I had such high hopes for this thriller. The pacing, location and timeline golf the story was all over the place, so much so it took away from the plot and story line.

We never truly receive a developed story. Every character but Sol in my opinion was a narcissist including Adam.

I understand being close with your family but you also need to know what you want and how to get it, without destroying the world you built.

I really tried to like it

I really enjoyed this novel, although I think I would have preferred it to be a little more fast paced through the first few chapters. It had a great premise and well-developed characters.

I was excited to get into this one! This novel explores the complicated dynamics of a family in crisis — a daughter going through a divorce, and parents and brothers who are trying to support her. The emotional landscape is dense, with a strong focus on family history and generational tension.

While the premise had real potential, I found myself wanting more momentum and urgency. The story leans heavily into backstory, which slowed the pace considerably. With such emotionally charged material, I expected more drama, more tension — something closer to a domestic thriller. Instead, it stayed in a quieter, introspective lane, which may work for readers who enjoy slow burns and deeply layered characters. Personally, I struggled to stay engaged.

That said, the author clearly has a strong grasp of character psychology, and readers drawn to family sagas and internal conflict might appreciate the depth here more than I did.

I’m typing this real quick on my phone before I get even further behind in posting, so my apologies for lack of giffery and imagine whichever “oof” or “eesh” face meme is your favorite for my reaction upon finishing up my reading here.

This was absolutely a cover/title yes please sort of request, but the story was so basic that it could have been wrapped up in a few pages. The blurb also lies as this is neither literary nor a page turner. The family history seemed to be thrown in simply for page count because it just made things drag on forever and the side plot in Maine with the estranged brother was so pointless. This book slump is killing me!

ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you, NetGalley!

Thank you, NetGalley, for this book.

We find out at the beginning of the book that Hailey’s ex-husband has been murdered, and people think she had something to do with it. Rewind several months, and we see her marriage fall apart. Hailey’s mother is overbearing, to say the least, and basically demands that Hailey move home to Florida from New York, where her ex and their daughter live.

Hailey’s brother, Nate, tries to help. Her brother, Adam, is estranged from the family. And their father just tries to keep moving forward with life. I thought it was interesting that this was based on a true story. And even though most of the characters were wholly unlikable, I wanted to see which of them was behind the murder, Hailey? Her crazy mother? Her protective brother? Or none of the above? Good book that kept me reading.

Tova Mirvis's "We Would Never" is a truly captivating read, earning a solid four stars for its compelling narrative and deeply engaging storytelling. From the very first page, I found myself drawn into the intricate lives of its characters, propelled forward by a plot that is, without a doubt, riveting. Mirvis has a remarkable talent for crafting scenes that resonate with emotional depth and for building a world that feels both intimate and expansive. The prose is beautiful, often lyrical, and it truly elevates the reading experience, making even the quietest moments feel significant.

However, despite the undeniable power of its storytelling, "We Would Never" leaves the reader with a sense of incompleteness that can be frustrating. There are a significant number of unanswered questions that linger long after the final page is turned. While some ambiguity can be thought-provoking, here it often feels like crucial threads are simply dropped, leaving the reader to wonder what happened next to characters and situations they've become deeply invested in. This lack of resolution detracts from the overall satisfaction of the journey.

Furthermore, the novel's timeline can be confusing at times. The narrative jumps between different periods, and while this can be an effective storytelling device, in "We Would Never," these shifts are not always clearly signposted or smoothly integrated. I occasionally found myself re-reading sections to orient myself within the chronological flow, which disrupted the otherwise immersive experience.

In conclusion, "We Would Never" is a powerful and beautifully written novel that will undoubtedly grip you with its compelling plot and masterful storytelling. Tova Mirvis is a gifted writer, and her ability to craft such a rich and emotionally resonant narrative is commendable. Yet, the persistent unanswered questions and the occasionally disorienting timeline prevent it from reaching its full potential. It's a book that will stay with you, but perhaps as much for the questions it poses as for the story it tells.

Thank you Avid Reader Press / Simon & Schuster for allowing me to read and review We Would Never by Tova Mirvis on NetGalley.

Published: 02/11/25

Stars: 2.5

Profanity: Yes

We Would Never is inspired by a true story and is written in such a fashion that the "complexities of the family dynamic" had me thinking about the real crime and trial. The story is too close to the actual people whether the scenarios are correct or not. The personalities, morality and character traits are ideal for a book and all taken from the original crime.

There are a few misguided F bombs.

The book is just okay. I did like the path Mirvis took to tell the story.

This book starts with a murder of an ex-husband and gives a thriller vibe, but more than a thriller, it is really an exploration of family dynamics and boundaries. How family can infiltrate a marriage, how codependent relationships between parents and children can affect someone’s identity and choices. It was fun to read!

