If We Tell You is about twin siblings Cameron and Lewis Larsen. The book was quite good, I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

The character moments are where this book really shines. Cameron and Lewis were different enough to not get them mixed up, while still feeling like they were raised by the same people. Their interactions with others felt realistic. The descriptions of locations and doing small things like making tea or peeling potatoes were immersive. I think this authors strengths lie in these more intimate moments and I wish this had leaned harder into the cozy mystery vibe and kept things lower stakes. I don’t think we needed things like MI6, riots, the mafia, Interpol, or people getting tied up and PG-13 tortured. There can be some peril, sure, but it didn’t need to be at this level. I also feel like while the plot wrapped up, we didn’t get enough character moments at the end. I think anyone could’ve come up with this plot but not everyone could make the characters feel so fleshed out and I hope this author uses that to their advantage in future books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kids Can Press for an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This book felt like a lot more of telling than showing. Honestly, I would've really liked to have read about where they were all at the party when all hel broke loose. However, we start right after that. This whole book for me can be summed up with one word: fine. It was fine. It always seemed to be missing a spark for me that would've elevated this novel. Perhaps the showing. For half of the book, there's pretty much just the brothers and moms friend and then more people keep getting added to the mix. I wasn't a big fan of the "why." The mob? Right. The mob would've done way better at getting these two kids. And the ending was very disappointing. After all of this, after everything, we don't get reunited with our parents? Like I said, the book is fine albeit disappointing.

This book was really hard to get into and while I realize it is a YA book it just wasn’t doing it for me. I appreciate the opportunity to read and review it but it was a DNF for me.

<i>digital arc was provided by Netgalley and Kids Can Press</i>

If We Tell You starts with a gripping premise: twins Cameron and Lewis unraveling their parents' dark secrets after a shocking incident at a barbecue. However, as the story unfolds, it loses steam. While one twin is quite allright, the other consistently makes frustrating choices, making it hard to connect with either of them.

The plot takes unexpected turns that feel more confusing than thrilling, leaving me disengaged by the end. What began as a promising mystery ultimately fell flat, leaving me wishing for more depth and tension. If you’re after a captivating read, you might want to look elsewhere.

ARC Review!!!

Cameron and Lewis Larsen are identical twins living normal, suburban lives … until their mom and dad kill two uninvited guests at a neighborhood barbecue and then disappear. Both boys are left with cryptic instructions from their parents that leads them to Edinburgh. They soon come to realize that twins are easily noticeable and become one person and alternate spots.
As more clues become available, the twins feel like they cannot trust anyone, not even their parents.

This was such a fun read! So trill seeking, right from the beginning. It was a bit confusing trying to figure out what the beginning was but it was so good! The author did such a good job of making everyone untrustworthy and making everyone feel sketchy. The plot flowed nicely and it played out well. A quick read!

Identical twins Cameron and Lewis are on the run since their parents shot and killed two strangers who turned up to a neighbourhood barbeque at their home in Canada. Their parents have disappeared, leaving two packed bags with passports and instructions for the twins to find an old friend in Edinburgh.
The story is told from the dual narrative of the twins and whilst this can be a bit confusing at times, it gives a good portrayal of the bonds between them. I enjoyed seeing how they mature and each find their own skills and strengths in response to the challenges they face. This is a relatively quick read with lots going on, multiple suspects and a mystery to be solved. It would be a great choice for teenage readers who want to try YA thrillers.

Author Nicola Dahiln tells a gripping, coming-of-age mystery, showcasing the importance of brotherhood, family, and trust. This book kept me in suspense until the end!

When the parents of twin boys kill two uninvited guests and then disappear, the boys escape to a hotel in Edinburgh per their parents’ cryptic instructions. But as the search for their parents intensifies, not only do they learn about their parents’ secret past, they soon suspect someone is following them. Now they must find their parents and right the wrongs of the past.

Thank you Kids Can Press and NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you, Nicola Dahlin and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

A book filled with mystery and twists and turns. Sadly, I wasn't into it as much as I wanted to be. It's definitely a nice thick book for those who have the time to read it. Murder, stealing, espionage, and so much goes on in this book it's like, where do you start? Even so, it really seemed to just drag for me. There could have been so much more action or danger in my opinion, but this is definitely more for those who want to explore this type of book.

Twin brothers have no idea what's going on. All they know is they have to run away from everything they know and don't have much to go off of, and they have no idea where their parents are. They are on the run, and bad people are after them. Why? What's going on, and will they ever be ruinited with their parents? Read to find out.

Like I said above, I really wanted to enjoy this book it was just too slow for me.

Thank you Kids Can Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book by Nicola Dahlin.

If We Tell You is about twin siblings Cameron and Lewis Larsen who finds themselves in a sticky situation where they have to run from their neighborhood barbecue. Their parents just killed two people and they have no idea who they are. They make their way to Edinburgh where they find an old friend of their mother. Now they have to find out what is going on and where their parents are hiding.

This book left me guessing throughout the whole thing. I had no idea who I suspected most, everyone was a suspect and no one at the same time. In my opinion and with my book taste it had a bit of a slow (but not so slow) start. It took me a while to get into it but when I did, I didn´t wanna put it down.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys Young Adult mysteries. It comes out October 1st.

I rated it 3 stars.

At the begging of the story, I wasn’t really sure what was going on. It took me a couple of chapters to get a handle on the dynamics.
I loved that most of the book takes place in Edinburgh. The motel, the castle, the rainy days created such a beautiful setting.
The story is told from the point of view of two twin brothers. It was difficult for me to tell them apart on the first chapters, because even though they were described as two completely different people, their thoughts and feelings were pretty similar.
I really enjoyed the plot idea. It is a book filled with secrets and lies. However, it was a little slow pace and repetitive from time to time.
I didn’t love the ending, but it left room for a sequel, so we will see!

It was an enjoyable read with some enjoyable characters!

The concept of this book was super interesting, and throughout it there were plenty of turns I found exciting. I did have some fun reading it, and wanted to pick it up again after I put it down. Overall, my biggest issue with the book was the writing and our main characters. I had a difficult time getting into the story, and I think it was because there is very little description in the writing. It is all telling and very little showing, making it hard to feel attached and interested in the story. An example is this quote from the beginning, “The dog barked. We heard Margaret Ross telling it to calm down.” Another issue was Lewis and Cameron’s personalities. I had the most difficult time keeping the two of them separate, and am still not sure who was who. The story was told from both of their perspectives, and unfortunately their sections sounded the same and I couldn't keep them straight. Although, a stand out of this book were the themes about identity and how we define ourselves. As a twin myself, I really liked how the boys compared themselves to each other, as that was very relatable. To sum it up: the writing was flat and I found the main characters difficult to keep separate, but the twists were exciting and the themes added great depth and heart to the book. (Also Padma was the absolute best, she had great dialogue and characterization— my fav)

This book starts out really well and captures your attention pretty quickly. I think the last 50 or so pages make it hard to finish just because all the tension that builds up isn't really solidified in the end--- at least for me. Yes, questions are answered and the whole scope of the story is revealed, but for some reason it just felt unsatisfying.

This was a good beginner thriller and it was okay despite it being in the YA genre. This was just unfortunately not for me. I didn’t connect with any of the characters or the plot.

This book was somewhat predictable for an adult reader, but it would probably work for a teen who likes mystery/suspense and doesn't read a lot. It was slow starting, but I loved that it has male protagonists.

This was a hard book to get into and I don’t think I ever got fully engrossed in it. A book that was longer than it needed to be and was quite repetitive , I felt that after reading the synopsis that this book had so much potential and I was actually excited to read it. For how many pages there were, not much happened.

I found it challenging to become engrossed in "If We Tell You" by Nicola Dahlin. The characters appeared somewhat lackluster and lacked depth. The novel had great potential, but unfortunately, it didn't quite meet expectations in several respects. This was evident from the onset of the book. The description, which was quite engaging, led me to anticipate a different beginning—specifically, one set during the party, rather than after, when the twins are already fleeing. The concept of the story unfolding from the viewpoint of the twin brothers was intriguing, and I appreciated the evolution of the narrative from their perspective. Dahlin skillfully captures the twins' interdependence and the robustness of their bond. The use of alternating perspectives throughout their journey adds layers to their personalities, showcasing their unique strengths and weaknesses. However, I felt that their individual voices and personalities were not as distinct as they could have been.

Pfft.
Where do I even start?
IF WE TELL YOU had so much potential, but it fell short...in a lot of ways. It started with the way the book started. After reading the books description, which ultimately drew me in, I was expected a different starting point---during the party, not after when the twins are on the run. That's when I should have decided this book wasn't for me, but I read another hundred pages---and nothing happened. Where were the thrills?
It started feeling like a chore to read, so I this book was a DNF for me.

Amazing book . Love character development. Will definitely recommend to friends bd family . amazing job.

I had a difficult time getting invested in If We Tell You by Nicola Dahlin. I felt the characters were a bit flat and seemed one-dimensional.

If We Tell You is a YA suspense with some good twists, but it was slow in parts, which I struggled to get through. The ending seems to indicate there may be more books ahead.

This story may be interesting and intriguing for some readers, but, for me, it missed the mark a bit and wasn't as interesting or page-turning as I would expect from the synopsis.

#NetGalley @kidscanpress