Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the digital copy of this book; I am leaving this review voluntarily.

I absolutely ate this book up–finished it in a day-and-a-half, which is pretty good for me because I rarely read for hours at a time. This book explores family bonds and public perceptions. It opens with the death of Jonah, Hailey’s estranged husband, and naturally, the police consider her a suspect. Then we have flashbacks showing her upbringing with an emotionally distant father and a way-too-involved mother, as well as two constantly fighting brothers. Her mother is so involved in her children’s lives to the point of stifling them. The family dynamics in this book are portrayed quite well.

One thing that I didn’t like about this story, which was based upon true events, was the switching from first person to third person, as well as not labeling the flashbacks with a year, because they did jump around a bit. It wasn’t terribly confusing because I was carefully reading for clues, but I could see how some readers might miss that.

The whole time the story was unfolding, I was thinking to myself that I had the murder figured out, and I forged ahead, adjusting my thinking as the plot thickened. The ending was not all that surprising, and really, it’s the only way it could have ended, but I wish there had been a few more pages of resolution. I felt like it just–ENDED.

I think anyone interested in a family story with a dark undersurface of mystery would enjoy this book. Four stars! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

What a fabulous whodunnit book! Filled with mystery and intrigue from the very beginning and kept me guessing right up until the very end! If you enjoy books about close knit families with complex relationships filled with secrets, then this book is a must read! Well written, and a real page turner! Many thanks to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster for providing me an advanced read copy of this book in exchange for my review.

family drama, secrets & a murdered husband. i absolutely ate this thriller up- from the very beginning i was hooked. even though i kinda figured out the plot twist i still enjoyed this one.

I was initially intrigued by the premise of this novel, and after reading the first chapter, I felt confident it was going to be a great read. Unfortunately, the middle section, extending almost to the end, left me feeling disengaged due to the overwhelming focus on toxic drama with very little mystery—aside from Adam.

That said, I did appreciate how the story delved into toxic family dynamics and the complexities of being human, especially the instinct to protect our loved ones. However, I came into this book expecting more mystery, which was only present in the opening and closing parts of the story.

The writing style also posed some challenges for me. The sudden switches in character POV were confusing, and I believe adding headers to indicate whose perspective we’re reading would have improved the experience. Additionally, there were noticeable spelling errors that should be addressed before publication.


A. Focus on Twists and Suspense
⭐⭐: No suspense, predictable plot twists, or none at all.

B. Atmosphere and Writing Style
⭐⭐: Weak atmosphere, writing had some redeeming moments but wasn’t engaging.

C. Character Development
⭐⭐⭐: Decent character development; some characters stood out.

D. Pacing and Engagement
⭐: The book was slow or boring, with no engagement.

E. Mystery Resolution
⭐⭐⭐: The resolution made sense but wasn’t particularly satisfying.

F. Emotional Impact
⭐⭐: Minimal emotional engagement; few memorable moments.

Overall, I would recommend this book with some reservations. If you're a fan of intricate storytelling, family drama, and exploring deep emotional moments, there’s a lot to enjoy here. However, if you’re put off by toxic characters or not particularly fond of heavy drama, this might not be for you. Still, it’s a compelling read for those who can look past its flaws and appreciate the raw human emotions of love and protection.

We Would Never is the story of a tight-knit, seemingly perfect family where each of the family members are willing to do just about anything for one another. But finally, things are taken a bit far and the seemingly perfect family collapses in on itself.

When I started reading this novel, I recognized the true story it is loosely based on from hearing about it on a podcast. What I loved about Tova Mirvis’ story was that it kept me engaged until the final sentence- I didn’t want to put it down.

It will become obvious who killed Hailey’s husband, Jonah… but you won’t find out who was really behind it until the end. Thanks to NetGalley for my ARC… I’m already looking forward to Mirvis’ next novel.