2 stars because the plot idea was intriguing. A murdered husband, messy divorce, intrusive family. It starts out promising with good character development. But then it just goes on and on and on (leaving a lot of unanswered questions still). Family drama with a hint of murder. The "twist" was predictable, so maybe not a twist after all.
Thank you Netgalley, publisher, and author for the ARC (super late)

We Would Never a Novel
by Tova Mirvis
(This review is based on an ARC sent to me by NetGalley)

This novel explores the extremes to which a family will go to protect their own.
Hailey Gelman is in the middle of a bitter separation and divorce from
her soon to be ex-husband Jonah. She is also in a custody battle for her daughter Maya.

When Hailey files a motion to relocate to Florida so she can be near her family, the divorce begins to escalate, drawing in all the members of Hailey’s family, who are determined to help her however they can. Her mother Sherry, her brother Nate and her father all rally around Hailey when she is shocked to learn she is under suspicion for the murder of Jonah.
Inspired by a true story this is a compelling read and highlights the element of suspense, and explores the loyalty, and betrayal a family will go to protect their loved ones.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my review copy.

This was a story of unknowns, family secrets, and suspicious acts. It kept me engaged to find out the truth, although I did figure out the twist partway in. Regardless, it was hard to put down. Not all of the characters were the easiest to admire, but that was part of the build-up for sure.

I would recommend!

This one wasn’t my book to read this year. I didn’t love the storyline or the development of the characters.
Thanks for the advanced copy to NetGalley and the publisher.

Oh sheesh...I hate to leave not great reviews for debut authors, but there are not many glowy things to be said about this novel. It's a bit draggy and not anything fresh. I slogged through this one - at least it was a quick read!
Thank you so much for the opportunity to read it!

This was an interesting read. Tova Mirvis kept you guessing till the end. The family is dysfunctional and loud. The book is written so well that you start to get annoyed by the family constantly fighting because it seems so real. Over and over they agonize about what happened and berate each other. So many family dynamics interwoven to cover up their animosity. Thank you Net Galley and Simon and Schuster for the free ARC. I enjoyed the drama and mystery of the two families and all the extended people involved. I am surprised to find out that is was based on a true story. I will enjoy reading other books by this author.

I really, really wanted to like this one; books and TV shows "based on a true story" are one of my favorite things ever. However this was just really dull, and it took a lot for me to not DNF. Overall would not recommend this one.

How far would you go to protect your family??? A fantastic, well written story that answers just this. One of my favorites reads in a while!

I think the hype for this book did it a disservice. Forty percent into it and the pacing was so slow that I actually nodded off. The characters were unsympathetic and unlikeable. I heard it was loosely based on a true story so I will look it up to see if the facts are a bit more engrossing.

We Would Never is loosely based on a true stroy. I followed the actual court case as it went to trial, but have had a hard time finishing this book. I think I would have liked it better if it had been a true story with real names. I really felt like the chapters drug on in places and sometimes the story felt choppy. This book is full of family drama and dysfunction. Hard to belive people would go to such awful extremes to get what they want. If I didn't know about the true story, I may have enjoyed this book more.

Why aren’t more people talking about this book?! 🤨

“We Would Never” by Tova Mirvis BLEW ME AWAY. Thanks to Avid Reader Press for a gifted galley — it’s available now as it came out Feb. 11.

“We Would Never” sounded like my jam — a family drama wrapped around a contentious divorce with shades of domestic suspense — but wow did it deliver. There isn’t some monster twist; the story is just that good and the characters are fantastic, from the means-well busybody mom to the funny brother. Tom Perotta said Tova Mirvis “brings a novelist’s eye to a tabloid story” and that is the best summation I can find as to why this book was so good. It had me in its grips and I finished it in less than 24 hours.

Synopsis: Before Hailey Gelman’s ex husband is found dead, the two of them had been engaged in a “bitter separation and a messy custody battle over their young daughter, Maya. When Hailey files a motion to relocate to Florida so she can be near her family, Jonah retaliates and the divorce begins to spiral dangerously out of control.

“Sherry, Hailey’s mother, will stop at almost nothing to keep Jonah from getting what he wants. Nate, Hailey’s impetuous and protective older brother, has tried to keep his distance, but he can’t stand to see his little sister suffer. And then there’s Solomon, the patriarch, who is keeping a secret that threatens the stability and security Sherry has worked so hard to maintain. Soon, they are forced to reckon with who they are as individuals and as a family, and just how far they will go for each other.”

We read this for book club at my suggestion because a few members tend to love domestic suspense and infighting among rich families. The blurbs really sold this high and I think it simply couldn’t keep those promises. We all agreed as a book club that we wanted more. More wealth, more relationship development along side characters to really flesh them out, and more depravity/conflict/craziness. The bones are there, everything just needed to be turned up in volume.