A compelling middle-school mystery with lots of family drama. Love the dynamic between the two cousins, Avery and Jax, as they channel Nancy Drew to literally piece together what happened to their deceased aunt.

This was a beautiful, moving, and sad story. I was hooked from the beginning but also bummed out a lot of the time haha. Overall very emotional mystery that I would recommend but maybe not for sensitive kiddos.

I was sucked into this story from the very beginning! Hearing the story from the two perspectives of Avery and Jax kept it interesting and moving. I love how the two cousins found acceptance in each other, even when they didn’t necessarily accept themselves. Avery and Jax are spending part of their summer on an island where their parents, aunts, and uncles spent summers years before. Yet since those years, the family has fallen apart. Avery and Jax are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery of why the family fell apart. The juxtaposition of the two characters is clear - Avery is loud (to her own annoyance sometimes) while Jax is quiet and retrospective. Yet somehow these two become friends and allies in their search. While some of what they learn during their time on the island is sad, the relationships between the two brightens the story. I think young readers will enjoy the mystery of what happened on the island years ago, and the emotions and relationships of the characters will fill out the story. I will definitely recommend this to my readers!

Erin Soderberg Downing writes such gripping novels that send you into a whirlwind of adventure right next to the characters and What Happened Then is no exception. I was so attached to every character and their piece of the story even several days later I am still thinking about it!

Normally, I can finish a book and jump right into another one. This one knocked me off my feet! I've just been sitting here in awe for a few hours, unable to even think about moving on to another one. Erin Soderberg Downing writes characters and emotions in a gut punching, meaningful way and the stories just speak volumes about human existence and what it means to be a friend, a family member and a community member. This is true with the Peach family, this is true with Controlled Burn and Just Keep Walking, and now this is absolutely true with What Happened Then. The setting will pull readers in, the mysterious diary pages will keep readers enthralled , the relationships amongst the family members will keep readers wondering and feeling all the feels. This book is one I will absolutely be adding to my library and recommending. Incredibly well done!

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC of this book. In What Happened Then, a family was torn apart by the death of a younger sibling, but no one is willing to discuss the events of that summer. Brought together one last time to the island, this fractured family must face the truth while helping another sibling through an unexpected diagnosis. The unfolding mystery is told from the perspective of two cousins, Avery and Jax, that are looking for acceptance in their own ways, and the long lost pages of a child's diary that are found hidden around the island, who also just wanted nothing more than to be included by her siblings. Will Avery and Jax be able to crack the case and help their family heal before it is too late?

Erin Soderberg Downing has hit it out of the park with her latest middle grade novel. Set on an off the grid island accessed only by boat, and told in alternating narratives, cousins Avery and Jax are summoned to the island with their families by their favorite aunt. Their parents seem apprehensive, even annoyed to be returning to where they spent their family summers as children. Avery and Jax are determined to uncover the secretive cloud that hangs over their parents and their siblings, a cloud that never left the island, a mystery that no one speaks of and likely has to do with the death of their sister who is never mentioned or named. The adults, however, are hyper-focused on clearing out the family cabins, cleaning up the island, and preparing it for new owners. Between random moments of joy and happy memories, Avery and Jax try to get the grown ups to shed light on what happened, but find only unwillingness to open up and share details of the pain that accompanied the good times. Instead the two teens are forced to piece together what happened through journal entries randomly hidden around the island and solve the mystery before their parents finish the clean up and pack up to return home. This story has great twists and turns and is hard to put down. Kids are going to love it.

Cousins Jax and Avery take turns telling the story of the summer their dying aunt gathers their estranged family at the rundown summer lake home. They learn of a deceased aunt that no one is willing to talk about and want to unravel the family mystery when they start finding scattered pages of an old diary. Avery and Jax keep digging, hoping to bring their family closer together. The more they find, the more they learn that there might be a reason the older generation doesn't want to discuss what happened to their sister so long ago.

Not just because of the island setting, but this story had echoes of the young adult thriller "We Were Liars," one of my favorite YA novels. This is definitely a middle-grade appropriate version, though, and I can't wait to add it to my mystery shelves.

Many thanks to NetGalley and to Scholastic Press for the eARC.

Well written. A thoughtful story about how trauma can deeply impact a family. The two narrators are likable and relatable. There are a few tangents in the story that felt unnecessary and I would have loved to see the nastiest character have a little more learning and growth. Overall though, I enjoyed it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 4.5/5
What Happened Then messed with my head in the best way.

It’s giving ✨emotional damage✨ but like… beautifully written. Tessa goes back to the place where something awful happened years ago—and slowly, piece by piece, the truth starts unraveling. The vibes? Moody lake days, buried memories, messy family energy, and that eerie feeling you get when you know something’s off but can’t quite name it.

This book is soft and heavy at the same time. Not a thriller, but it keeps you hooked. Quietly intense. Thoughtful. Sad. Real. And that one reveal?? Yeah, I had to just sit there for a second.

