Definitely well written and terrifyingly understandable.......so much plot and so much I did not see coming.

I love a local novel that features a good mystery, family relations and thrilling suspense. This book has it all.

This was an uncomfortable book for me. I did not enjoy the writing or the plot but I trudged along. Was Billy guilty of the crime? How much was family dynamics accountable for his actions? What about upbringing and privilege? There was just not one likable character in the family.

This is heavy, and DRAMATIC.

I enjoyed the family drama, but the courtroom stuff was a little lost on me. The plot twist genuinely shocked me, though.

Thank you to netgalley for providing an e-galley for review. When We Were Bright and Beautiful tells the story of Cassie and the family that took her in after her parents died. The Quinn family is extremely wealthy and covers up all the nastiness in their life with money. When one of the boys gets accused of rape, these secrets and cover-ups become up exposed. The ending was a bold choice and I see why it was chosen. (no spoilers)

This was kind of a strange book. The whole time I was reading it I felt like something strange was going on and it wasn't until the last third of the book that things really started making more sense. It's like an investigation within an investigation. The whole first third of the book was really weirdly written and I really didn't care for it and almost gave up reading it. Not sure if it was because of the characters or writing or what. Anyway, the trial part was interesting and made up for the lackluster first part of the book. This book really didn't do it for me unfortunately.

Unpopular opinion ahead.

I was disappointed with this one. Not in the writing style but with the outcome of the plot.

I would say the pace at the beginning of the book was slow and as I got to know the characters, it was hard for me to like any of them.

The book begins with Cassie. She is in New Haven when she gets a call from her brother Nate. Their younger sibling, Billy has been accused of raping his ex-girlfriend. Her parents Lawrence and Eleanor are doing damage control. Lawrence is trying to find a lawyer and Eleanor is controlling the press. It doesn't help that Billy is a jock, white and privileged. The Quinns are worth over 700 million so when the press gets a whiff of the accusation against Billy, their lives are going to become a circus.

As the book progresses we learn more about them and the secrets they are keeping.

This courtroom drama didn't do it for me. There were some things that disgusted me which is probably why I didn't like the characters. The main twist, I was able to guess so even the shock value was missing for me. I know a lot of my friends have loved it so check out their reviews too.

I do want to mention that Marin Ireland did an amazing job with the audio narration.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Harper via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I liked the premise of the book. I liked the family drama and I loved the courtroom drama. The problem? I couldn't like Cassie, our main character. I understand her background and it was sad. However, it became a bit repetitive and single-focused. I feel like Cassie never really understood her place in the family and the family couldn't figure out how to accept her and parent her. It was a sad situation that was then compounded with the fact that Cassie's "brother" is accused of raping his ex-girlfriend.

The family rallies behind him, declaring him innocent, but in the process, family secrets are revealed. The courtroom part of this book was the best, but it still was lacking. I was hoping for more of a courtroom drama, and this was definitely more of a family drama. A distrubing family drama, but a family drama.

I was interested in the story, but I just didn't like how it all played out and I really wanted to like or empathize with Cassie more

What a gut wrenching book.
Narrated by Cassandra Quinn, Cassie, the orphan of socialites taken in by family friends. The Quinn family is the epitope of influence and wealth. Cassie was raised not lacking anything money could purchase. Mom and dad,Eleanor and Lawrence have two young boys,Nate and Billy. Cassie quickly became like a sister to the boys and they grew up treating one another like siblings do. They created loving memories until the unthinkable happens.
Fast forward ten-twelve years and the siblings are young adults trying to live outside of the shadow of the family name without giving up the luxury the the family name provides.
The youngest,Billy,has a rocky relationship with his girlfriend which ends with her accusing him of rape. Most of the book revolves around his case and the complete dysfunction of his family. The trial becomes more about image than truth. The image of a happy ,loving family that sticks together no matter the circumstances. Certainly,a child reared in this type of environment could not possibly be a rapist ... right?
What is reveled is truly cringe worthy!
The author had me feeling confused in parts of the book and I felt like the Quinn family were in a constant "i" I miss you" I don't want anything to do with you" state. None of the characters are likeable and the story is just sad and deplorable.

An interesting take on life in the 1%. Artfully done, with some sympathetic characters, but not many.

I could not finish this one. Apart from the obviously problematic premise of not believing victims, even going so far as to fabricate reasons to not believe victims, the writing just wasn't great. I hated every single character, which I knew a few reviews said readers are supposed to. I scoured Goodreads for any spoilers I could find and honestly, I saw enough to realize that I didn't need to keep trudging through.

I thought this was an excellent story about a very complicated family. I was hooked from start to finish and really liked the direction this one went in.

Too many trigger warnings to list, and if they were listed the plot would be given away. If you liked My Dark Vanessa, then you'll probably like this.

Very dark family drama ostensibly about one sibling's trail for rape but it's so much more than that. If you read courtroom dramas and need everything tied up neatly at the end, this isn't for you. But it is thrilling to read. The courtroom drama was gripping and the contrast between the Quinn family and the legal team exemplified just how broken this family is.

These people are deeply disturbed. Cassie, our unreliable narrator, is struggling to deal with past (but still very present in her mind) emotional trauma with an older man. About halfway through the book you can figure out who it is, and honestly I had to stop to decide if I wanted to continue learning about that relationship for hours yet. I did, it was confirmed at about the 75% mark, and I still finished it, albeit a bit nauseous. Well played, Ms. Medoff.

The ending didn't feel right to me- that one character would do a complete 180* seemed so far fetched.