I found this a fascinating read about family relationships and divorce. I made the mistake of researching a little about the book before I started reading, and it was something of a spoiler. I recommend just reading the book and seeing how things evolve. The author did a great job bringing the characters to life, and I found them all relatable. By about the last third of the book, I found it quite suspenseful, and I flew through it trying to see how things happened. I would have liked a little more resolution at the end about the lives of the characters after the events in the book. I think this would make a great choice for book discussion groups. There would be lots to discuss!

"We Would Never" by Tova Mirvis tells the dark story of the lengths families will go to protect each other. Hailey Gelman is very close with her family, but in her opinion, they've never been too close. However, according to Jonah, Hailey's soon-to-be-ex-husband Hailey has a weird relationship with her mother. In fact, that's part of these reason they need a divorce (or so he says). In the midst of a nasty divorce Jonah turns up dead, and Hailey is thrust into the limelight as the bitter ex-wife. The Gelman's come to aide Hailey during this emotionally exhausting time, but they have secrets of their own...

Mirvis does an amazing job of painting a picturesque family and then slowly revealing the darker buts, layer by layer. This thriller is proof that you never truly know the people around you.

Thank you so much to Avid Press for the ARC!

I was immediately sold on the cover of this book. Literary suspense is my JAM and I knew this would be right up my alley!

Overall, this was definitely for me. Heavy on character development/family drama with a little bit of mystery thrown in there, but definitely leaning more towards literary fiction than anything else. I was surprised by the ending and thought the way it was wrapped up was super solid. Some parts in the middle lagged a little bit for me, but it did help give more background on the characters!

As a side note, I wouldn't recommend reading the synopsis as it gives away almost the entirety of the story.

I would recommend this book for fans of Liane Moriarty or Sally Hepworth!

I believe I heard about the case this book is loosely based on. So I was interested to read it. It centers on a woman going through a contentious divorce, and the effects it has on her dysfunctional family. The author writes about the characters as normal people, like your own family members, who are pushed to the brink mentally. This makes it much more relatable than your typical thriller type of book. I was turning the pages quickly through most of the book. I guessed the correct ending but that didn’t matter because this story was more about the relationships between the characters than a typical who-done-it.
There is one big question I still have which I won’t say because of it being a huge spoiler, but maybe there is an answer to that. I would have also liked another chapter just to give us a clue to how the future would be for the characters, because I was so invested in them at the end.
This is worth a read. It successfully touches on complex relationships among family members that many of us have experienced even if it doesn’t get as gritty and scary in our own lives. I received an advanced copy from NetGalley.

Who killed Hailey’s estranged husband? Jonah wasn’t the nicest fellow and the divorce was his idea. The longer the proceedings went on, the more demanding and unreasonable he became.

Hailey came from one of those families in which at least two people were more involved in her business than they needed to be. It wasn’t a stretch for me to imagine that one of her brothers or parents might have killed Jonah. The more I read, the surer I was that I had found the culprit. Time after time, I found out I was wrong.

Tova Mirvis has written such a suspenseful book, with so many twists and turns. The characters, the foibles, and the family situations seem real. “We Would Never” is exciting, tragic, and hard to put down.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me to read an advance reader’s copy. This is my honest review.

We Would Never by Tova Mirvis was a fascinating tale about the lengths a family will go to in order to support one another. Each character was complex and well written, with extensive details about each person’s life and individual motivation.

The book begins by setting up a murder case which is explored and slowly revealed through alternating timelines throughout the book, with a final twist at the end. Though I predicted the ending, I still felt that it was a natural ending to this complicated story.

Mirvis’s writing is engaging and well-paced, and I will definitely be reading her other work.
This book will be published February 10, 2025.

We Would Never is such a great read! I'm hooked on Tova Mirvis' writing and will definitely be on the lookout for more of their books.

Have you read the inheritance? If so, proceed with the same thread.

If not, have fun!
I liked this one. I feel like Adam could have been a bit more…..explained. But there is something to say about a family that just doesn’t get along and a mom that tries to brush it under the rug. My only complaint with this book is that there are a LOT of plot lines to follow. I think we could have done away with either the Nate and Tara mix, the Adam and the dog mix, or the Hailey being so dependent on her mother mix. The story would have still worked, the plot could have been a bit more robust, and it would have flowed a bit better, in my opinion. Solid three stars- I think non-picky people would like it and like…airport people.

