Definitely better than a Colleen Hoover book, since this is about teens and aimed at a teen audience, not trying to be an adult book. Some of it was totally predicatable, other parts surprised even this seasoned reader! Harlow tackles some huge issues here: dating violence, domestic/child abuse, sexual abuse, grief, guilt. There are some detailed sexual scenes, but it still falls into the realm of YA fiction. I really appreciated that there was a frank discussion of doing the work and not allowing your emotions to be turned on the people you love. Anyone who wants to stop the cycle of domestic violence needs to hear that you CAN change, or work at regulating your emotions to protect yourself and your loved ones. Overall, this was ok, but I can see that teens would eat this up.

“Life might not be what you had hoped or expected, but it has a way of showing you a door to a place that’s better than you could have imagined.”

This was a surprisingly emotional read. Ella was having a really tough go of it after losing her best friend. As she struggling with her emotions over Sawyer, her guilt was still so thick. As we got closer to the end, I wondered if we'd get the conclusion the letter gave us and I was both surprised and emotional over the re-telling of what all had gone down.

The audio here was great - there were multiple narrators and each one really brought the story to a new level. This was a 3 1/2 stars rounded to 4 for the amazing audio. Great story, compelling, with an interesting conclusion.

A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.

okay, unfortunately the pacing was off for me for this book. The plot line was alright but the twist I did not expect that at all

a fast-paced mystery told from the alternating perspectives of Ella and Sawyer, with glimpses into Hayley’s life through her diary entries. The dynamics between Ella, Sawyer, and Hayley, along with Hayley’s troubled relationship with her boyfriend form the emotional core of the book. The characters are likable, and their differing perspectives on the events leading up to Hayley’s tragic death offer some depth to the narrative.

The book explores heavy themes like physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, which are woven into the plot in a sensitive way. However, the pacing, while quick, makes the mystery feel somewhat predictable. I found myself anticipating the twists rather than being caught off guard. The dialogue and character interactions, unfortunately, felt painful at times, especially for readers who might have aged out of the target audience.

Everything We Never Said is a difficult book to review, mainly because I don’t want to spoil any of the twists and turns.
The story follows Ella, who has been in an accident and feels responsible for her best friend’s death. It’s an incredibly gripping and emotional story, with a plot that had me hooked from the very start.

I really enjoyed this book as it masterfully combines dark romantic suspense, keeping me completely absorbed from start to finish. I admired how the author portrayed the anguish of a teenager mourning the loss of her best friend, while also navigating societal pressures and peer expectations. The story is filled with teen drama, longing, and sorrow, all leading to an unexpected twist that left me craving more.

I was genuinely surprised by how suspenseful and twist-filled the ending was. Once I realized this wasn’t just another YA romance, I couldn’t stop reading. Although I had a vague sense of how it would end, the execution was still impressive. The book’s fast pace, combined with its complex, unreliable characters and the development of the characters' friendships, kept me hooked. It was incredibly rewarding to finally uncover the answers the main characters had been seeking.

I highly recommend giving this book a read!

Reeling from the unexpected death of her best friend Hayley, Ella is dreading the start of her senior year of high school. Last semester, Ella was driving home from a party when a tragic accident left Haley dead. When Ella finds Haley’s long lost diary, she begins to wonder if something much more sinister was behind the accident.

While I appreciated the fast pace and easy readability of this book, it fell short for me overall. I really enjoyed Sloan Harlow’s sophomore novel, All We Lost Was Everything, so I had high hopes for this one. Unfortunately, the romance felt a little cringe-worthy and it made me want to skim through the book. Similar to All We Lost Was Everything, I really appreciate how Harlow blends multiple genres together into one book and will definitely give her future books another chance, but this one was just not for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group/G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review!

I unfortunately had to dnf this around 20%. I think it might be a little too YA for me. I listened to the audio felt myself roll my eyes countless times. If I pick it back up, I will edit my review.

was not able to get into this book at the time it was due to be reviewed and was not able to finish reading. i am grateful to have been given the opportunity to read this book early and have heard nothing but good things about this author.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of this title, however, it was not for me. The pace was slow, the characters were unrelatable, and the plot was mediocre at best.

Ella can’t remember what happened that night but she does know she was driving the car that killed her friend. Now back at school, she’s racked with guilt and everything reminds her of Hayley.

Seeking comfort in the one place she probably shouldn’t, Ella starts to have feelings for Hayley’s ex Sawyer. But after finding Hayley’s secret diary when Hayley’s mom asks her to help clean out her old room, Ella thinks Sawyer may be a bad guy and there may have been more to his and Hayley’s relationship and maybe she shouldn’t be falling for him.

This story took some turns I definitely wasn’t expecting but I loved them all. I always love when there’s chapters with multiple povs so you get the story from different angles. I was not expecting the crazy twist at the end.

All of the characters were great. I especially liked Sawyers character because even without having all the details you can tell he really cared for both Hayley and Ella in different ways.

I feel like this novel wasn't really sure what genre it wanted to be. I thought it was going to be a coming-of-age story about Ella and Sawyer after their friend Hayley died in a car accident due to drunk driving and an analysis of escaping the cycle of domestic violence and it started as that, but I feel like I got whiplash from the ending. Turns out this is a thriller. Beyond that, I felt like it was a fairly well written novel. It's on par with a lot of the YA novels I read, but is probably more geared towards the 15+ age group.

