The summer before Ella is to start her senior year in high school tragic strikes. Her best friend, Hayley died in a car accident and Ella was the driver. Ella has no memories of that night which makes things all that more difficult.

It's been 4 months and everything reminds Ella of Hayley. Returning to school makes things all that more difficult but the hardest part of it all is that Ella finds herself having feelings for Sawyer. Sawyer is/was Hayley's boyfriend.

Ella's life is thrown thru a loop when Hayley's mom ask's Ella to pack up Hayley's room. While packing up the room, Ella comes across Hayley's journal. Ella takes the journal with her and eventually reads it and Ella discovers that Hayley had a huge secret and the secret explains why Hayley had been acting to strange leading up to her death.

Everything We Never Said is a page turner. The characters are well written. The dual point of view keeps you in the know and the grief is raw. The lies are twisted and will hook you in.

Everything We Never Said is a haunting thriller that takes you on a ride from start to finish! Just when you think you've got it all figured out, the author slams you with multiple bomb drops. The characters have fantastic arcs and are wonderfully developed. The romance will keep you coming back for more. Excellent book!

First Impressions:
This throws the reader in at the beginning of a school year after what we soon discover is the aftermath of the death of the protagonist's best friend, that she had been driving for, and her guilt over the events she can't remember happening.
​
General Review
The premise definitely had interesting potential. The book deals with a lot of the regular issues that come with teenage death, while also presenting a mystery as to what actually happened. It fast becomes apparent that things aren't as they seem, and that all of these kids come from questionable home situations. There was a lot of the story that didn't work for me as a reader. I figured out both twists very early on, the whole not reading the diary as soon as she got it didn't feel authentic, and the whole boyfriend situation just felt forced, and some of the language was so flowery (and included entries with complete word for word conversations remembered) just didn't connect for me.

Final Thoughts
I loved the idea of the story, but sadly with being able to spot the twists so easily, and the over-the-top language and word-for-word conversations recalled, it just didn't work for me.

Rating:
2 1/2 stars rounded up to 3 The idea had potential but I felt the twist was predictable, and the writing didn't always fit the character narrative.

Sloan Harlow's debut novel is a compelling blend of suspense and romance, woven with dark, twisty plots that keep readers on the edge of their seats. This is a must-read YA book for anyone who enjoys a good thriller with emotional depth. I will absolutely pick up Harlow’s next novel.

The story follows Ella as she begins her senior year at North Davis High, burdened by the guilt of a car crash that killed her best friend, Hayley, four months ago. Ella was driving under the influence that night, but she has no memory of the accident, only pieces of the devastating aftermath.

As Ella navigates her overwhelming grief, she finds unexpected solace in Sawyer, Hayley's boyfriend, and Mr. Wilkens, the school psychologist. Her fragmented memories start to return, especially after discovering Hayley's diary, which reveals a far-from-perfect relationship with Sawyer.

The novel is narrated from three different points of view, which enriches the story and provides a deeper understanding of the characters. Hayley's diary entries are particularly poignant, depicting a journey from passionate teenage romance to a dark, controlling relationship. The portrayal of Hayley's isolation and suffering is heartbreaking.

Initially, I doubted my connection to this YA novel, feeling it wasn't aimed at my demographic. However, the story's transformation from a tale of tragic loss and teenage romance to a suspense-filled thriller quickly captivated me. The unpredictable ending was masterfully delivered.

One important note for potential readers: while the book's description suggests it would appeal to Colleen Hoover's fans, it's crucial to highlight that the story delves deeply into domestic violence, with explicit scenes of abuse, as well as mental health issues, abortion, trauma and death, child abuse and adult/minor relationship. Readers should be aware of these themes before diving in.

Huge thank you to NetGalley for the DRC in exchange for an honest review.

So I actually got really enjoyed this audiobook with the three different narrators. The story took me a little bit to get into but once it did I was pretty hooked but I will say I called the twist very early on. Tho it did have me second guessing myself.

I do wish it would have had even more mystery. It felt more like a drama, romance which I didn't expect but I also didn't hate that. I like that it had romance but this did not feel like YA. It has some very mature, steamy content for YA. It's definitely more New Adult which I honestly prefer but I am not a teen. So if you have someone under 16, I don't know if I'd have them read this. Overall, I liked this but was a little bummed about some of the stuff at the end and that I figured out the twists so early. Maybe I was expecting something different? But I still enjoyed it especially the audio format.

A quick, predictable read but one that’s worth reading anyways! High school drama that keeps you hooked! Reads similar to a coho for those that love that type of read. I enjoyed this one!

