Great story, thrilling plot that I could not put down. Well worth a read, and would recommend to others.

I don't even know what to say about this one. I feel like absolutely nothing happened. The book is told in multiple points of view both before and after a tragic accident that takes the life of three cheerleaders at Worthy High. Throw in a sexual assault plot plus suspected pedophilia and a bunch of cheating and terrible people and you have this book. If it weren't for the very last chapter, I would not have given this two stars. I feel like there was a good idea in there somewhere but it never got off the ground.

Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley provided me with an electronic copy of When We Were Worthy. I voluntarily chose to review this book and my opinion is freely given.

At the center of this novel is Worthy, Georgia, a small town with secrets. The book revolves around the high school football team and an accident that turns a win into immeasurable loss. The book is written from the perspectives of four women, each with a different view of their small town life: Marglyn, a mother suffering from loss; Darcy, a woman with a stake in the outcome of an investigation; Ava, a substitute teacher with a secret that threatens her very livelihood; and Leah, a teenager for whom fate had a different plan. Who will become collateral damage and who will get away with their sins?

When We Were Worthy is a YA novel that suffers from too much drama, which takes away from the substance of the book. With so many side plots, so many secrets, and so many lies, the tragedy of the fateful night gets lost. The main story would have been enough, with an investigation into what happened taking lead. The book gets bogged down in the secrets and never really catches my interest. There is really nothing to set When We Were Worthy from countless other books in the genre, so I would be hesitant to recommend it to other readers.

I was heartbroken while reading this book. Not only at the loss of teenagers, but at the judgment and grief of those left behind are feeling. I cannot begin to truly understand how those who lost the three girls are feeling but I am devastated by the lack of compassion for the one who takes the blame. I am mortified by the way the adults react and how they don’t control their own teenagers.

There is nothing simple in Marybeth Whalen’s writing. I could feel the complex emotions, the grief at the loss, the fear of the consequences of actions, and the anger in the town. This is more than just a story about the loss of three young ladies. There is so much more.

The different characters all shared their points of view. It was interesting to see how the different characters perceived the same events or how they felt about them. By writing in this style I felt that I could connect with each character, feel their emotions, know their thoughts, and learn their histories.

I am a Marybeth Mayhew Whalen fan. I recommend picking up your own copy.

This was a good book that I had a hard time putting down. I loved how it portrayed the devastation of how a small town accident can change people. I enjoyed this author and look forward to reading more from her. I rate this book a 3.4

Such a great book I’m thankful I got the chance to read! Told from the perspectives of several female characters, this story is all about the same incident but how many different women, including their loved ones were affected in different ways. Very touching with lots going on in a small town that puts certain ones on a pedestal, much like in the real world.

When We Were Worthy is a story of a small town in Georgia, rocked by tragedy following a high school football game one night. Three cheerleaders are killed in a car accident and the driver of the other car, a student who survived, is accused of being at fault. The story is told from varying perspectives: two different moms, a teacher, and another cheerleader who wasn’t in the car that night. The story focuses on the aftermath of the accident - grief, defense, scandal, shame, and sorrow.

The book reminded me in some ways of The Party by Robyn Harding, particularly because of the varying viewpoints between teenagers and adults, surrounding a single event, but I liked When We Were Worthy more. Though there were numerous predictable elements, I thought it was a better story in plot and in the writing itself.

I actually went to a high school football game last night as a friend was coaching, and I was reminded of how much is invested in the football team at some schools, and how young the students actually are, although I didn’t feel that young myself back then.

Even though When We Were Worthy is a fictional story, it was very realistic. To lose anyone at such a young age is always a tragedy. Reading Marglyn’s perspective (a grieving mom of one of the cheerleaders who died) of the story was the most painful, in my opinion, but Whalen did a great job putting the reader in her shoes and invoking her feelings.

The book resolved the lingering questions that arise from the accident and I stayed interested in the story the whole way through

Thank you to Net Galley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. While I enjoyed this book, I didn't love it, I just didn't connect with any of the characters. The book tells the story of a small Georgia town where football is king. When a tragic car accident claims the lives of three cheerleaders, nothing will ever be the same. Told from alternating narration of the women affected by this tragedy, we see what happens when the truth comes to light and all involved have to deal with the aftermath of the accident.
Overall a very quick read, just not as compelling as I was hoping.

I didn’t love the pacing but still pretty good. This book was interesting enough to keep me reading to find out the truth about what really happened.

