things i’ll never say by cassandra newbould
☆☆☆☆/5
I need to start this review with a CW. This book deals with addiction, death, overdose, grief, and many other triggers and sensitive material. Please be advised by the CW for this book and decide whether or not it’s right for you before reading.
This was a super emotional book about a girl who loses her twin brother to overdose. The entire book is written in journal entry form and also contains small poems. It also deals with a coming-of-age storyline regarding the FMC’s orientation. She discusses throughout the book her coming to terms with her bisexuality and not being able to understand it without having her best friend/twin to work through it with her.
The characters are very well written and extremely believable. Even though it’s all written from Casey’s (FMC) point of view in journal form, the characters are so well written and you really get a feel for who everyone is. Which can be very difficult to portray, as we only have one perspective of things, and little dialogue. There are small portions that include text conversations, but are still written by Casey and are interpreted by her. I felt so close to Ben and Frankie even though they had no actual part in the book? The way Casey feels for them and writes about them, I really feel close to them and the emotion that she feels for them.
I would categorize this as YA… but due to the subject matter there would have to be strong CW on this category. It meets my expectations for a YA coming-of-age story for sure. The confusion and isolation that Casey feels and the way she deals with it is exactly the type of storyline I expected for this genre.
I genuinely feel for Casey and her struggles. I was rooting for her and only want the best for her and her future. I almost lost it when she said “I can’t imagine living in this world without you for 40 years. Will I still talk to you like this when I’m old? Or will I forget?”. It honestly crushed my heart. It was very real and hit me hard, as I lost a loved one as well when I was 15 years old and wondered the same thing.
The story was very consistent and had no plot holes. There was no confusion and the pacing made sense. Which can be hard considering there are dates on the journal entries.
I loved it and thought it was very well written. I would recommend to readers who are okay with emotional books, and enjoy coming of age and YA romance/LGBTQIA2S+.

Things I'll Never Say by Cassandra Newbould is a wonderful coming-of-age story.

Cassandra Newbould’s writing is immersive and relatable. I was captivated by her writing.
I love how this book put our characters into situations that forced them to grow and learn.
Such a relevant, engaging and realistic story. I haven’t been this hooked and excited in some time.
This was an amazing heartfelt story! All of the characters were so well-developed, the plot was captivating, and the story flowed together beautifully. I was so invested in the story that I wanted it to keep going beyond the ending! I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a heartfelt and captivating read.

All in all I really enjoyed this, I think it was a well-rounded, well-written YA read.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Peachtree Teen for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

TINS is a beautiful story that takes care of its readers the whole way through. An epistolary mixed with interstitial poetry, the reader becomes intimately close with the thoughts and feelings of protagonist Casey. Is it possible for a book that dives into difficult topics such as sibling loss and drug addiction to also be a feel-good story? The answer to that question is a remarkable yes. The pain that Casey feels is palpable, but never romanticized in the way that YA books in the past have been prone to do when discussing addiction. This is a story that truly explores grief and the way that overdoses impact the lives of so many others beyond the user themself. This is also a love story, and not one that you’d expect. We see deep, realistic friendship love between the Scar Squad. We see tender love between Casey and her family as they navigate such a substantial loss together. We also see the normalization of polyamorous and queer relationships in a way that I wish I could’ve read much earlier. Knowing how deadly serious relationships can feel at that age, it’s an absolute joy to see how Casey can date two people without it being an issue, and with both of her partners getting along. The healthy relationships in this book are admirable and at times blush worthy. Would I recommend this to a friend? In a heartbeat.

Wow, this book was so refreshing. Not only did it have incredible fat rep and queer rep, but the exploration of grief, friendship, and learning to open up is so needed for readers. I can't wait to see what Cassandra Newbould writes next.

Honestly, this book was amazing. It was a gorgeous depiction of not only teenage love and angst but also of family, friendship, grief, and the entire spectrum of human emotions. I loved every second of reading this book and honestly cried for like 65% of it. Casey, Frankie, and Ben are beautifully written and crafted and perfectly imperfect. The love they share from beginning to end is natural and truthful and this was honestly one of the best depictions of this kind of friendship (in the beginning) I’ve seen. The love they all have carries through and makes you love them and more importantly makes you care, thus entangling you into the book early on.
It is formatted through the main character, Casey’s, journal entries and I loved how this felt perfectly intimate (like seeing her internal thoughts, feelings, and emotions) but also crafted the story in a very authentic way where the journaling didn’t overshadow the plot. The writing style is easy to read and the story is quick, dragging you along through the waves of these characters' lives. I am not normally a fan of love-triangles but I saw this one and genuinely had to try it and I’m so glad I did because I loved it. Yes, there is a love triangle but it is about far more than just that and it is done in a way that doesn’t seem unrealistic or tedious. I recommend this book with all my heart, especially to teens who need to connect with someone, as it is a beautiful story with beautiful writing.

Sweet and cute coming of age book!! I loved the way having feelings for more than one person was explored (The true bisexual dilemma) and the way grief was shown as something ever-changing as you grow and heal.

The writing was a little too plane at times with not enough feeling behind the characters, mainly ben and frankie, but overall it was a sweet book