cover-ups.. I was riveted but the characters and the book was well written (I listened to the audio version). The narrator was fantastic. The book should come with a trigger warning as it graphically and extensively discusses child abuse and rape.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an audiobook ARC of this book! This was one of my most anticipated reads of the year, and it definitely lived up to my expectations! This book does have several trigger warnings, specifically for discussion of struggles with mental health, murder suicide, sexual assault and other forms of abuse, i would definitely keep these in mind when proceeding with this book. The pacing of this book was so fast I did not want to put it down! “When We Were Silent” follows Louise, an outsider in her new school Highfield Manor. The novel set in dual timelines follows Louise as she uncovers the exploitation and abuse of her school. This book was definitely a heavy read, but I was on the edge of my seat and did not want to stop listening to this audiobook.

Given the academic setting and themes of exploitation in school settings, I would consider this book another intriguing addition to the Dark Academia sub-genre.

One thing I really enjoyed was the role of Dublin within this book. The care in portrayal allotted to the city of Dublin adds so much nuance to this book. Dublin feels like a contributing character to the class and social disparities of the characters within this novel. This book is perfect for anyone looking for an engaging and fast paced novel that will keep you on the edge of your seat from beginning to end.

The main thrust of this story, that young people continue to be groomed and abused by people who have power over them and the institutions that put their own welfare over that of their students, is one that needs to be told throughout the generations, for the trend shows no signs of reversing.. Fiona McPhillips makes a good attempt at telling the story. However, the use of dual timelines (then and now) intertwines at least one-too-many story lines, at least one of which - eating disorders - seems more gratuitous than necessary for the story's impact. I listened to the audiobook, which was enhanced greatly by the narrator India Mullen. McPhillips does a good job of character development but is too ambitious in her plotting and pacing to make this novel sing. She shows promise enough, however, that I look forward to reading her next attempt.

In this debut novel from Fiona McPhillips, a young woman infiltrates a prestigious all girls school to avenge her friend. Dark secrets hang in the halls of Highfield and Lou, a girl from the wrong side of the tracks, must try to uncover the truth and expose it to the light. She finds herself in a heap of trouble, surrounded by people she can’t trust. Lies, betrayal and death….
Years later she is contacted by a lawyer and asked to testify against Highfield. This sends Lou spinning and forces her to confront her past.
This story unfolds in two timelines, past and present, with Lou remembering events at Highfield in the past and trying to figure out what to do in the present. There are many heavy themes in this book, poverty, sexual assault, eating disorders and death.
I enjoyed this dark academic book. Lou was likable and I was definitely rooting for her. There are a lot of unlikable characters in this book. Some you are supposed to just forgive in the end and I just couldn’t get there.
I was given this as an audiobook to review. It is narrated by actress India Mullen and she does a fantastic job. She has a beautiful voice and really brings Lou to life. I highly recommend this as an audiobook.
I would give this book 3 and 3/4 stars rounded up to 4.
Huge thanks to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this narrator! She’s amazing and her voice was perfect. This is a book that people are going to have mixed feelings about. It has several trigger warnings for abuse, sexual violence,& suicide. I gave it a 4 star because this book was a slow start for me, and it took some time to get into the story but once I was, I could not stop listening. I will say though at times it was difficult to hear the things that some of these characters had to go through and the effect it had on their lives. The narrative shifts between present and past, with each part taking place in large sections rather than switching to every chapter, I like that because it gives you a good description of the past and the present to where you do not get confused. I would highly recommend this book, you will love some characters but also dislike a few. Happy Reading!

This book deals with some heavier topics: sexual assault, alcholism, grooming, and eating disorders so it might not be for everyone. I thought the author handled the topics well, but still some parts were difficult to read. As a debut novel I thought Fiona McPhillips did a great job writing a fast paced thriller and I would read from her again.

Louise Manson is attending a prestigious school in Dublin that holds a dark secret that she wants to expose. It has dual timelines, we are in the 80’s when Louise was in school and present day as an adult. In the present day timeline a writer wants Louise to expose the truth about the school and the secrets within. We find Louise grappling with her past and with the realization that her daughter now is attending the school. Will the horrors continue now that her daughter is a student at the same school?

