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Reviewed by: Heather Maneiro, High School Librarian Title: Everything We Never Said Author: Sloan Harlow Publisher: G.P. Putnam's Sons
Year: 2024 Good for Grades: 9-12 Genre/Type of Book: Suspense
Content Warnings, or things that other School Librarians should be aware of: Domestic Violence Recommended for a school library: Yes Reason(s) for choosing the book: now available selection for audio through NYPL Young Adult Reads If you were tasked by the publisher with writing a short quote for the back cover of this book, what would it be: What would you do if you fell in love with your dead best friend's boyfriend?
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Review:
Ella’s grief is never-ending, compounded by her guilt. Her best friend, Hayley, is dead, and Ella feels it is all her fault. Ella’s saving grace is Sawyer, Hayley’s boyfriend. Hanging with Sawyer and Hayley Ella never really felt like a third wheel, it was more like they were the three musketeers. Now though, Ella is developing feelings for Sawyer. This only exacerbates Ella’s guilt. It feels like the ultimate betrayal. Then Ella finds Hayley’s journal describing her relationship with S in depth. The S in Hayley’s journal is nothing like the Sawyer that Ella knows. Does she really know Sawyer? Did she really know Hayley? Is something else going on here that she does not understand?
Teens begging for It Ends With Us or Verity may be acquiesced with this more Teen/YA appropriate choice. May also be a next read for teen fans of We Were Liars.
Domestic violence and an inappropriate adult/child relationship are both central to this book, so may be triggering for some teens. As other reviewers have commented though, definitely a topic that may impact some young readers and a way for the readers to understand these dynamics.
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For more information about this book, see the Publishers Website