"Everything We Never Said" by Sloan Harlow is a gripping YA thriller that masterfully blends dark romance, high stakes, and unexpected twists. Following the tragic accident that claimed her best friend Hayley's life, Ella is consumed with guilt. Returning to school, she finds solace in an unlikely place—Sawyer, Hayley's boyfriend.

As Ella and Sawyer grow closer, she is torn by guilt and confusion, especially after discovering secrets in Hayley’s journal that reveal Sawyer's relationship with Hayley wasn't as perfect as it seemed. The tension escalates as Ella grapples with her forbidden feelings and the disturbing truths she uncovers about Sawyer.

Harlow’s novel is a compelling exploration of grief, love, and the hidden depths of relationships. "Everything We Never Said" keeps readers on edge with its dark romantic allure and thrilling plot twists, making it a must-read for lovers of intense, emotionally charged stories.

Enyoyed reading Everything We never Said but I felt like I had read this sometime in the past. Possibly similar to another story but I seem to be able to predict the story and characters. Still a good read and I recommend for high school and up since it has some sexy parts.

"Everything We Never Said" is a must-read for YA fans. From the outside Ella appears to be a messy friend, but as the story unfolds her true character shines through, revealing her resilience and depth. Despite tackling heavy topics, the book maintains a compelling pace, keeping readers engaged until the very end. The plot twist in the conclusion is both surprising and satisfying.

3-3.25 stars!!
This is a YA novel about Ella and Sawyer, and of course Hayley! The book had alternating chapters from each of them (Ella’s in the form of a diary). I felt like it could have used a bit of a warning, but realized that not knowing was part of the suspense of the story!

The book was very suspenseful indeed…I kept reading with a sense of foreboding! It was very sad to read at times with glimpses of compassion & hope intermingled!

Thank you to the publisher and Net Galley for a copy of the ebook in exchange for an honest review.

This seems like a good YA option for a thriller with some romance. I would definitely recommend this to Teens who are interested in that genre. It felt like less mystery and more romance to me, at least for that age group. I thought the twist was unexpected, and didn't see it coming in the first half.

Wow!!! This book was an amazing, emotional read. The twist at the end was mind blowing!

After Ella loses her best friend, Hayley, in a car accident, she's done nothing for the past 4 months but live with the guilt that she was responsible for it. Hayley's boyfriend, Sawyer, who was once a close friend of hers, can barely look at her. When the school psychologist arranges a grief group of Hayley's friends, Sawyer becomes Ella's biggest supporter and protector.

They become closer and eventually start dating each other. When Hayley's mom asks Ella to pack up her room for her, Ella finds Hayley's diary hidden under her mattress. Ella takes it home with her and swears not to read it; but eventually she does. That's when she starts to see the same red flags in Sawyer that Hayley's been writing about. His strange mood swings and his quick temper. Ella starts to get scared. With the lack of support she's not getting at home, Ella starts talking to the school psychologist instead.

But when she realizes that she got the wrong person in trouble, the truth finally comes out. Only it shocks Ella to the core.

A must read!

Teenagers can be polarizing, dramatic and at the same time incredibly selfless if the moment is right. Ella’s love for her best friend Hayley, is deep. She loves her, appreciates Hayley’s advice and counsel They have big plans for the future and along with Sawyer, they are living a great teenage life. A high school party ends in a car wreck, Hayley is gone and Emma is holding the guilt of the accident while trying to live her life without her best friend and conflicted about her attraction to Sawyer, who was Hayley’s boyfriend. How do you move forward with life when it was always intertwined with another who you can’t make those plans with? Facts are coming to light that makes her question what was really going on with Hayley and she’s discovering you can’t know everything about your best friend and maybe even yourself.

This draws you in. At first, it gave me 13 reasons why vibes with reading the diary entries... not as twisted but still twisted in its own way. Filled with secrets, twists, uncovered memories, and love/friendship.

I can't pass up a dark, romantic thriller! This book had everything I love about this genre—tension, stakes, and plot twists. In terms of characters, I loved having the two perspectives of Ella and Sawyer. Even more, the diary entries from Hayley were a great way for us to get to know her as well, which heightened the backstory. I also like the pacing of this novel, which delivered very satisfying twists in the second half. Great read!

Big thank you to Penguin and Netgalley for the ARC!

This book is a darker romantic suspense in YA form! It’s an easy read despite the heavy topics, and the plot was simple, yet great. This read is everything you’d expect from a well done YA novel, and our characters were all pretty well done.

Going in, please be aware that the romance does stand out more than anything, but it’s NOT a bad thing. I think if your expectations are right, you’ll go into this book and get out everything you wanted.

An amazing read in an always amazing genre.

I’ll do my best to avoid spoilers but my main issue is unfortunately at best a partial spoiler.

