This book is, if nothing else, very hard to read, and I feel compelled to mention that here because the emotional difficulty of the material isn’t evident in the publishers summary.

I suppose the question becomes, do we “need” more books like this? They’re hard to read, they’re not telling us anything we (unfortunately) don’t already know, they’re triggering for assault and abuse victims, and I don’t think they’ll even be picked up at all by those who need to be convinced that our world doesn’t just deny justice to most female assault victims, but also blames them and treats them reprehensibly.

Given that, there’s no enjoying a story like this, only bearing witness. I’ll let each reader decide whether they think they personally need to do so. McPhillips writes very thoughtfully and she weaves a complex and well-paced story, though I hope the big reveal at the end wasn’t meant to be a surprise (did anyone not see this coming from the second we knew there was a murder?)

In all, I’d call this well conceived but I can’t say I liked it. And while Lou and Joe are lovely and easy to root for, Shauna is only sympathetic as a victim, but ultimately difficult to see as anything but a coward willing to destroy another innocent person to protect her own privacy (that she comes around in the end MUCH later doesn’t really matter), and Lou’s mother is…truly something else.

This is a book I listened to this on audio a couple of months ago. I was intrigued by the premise of what was being marketed as a dark academia thriller.

The audio of this was really well done and that is what got me through. This is not a thriller, rather it is an exploration of trauma and abuse and how the effects of it never truly leave us and can reverberate for decades. It made for an emotional and devastating read. I didn’t dislike it but it was not what I expected and that threw me off a bit. This was a tough read just because the subject matter was so heavy but I did really enjoy it. Thank you to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for this audio arc.

When We Were Silent definitely puts the dark in dark academia - this one doesn’t shy away from pain or trauma. I was surprised to find this was a debut, as the story was incredibly well written. There were a few side plots that distracted a bit from the story, but overall I thought this book was very well done and look forward to reading what the author writes next.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the ALC to review.

I thought the narrator did a wonderful job with this one, and overall I liked it. It started off strong but went a little long for me and the dual timelines were a bit hard to follow solely via audio, so I do recommend having a physical copy when reading this one. I thought the tough subjects in here were covered well, and for that alone it is worth the read, I just think this gets lost a bit in trying to wrap it all up and could have been a bit more crisp. It is a debut novel and I'm looking forward to seeing what McPhillips writes next.

The plot of this book is what intrigued me to request it on NetGalley. I enjoy anything set in academic settings, and if they are thrillers, even better!

I appreciate the publisher and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to listen to this book in exchange for a review.

This one was DARK and I ended up having a hard time following a lot of it in the audiobook for some reason. I'm going to get the physical copy from the library and try again that way, though!! Maybe I'll like it better reading instead of listening.

Engaging, immersive, and expertly narrated. A recommended purchase for collections where crime and thrillers are popular.

This was an excellent novel, especially for a debut. In this book, Louise Manson is a student at a private school in Dublin, Highfield Manor. This is a very exclusive school and Louise is from a poor working class family with a mother who is a drunk. Louise is a fish out of water but is befriended by Shauna who is beautiful and wealthy. There is a web of sexual deceit at Highfield, with the female students being abused. It is covered up.
Thirty years later, Shauna's brother is a lawyer who is suing the school over what happened and wants Louise to testify. Louise has rebuilt her life and has a young daughter of her own and has trepidations but finally decides to testify for closure.
The author goes back and forth between the present and the past. I must admit that this can create a bit of confusion at times.
The author does a wonderful job of creating a mood and a sense of place. Her characters, particularly Louise, are well developed. I would have liked to see a little more development of Shauna along the way, especially since she becomes so instrumental in the story.
The narrator, with an Irish brogue, suited the story and did a good job of conveying the mood.
Thanks to NetGalley and to MacMillan Audio for providing me with the opportunity to experience this wonderful text.

I enjoyed the twists of this book. I felt the tension almost immediately and the stakes were high. There were multiple pieces to keep track of but it never felt like too much. It was full of morally grey moments but I found myself thinking “he had it coming” which make you wonder how you would react in any of those situations.

This harrowing novel emotionally details the sexual abuse of teenage athletes at a prestigious school, and what both the school and society had done to make these young women (and young men) voiceless and vulnerable and nulling out their futures. And though this is a very well done fiction, unfortunately for many, this is their lives. That being said, the main character’s voice is superb in the first person. The narrator’s voice is truly lovely and captures Lou’s character and her determination.
When Lou’s friend commits suicide, she wants to find out why. She suspects someone at the Highfield School had something to do with it. The whole mystery takes her nearly a half of a lifetime to solve.
An excellent mystery/thriller set in Ireland.