I loved this book. It was all about close-knit communities, similar to the one I grew up in. So many of the characters were recognisable and I just loved getting to know them.
I am also a mother, and felling a little alienated from my children at a time they may need me most.
This book gave me an insight into what teens go through. I can' t say it was reassuring but it was realistic.
Very well written and insightful

“When We Were Worthy” by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Worthy is a town of a little over 4600 people. It is a town in Georgia where everyone knows everyone’s goings on, be it the truth or some form of gossip. It is a town where most support and root for one another. It is a town that has its own celebrations throughout the year, but football season is something almost everyone attends.

When Worthy is struck by a tragedy the town rumor mill goes rampant within minutes, or so it seems. Those directly affected have to work through their grief, while trying to avoid false information being spread or twister and try to fix those they are able.

Aside from the tragic event, two women have had their lives changed in very different ways by the same individual(s).

Over time, feelings begin to change, normality seems to become more commonplace, individuals are mending relationships, and almost everyone is moving forward. Yet, despite this, so many lives have been affected and changed. But slowly the town of Worthy begins to live up to its name, as do its citizens.

A moving, heartfelt, dynamic novel that enfolds the reader through so it is difficult to put down, if you are able.

A realistic rendition that not one detail seemed out of place, exaggerated, or incorrect. The author truly has her pulse on small towns, the varied reactions of its citizens and how they slowly begin to heal on multiple fronts.

Rating: 4.8
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

While I was drawn to When We Were Worthy due to its plot, what moved me the most was the writer’s seamless segue into theme. Click on the link below to read the rest of my review.

I enjoyed the premise of this book- small town atmosphere filled with gossip and secrets. Although the plot was promising, I felt as if the characters and story could have been developed a little better. I still enjoyed it, but it wasn’t as provoking as I expected.

SOOOOO good! I read this book every chance I got! I loved the build up but every page, every chapter, had me wanting more! I thoroughly enjoyed the different POVs!

Looking forward to reading more books by Whalen!!

In a small Georgia town, three cheerleaders die in a car crash. At the center of the whirlwind are four women, each grappling with loss, regret, shame, and lies: Marglyn, a grieving mother; Darcy, whose son had been behind the wheel; Ava, a substitute teacher with a scandalous secret; and Leah, a cheerleader who should have been in the car with her friends, but wasn’t.

So this book took me forever to read. I am not quite sure why? It was definitely a heavy subject and I found myself asking what I would do if I were these characters. The book sort of reads like Beartown in that it takes place in a small, gossip filled town and you get a lot of character development of many situations. This one passed the time just fine. I think I wanted it to be a little more of something, just not sure what? The premise of the book was really good.

Bottom Line: If you like to read small town drama, you would probably enjoy this one just fine.

**I received a copy of When We Were Worthy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are of my own.**

4.5 *s. A horrible tragedy hits a small town. This novel is told from alternating viewpoints between several mothers and a teenager in the town. This is really one that makes you think as a parent, "What would I do?" and "How would I feel?" . It covers events that are a parent's worst nightmare. I loved the ending of this one. I definitely enjoy Whalen's writing style and find her novels very readable.

4 stars!

This was an intriguing and thought-provoking story. Several times I found myself wondering how I would handle being put in a similar situation as the main characters in this novel.

The lives of three varsity cheerleaders are taken in a tragic car accident in the small town of Worthy. Each and every member of this tight-knit community is affected by this devastating loss. The story is narrated by four women strongly affected by these deaths and shows how they each grieve the losses of these young women.

The author, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen, delivers a well-written story through well-developed characters’ perspectives. I felt like I was a part of this small town tragedy – I could sense their loss and desperation for answers. The novel flowed perfectly and kept an edge of suspense throughout.

A big thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Marybeth Mayhew Whalen for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This is a interesting story of small town secrets and three deaths that plunge the town into a hotbed of gossip and accusations. It's a view of small town life centered around high school games and underlying dysfunction. The narrator is told from a women's view dealing with the misogynist control of the town. A very compelling read.

What’s not to love about small town drama? Everyone loves stories with secrets

I have always been a fan of high school drama that sucks the whole town in and this book hit the mark! This was a 5-star read for me and read very fast. This felt very similar to Beartown by Fredrik Backman, but I liked this story better. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen has become a favorite author of mine over the past several years and this story lived up to all the others I have read so far. Another thing I really loved was it wasn't a long drawn out novel. It achieved what it needed to in a shorter amount of pages than most books require. I didn't feel like it dragged at any point. I highly recommend this story to all types of readers.