This is a gripping and compelling yet unsettling story about grooming and abuse. And as hard as it is to read, it is even harder when you realize how many people in power take advantage of those who look up to them and trust them. I found this novel to be deeply disturbing and heartbreaking, but loved having the predators and those who covered up for them exposed as the monsters they are. The narrator did an outstanding job bringing these characters to life. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an ALC in exchange for my honest review.

I received a free audiobook from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review.

When we were silent is a gripping, unsettling story of abuse, trust, teenage bonding, and how trauma affects our lives long after it takes place. Set in an elite girl’s school in Ireland in the 80s and today, this book follows Louise and several other students and their lives during their school days and years later.

A horrific incident happens at Highfield Manor that affects Lou’s life forever. She’s confused and upset about how her fellow students react to the event, but moves on with her life, or so she thinks. When a lawsuit threatens to take her back to confront her trauma, Lou must decide how she can navigate her past and future.

This is an excellent debut novel, full of great characters, current affairs, and unsettling moments. It’s not for the faint of heart however, and there are graphic descriptions of sexual assault, violence, and other terrible betrayals. It’s a very good book, but it is definitely not for every reader.

I do not like referring to other books that are similar or to quote them. For this one I am making an exception as Lolita was referenced several times. This book had similar vibes of grooming and sexual abuse. Not as disturbing but still left me with mixed feelings about it.

The story line was very captivating alternating between Louise's past and present, hinting at a past that could change everything. With a really good run up and intensely structured, I could look past the horrible acts and still feel captivated enough to carry on. We are reminded of how fickle the legal system can be. I think it takes a lot for an author to delve into such hard topics and Fiona really pulled it off. My dark mind enjoyed this story and it will stay on my mind for a couple of days.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this Audiobook.

This was a hard read. I didn’t enjoy it very much due to the details involving these girls being molested by their coach. There was also some graphic sex scenes between students I didn’t care for.
Wish this could have been different for me, but I just wanted to finish this book, not in a good way.
Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan audio for the AAC.

Thank you MacMillan for the audio review copy of When We Were Silent by Fiona McPhillips, expertly narrated by India Mullen. This is a rightfully moody story, compelling in how it weaves the past and present (because the past is very much still informing the present day characters and still a present day topic) in examining how Lou, who fought for righting a wrong against her friend and was harmed by trying to stand up for what was right, is handling a return to this very past, to a night when things went wrong, and facing the person and spaces that caused harm. This book is a tough read because of the topics but important because grooming, assault, abuse, privilege, power... all of these themes matter and intersect powerfully in the story.

I know with dual timelines a lot of people like the background story more but I really liked moving towards the present day plot, it was important to think about how past events mattered. It was harder to listen to because I felt Lou was really lost and struggling and it was impacting her and others in a lot of ways BUT isn't that also true to the story?

This is a deftly told story and well narrated that give the story depth and connection as I listened.

You know how you finish a book and it’s really good but you forget everything within a day? This one has stuck with me. Going on 24 hours since I finished and I could still give you the storyline.
Definitely check your triggers.
As the book opened, I felt a bit lost. Current day Lou was discussing something tragic and monumental that she experienced when she was in school pre-cellphone and social media era. Because it’s still happening, she is going to have to testify about her past. The story unfolds allowing us a look into the events that haunt Lou to this day.

I’m conflicted. This book would spark some discussion on how rape/assault victims were treated and are currently treated. It’s also interesting to consider whether she responsible for becoming a victim as she had gotten accepted into the school to seek revenge for the assault of her friend.

This book would make a great book club read. I know I would like to chat with someone about it.

WOW ! This book was phenomenal. I devoured this audiobook so fast. The narrator was so good. The story was so intriguing and really makes you think about what victims have to go through to have their voices heard. The characters are very well written and you really get drawn into their lives and feelings. I loved the setting being in a private exclusive Irish school, giving off very dark academia vibes. I highly recommend this book. I am looking forward to reading whatever Fiona McPhillips writes next.

Thank you Netgalley and Macmillan Audio for this audiobook in exchange for my honest review.

