DIdn't realize it was YA when I began to read. Story was not what I expected, and although I've read other YA I liked this one was not exactly for me. Appreciate the opportunity to access and read. Just not for me.

So good! The story telling is a great pace and easy to keep up with. I was engrossed from the very beginning.

What the Other Three Don’t Know follows four teenagers on a school assigned rafting trip who bond over a journey of self-acceptance. Readers follow protagonist Indie on her trek to face her fears of rafting the same waters in which her mother died. Joined by an unlikely grouping of an Instagram influencer, a popular jock with a recent disability, and neighbor with a fear of coming out as gay, the four tackle their fears together on this risky journey.

Spencer Hyde’s novel explores themes that most teenagers can relate to at this ever-changing time in their lives. Grief, anxiety, and many other forms of mental health issues are addressed in authentic ways that give readers something to relate to. On top of all of this, these teenagers have to handle the social pressures of feeling the need to fit in and be accepted. All of these topics are integrated seamlessly into the plot, creating an enthralling and emotional story. This novel had me continuously guessing at the secrets the other characters kept in their efforts to maintain a socially acceptable facade, and once they came down, all of the individual pieces of the narrative finally came together.

A heart wrenching ya story about friendship and opening your heart forgiveness and acceptance very emotional and hard hitting but also beautifully written this will suck you in and take you on a journey that will make you think about your own life and the joy of friendship

This book was about average. The beginning was honestly a little rocky in getting to know the characters. There was a bit too much of "I'm not like the other girls" at first, and the romance started very early (which seems a little unrealistic to me but I guess I wouldn't know much about flirting/getting together). It was also quite a bit of telling and not showing at the beginning, but it didn't bug me later on. But I also found the characters' hatred of each other to be unrealistic. Maybe I just haven't witnessed it, but people can't really be that cutthroat, could they? I don't know, maybe it would have been more believable to me if the dynamics were on a screen or something.
In general, there were some interesting parts/talks in the book, but quite a bit of it was a little boring. There wasn't a concrete plot so there wasn't a direction for the story to go, which isn't bad at all but it's more of a personal preference. I'm a fan of more action-packed books with a plot-driven story, and this book just wasn't that. Not that it was a bad book by any means, but just not one that I would have usually picked up.

First off, I never want to go white- water rafting, especially after reading this book. That's just one big nope from me. Second, this book is good. Really good.

Each person on the trip had their own secrets, their own personal torment that they were trying to figure out how to deal with. Like typical teenagers, they postured and did their best to not let anyone else see their vulnerable side. I really appreciated getting a front-row seat to watching their relationships develop and grow. The saying goes "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Well, these 4 teenagers turned out to be some pretty strong individuals.

Small side note, there are some "Bible swears" sprinkled throughout the story, but other than that, it's a clean read.

The premise is a familiar one: a grieving teen who learns to deal with her issues through a survival situation. It also has definite Breakfast Club elements with teens from different social circles thrown together, getting to know each other and their secrets. It goes all of the places one would expect, resolves exactly as you would expect.

What the Other Three Don't Know, for me, was a book that had a lot of good things. But the overall execution was not one of those.

More than anything - I've heard this story before. We have a Breakfast Club-esque group of teenagers who are thrown together in an unwanted situation. In this case, a white water rafting trip. They are all dealing with secrets and as they realize they aren't all as horrible as they once thought, they open up and begin to accept each other.

Don't get me wrong. The representation is good. I don't know the last time I read a book featuring a character with alopecia, for example. But there was a real lack of depth to these diversities that were the core of the story. I felt as though we only got the surface of what the different circumstances each teen shared within the story.

In addition, the dialogue was... something. It becomes a feature in the story that the MC has a love of vocabulary and crossword puzzles. While this is a nice quirk, the over-the-top dialogue that results from this is just silly. Kids don't speak like a crossword hint. They just don't.

Overall, this book just didn't add anything to the conversation of diversity. It tried. But it did not execute. A nice enough read, but there are better recommendations out there that share a similar story, in my honest opinion.

Thank you to Netgalley and Shadow Mountain Publishing House for giving me an arc of What the Other Three Don't Know!

I was really looking forward to this novel, but I think I have come to the conclusion that it wasn't meant for me. This book had an intelligent way of exploring the adventure the characters went on, but I simply felt it flying right over my head.

The book required a lot of knowledge about these adventures the characters too as it left me, someone who was unknowledgeable about fly-fishing and other aspects a bit lost like I was just missing a part of the book.

The book also heavily focuses on the idea of basically "not judging a book by its cover," but a few times it became a bit overdone. There were also a few lines surrounding this idea that just did sit well with me. There is also a lot of good representation in this book including LGBTQ+.

One last thing, to leave my review on a positive note was I loved Spencer Hyde's writing style as well as all of the metaphors, wordplay, personification, and symbols found throughout this book.

I don't think camping or adventure stories are much for me, but I really recommend this to anyone who enjoys that type of story!

