Before We Were Sorry
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
“Complex, captivating, and gorgeously written.” —Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying and Two Can Keep a Secret
We Were Liars meets Goodbye Days in this “gripping and atmospheric” (Kirkus Reviews) debut novel that sweeps readers away as they try to solve the mystery of what happened then to make Ellory so broken now—now with a brand-new look!
It’s hard to find the truth beneath the lies you tell yourself.
Then: They were four—Bex, Jenni, Ellory, Ret. (Venus. Earth. Moon. Sun.) Electric, headstrong young women; Ellory’s whole solar system.
Now: Ellory is alone, her once inseparable group of friends torn apart by secrets, deception, and a shocking incident that changed their lives forever.
Then: Lazy summer days. A party. A beautiful boy. Ellory met Matthias and fell into the beginning of a spectacular, bright love.
Now: Ellory returns to Pine Brook to navigate senior year after a two-month suspension and summer away—no boyfriend, no friends. No going back. Tormented by some and sought out by others, troubled by a mysterious note-writer who won’t let Ellory forget, and consumed by guilt over her not entirely innocent role in everything and everyone she’s lost, Ellory finds that even in the present, the past is everywhere.
The path forward isn’t a straight line. And moving on will mean sorting the truth from the lies—the lies Ellory has been telling herself.
This book was previously published as See All the Stars.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
At 16, Ellory May thought she had everything figured out. Her squad Ret, Bex, and Jenni spent an almost perfect summer together, and things got even better after Ellory met Matthias and the two began to fall in love. Now 18, Ellory is returning to school for the first time after an incident the previous spring. Though no one outwardly blames Ellory for what happened, she has become a social outcast, friendless and brokenhearted. Debut novelist Frick divides her narrative into "then" and "now" chapters, slowly weaving together a story that highlights the sometimes claustrophobic nature of teen friendships. Frick nails Ret's mean-girl manipulation of her circle of best buddies: "Ret Johnston was the sun. Hot, bright, at the center of our universe. That we revolved around her was simply a fact." Equally impressive is how Frick slowly peels away the story's truths, leaving the reader to question everything, including Ellory's mental health. Taut and riveting, Frick's psychological thriller will keep readers on the edge of their seats. Ages 14 up.
Customer Reviews
Beautiful
This book touched my heart and kept me guessing. A perfect ya novel.