What I Didn't Say: A Review

Jake has had a crush on Samantha for a long time but has never been able to tell her....until one night after getting drunk at a party. On his way to tell her how he feels, he and his friends are in a car accident, an accident that takes Jake's voice. Now he won't ever be able to tell her that he loves her. Will Samantha be able to hear what Jake can't say?

This is an amazing book. There are so many things that make this book great.
*I love the characters of Jake and Samantha. Their relationship is sweet and I like that the author kept it fairly innocent...let the reader know that while they were physically attracted to each other, their love was built on more than just sex.
*I also loved Jake's family. I think their dynamics and closeness explains why Jake could react the way he did.
*The topics in this book are tough: teenage drinking, homelessness, loss of loved ones, but they are handled perfectly by honest writing without lecture.
* The little details in this book say a lot: the silence that speaks volumes, the small island town and its dynamics, and the notebooks that hold Jake and Samantha's words.

In addition to Jake and Samantha, the minor characters were great as well and have their own stories to tell. Jordan, Jake's younger sister, and Kali, the guy from Haiti who moves in with Jake's family, have their own stories to tell, and I would love to see the author write about them.

Although it's a YA book, What I Didn't Say is a book for all ages.

I received this book in exchange for my review. My thoughts and opinions are my own.