If you’re into slow-burn emotional reads with mystery layered in, this one’s calling your name.

Read if you like:
🧠 memory gaps + buried secrets
🌫️ that lowkey eerie aesthetic
💔 soft but soul-punchy writing
🏞️ nostalgic small town/lakehouse vibes

Not me still thinking about it days later.

Review 8.5/10✨ This book is a very specific middle grade trope that I really enjoy. It’s a kind of emotional journey to understanding family trauma through uncovering the mystery of a past traumatic event.

In this story we follow two cousins visiting a family island for the first time. Most of the family members are estranged and being on the island is very obviously painful for the adults. The kids don’t know what happened in the past but they live with the damage done by it. They’re hopeful that if they figure out what happened they can confront their family and it could lead to healing.

I thought everything in the story was really well done. The setting was beautiful and the characters and their dynamics were so emotionally complex. The two MCs are very lovable but struggled with how they viewed themselves because of how various adults treated them. Jax was not masculine enough for his father and Avery seemed to be neurodivergent and saw herself as too much and annoying through others eyes. I wish I could give them both hugs.

The mystery unfolded at a great pace and I thought the ending was wonderful. Overall I highly recommend this one to middle grade lovers. It’s out July 26th and filled with summer vibes.

Thanks to NetGalley and Scholastic Press for a copy of this book.

Erin Soderberg Downing is an absolute genius when it comes to crafting engaging stories that are full of heart. What Happened Then is a beautiful book about family, tragedy, and healing. Avery and her cousin Jax are on their family's forgotten summer island, trying to uncover the mystery of why the family stopped going there each summer, and what tore the family apart. It's a fantastic middle grade book that will inspire kids and their families to spend more time together, to enjoy the great outdoors, and to lean on each other when going through tough times. Outstanding and highly recommended!

Wow. Did I read this in one day? Yes. Did I shed a tear or two? Yes. I enjoyed Erin Soderberg Downing's Just Keep Walking and Controlled Burn, so I was anxious to read What Happened Then. What I wasn't expecting was liking this book as much as I did. I loved the mystery, the strong family themes, and the different timelines. Teenagers will be able to relate to the two main characters in the story. The book handles difficult topics such as accidental death, illness, anxiety, and the complexity of familial relationships in a beautiful, hopeful way. I can't wait to share this story with my serious readers at our middle school. I think it would be great as a read aloud in the classroom and will recommend to teachers. Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the e-ARC of this middle grade novel.

This is the perfect summer book. I loved this one from start to finish, as it's a great mix of heart, humor, and suspense. Erin Soderberg Downing's stand alone novels have been standout of late, and this is no exception.

Buried secrets, misfits and family - both real and found, mark this intriguing mystery told in dual POV. Middle school and also early high school readers will relate to MCs who feel as if they don't belong and will root for the chance at belonging and feeling understood. Erin expertly weaves together the past and the present, while highlighting the story of two cousins amidst the backdrop of a massive ensemble cast. Readers who love mysteries, dark secrets and quirky kids will be turning the pages to find out the true story of what happened then.

Told in alternating points of view, Aunt Robbie has asked the families to get together on the island to fix things and get rid of stuff if they’re selling the island. Jax and Avery find pages of a diary and wonder what’s the mystery of when their parents were kids? They both want to find more pages to figure everything out. Avery wonders why things are so different now with the families. Avery finds out her Aunt Robbie blames herself for something that happened to her sister. Was she really at fault?
Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eARC of this book. All opinions are my own.

I loved the character development of the two cousins in this book and how they grow to understand their difficult family members from learning about their traumatic pasts. I did find their voices very similar, however, so I had some trouble switching perspectives.

Mystery and suspense build in Author Erin Soderberg Downing’s What Happened Then! I would definitely recommend this mystery book to those ages 8 to 13.

When Avery’s family plans a reunion at her mom’s family’s cabin, Avery is thrilled to spend time with her aunts and cousins who she never sees. But when Avery discovers pages of an old journal, Avery and her cousin Jax are determined to uncover the hidden truth about what happened decades earlier. But will revealing the secret about what happened on the island years earlier tear their family apart forever?

Thank you NetGalley and Scholastic for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

Avery, Jax and their families are going to the Island that their parents went to every summer. That is until something tragic happened. The cousins are determined to figure out the mystery and get the family back together. The story alternates being told by Jax and Avery. Also, from the present to the past. The pair end up finding pieces of a diary throughout the island, which helps them unlock the mystery.

I enjoyed this book and it was a very quick read, because I couldn’t put it down. I wish the book wrapped more things in the end.

I really liked the dual narration in this book. We got to see from both sides and learn about their families as they are digging into this past family mystery.
I liked the changes and development in their relationship.
I liked that things weren't all tied up at the end that leaves it open for discussion.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC.