We Would Never by Tova Mirvis is part family drama, part thriller. The book unfurls at a very deliberate pace, revealing key information about each character that makes you question previous assumptions. The characters are all flawed, and the book intentionally humanizes them, making their decisions all the more interesting. 

I devoured the book, but felt a little disappointed by the ending. I wanted more of a resolution than the book was willing to give. Still, I enjoyed reading this and would recommend it, especially to those who enjoy the intersection of crime and family drama.

This was a heavy read but I was invested from the beginning. The characters were beautifully flawed and overall fairly unlikeable - but not in a bad way. It was a slower paced plot with a lot of time and perspective jumping, but it gave the feeling that you were living the hell that the characters were in. Great read!

I love a good family drama, and this one did not disappoint! I was hooked from the very first page! Great story filled with drama, secrets, lies, and murder!

Told from different points of view this novel is full of family drama and a murder. There are characters to both like and hate and it is based on a true story. The story kept me engaged while reading and thinking about the events when the book was set aside. While I had not heard of this author previously, this story left me wanting to read more of their works. I found it a solid read and would recommend it.

First I would like to thank NetGalley and Tova Mirvis for the allowing me to read an advance copy of this novel .

For me this was closer to a 3.5 star read . I was incredibly intrigued when reading the description of the book but it fell just a bit short for my likes.

While I did enjoy this author’s writing style very much ,the pacing wasn’t as fast or intense as I typically gravitate towards. However, the characters were all written so well . Each character had such a real sense to them that you could find something to relate to each one in some small way . The best part of this book for me was the dive in the psyche elements of the characters as they process all of their emotions, trauma, toxic family dynamics, motivations, and moral limitations. It was also nice to see a nod at the toxicity of media sensationalism and speculation in such cases . The ending felt a bit anticlimactic for me as I had already guessed it but also a bit abrupt . Personally I was hoping for just a tiny bit more of a twist or elaboration.

Overall it’s good and I look forward to looking into the case that inspired this .

I was intrigued by the summary of this book that I was so thrilled to be provided with an advance copy courtesy of NetGalley. Unfortunately I had such high hopes for this book but they ultimately fell flat for me. It started off great but as the story went on I found the characters to be increasingly annoying and unlikable. The switching POVs from the characters can be difficult to follow at times and there were many slow moments throughout. My critique would be more editing and revisions as needed throughout the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Avid Reader Press/ Simon & Schuster for providing me this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

A very compelling read - especially when you realize that it was loosely based off of the true murder mystery of Dan Markel (if you want a good podcast on the case, I would highly recommend Over My Dead Body). Featuring a complicated cast of characters, it was a task for me to find empathy for anyone - especially the deceased in this case, who was an emotionally abusive man asking for a sudden divorce. Told through the soon-to-be ex-wife's past memories and sprinkled with her layered family drama, the book slowly unspools the steps that lead to her ex-husband's demise. While I'm sure the family dynamics were meant to give depth and throw in a red herring or two into the whodunit category, I sadly found these chapters to be a tad boring.

If this was a Dateline episode, Keith Morrison would be raising an all-knowing eyebrow at the ex-wife, right? Because it's always the ex-wife...right??

Many thanks to Avid Reader Press, NetGalley, and Tova Mirvis for providing me with a digital review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.

A contemplative novel about complicated family dynamics, WE WOULD NEVER should appeal to fans of literary fiction. There is quite a bit of manipulation going on, and all the bad behavior grows a bit tiresome, although we are in excellent hands with this talented author. The exploration of what drives crime and its lasting consequences are the engines that keeps the pages turning. Although this is not as fast-paced as a thriller, it fits in well with other literary novels.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for an advance e-galley; all opinions in my review are 100% my own.

While this is essentially a "who did it?" it is so much more. The character development was so good that I knew why and how each person would have done it as the story progressed and felt like each one could have been justified as well. Sure, none of the characters were particularly likable and I wasn't rooting for any of them other than Maya, but the ties of family run deep, even though years and years of dysfunction. I got so desperate to finish the book, that I had the Net Galley app read it aloud to me. I'd love to see this one made into a movie because casting each character would be fascinating.

Also loved it as I am both a University of Miami and Columbia University grad.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Tova Mirvis and Avid Reader Press for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

3⭐ - I wasn't familiar with Tova Mirvis' books but this was an interesting book to start with, as the book is inspired by true events - filled with lots of twists and turns to keep me reading but the story has a few annoying characters though.

I liked this, not knowing what to expect going in. A story of a family in crisis, seemingly normal on the outside. Slow, slow burn, and I was invested throughout. The characters weren't all that inviting, but I guess they weren't meant to be, and I think many will find some similarities with their own relatives and families.

I was slightly confused with the time changes of the narratives, and the switching POVs took some getting used to, also.

All in all, I enjoyed reading this. Would I read more from the author? Yes.

I received a complimentary copy of the novel from the publisher and NetGalley, and my review is being left freely.

WE WOULD NEVER
BY: TOVA MIRVIS

ALL THE STARS for this new to me author that has written a character study with her newest novel, "WE WOULD NEVER." TOVA Mirvis has written this novel from what I read on her Author site that seems like it may have been cathartic for a writer that can't fathom how people can lose their moral compass? How does a divorce escalate from love to hate? How on earth could something so horrific happen to somebody by a lack of forgiveness? This is inspired by an actual true crime that she seems to have been haunted by, enough to craft such a masterpiece that now haunts me. How people can do something so horrific it defies understanding by empathetic people like this author and most people. I felt very disturbed by the time I finished this novel that she has called a mystery. It seems simple to figure out who committed the murder that takes place, or more accurately stated who was involved as the ones that are responsible for it happening? Just by reading the synopsis, I thought I knew, but I was wrong. Not everything is as it seems. This excellent character driven novel is written with deep insights into the family that this novel is centered around, and are at the heart of the story. There is a big twist towards the end of the novel that I never saw coming, and I don't think any reader would suspect what it is, since there isn't any predictable clues into how powerful and unexpected it was. There might be a tiny inclination towards it, but I don't think most people will connect the dots.

Even though that twist is clever, and unexpected that's not really the crux of the approximately 368 pages of this novel's focus. Don't expect this to be a fast paced plot, if you decide to read it because that's not this book. In fact, this seemed to take me longer than usual to read this because this isn't in my humble opinion a plot driven novel. There is no delineated sections that separate the past from the present which happens throughout most of the book. It sort of annoyed me at times, because it's not written in a linear sequence. At least the most I can say is that I felt the brilliance of the way it moved out of sequence by how disturbed I felt when I finished it. It took me a couple of days to recover since towards the very end the pace picks up, and I should mention that there is a part somewhere where it does skip to short chapters with the heading: Maine, 2019 where Hailey who is the wife of Jonah, who is the man who gets murdered, it seems like she's flees there for a couple of reasons. They are going through a bitter divorce that was initiated by him, and they are separated. You already know that Jonah is murdered at the beginning, but it doesn't happen until somewhere around the 60% mark, or a little after that, but definitely by 70%. That I disclosed that fact should give a glimpse into the meandering writing style.. In the very beginning of the book, Hailey is notified that her soon to be ex husband has been murdered, and I think it's also mentioned in the synopsis, as well.

Hailey gets informed about Jonah's murder, and the police bring her to the police station where she is interrogated. I wondered why they never read her the Miranda rights, but she doesn't ask for a lawyer either. She and Jonah really fought about everything once they separated, and they both were mostly fighting over their young child, Maya, and Hailey having mentioned that she would like to move to West Palm, in Florida to be back in the folds of her *close knit family.* Jonah absolutely forbids for Hailey to take Maya to West Palm where her affluent family lives. She can fly down there on her weekends with Maya, who Jonah knows that Hailey's mother Sherry is most likely the one whose idea it was, since her parents are paying for Hailey's divorce attorney. Hailey is the youngest of her siblings, which I believe is thirty four years old with two older brothers. Nate is almost forty, and as the narrative begins Sherry muses in her head about how Nate was always instigating conflicts like picking on his younger brother Adam who is sensitive, and why is Adam not present except for Sherry's ruminations going into the past? That is how we learn that he is about a year or two younger than Nate, who still is a fixture in this family. He deliberately has a history of also going out of his way to start trouble with their father Solomon who is a top surgeon with a practice in Dermatology.

Solomon is a Harvard graduate whose mentor stole his break through research on Melanoma and what causes skin cancer. That precipitated the move from the Boston area to first Miami, and then to West Palm. His dermatology practice is responsible for funding the family's lavish lifestyle. There seems to be no end to the wealth that pays for what seems like nothing but the best. Sherry has a lush and tropical garden that their kids grew up in as their childhood home, with a swimming pool that Sherry swims in everyday. She has tried to keep her children close by always wanting them around all of the time. Which struck me as odd, given their ages. She seems like a loving mother, who wants to keep her children close, but why is Adam who she asks about periodically not involved or present at all with his family? That facet disturbed me the most that he has not been in touch or present except in Sherry's imagination which we the reader are invited in to her thoughts as she goes back and forth in time.

Sherry's daughter Hailey was known as being a peace loving person who always smiled, which Sherry's nickname for her was Sunshine since she was always smiling and seemed eager to please. I thought that while she was married to Jonah, who we learn that she is always telling her adult children she loved them has the same attachment to Hailey, and Jonah's young daughter, Maya. Is it healthy for your adult children to be so enmeshed with their mother at 34 and almost 40? Is it healthy for parents to give their children everything so that they rely so much on their parents that they don't learn to depend on themselves? At 34 years old and almost 40, should Hailey and Nate be so dependent on their parents help? Sherry is still dependent on her children and granddaughter just as much, as in wanting them around all the time.

There's nothing wrong with wanting to be part of a close family. I gave my kids everything, but I had to learn to accept that they are young adults who I went through a few painful years learning the lesson that they need to individuate and it's nothing personal, but it's healthy for them to not be around as much with both me or their father. I constantly worried about my eldest son since he developed Type I Diabetes when he was six years old. This book has reinforced in me what I already knew. It's HEALTHY to still love your kids with all your heart, but this book gave me the gift of being grateful that I let them go, and I'm so happy for them that they are happy and well adjusted.