I'm a big fan of books about elite schools or boarding schools. I just really like that setting. The book blurb for WHEN WE WERE SILENT sounded interesting, like a mystery thriller I would enjoy. Every time I try to listen to this audiobook, I fall asleep. I've tried all sorts of times throughout the day (and evening) doing different things - coloring, playing on my switch, I've been active, but I get so tired - and I still can't tell you what happens past 10%ish of the book. If India Mullen could read one of those sleep sounds for me, I would fall asleep so quickly every night.

Although the first bit is creative writing, I can't tell you about the book. But the narrator, India Mullen, is super relaxing, lol.

Thanks, Macmillan Audio, for the ALC.

WHEN WE WERE SILENT is a tense, emotional, and suspenseful read. McPhillips expertly constructed a story filled with twists, turns, and secrets bubbling to the surface. Each element of the plot and all the characters met within these pages worked hand in hand to deliver an addictively thrilling and dynamic book.

In a story like this, there has to be reverence for the subject matter. The author should develop the characters and move the narrative forward through honesty while honoring all emotions that can be experienced. And, McPhillips did this perfectly. She created a thriller centering around abuse and murder in a way that did not exploit the topic. It didn’t shy away from any aspect. The author brought the reader into Louise’s past and present with eloquence and candor. It was quite a touching and compelling read.

WHEN WE WERE SILENT is one of those books that stays with you. Reading Louise’s experience brought to mind all those accounts we don’t hear about. The ones that were silent or silenced. There is power in telling this type of story and I am certainly glad I was able to read it.

Audiobook Note: India Mullen narrated this book brilliantly. I did need a moment to adjust to her accent, but after the first few chapters, I was right in the thick of it with our characters. Mullen brought to life Louise and enhanced the story through her diction and pace. Having spent about half of the time with this book in audio format, it was a great way to continue reading it.

Lou was a student on a swimming scholarship to the prestigious Highfield Manor. Most of the students treated her terribly because she was clearly beneath their high-class snobbery. She does have a few friends until the night a teacher is found dead and Lou is the main suspect. Many years later and Lou has a daughter of her own and she is attending Highfield Manor for their swimming program and is also on a scholarship. This is bringing up Lou's past and the fact that people still suspect her for the murder. Lou is adamant about clearing her name so that her daughter is not affected by it.

I really enjoyed this book and the mystery of not knowing what exactly happened in the past. This was well-written and I was anxiously awaiting the results. I loved the thrill of it. The ending was spectacular as well.

An elite private school's secrets are threatened by an outsider. Red bricked, oak libraries, are dark secrets in Lou's new world she enters as the newest student at Highfield Manor. And things unfold from here with mysteries, secrets to a dead body. Then thirty years later Lou gets a call from a lawyer who has a lawsuit against the school. He needs Lou to testify which means Lou must confront her past and uncover what really happened at Highfield Manor.

I listened to the audiobook and felt that the Narrator, India Mullen, did a good job of using tone and emotions to set the vibe and mood of the mysteries and dramatics of this book.

A mystery of exploring the privileged life of the elite private school of Dublin in this gripping debut novel.

Man that was a hard and enraging read! And this could be and IS still happening today, how disgraceful for our society. I am glad that in the end the truth came and Louise was vindicated but it really was too little, too late. The best thing that could happen was that her daughter and all the other students were protected from a predator! This was my 1st read by Fiona McPhillips but will definitely not be my last, all of her books are going on my TBR!

Narrated by India Mullen, 'When We Were Silent' is a gripping exploration of trauma, friendship, and the haunting legacy of abuse. Mullen's skillful narration brings the characters to life, immersing listeners in Lou's emotional journey as she grapples with the dark secrets of her past. While not your typical mystery or thriller, the audiobook delivers a powerful narrative that delves deep into the complexities of trauma and survival.

Fiona McPhillips' debut novel is a gut-wrenching tale that tackles heavy topics with sensitivity and depth. Set in the 1980s, the story unfolds through dual timelines, offering a poignant glimpse into Lou's past and present struggles. As she confronts the traumatic events of her youth while testifying in a sexual abuse case, Lou's journey is both heart-wrenching and cathartic. 'When We Were Silent' is a haunting and unforgettable listen that will leave a lasting impact on listeners.

As a student at Highfield Manor, Louise discovers that her friend, Tina, was being sexually abused by a teacher/coach, and Tina killed herself after finding out she was pregnant. Lou is determined to prove this and prevent other girls from suffering the same fate, even if she has to put herself in harm’s way. 30 years later new information about the school and situation comes to light, threatening to unveil Lou’s darkest secrets.

I listened to the audiobook, and I think I would have enjoyed reading it more. This story is told from alternating timelines between Lou’s days at Highfield and 30 years later, which wasn’t always easy to distinguish just from listening. Chapters only list numbers instead of indicating past or present. Eventually I caught on, but it was hard to keep track early in the book. Overall I thought the story was interesting, but nothing shocked or surprised me. I was invested in Lou and Shauna’s story, and although the events unfolded in frustrating ways at times, it was a realistic portrayal of abuse and power. I’d rate this closer to 3.5, but I’m leaving it at 3 stars because I’m a snob and 4’s have to wow me. Thanks to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Fiona McPhillps for this free ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a powerful book. I felt nearly overwhelmed by the way the story unfolded and the themes McPhillips explored. This is a complex novel written with delicate prose and a surprisingly emotional plot. In the world of Dark Academia, When We Were Silent is a unique and profound entry into a genre filled with great works.

Set at Dublin’s most exclusive private school, Highfield Manor, the beautifully drawn setting with tall pillars, lilacs, intricate gates, well-manicured grounds, and a dimly lit library full of well-worn books hides a dark undercurrent. It’s hard to believe that somewhere so beautiful and historic could be riddled with secrets, but appearances are deceiving.

Lou Manson arrives at Highfield Manor as a scholarship student. Coming from a humble background, Lou is quite different from her wealthy and privileged peers. Lou struggles to find her place among the students, often snubbed and disregarded by those who look down their noses at her. The times they are kind to her are often part of their power struggle with the other top students in the class. Lou does find a friend in Shauna, whose sunny smile hides deep-seeded pain.

It's impossible to attend Highfield Manor and not know who Maurice McQueen is. A PE teacher and the head of the prestigious swimming club at Highfield Manor, he’s already produced to Olympic athletes and is hoping to coach a third. He also wants to recruit Lou to the swim club, though she does her best to get out of it. Lou has a different reason for attending Highfield Manor—she is seeking justice for her friend Tina, who tragically died.

Several decades after Lou’s time at Highfield Manor, she is working as a literature professor and raising a teenage daughter. When Shauna’s brother reaches out asking Lou to testify in an abuse case linked to Highfield Manor, Lou resists, fearing that everything she’s worked to bury in her past will resurface. Facing her past and the consequences it will bring may mean saving the students from an abuser, if she’s able to let herself go back there.

Dark, intense, and haunting. This is a thought-provoking and gripping story that draws the reader in and doesn’t let up until the final pages. Tina’s suicide looms over the story from the beginning. Lou is seeking justice for what happened to Tina, planning to expose the authority figure who abused her. In the present, Lou is struggling with her teenage daughter who wants to join the very same swim club that Lou tried to avoid. The stories mirror each other at times, and diverge at others.

An emotional, shocking, and suspenseful novel about privilege, justice, power, and class.

I’ve always loved reading books written by authors from a different country or culture and set in a different place. In particular as an American, books set in other countries come to life when narrated by someone with the local accent. It is a constant reminder and mental cue to transport myself to that place. When We Were Silent is set in Ireland at a preparatory school. Narrated by India Mullen, the story is told in the soft, lilting cadence that is uniquely Irish. Mullen’s voice also spans the younger timeline well, something that doesn’t always work when a single narrator does a then-and-now.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for my copy. Opinions are my own.

This audio was on of my faves of the last few weeks! A solid 5⭐️ read and listen! Dark and Surreal Academia with dual timelines decades apart! Also I loved the Irish narrator’s accent and inflections while reading. It really kept me fully in the story at all times and added an extra layer that I couldn’t fully get reading it physically.

Thank you to Macmillan Audio for the review ALC

When Louise Manson is a young woman, she changes high schools to a high powered exclusive school so she can try to uncover what made her best friend commit suicide. Present day Lou is required to testify against the school and finally uncovers what really happened in the past.

As this is a debut novel, this is my first experience with a book written by Fiona McPhillips. Although the topic was pretty heavy (sexual assault and rape), I found the book to be very well written. The characters were well defined and the storyline was intriguing. I liked how the author goes between the past and the present so you can fully understand the events that took place in the past.

I think the narrator, India Mullen, did a great job with the characters, they really came to life and were easy to define.

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

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6549347448