Although I loved the narrator (what a fantastic accent and ability to narrate) the story was too slow and “familiar” to me. I think I’ve read too many stories like this one and am a little tired of the genre

This book had me at first but then it lost me and it didn’t get me back. At one point in the middle, I just stopped caring because it got a bit boring and I just couldn’t get back into it.

I did like the dark academia vibes and I think it explores interesting themes, but it ultimately didn’t work for me.

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

This book is a solid 3.5 star for me, mainly because I had a hard time getting into it at first. Once the book was set in the past with Louise and her story was unfolding, I found it more interesting. Throughout the book, I found myself cheering Louise on, who was trying desperately to get justice for her friends Tina and Shauna. How Louise was treated for doing just that throughout was pretty disheartening, especially considering her claims were factual. I'd like to think that Highfield Manor gets shut down sometime in the future after this book ends.

Overall, I enjoyed the parts of this story set in the past more than the present tense. I wish Louise would have stood up to Shauna. I am glad the sexual abuse wasn't overly described, as that could be triggering.

I didn't know what I was getting myself into reading "When We Were Silent", part of me wishes there was a trigger warning, and the other part of me is glad it didn't have one, because I might not have read it.

This book was so beautifully written and handles such a horrible subject so well that I couldn't stop thinking about it. I appreciate the depth that was written into each of the characters. Going back and forth in the timeline was a really great way to handle this story.

I am so glad that I read this book and think that it could open so many important conversations. Especially in a culture that seems to act like abuse, cover up and vilification of the survivor(s) like this doesn't happen anymore.

Dark, gritty, and compelling, this is not your typical private school drama, and is not for the faint of heart. At times deeply disturbing and heartbreaking, it addresses grooming, sexual abuse, and elitist/bureaucratic nonsense that predators too often use to their advantage. The setting in Dublin, Ireland, was atmospheric and the narrator of the audio version was perfect.

Book Title: When We Were Silent
Author: Fiona McPhillips
Format: 🎧
Narrator: India Mullen
Publisher: Macmillan Audio/ Flatiron Books
Genre: Mystery Thriller
Pub Date: May 21, 2024
My Rating: 4 Stars
Pages: 304
Louise Manson is from a working class family and earns a scholarship to Highfield Manor, Dublin’s most exclusive private school.
Lou is befriended by Shauna one of the most popular girls in school who is from one of the most prominent families in the area.

Lou knows that there are secrets at Highfield.; she is there for revenge and wants to reveal the truth of what happened to her friend Tina Forester. Tina was an outstanding swimmer on her way to national competition; only it doesn't happen as she takes her own life. Louise believes Tina was pregnant and had been abused by one of the teachers

Story is told past and present day which is thirty years later.
Present day Lou gets a phone call from a lawyer as he is bringing a case against the school, and he needs Lou to testify.
Lou is aware she must connect with Shauna; as Lou is sure Shauna knows what really happened that fateful night
. Although this type of a story has been told many times; it was an emotional read that kept me engaged.
The ending was a surprise.

Want to thank NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for granting me this early audio Galley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for May 21, 2024.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advanced audio arc When We Were Silent. This book should definitely come with some trigger warnings, due to sensitive topics and teenagers. I found the beginning to be a slow, but the story definitely picked up around midway!

Excellent read, though deals with heavy subject matter. TW for rape/abuse/sexual violence conversations as well as hinted at EDs and the health implications of them long-term. No deep play by play descriptions on any of these subjects.

This book alternates between a modern case of coach abuse and one from the 80's. It revisits the story, shows how people wish they had behaved juxtaposed with how they did, and allows them to try to do it differently for a new generation of children. While not all the characters are particularly lovable, they are well written and help you understand where everyone is coming from and why they make the decisions that they do. I found this book to be intriguing and didn't want to put it down. I wanted to know how things could be made right for the new kids, and how the old ones would change and heal.

This was an excellent story and asked (and answered) a lot of important questions.

****Trigger Warning*****Spoiler alert****
Sexual violence against teenage girls


I’m trying to find words to write this review. The subject is so heartbreaking and the author tells the story well. She is able to show the disgusting way the men (in this story) in power groom and blackmail teenage students into staying silent. Even more disgusting is the women (nuns) who are complicit in silencing the girls. That said, here I go.

