"Like It Never Happened" by is a contemplative, emotional exploration of how past secrets can shape the present. The story centers around a family grappling with hidden trauma that resurfaces, disrupting their carefully constructed lives. Hoffmann crafts his characters with nuance, making their struggles feel genuine and relatable. His writing delves into the complexities of family loyalty, identity, and forgiveness, weaving a slow-burn narrative that rewards patient readers.

However, the pacing may feel sluggish for those looking for a faster plot. While the novel tackles impactful themes, some parts could benefit from a tighter narrative focus to keep momentum. Still, Hoffmann’s portrayal of the family's dynamics and individual battles resonates, offering a thought-provoking look at the costs of concealing the truth.

The premise of this book seemed very interesting but it was hard for me to get into this because I didn't like the narration and couldn't immerse myself fully into the story. Maybe I'll have better luck reading it as an ebook or physical book.

This book is beautiful and captured me immediately. The bonds of friendship are one of the topics I most like to see covered in a book. This lived up to the expectations I created when reading the synopsis.
The writing is very fluid and you get into the story right from the beginning.

I didn't listen to this because I found the narrators voice was boring. Thank you for the opportunity and I am sorry I wasn't able to follow through.

This book was fine, but despite just finishing it last night, today it hasn't stuck with me at all; bad or good. I didn't particularly care for the characters and it took forever to get to the real story of what happened in high school. The narration was okay, but the voices weren't as distinct as I would like.

Thank you to NetGalley and the author for my advance copy of this audiobook

A fun and retro book that gave me Slumber Party by Christopher Pike or "I Know What You Did Last Summer" vibes. A group of friends bound together by tragedy revisits what happened years later. The book is a bit of a slow burn, but ultimately rewarding. The audiobook narrator did a great job portraying the characters and the suspenseful plot. This was a quick and fun listen. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

This is the story about a group of four friends who get into a fight with fatal consequenzes: one is dead and the other under special care.
Years later these friends, torn apart by this tragic event, are reunited.
Problems turn up as they realize that not everybody is willing to keep their secret!
What I liked about this story was the flow of the narration as well as the performance of Noah Michael Levine!

Thank you #NetGalley #Dreamscape Media for this audiobook

I opted for the audiobook version and found the narrator proficient in portraying the main characters, though I wasn't entirely enamored with his rendition of the female voices. While the story held my attention, it felt like a gradual buildup lacking the explosive climax I anticipated. Despite my interest in completing it, I found myself indifferent to the outcomes and failed to connect with any of the characters. The portrayal of morally ambiguous figures, though realistic, became somewhat overwhelming as each character exuded toxicity. The premise, revolving around a group of friends involved in a tragic incident during their youth, held promise. However, the narrative's exploration of their subsequent reunion and encounters with the deceased's wife, a journalist privy to their secrets, was compelling. The use of multiple perspectives added depth to the storytelling, ensuring it remained engaging throughout.

A chilling story demonstrating that the truth will always out. Friends sharing a deadly secret that proves their unraveling and leading to a suspense and revealing end. Set in the frozen Alaska wilderness the weather is a cold as some of the relationships!

Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.

When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.

After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.

I tried to get into this but couldn't. It wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ALC of "Like it Never Happened", by Jeff Hoffmann.

"Like it Never Happened" by Jeff Hoffmann is a rollercoaster of emotions, diving deep into memory, guilt, and finding peace. You'll root for Sarah as she struggles to piece together her past after a tragic accident. The characters feel real, and the themes of forgiveness and human connection hit home.

However, some parts of the story rush by too quickly, while others drag on, making the pacing a bit off. And the tidy resolution of some plot points might feel too convenient. Still, "Like it Never Happened" leaves a lasting impression, sparking reflections on life's twists and turns.

30 years latter and what they did at burgeoning is still haunting them. Each boy has his own problems in life but their secrets from that night is coming back to bite them.

I don’t know if it was because this was an audio book but the jumping around of who’s perspective it was, was hard to catch.

This was my first book by author Jeff Hoffman. While it did hold my attention and have some suspense, this book was not what I was looking for, which is why I gave it a 3 star rating.

It starts 30 years ago, where 4 best friends, graduating high school, did something very terrible. BUT they decided to keep it a secret all these years.
Now, 30 years later, Kevin, suffering a heroin addiction, dies, they are all gathered together again, and to relive the past that brought them all together. At the funeral, they meet Kevin's wife, Naomi, a local new reporter. She is stopping at nothing to find out what happened that fatal night.
BUT they boys are ready to fight back.

It's a twisty and turny thriller with sensitive topics and high suspense.

I really enjoyed the writing and the characters with their different point of views. There weren’t any big twists, but overall I liked it and thought the narrator did a good job.

