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.

This book was a very interesting read. It jumped between the past and the present to uncover the mystery. While they were revealing the truth, I kept getting surprised by what was happening. I was not expecting the ending and the plots leading up to it. When We Were Silent handled very tough topics and how people deal with, internalize, and struggle with trauma. Listening to this helps normalize different reactions to trauma and shares how people respond to these situations and that there is no right way to deal with it. Hearing about so many people being sexually abused was heartbreaking, especially since so many people have been in that scenario.
Initially, I was very anxious and intrigued to find out what was happening, and I almost wish I had found some stuff out sooner. Books where they talk about the past but do not explain it are hard for me to follow along with because I’m nosy and want to know all the details, lol. There was nothing wrong with the way the story was told, it was done very well and the differentiation was very clear! I just struggle with these storylines. I think this scenario was handled in a way that empowered the main character and even showed some of the struggles women have with men and people believing their stories. The Narrator did a really good job expressing the emotions of the characters and making it clear when other people were talking.

Following the suicide of her friend, Lou enrolls in a ritzy academy in attempt to uncover the truth about what happened to her friend. This book follows dual timelines and features a stunning cover. There’s a lot of characters to keep up with, but the characters are well written. An emotional book covering sensitive topics, be warned what you’re getting into before starting it. The narration of this audiobook is well done.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced audiobook.
While I'm usually a sucker for anything set in the world of academia (or high schools), this book just moved a bit too slowly for my taste. I wanted to be more interested in the characters and what was happening in both timelines, but I'm not the reader for this one.

This is a story of empowerment, abuse, mental health, and class disparities. It is set in the prestigious private school of Highfield High Manor. Our main character Louise "Lou" is there on scholarship. However she is quickly befriended by a popular girl and things seem to be going better for Lou. There are secrets at Highfield High and Lou is set to release the secrets so she can prove her friend who committed suicide was abused or taken advantage of by a teacher. This story jumps back and forth from Lou's time at Highfield High and 30 years later with her happily married and teacher at a University. I really enjoyed the parts of the story that were told in the past, the present day story seemed to drag on a bit for my liking. The narrator did a great job. Her accent made me feel like I was in Ireland. Her narration kept me interested in the story.

When We Were Silent
Fiona McPhillips
The setting for this book is Highfield Manor in Dublin, a very exclusive private academy. The school appears to be the perfect place to send your daughter but beware there are deep dark secrets behind the lilacs at the front gate.
Louise Manson receives a scholarship to Highfield Manor. She doesn’t fit in; she is from the working class. The other students are from wealthy and privileged families. Most of the girls either avoid her or are rude; but Shauna offers friendship. Louise is attending the school in hopes of exposing the a teacher; her friend Tina was an excellent swimmer that went to school at the academy. After discovering she was pregnant, she took her own life; the father of the baby was a teacher at the school. Louise wants justice!
The teacher focused on Louise, taking her to soccer matches, telling her she was Olympic material, telling her how important she is to him. Then he started placing his hand on her knee, which lead to more intimate gestures. Louise discovered Tina was not the only one sexually molested and assaulted by the swim coach. While attending the academy Louise and Shauna formed a strong relationship.
In the present Louise is happily married with a daughter. Life was well until Shauna’s brother, Ronan Power, contacted Louise with a request for her to testify at a case against the academy. She fears the past will come back to haunt her. Shauna knows what happened that fateful night long ago. Louise attempted to contact Shauna to no avail. Shauna does not want to see her.
Shauna has a decision to make does she protect her family by staying quiet or does she help expose the past to protect the students at the academy.
This story is told from alternative points of time, the past when Louise is a student at the academy and the present. It took me a couple of chapters to become involved in this tale but once I did, I could not stop listening. This tale speaks of unfathomable abuse. Young adults look up to their teachers, they are an authority figure; when a teacher/mentor abuses his authority they betray the responsibility they are supposed lie to their students, to the school and to their fellow teachers. Author Fiona McPhillips offers readers a thought-provoking read. Watching the school officials attempt to protect the academy proved they cared more for the reputation of the school than they did the girls.
You do not want to miss this book.
Thank you NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book for review.
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WHAT A BOOK! Be forewarned, this book covers some very heavy topics. However, I think it is so important that these things are discussed. I was so impressed with how this was written. It didn't have the perfect cookie-cutter ending I was secretly hoping for, but that just made it all the more realistic.