I really only have one trigger (thankfully does NOT occur in Everything We Never Said) but I really dislike the inappropriate relationships between adult and minor. It’s not a trigger for me but I really dislike reading or watching it on tv. I had a feeling early on that would be a thing and I was unfortunately right.

Other than that I think the twists were fairly predictable but besides the inappropriate relationship I enjoyed not falling into Harlow’s traps.

TWS: death, grief, domestic abuse, alcoholism

ARC provided by Penguin Teen (thanks!) Ella is starting senior year of high school after the death of her best friend, Hayley. As she deals with her grief, she gets closer to Hayley’s ex-boyfriend, Sawyer, and realizes that everything, including Hayley’s death, is not as straightforward as it seems.

This book was entertaining and had me hooked, so much so that I read it within a day. It was a quick, easy read. I liked the characters, especially Hayley, and liked that the book switched between POVs. The pacing really worked for me.

However, I need to take two stars off for the writing, which was either cringey or unnecessarily flowery at different points of the book. Also, Ella just forgave Sawyer for all of the shit he did?? He was a creep too.

I literally just closed this book, and I already know that EVERYTHING WE NEVER SAID by Sloan Harlow is a book that will stay on my mind. Going off the taglines on the front and back covers, “Love makes us do bad things” and “What you don’t know can hurt you. . .” and the book being a dark, romantic thriller perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover and Laura Nowlin, I expected a YA book along of the lines IT ENDS WITH US, but no, no, no, this is a book all on it’s own. The twists, the gut punches, the giggles, and all the tears I shed made Harlow’s book one I needed to tell you about immediately.

I’m not saying this book is perfect, and there won’t be moments of, “Oh, I saw that coming,” but I had so many more moments of, “What?! Are you kidding me?!” and immediately rereading pages because I didn’t believe what I just read.

Ella can’t stop blaming herself for being the driver in the accident that killed her best friend, Hayley. And now, being back at school for senior year, everything reminds her of Hayley, including Sawyer, her BFF’s boyfriend. They grow close again and start to fall for each other. In her guilt, she reads Hayley’s diary only to find out secrets about Sawyer that change everything and turn this into a thriller you cannot put down. (Don’t worry, anything I just told you is on the back cover; no spoilers here!)

Harlow does a fantastic job of writing a grief story. The grief journey that Ella and Sawyer go on is written with such delicacy and raw emotion that if you have ever experienced grief, you can easily relate and see yourself in those characters.

I’m also a big fan of how Ella has to learn to be a friend again. Her everything, her world, was Hayley. People don’t often talk about what it is like when you lose a friend through death or life changes. It’s handled well on all fronts and makes you think. Seema, a new yet old friend in Ella’s life, was a great additional character for the story!

I’ve talked a lot, but I very much liked EVERYTHING WE NEVER SAID. So, please do yourself a favor and pick it up on Tuesday so you can ride this thrilling, emotional roller coaster, too!

Content warnings: (please read with care) domestic abuse, car accident, death, gaslighting, adult/minor relationship, abortion, stalking, kidnapping, violence, child abuse

I received an ARC of this and finished back at the start of March, but I had some things happen in my life that I needed to work through and deal with so reviewsfor books I had read, got pushed to the side due to mental health and family issues, apologies,
though I am finallycatching up now. Thank you again to the publisher for a copy of this and thank you Harlow for writing a book that kept me up to all hours because I needed more.

I will try to keep my reviews as spoiler free as possible and vague so nothing really takes away from how good this one was! I finished it in about 3 days, and it was definitely a wild ride.

This book was captivating for the right reasons because of the secrets, the mystery, and the thrills. Imagine you think one thing is happening, then you start to get an inkling like all is not what it appears to be with that initial inkling and you kinda have eh 🤔 vibes about something else, but you're like THIS CANT BE IT. Then the beat drops (the plot drops haaaaaaaard) and you are like holy crap the vibes I thought were true, but there was a MASSIVE twist included which had me very surprised and shocked and I swear I caught more flies that day in my mouth due to the jaw dropping gasp that felt like it lasted eternity; than I did as a little kid during the summer with ads rolled up as a makeshift swatter as I went fly huntin due pleas from my mom to us kids!

Seriously, Harlow nailed it with this one, don't let it fool you, this one hits all the right thriller cues and gave me goosebumps and had me feeling, like I needed to look over my shoulder a few times. Then that plot twist WITHIN the plot twist I was like OHMYGODNOFRICKENWAAAAAY. When this happens, I am excited but also sad for the MFC due to all the crap she has been put through!

Do I recommend it? Absolutely. Will I read another book by Sloan Harlow again? Oh, most definitely, especially a YA thriller. She knows how to write one!