The story begins Lou is a young Irish working class girl, growing up in Dublin, Ireland with a single mom who suffers with alcoholism. Grieving from her best friend’s death and carrying a dark secret, she enrolls at an elite private Catholic School, Highfield Manor, with the intention of exposing the sexual abuse happening there. She is shunned by most of her peers, but befriended by a star swimmer, Shauna. The two share an attraction for each other and discover they are bonded by a more painful truth.
Thirty years later Lou is happily married to Alex and has a young teen daughter, Katie. She has done her best to leave the trauma of her past behind after a fateful night thirty years ago blows her world up. She gets a phone call that a new case of sexual abuse at the same school has happened and she is being asked to testify. Once again, the pain of the past threatens her present and she has a difficult decision to make.
The author does a good job of showing how trauma affects her life and relationships and how you can never really leave the past behind without doing the work to heal from it. Lou have everything back then, protected Shauna to the detriment of herself and she hasn’t seen her since. She wrestles with the decision and what it means as she hasn’t told her wife the entire story.
This book evokes so many emotions in the reader. Anger at what happened to these girls, sadness at the rippling effects throughout their lives and wishing so much they made different choice only to remember they were only 17.
I was enthralled while listening and was taken by surprise at the revelation towards the end of the book. The narrator does a good job with bringing the author’s story to life.
I received this book from NetGalley and MacMillan Audio in exchange for an honest review.

I really tried to love this book. The narrator is fabulous. She brings the story to life. The story wasn’t sensationalized it was told as through the lens of the victims. You feel the fear they have of speaking out. We know what often happens when a victim speaks her truth she’s called a liar or it’s somehow her fault. This book was hard to read.

As I listened to the audiobook, I was immediately captivated by a whirlwind of emotions. The story unfolded, revealing a world filled with insecurities and daunting challenges, completely undermining any sense of safety. With each passing chapter, a profound sense of vulnerability stirred within me, compelling me to embark on a quest for truth and justice.

I felt caught up in the complex web of morality and the fragility of human existence. Each new revelation exposed hidden truths, stirring up a whirlwind of thoughts and emotions.

The narrator's voice breathed life into the characters, making the experience all the more immersive and unforgettable.

In my view, this work offers a profound exploration of the human condition, leaving a lasting impression that extends far beyond the final chapter. It's a compelling listen for anyone seeking a deeply affecting literary journey.

When We Were Silent is a dark academia debut novel by Fiona McPhillips. The story takes you through alternative points in time, past and present, and discusses compelling themes about abuse, privilege, guilt and courage. Despite it starting off slow and was challenging at times to keep my interest, it did pick up towards the end and I then became invested in finding out how the story concluded.

Narrator India Mullen’s enthralling Irish accent made you feel like you were in Ireland and brought authenticity to the story. I did feel a little disconnect with the pacing which I think was needed to make following along easier and to keep the listener engaged.

Although When We Were Silent wasn’t a book I connected with, I would recommend it to those who enjoy slow burns and deep, meaningful subject matter.

Thank you Macmillan Audio, author Fiona McPhillips, and NetGalley for this Advanced Listening Copy.

Three decades after “The Highfield Affair” occurred in an exclusive private school in Dublin, Lou faces her secrets again as new allegations are being made by a student against a teacher.

The atmosphere in this debut novel is beautifully written. It’s dark academia at its best and the #MeToo story of empowerment is told with sensitivity and respect. The layers of protection that surround a predator through their manipulation are astounding and even some of the students and victims feel they need to look the other way. I thought this was expressed really well here. A person in a place of power that chooses to abuse, can get away with it for a long time until someone is willing to expose them and usually at their own peril. Stepping forward is difficult today, and in the 80’s when women were encouraged to enjoy and flaunt their sexuality, the lines of consent and grooming/rape were blurred.

I loved the narration by India Mullen. Her beautiful Irish accent and voice brought authenticity to the story and I know I enjoyed the novel even more than I would have if I read it in print. @indiamullen

Thank you to @fiona.mcp @macmillan.audio @netgalley for an advance listening copy. I felt it was thought provoking and brilliant. I give When We Were Silent my highest recommendation and I’m looking forward to the author’s next book.