Thank you to NetGalley, Jeff Hoffmann and Dreamscape Media for an audio arc of Like It Never Happened in exchange for an honest review.

I had a lull in audiobooks and this one looked interesting so I gave it a shot. Sadly, I was underwhelmed.

The synopsis is literally the entire story. If you read that, you don’t even need to read the book. No huge shockers or big revelations. Tommy & Henry did redeem themselves prior to the end and it took Malcolm until the VERY end to try to do what was right.

Basically, as teens, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry & Kevin did something terrible that they’ve been lying about and covering up their entire lives. Kevin dies after he drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck and at his funeral, his widow & a reporter, Naomi, lets the guys know what they did and they have to comply with her demands or else…….

I’m generously rating it as 3-Stars for the simple fact that I didn’t DNF it. The narrator did a good job.

Sadly, this will not be one that I recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

This book was very complex and had many characters and moving parts. I enjoyed how multilayered the book was and there were so many layers and mysteries in this book to uncover. All the men in the book seemed to be unreliable narrators and it was difficult to know what to believe. That made the story very interesting.

This book p*ssed me off! Multiple povs and I didnt like anyone.
I wont say more than that because it would spoil it.
I will say the story did keep me interested the entire time.

Publisher's summary
Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives.
But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral. When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.
After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.

Thanks NetGalley & Dreamscape Media for the ALC of Like it Never Happened!
( I listen to all audiobooks at 1.5. )

Like It Never Happened
By: Jeff Hoffmann
Narrated by: Noah Michael Levine
Publisher: Dreamscape Media
Release date: 03-05-24

Title: Like It Never Happened
Author: Jeff Hoffmann
Genre: Mystery
Rating: 3.50
Pub Date: March 5, 2024

I received complimentary eARC and ALC copies from Crooked Lane Books and Dreamscape Media via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Straightforward • Mysterious • Anticlimactic

📖 S Y N O P S I S

Thirty years ago, Tommy, Malcolm, Henry, and Kevin were best friends graduating high school, brothers almost, until the night they did something terrible. The decision to keep hidden what they did in that parking lot shattered their friendship and warped their lives. But when Kevin, struggling with a heroin addiction, drives his motorcycle into the side of a truck, the other three find themselves together again—at Kevin’s funeral.

When they meet Kevin’s wife Naomi at the wake, they can tell that she knows everything, and when they learn that she’s a reporter, they’re terrified. When she sends them to visit one of their victims from that night—at the nursing home where he’s been suffering for decades—they do as they’re told, even though they know it won’t stop there.

After watching her husband pay a steep price for keeping the friends’ secret, Naomi has crafted a plan to make Tommy, Malcolm, and Henry pay their fair share. When the three men decide to fight back, they’re forced to decide just how far they’ll go this time.

💭 T H O U G H T S

After being introduced to Jeff Hoffmann's debut, Other People's Children, through a now-defunct book box, I was thrilled to see he had a new release coming out in 2024. It's certainly very different from his first book, but it still gave me a lot to think about.

While the cover design had me believing this was going to be a thriller, it's more of a mystery with an element of suspense than anything else. There is much greater detail and backstory for each of the men than what a thriller would offer. The writing flowed nicely and explored the intricacies of friendship and the long-term consequences of our actions. Right from the beginning you know the men are holding onto a deep secret that has shaped their entire lives, and the narrative slowly delivers little pieces of the puzzle. Each of the men is morally grey and I didn't like any of them or know who I could trust.

The audiobook, narrated by Noah Michael Levine, added an additional level of intensity to my suspicion. It's worth mentioning that I did need to speed it up as I never would have been able to make it through the normal speed, which was very drawn out and flat. The male perspectives were well done, however, the female perspectives could have used some improvement. Lastly, given there are quite a few characters, at times I had a hard time distinguishing between each one while listening, so I was glad to have the digital copy to read along with as it helped with keeping track of everyone.

Unfortunately, this wasn't as good was I was hoping. There was a lot of building up to what felt like a very anticlimactic reveal. It certainly left me wanting so much more. With that said, I will continue to explore Jeff Hoffmann's future work, simply because his first two books were so vastly different.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers of domestic drama

⚠️ CW: death, grief, car accident, violence, murder, mental illness, drug use, drug abuse, addiction, overdose, toxic relationship

I really enjoyed this book, I kept wanting to listen to it when I couldn't and was happy to get back to it. It definitely kept my attention.

Man, this was depressing. Yeah, it was real life and not sugarcoated, so I’m trying to find something redeeming about it. The story was not my cup of tea, but the writing flowed well. I just kept waiting for something big to happen.

The narrator was ok. Not phenomenal but not annoying either.