Of course, that's not the author's intent, and she has written a gripping and captivating tale that I guess is a mystery. It is horrible what happens in this novel. I'm still left unsettled that this was inspired by a real true crime. I know that I'm not going to forget about it, ever. Even though the pace is slow, I still loved it, and it's masterfully written. For most of the novel, I sometimes felt it was longer, but when I read the last paragraph, I was sorry that I ended it even though it took me longer to read. I have nothing but the highest praise for an author who makes me realize how haunting this has been for her because I can't stop thinking about it. What an outstanding job she did with the characterization. I think that this novel deserves as wide of an audience as possible, but I think when you get towards when the plot picks up, at between the 60% or 70 % mark. And when You reflect back, it's quite a dark story. It's devastating, and I'm left asking myself the same questions that this spectacular, talented author asked herself. I wish her the very best of luck, and agree with her that forgiveness is essential part of humanity.

Publication Date: February 11, 2025

Thank you to Net Galley, Tova Mirvis, you're extremely talented, and Avid Reader Press/Simon & Schuster for generously providing me with this Stunning ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

#WeWouldNever #TovaMirvis #AvidReaderPress #Simon&Schuster #NetGalley

The description of this novel as a literary page-turner is an apt one. I went in thinking I would be reading a thriller, but was thoroughly engaged in the complex family drama and the important questions this book raises, as well as the style of storytelling that I was happy to shift my preconceptions and just enjoy this novel.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

We Would Never is based on a true crime that happened in New York. A woman's turbulent marriage sent her back home to stay with her family. The Family dynamics are forceful. Hailey's mom is sweet but pushy. Hailey's emotional state opens the door for her mom to intervene and manipulate her. While she appears to be offering help and guidance, her involvement leads to complications and raise questions about her motivation. Her desire to protect her daughter and grand daughter may have pushed her to involve others in a crime that would have lasting consequences for everyone involved.

We Would Never, inspired by a true crime incident, grabbed me right away. Many layers and twists and turns to keep the reader engaged. For me though, there was not enough of the family dynamics - the characters were so interesting, I wanted more!

Thank you NetGalley and the author for the ARC

#NetGalley #TovaMirvis

Such a good book! It had you scared and on the edge of your seat, reading on and on to see what the ending will be. It was such an enjoyable read, it was so entertaining and it had so many twists and turns and it really was gripping!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

How far would you go to help a beloved family member going through a nasty divorce with a spouse who is unreasonable and totally despicable? Would you consider murder? We Would Never explores this explosive issue about a close-knit (sometimes overbearingly close) family that is distraught and at wit’s end over a bitter custody battle. Some of the family members start believing that murder might be the only solution to make things right again.

Hailey’s life is spinning out of control due to the contentious divorce with her soon-to-be ex-husband Jonah. Their daughter Maya is stuck in the middle of the custody battle that is getting uglier by the minute. Sherry and Nate, Hailey’s mom and brother, are very supportive of her and want to do whatever they can for her. An opportunity arises where Sherry is in the position to hire someone to murder Jonah. As much as she despises Jonah, she isn’t sure if killing him is the answer.

Unfortunately, this kind of story isn’t my cup of tea. None of the characters were endearing and Jonah was downright distasteful. It was painful reading at times, there were just too many pages of Jonah’s belittling and disparaging of Hailey and her family. It was also difficult to fathom Jonah’s hatred of Hailey’s family. Yes, they could be a bit overbearing at times, but they weren’t horrible. Jonah, on the other hand, was unreasonable and unwilling to compromise. After a while, I was getting weary of page after page of this.

I found the last 1/3 of the book the most stimulating because that is when Sherry and Nate agonize over having Jonah killed. Meanwhile, Hailey blames herself for the murder even though she didn’t have anything to do with it. The most engrossing part was when the characters ruminated over the moral dilemma of wanting to make life easier for Hailey by eliminating her repulsive husband. Another excellent scene was of Jonah’s funeral where his friends spoke about how wonderful he was and how they cherished him. Meanwhile, Sherry is wondering how the Jonah she knew could be such a different person from the one his friends had known. All in all, the book had an intriguing premise but my interest waned during many parts of the book.

"We Would Never" by Tova Mirvis is a compelling and insightful novel that delves deep into the intricacies of family dynamics and the struggles of self-discovery. The story is beautifully written, capturing the reader’s attention with its rich narrative and well-developed characters. Mirvis has a knack for exploring the human condition in a way that feels both intimate and universal.

The protagonist’s journey is both poignant and relatable, as she navigates the complexities of her relationships and the expectations placed upon her. The author’s ability to weave a tale that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking is commendable.

While the pacing of the novel is generally well-maintained, there are moments where it feels slightly drawn out, which can momentarily detract from the overall flow. However, the depth of the characters and the emotional resonance of the story more than make up for this.

What a page turner. I really enjoyed the pacing of this and the straightforward character studies. Everyone was relatable and likable, and the tension was palpable. I stayed up late needing to know what happened.