A YA/NA romantic thriller that BLEW. MY. MIND.
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It’s been a few months since Ella’s best friend, Hayley, died in a car crash while Ella was driving. Now Ella is back at school and everything reminds her of Hayley, especially Hayley’s perfect boyfriend, Sawyer. Both are deep in their grief and are naturally drawn together, bonding over their loss. Soon Ella is feeling guilty for another reason: loving her dead best friend’s boyfriend, but when Ella finds Hayley’s journal she learns that all wasn’t as it seemed in their relationship. And what she finds out could kill her.
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There is a lot to unpack here. 1. I think this falls into the New Adult category so HS librarians read this one for yourself to help you decide. 2. The twist! I somewhat saw it coming, but still—very surprised and impressed for this level of suspense thriller in a title for teens. 3. Loved the dual POVs! 4. I want more from this author because I was hooked the entire time and read it all in one sitting!

CW: domestic abuse, adult/minor relationship, toxic relationship, car accident, death, physical abuse, violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting, pregnancy, abortion, kidnapping, child abuse, injury, hospitalization, medical content, alcoholism, infidelity, abandonment, bullying, emesis, blood, panic attacks, sexual harassment

Very quick read. Story kept me wanting to read past my bedtime. I did however figure out what was happening about halfway through, but there were still some twists that made the book enjoyable. Will keep an eye out for more from this author!

"Everything We Never Said" is a deeply unsettling young adult novel that left me feeling incredibly conflicted. While I generally don’t censor what my kids read, this is one book I would hesitate to put in their hands. The subject matter is undeniably heavy, tackling deeply disturbing themes that linger long after the final page.

That being said, the novel is well-written. The characters are layered, and the emotional depth is palpable. However, despite its literary merit, I couldn't shake the overwhelming sense of unease it gave me throughout. Perhaps that discomfort was intentional—designed to challenge readers and force them to confront difficult realities—but for me, it was more unsettling than thought-provoking.

Ultimately, while I can appreciate the book’s craft and impact, I would struggle to recommend it. It’s the kind of story that demands a careful and mature audience, and even then, it may not be for everyone.*

Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow is a captivating mix of YA romance, mystery, and thriller, making it an ideal quick read for those who love a good emotional rollercoaster. This book dives deep into the complexities of grief, offering an honest portrayal of how it can manifest in different ways, day by day. The characters are well-crafted, and their emotional journeys feel real and raw, especially as they navigate loss, love, and self-discovery.

The mystery element of the story keeps the reader hooked, while the romance adds layers of depth and vulnerability to the narrative. It's not just a thrilling ride; it's a poignant exploration of how people cope with the unspoken and the things left unsaid. The author skillfully weaves in tension and emotional complexity, making the characters' growth throughout the story both compelling and heartbreaking.

While the pacing is quick, the emotional weight of the story stays with you long after the final page. It’s a story that reminds us grief doesn’t follow a set path, and healing is never simple. If you're a fan of YA thrillers with strong emotional undertones, Everything We Never Said is definitely worth the read.

Everything We Never Said by Sloan Harlow is a heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and the power of unspoken words. With emotionally complex characters and a narrative that delicately balances heartbreak and hope, Harlow pulls readers into a deeply personal journey. The writing is raw and lyrical, capturing the quiet moments that speak the loudest.

While some plot points feel slightly predictable, the emotional depth and authentic character dynamics make this a memorable read. A perfect choice for fans of character-driven stories that linger long after the last page.

So I'd never actually read a romantic thriller prior to this, and it was quite the introduction to the genre. It has a lot of the traditional thriller elements, but also some forbidden romance and a cautionary tale mixed in. Everything We Never Said follows Ella in the aftermath of her best friend's Hayley's death in a car accident where Ella was behind the wheel. I think that Harlow does a great job at exploring Ella's grief and her feelings of guilt. Somewhere along the line, Ella and Hayley's boyfriend, Sawyer, find comfort in each other and Ella ends up falling for him. But then she happens upon Hayley's diary, which tells a very different story about Sawyer and their relationship.

The book is actually interspersed with Hayley's diary entries, which paints a picture of her abusive relationship with who appears to be Sawyer. The descriptions of the abuse are pretty graphic (especially for a YA novel), but handled in the way that I think it should be handled in every book that discusses this topic: it's a cautionary tale.

Some of the chapters are actually told from Sawyer's POV, so I found myself looking for red flags in his thinking, but of course, this is a thriller so a lot of things end up not adding up. Ella has to come to terms with the fact that she didn't know people that she cared about as well as she thought she did, and overall nothing is as it seemed. I was intrigued trying to figure out what the truth was, and nothing could've prepared me for the way that it ended.

This story was an interesting story from an author I don’t know or haven’t read before! Will look at finding other things by this author. I am grateful for the early access, thank you to those that allowed it!

This was the perfect amount of romance, thriller, spice, & mystery for me. I really enjoyed the style of writing with this author. The characters were developed well & there were twists i did not see coming....which is always a plus! i will definitely look for more by this author.

Ella is grieving the loss of her best friend, Hayley, as she starts her senior year of high school. She is also feeling guilty. Everything reminds her of Hayley, including Hayley's boyfriend Sawyer. Soon she finds that she is in love with him. She reads Hayley's diary to feel close to her but what she finds makes her realize she didn't know as much about her relationship with Sawyer as she thought.

Told in dual POVs I found it enjoyable. There was a lot of teen drama and heartache as well as teenage love. It makes you wonder how much you really know about those you spend the most time with. The end was a little predictable but it wasn't until three quarters of the book that I realized what was really happening, which was awesome. Overall I found it to be a very good debut novel! For those who like young adult romantic thrillers this one is a must!

Thank you Penguin Group and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. I liked it!