I found parts of this book a little slow and had to put the book down for a couple days then picked it back up and decided to just push through and finish. As a teacher, I’m not keen on reading about teacher student relationships or women getting sexually abused so parts were difficult for me to read.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

First, thank you to Macmillan for the audiobook! The narrator did an absolutely lovely job. Her voice fit this story so well.

This was a difficult book to read. The subject matter is heavy and infuriating and brings up a lot of emotions. There is a lot of depth to this novel, and there are painful (even graphic) sequences. These are all written in a manner that feels appropriate. I think this provides valuable commentary on real-world issues (even though this story is fiction).

The characters are messy and frustrating in a way that makes them feel very real. I didn't always love what Lou was doing, but I really felt for her and what she was going through.

This deals with a lot of complex issues - sexual assault, grooming, eating disorders, alcoholism, suicide, and many more - and the author navigates these problems with care and nuance. This book infuriated me, it disgusted me, it made me sad. It was certainly a heavy read.

Now, I do have a few complaints. First: the present storyline doesn't match up to the past. Some of the present storyline felt draggy and almost boring until the end. Second: some of the present storylines felt unnecessary and like they were a bit too much? Like they just didn't fit. And last: I wanted to see more of the aftermath of the past storyline. The jump from past to present feels so abrupt and I am left with questions.

Overall, this was a valuable read with a lot of interesting moments. It took me longer than usual to get through this because of the subject matter, but I'm glad I read it! A 3.75 rounded up.

When we were silent was a very well written and intriguing audiobook. I not only enjoyed the book, but the narration helped create a picture of what was happening in the story and a sense of understanding.

The story had a good back and forth of the current and the past. The characters had depth and their characters had some good development as they faced their challenges along the way. I will say there are times that I became irritated with the main character and her attitude and how she would/wouldn't say something, especially when it was pertinent. But that typically goes with stories like this and adds to the development of everything along the way.

There where twists and turns along the way that I did not see coming, and the story was engaging without being incredibly predictable, which is always a bonus with thrillers/mysteries.

I definitely recommend When We Were Silent, especially as an audio.

Thanks to MacMillan Audio & NetGalley for providing an audio ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Louise "Lou" Manson is the MC in this dual-timeline thriller dealing with sexual abuse at an exclusive parochial school in Ireland in the 90s. Lou is the lower-class daughter of an alcoholic single mum on scholarship (or so she thinks) at prestigious Highfield, and she's there to entrap the swim coach who abused her best friend and drove her to suicide. Her plan works a little too well.

In the present, the brother of Lou's classmate, popular, pretty, athletic, swim-team goddess Shauna Power wants Lou to testify in a case being brought against Highfield regarding another coach abusing a teenager, this time a boy.

McPhillips takes her time weaving the two stories together, allowing only snippets of the past to touch the current timeline, to the extent that it feels disjointed. It's only when she starts focusing on the past timeline in earnest that the story picks up. The treatment of the "sting" Lou fancies herself putting together is very typical teenage thinking to me and comes off as believable, as does the intensity of her friendship with Shauna (despite her ultimately not knowing all that much about her). A story about just that would've been better, I think. The timeline in the present day is less compelling and the addition of Lou's 14 year old daughter just muddles the story (and how did her wife not really know much of her past? Seems like it would have been unavoidable). The current-day story sort of flutters to a close with the only really compelling bit being the fate of Shauna.

McPhillips is definitely a writer to watch; hopefully her next book will be sharper in focus. India Mullen does a good job of demonstrating teenage angst with a beautiful accent. 3.5 stars rounded down

Thank you to NetGalley, MacMillan Audio & Fiona McPhillips for an audio ARC of When We Were Silent in exchange for an honest review.

This story follows Lou who is a new student at an exclusive private school in Dublin. While attending school there, she discovers a dark secret & decides she needs to expose said secret, which leads to problems for Lou & someone dead. Thirty years later, a lawyer is bringing a lawsuit against the school & desperately needs Lou's testimony. This is finally her chance to get to the bottom of the dark secret she tried to expose thirty years ago.

This book was so incredibly written. It will shake you to your core as it's very dark & intense for the majority of the book. Many relevant issues are at the heart of this story: wealth, privilege, mental health, #METOO, to name a few.

It took me just a minute to become completely engrossed as the novel starts out in present day. It really got going for me when we were taken to the past. This book was so gripping & difficult to put down. There was true nail-biting suspense throughout and the twists & especially the ending will leave jaws on the floor.