"What the Other Three Don't Know", by Spencer Hyde, is based on an interesting premise: a group of seniors go on a senior trip, trekking through the forest. Along the way, they must learn to overcome their differences and get along. While this book was based on an interesting premise, the characters were highly unlikely and I lost interest in their journey. I had high hopes for this book but was, unfortunately, unable to finish it.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

This was a moving and sometimes heartbreaking book. The writing style was different, in a good way. I like that I was made to feel like I was part of the story. I found it very reflective. It's so easy to make snap judgments without thinking about what the other person may be going through. We all have struggles and it's often hard to remember that.

This book was not what I was expecting from a YA novel, I was very disappointed and was left feeling slightly confused. I did not care much about the plot or the characters in this novel.

This book lacked a lot of dialogue between the characters, and what dialogue there was between the characters seemed forced and unnatural. This book didn’t seem cohesive, it felt very choppy. . Instead of focusing on the characters and their personal developments throughout their journey White River rafting through a canyon, there was more emphasis on the themes.. I thought how Hyde described grief and anxiety was well. There were a lot of beautiful moments within the novel, but they were scatted throughout.

There was limited character development and I didn’t feel attached to any of them. I was left with feeling unsatisfied with what they were hiding from each other, now showing the world who they truly are.

I loved the river and how it played such an important part in the story. The repetition of how you have to run through the river to get to the other side, and the metaphors with the fish and fishing was really well done. It added to the outdoor experience.

I enjoyed the themes of this novel but I didn’t care too much for the plot. I felt that this book was more about self-discovery and the themes that Hyde used to get there.

I requested this book because of the strong Breakfast Club vibes that I got from the synopsis but I was a little underwhelmed by the story. I found it difficult to connect with the characters and I wasn't all too sure about how I felt about the writing style. The style is very descriptive, especially when it comes to describing the landscape, but also with the nature metaphors that are weaved into the writing. That said, although it was descriptive, I found it difficult to form a clear picture in my head. I also found that as someone who hasn't lived in America and who hasn't grown up in the area the book is set in, a lot of the terminology that's used left me feeling confused. I felt like not being familiar with things like fly fishing/fishing, rearing horses and navigating river rapids left me at a disadvantage and in turn that also stopped me from fully connecting with the story. In a way, I felt that maybe the story was trying too hard to be something it wasn't and that also kept me from enjoying it as much.

Indie is our protagonist and while I understood her anger for her loss and her despairing at being "alone" in the world, I never really warmed up to her character. She swung from being likeable to not. I don't know if her thoughts were meant to inspire empathy or even pity, but I found it annoying and repetitive. She does experience growth by learning to forgive by the end, but I felt that it wasn't enough to make her character likeable for me. I was hoping that since this is a story about the secrets of four students, we'd get other perspectives aside from Indie but was sad to see that wasn't the case. I think it would've strengthened the story but also maybe would've made it easier to form a connection. My favourite character was by far Wyatt and I ended up genuinely caring about what happened to him. His situation really garnered my sympathy but there was also a certain purity and strength to his character that I admired.

There is a mild romance in the story but it felt unnecessary. There was no basis or strong foundation for it and it didn't endear me more to the characters. I feel like it was thrown in just for the sake of having some romance in a YA contemporary.

"Being seen as you truly are? That's probably the best thing you can do in this life," said Wyatt.

What I appreciated and enjoyed most about the book though was the friendship that formed between the students and in the message that the author shared about being your true self and embracing who you are. It was a heartwarming and positive message that I think if I had read as a young adult, would have been very reassuring, especially if it was during my senior year of high school. Even as an adult who's admittedly still trying to find her place in this world and where I fit in, seeing it from this perspective--that we're born to be multiple things and not just one thing as society dictates--is a comforting thought.

"People matter--not the things. Be the thing that allows you to be you. Don't let people corner you into being just one. Be both."

While this ended up being different than what I expected, I am glad that I did read it. Also, I really love this cover and it's what caught my eye in the first place. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

'What the Other Three Don't Know' is the story of four students that, stereotypically, really shouldn't get along. There's a jock, an influencer, and two people who can't stand to be around others for more than a few minutes. This book takes those four students, throws them into a life-or-death situation where they can count on nobody but each other, and forces them to share their deepest secrets.

The four students find themselves on a rafting trip with only one guide- the guide who Indie happens to consider responsible for her mother's death- and they are forced to confront their fears, their stereotypes and their relationships with one another in order to survive the trip. Following one short but eventful trip, this book delves deep into their personalities and lives, to help them understand what they truly want from life and whether its worth risking their reputations to get it.

I found that I had a few issues with this book but, somehow, the sheer readability of it kept me desperately turning the pages until I reached the end. The one major fault for me is how far the book digressed from one of its original focuses. The rafting trip takes place because the four students are in a journalism class and are supposed to write a story about one of the other people on the trip. This is mentioned briefly, a few times, but almost completely disregarded after a while, with little closure. Of course, the life-or-death issue is arguably more important, but it would have been nice to get closure in every aspect of this story.