Meet the Quinns, New York City royalty, with a net worth of $700 million. They want for nothing except for the finest things in life. Opportunities fall at their feet like raindrops from the sky.

But even the most grand life can be an illusion. I assure you not everything is what it seems behind the walls of their historical home and this becomes evident when their youngest son, Billy, is accused of raping his on and off again girlfriend Diana.

Lawrence, the charismatic father, Eleanor the brittle mother, Nate the fun loving brother, and Cassie their pseudo adopted daughter all band together to prove Billy's innocence but as the trial unfolds we begin to see that not all is what it seems.

I. Could. Not. Put. This. Down.

This book is phenomenal. Absolutely enthralling. I read 80% of this in one day. This book will make you uncomfortable, which is the point, but it was handled with such grace in the hands of Jillian Medoff. It's being labeled as a thriller and a mystery but I disagree with that classification. A mystery only in the sense of did he or didn't he. Personally, I would call this a family/courtroom drama and it was expertly written. The suspense had me on the edge of my seat eagerly turning the pages. If this piques your interest even slightly then please grab a copy of this. I assure you it is worthy of your time. Highly recommend and one of my favorite books this year. 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for my complimentary copy.

4.5* A must-read court room drama played out a step by step process, dynamics and how it can twist with each attorney's question. This is a deep emotional portrayal of how a family bonds together to defend and support each other. There were many incidents of dark emotional matter that some readers may find as triggers. This becomes twisted, but riveting and encourages you to finish and find out whether guilty how this wealthy, upper class family will be able to recover from this devastating blow.

When one of the Quinn's sons, Billy, is accused of sexually assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Diana, it reveals how dysfunctional this prominent NYC family really is. Billy, a junior at Princeton, suffers emotionally from years of bullying due to his stuttering, so his family does not hesitate to show their support. One of the highest profile legal teams is obtained to defend him.

Told in first POV through Billy's adopted sister's eyes, at 23 years old Cassie has her own dark secrets that reach beyond the dark realms of normalcy. Her parents died when she was just a little girl, so when the Quinn's family took her in she found out (1. money can't buy happiness, but it's certainly better to have it. (2. Family matters most (3. Her younger brother is not a rapist. Grateful for her "parents" Lawrence and Eleanor's acceptance into their home, her love runs deeper and more complex than meets the eye. This is eventful, but heartbreaking and substantially more complex when the truth is revealed.

I love courtroom scenes and this was an exceptional display of it all. When the straight and narrow line, becomes jagged and deceiving.
Thank you NetGalley and Harper Collins for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4 stars
This is a beautifully written book that touches on a lot of heavy and very relevant topics. It took a bit longer than usual for me to read it because of the subject matter, but I’m also glad for that. It allowed me to really take in and think about the issues. I highly recommend this novel.

My first read by Jillian Medoff had me intrigued from the start. When We Were Bright and Beautiful is a great recommendation for readers who enjoy family dramas or legal novels. A rich, white, privileged family must pull together when the youngest son is accused of rape.

The Quinn’s are certain that Billy is innocent and quickly draw their legal representation and all the family together. Billy is not talking and withdraws into depression. Nate, the oldest son, works closely with his father and their lawyer often to the exclusion of Cassie, the adopted daughter. She alternates between visiting her family home trying to support and reconnect with her brothers and escaping to her apartment in New Haven to prepare for grad school.

Told from Cassie’s point of view, we slowly learn about the family dynamics and secrets. As they debate going to trial or taking a plea deal, more and more cracks fracture the family. The pace and excellent writing will keep you engaged throughout this quick read. The twists and shocking conclusion will surprise you until the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harper for the opportunity to review this book before its release.

I have not read any of Jillian Medoff's other books, but this one hooked me with the excerpt. The Quinns are a very wealthy family with two sons and a daughter. As the story opens, we learn that younger son Billy has been arrested for raping his ex-girlfriend. The Quinns are livid and defensive swearing on Billy's innocence. Billy is sullen and doesn't want to discuss the night in question. The older brother Nate and sister Cassie rush to his side trying to recreate their childhood closeness as "the three musketeers."

The book is told from Cassie's point of view, and I sensed early on that she was not quite a reliable narrator. She showed self-destructive tendencies that indicated something was definitely not right with her emotional well being. The plot races along as the Quinns work with their attorney to determine whether they should go to trial or take a plea deal. As the trial begins, more details about the Quinns come to light and lead to a shocking conclusion. At least I didn't see it coming!

This book was brilliantly paced and beautifully written. I wish I could share a few quotes but I will refrain since it is still pre-pub. I will definitely reach for more books by Jillian Medoff.

I will recommend this book to readers who like legal fiction and family dramas.

Thank you to Harper and NetGalley for the e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

Cassie Quinn is just your average rich girl. Until one day, she gets a call to come home, because her brother has been arrested for raping his ex-girlfriend. Cassie KNOWS her brother and knows that there's no way that he could have done this. She also knows that the rest of the family has some pretty dark secrets they wouldn't want getting out. As I was sucked into Cassie's story, I couldn't help but dislike her. She's not the most likeable character, and honestly neither is the rest of the family. But I think that's what made the book so good-- you don't know whether you should root for her or not.

When We Were Bright and Beautiful
by Jillian Medoff
Pub Date: August 2, 2022
Harper
Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC of this book.
* Fiction *Thriller
I wanted to like this one more than I did. There are triggers of rape and abuse in this one, but they were not over-the-top and didn't disgust me in their descriptions the way other books have. It is an intriguing exploration of the dark side of family love, the limits of family loyalty, and the overwhelming cost of truth.
I liked that it was part domestic thriller and part courtroom thriller.
4 stars