The emotions, the courage, the fight for justice...I was so moved by all of it. I will recommend this book to absolutely everyone.

A slow burn but worth it. These types of stories can be hard to listen to but I feel that they are important because these things are happening everyday, even tho this is fiction it still holds powerful messages to stand up for what’s right and not stay silent. Will recommend this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
It took me a bit to get into this one. Some of the back and forth timelines were a little confusing. Once I got into it though I enjoyed it. It was a very interesting and disturbing book and all too realistic especially in this day and age.
Narrator did a great job.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the free audiobook in exchange for my honest review. This is narrated by India Mullen who does a great job!

Louisa is a newcomer to Highfield Manor, a prestigious and old high-school full of wealthy mean girls and secrets that remain in the shadows. Shauna, a popular girl befriends Louisa and they share a secret that others want to keep silent and someone wants to tell. There are some other little secrets along the way all leading up to an ending spilling the truth. I am keeping it to generalities to avoid spoilers.

I struggled to remain invested in the story. The narrator reading the audiobook was good. However, the pacing was off for me and I found I did not like the characters as they were a bit flat. As for the plot, rather than grabbing my attention, the meandering, vague, references to what happened in the "past" were too inconsequential to hold my attention. By the time the story did get rolling, I was not invested enough to care.

This is a 3 star story that is worth reading as it does tackle a hard subject, just not as well as it could.

WHEN WE WERE SILENT is an emotional read. I felt like I was listening to a true story. It made me think of all the woman that have experienced abuse of this nature and still no one believed them. Told through past and present timelines we learn a lot about Lou and her friends when they attended Highfield Manor. There were some surprises through out the story that I didn't expect and that always sparks my interest. In the end, I do feel the author wrote a good debut, but be aware that it is on the darker side. Triggers are below.

TW: Rape, mental illness, eating disorders, and alcohol abuse.

Many thanks to MacMIllian Audio and NetGalley for my gifted ALC.

This review will be shared to my Instagram (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the near future.

The comparison of this book to My Dark Vanessa is a good one, but also know that similarly, this book needs trigger warnings.

The publisher's blurb about this book makes it sound like this will be a prep school saga, but this story is really about how traumas that we experience as youth impact our adulthood. Louise is the new "poor kid" at an exclusive Catholic, all-girls school and just wants to blend in and be left alone, while getting revenge on her best friend's death.

In the end, this is about not being shamed and silenced by predators, the imbalance of the judicial system, and surviving after trauma. It's difficult to talk about this book without giving too much away, but it has a powerful message about the difficulties of standing up to predators and how not everyone is able to do it.

Fantastic audio narration.

Trigger warnings: sexual assault of youth on page, alchoholism

4.5 rounded down.

Premise - following the suicide of her friend, Tina, blue collar Lou enrolls in a prestigious high school to get to the dark story behind her friend’s premature demise. She soon finds herself in over her head. Can she overcome a system of wealth, power, and coverups?

This is an institutional tale, not a popcorn thriller, but the stakes are high, the character well written, and the plot tight, so it kept me turning pages as fast as I would with a lighter read.

I think this dealt with a lot of YA topics, though in adult tone so I enjoyed it all the same.

Definitely check this out if you like dark academia and underdog stories!

📚 Series or Standalone: standalone
📚 Genre: thriller
📚 Target Age Group: adult (though I think teens would enjoy it too, given setting)
📚 Cliffhanger: no

✨ Will I Reread: maybe

💕 Characters: 5/5
💕 Writing: 5/5
💕 Plot: 4/5
💕 Pacing: 5/5
💕 Unputdownability: 4/5
💕 Enjoyment: 4/5
💕 Book Cover: 4/5

Thanks, NetGalley and Flatiron, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

My thoughts ⬇️

On one hand I want to give this book a 5 star rating with its intense page turner story line, but other times I want to give this book a 3 star rating with how difficult it was to digest some of these pages. This is why I settled on a 4 star rating. Hear me out.

As Fiona goes back and forth between past and present I find myself it two different places. The past left me binging these chapters, page after page, but when it came to the present I found myself having a difficult time staying engaged and focused.

👉🏼 “In the end, we’re the ones who have to live with the stories we tell ourselves.”

•powerful•