What I loved about this book though was the characters. On the surface, they were all completely stereotypical, but I feel that the real point of this story is to delve into the intricate personalities underneath. I enjoyed reading about all four protagonists equally and didn't at any point find myself doubting the believability of their personalities. Even though the reveals weren't all completely shocking, it was fascinating to see how they were explored and accepted by the other characters.

This was a quick, easy read that really allowed me to get lost in the story. At times, I almost forgot that I wasn't facing the river alongside the characters, and that made this book a wonderful escape from reality.

I had a really really hard time getting into this one and feel like I cannot give an accurate review because I did not finish it.

What the Other Three Don't Know is a coming-of-age survivalist story that features a strong and stubborn 17 year-old heroine named Indie. Stuck on a summer expedition for her high school journalism class, she's forced to interact with three seemingly very different students. Each of these teenagers are hiding something from the group. For Indie, this week on the white water rapids forces her to confront her anger and grief over her mother's tragic death. For the others-a chance to admit who they really are behind the smokescreens they have created-all the while trying to navigate the dangerous rapids. This week changes their lives forever and forces them to confront their greatest fears. If you are a fan of coming-of-age and/or survival stories you will enjoy Spencer Hyde's latest novel.

This was a well-written YA read but I did struggle trying to imagine a school that not only allows but requires students to embark on life threatening excursions over summer break. Typically I can suspend my biases or preconceived notions but I had trouble reconciling a public school requiring this adventure-which is so pivotal to the story. However, I was able to enjoy the story and it was a quick read. The characters are decently developed and the scenery was narrated beautifully.

Thank you to the writer, publisher and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed in this review are my own.

What The Other Three Don't Know is the story of 4 kids on a trip who know of each other, but don't actually know each other.

I feel like this book was so busy trying to throw out life lessons that it forgot to include an interesting story. The trouble with covering things that have been done a million times is you need something that makes it stand apart and this one didn't do that for me. The characters were just okay. The main character wasn't remotely interesting. The story itself was forgettable.

In the end, I rushed through the last 80% of this book just to get it done and over with. I'm glad it's over so I can just put it out of my brain and forget it.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love this novel and the lessons learned within its pages. Indie and three classmates set out on a forced bonding trip before their senior year of high school. They arrive with biases and preconceptions about their travel partners. The raging river and their vulnerabilities bring them home--battered and bruised-- bonded together.

This book is a quick moving YA novel that takes on deep topics of death, finding your identity as a teenager, forgiveness, mercy, and ultimately how vulnerability breeds intimate connection. As an adult I have learned that the most special relationships I have in my life have come from forging through seemingly insurmountable obstacles with people who become almost like family. While letting people into our deepest and hardest parts we all are able to support each other, and literally become a lifeline that can rescue others, while we are also rescuing ourselves. The characters in this book did just that, and learned that by being real, honest, and transparent with their new friends they not only were able to learn to trust each other, but they found beauty in who they really were - and it literally saved them in the end.

Having gone to college in South Eastern Idaho and spent time in the mountains and rivers that were explained in this book gave me an extra special connection to the book, the characters and even the storyline. I found myself remembering my own incident of being tossed out of our raft on a class 4 rapid, and the fear that enveloped me made the words on these pages very real to me. I could feel the cold water envelope me, picture the view I had as I plummeted under the water, and the relief of being rescued very quickly by a strong friend. The river is a powerful place, a place where we absolutely rely on one another, and ultimately learn that there is a bigger power at hand, a power that only nature possess. We do best to honor and respect that power, while also realizing what power we actually possess inside ourselves.

(I receive an Advanced Readers Copy of this book from #NetGalley in exchange for my honest review of the book)

I received this book as an Advanced Reader's Copy (ARC) through NetGalley. It will be published March 3rd, 2020. I received this copy free in exchange for my honest review.
17 year old Indiana, “Indie”, lives with her grandfather. Her Dad left 10 years ago, and her mom died in a rafting accident 2 years ago. She is very jaded and feels very alone. She lives in a small town in Idaho, and by small I mean population 300. Her grandfather is the mortician in the next biggest town Victor, population 2,000. In order to be in the senior journalism class, each student must do a 5 day trip with a group of 3-4 other students from the class, and then write a human interest story about another person on the trip. Indie is going on a rafting trip with 3 other students. Indie needs to write a good story so she can earn a scholarship and make it out of her small town.
On the trip with her is Skye Ellis, a Star athlete that now has a prosthetic leg. He is on the trip because his parents are making him. Wyatt Isom an artist with an abusive drunk for a father. He is on the trip because he wants to boost his GPA to get out of their small town. And Shelby Trumane a popular girl who post a ton of social media pictures. She is on the trip because her friend said it was an easy class. The river guide is Nash, he was the same guide for the trip her mother died on. Nothing on the trip however goes as expected and nobody is who they seem to be, in the end the challenges they face will change all their lives forever.
This was such a well written novel! I enjoyed it so much. I liked the characters and the setting, and it was fast moving but deep, a really nice blend. Breakfast club, but camping!