I really enjoyed this book—so much so that I stayed up until 2am finishing it. I found the mystery and family drama captivating, but I wish the ending hadn’t been so abrupt.

What a great read! This is based on a true crime. How far would you go to help your child or sibling? That is the premise of this book. Good characterization and lots of angst. I enjoyed this style of writing very much, lots of different pov's and jumping from one point in time to another.
Thanks to Net Galley and the author for allowing me to read this unusual book.

I have really enjoyed Nova Mirvis's previous books so I was excited to see her new one coming out soon. What she does well is family drama!

Hailey and Jonah have been married for a number of years and during that time there has been some strain. Hailey's mother is always wanting them to come visit, but Jonah never wants to, is one of the smaller issues. Eventually the decide to get divorced which then turns into a nasty divorce-not a recommended read if this is happening to you IRL.

I was all in on the drama in this story. The mother was completely overbearing and annoying, but I think that was the point. The brother was unusually close to his mother. The father seemed a bit adrift and Hailey, she was in the thick of it. Wanting the best for everyone but mostly for her daughter.

This was mostly drama with a small mystery plot which I enjoyed. I felt like it was a lot of whining and finger pointing. Not a lot happened in the plot, aside from a dead body amongst a divorce. I liked it, but I also would've liked more plot and more character development.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press for the gifted e-ARC,

Hailey’s soon-to-be-ex-husband, Jonah, dies in the midst of their bitter divorce negotiations, and while she’s not formally accused of the crime, the court of public opinion is pretty sure she did it. After all, she hated his guts. Case closed. But it’s not that simple. Over the course of this book, we learn what actually happened to Jonah . But while a murder is at the centre of its plot, this story leans more toward literary fiction than a straight-up thriller.

At the heart of this book is Hailey’s complex, sometimes overbearing family. There’s her mother, who always felt like Jonah was keeping Hailey away from her. Hailey’s workaholic father. Her brothers, who are one another’s polar opposites. And then there’s Hailey herself, a people pleaser trying to keep everyone happy as her life unravels.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s tightly paced and involves multiple timelines and POVs. Each character felt real and dynamic, and it was so interesting to watch them interact with one another.

I’d recommend this book to people who love literary thrillers like The God of the Woods, but also to fans of family dramas like Long Island Compromise. I look forward to checking out more from this author!

⭐⭐⭐
WOAH. This was my first read from Tova Mirvis, and I will say I am returning for more. This family thriller/mystery had me hooked it was the perfect combination of unanswered questions unfolding right before my very eyes. The theme that this novel had was heavy & strong: how far you would go to protect your family from harm, without turning into something unrecognizable. Throughout the novel I found myself gravitated into the story like I was a part of her family! I loved how it was told from Pov's of the family members it shows you the toxic and messy parts of their life the unfiltered truth. This case was very awakening, and it leaves you wondering. I would have liked to have seen more unravel to really grasp the realization and understanding, but without, it was still a solid 3 star read. Thank you, Net Galley, and Tova Mirvis, for the allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel, stay blessed everyone 😊🙏

We Would Never by Tova Mirvis is part family drama, part thriller. The book unfurls at a very deliberate pace, revealing key information about each character that makes you question previous assumptions. The characters are all flawed, and the book intentionally humanizes them, making their decisions all the more interesting. 

I devoured the book, but felt a little disappointed by the ending. I wanted more of a resolution than the book was willing to give. Still, I enjoyed reading this and would recommend it, especially to those who enjoy the intersection of crime and family drama.

This was a heavy read but I was invested from the beginning. The characters were beautifully flawed and overall fairly unlikeable - but not in a bad way. It was a slower paced plot with a lot of time and perspective jumping, but it gave the feeling that you were living the hell that the characters were in. Great read!