I HIGHLY recommend this book.

I had a really hard time following the story as I feel like there was so much happening and it could’ve been separated into multiple books. There was a lot of things happening that I just don’t necessarily agree with and I don’t love when books have political or touchy subjects as I don’t feel it’s necessary to the story.

Page-turning novel about sexual abuse and its effects on the victims. The timeliness of the subject and setting (a school covering up the crimes) is certain to resonant with many readers. Others may take offense at some of the sexual aspects, but I feel there was nothing gratuitous about showing the brazen brutality of the perpetrator. While the reader may figure out “the twist”, the deft writing that unspools the mindset/motivations of the various girls makes for a riveting, poignant read. The narrator also did an excellent job of bringing their voices to life.

Gripping story of an elite private school with a dark history and the student who could expose everything. Expertly narrated and well paced.

This book did not appeal to me the way I hoped it would. This book was very slow and I feel like it dragged for me. I almost gave up several times, but I kept going. This was just not for me. I did think the narrator was good.

I wish I could say I loved this book. The topic is an important one, but overall this book didn’t work for me.

We have the ubiquitous two timelines, with the before being Louise’s experience in high school, and the present being when the past comes back to haunt her thirty years later.

I was surprised by the heavy YA vibe. Most of this story is told in the before timeline. We see the high school situation play out in much more detail than I needed, including lots of meandering and repetitive day-to-day activity. Pacing is quite slow. Lou’s choices often didn’t make sense. I never understood what she expected to accomplish by putting herself in that situation.

I wanted so much more from the after timeline. I wish we’d seen the lingering effects of all the high school issues on Lou as she aged. I wanted to understand how she got to where she was. The story missed a major opportunity to show the long-term harm of abuse.

Every single character, including Lou, was unlikable. I struggled to find any connection.

The side story with Lou’s daughter, in the present timeline, was unnecessary and odd. Neither the girl’s character nor the storyline were well developed. Also, something major happened with the daughter that should have been a bright, flashing, glaring red flag, which Lou inexplicably chose to ignore. This didn’t sit well with me at all.

On the bright side, I loved India Mullen’s audio narration. Had I been reading this instead of listening, I probably wouldn’t have finished.

This is Fiona McPhillip’s debut and I’m looking forward to her next!

Louise Manson is a successful academic writer and teacher moving through her life when she receives a phone call from an attorney. Highfield Manor, Dublin’s most exclusive private school is the center of another scandal and her help is needed.

Louise has spent the last thirty years trying to forget what happened there all those years ago and is unsure she can take being dragged back. To do so could completely unravel her life.

When We Were Silent is told from two time periods.
The present – Louise struggles with the potential consequences should she decide to testify. But, if she doesn’t, can she live with herself? Not to mention, she’s being threatened. If she aids the defense, everything she did will come out. Is there some other way she can help the cause without testifying?
The past – Louise was able to attend Highfield as a scholarship student (or so she thought). She’s from the poor side of town and is an easy target for her wealthy classmates. She quickly befriends a few girls, makes the hockey team and even falls in love but soon everything comes crashing down and she is left in a place of despair and uncertainty.

WWWS is not a light-hearted read. It’s poignant and deals with many difficult subjects: alcoholism, suicide, abuse, betrayal and grooming to name a few. However, it’s very well-written with believable characters and sadly, feels like something that could actually or has actually happened. I can see it being turned into a TV series.

I listened to the audio version and the narrator was amazing.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio and Fiona McPhillips for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

A little confusing as an audio book

I listen to a of of audiobooks while doing other projects. That means I may miss a few seconds here and there when my attention goes elsewhere. This is normally not an issue but it meant that I was confused for the first half of this book. I was not aware that it went forward and backward in time. That is totally my fault as the narrator did mention it, but it was easy to miss in an audio version. I think a written copy would have made that clear.

The story was good (and sad, I mean, a coach who abuses his students!), but not that compelling. It was easy to stop listening and forget to start again. There were a few parts that I should have listened to again, as I missed parts like who exactly was the person who was searching for young males. But, I was not that curious.

The ending was good.

I loved. the narrator's Irish lilt.

All in all, a good book, but not one I will be rushing to push my friends to read.