Reviews

Who We Were in the Dark by Jessica Taylor

esmeralda_andher_books's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective medium-paced

3.0

mareadgrace's review against another edition

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4.0

I have always had an appreciation for YA books that are centered around adolescent lives that lack stability, and Who We Were in the Dark is no exception. Nora, Grace, Wesley and Rand build friendships based on adventures, teenage recklessness and lies, choosing to be different people at Donner Lake than who they are in the real world. Despite my frustrations with each of the four main characters at different times throughout this book, I enjoyed the slow-paced journey to the truth. Jessica Taylor's writing, the alternating timelines and the mystery of Grace's disappearance kept me invested until the surprising end.

michellepazzy's review against another edition

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2.0

i didn’t know it was possible for a character to be so insufferable

reading_abundantly's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

Grace doesn’t seem very likable. She’s just seems kind of manipulative and controlling but disguises it in a weird whimsy. Like trying to get Rand to overcome his phobia by forcing him to go near ledges or on ski lifts, not cool. And creating this belief in Wesley that he can’t talk to her or really even acknowledge her existence outside of Donner, not cool girl, he’s in love with you. I’m didn’t finding myself super invested in the story and during the winter climax parts I simply detached, like how many things need to go wrong? All of the characters say that they “wronged Grace” but Grace created a world in which none of them felt they could let the uglier parts of their lives be known, a group shielded from the truth. The last 13 pages were very good (crazy, but good), but the rest was fairly lukewarm. Nora is also a very plain character, not overly engaging.

rylee_jayne_clark07's review against another edition

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5.0

This book needs way more hype

readingwithkirstyn's review against another edition

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3.0

Who We Were in the Dark hooked me when I read the premise - giving me vibes similar to that of A Simple Favor and I had to know the bigger story. Unfortunately, where A Simple Favor grabbed me was the characters and this one didn't really achieve that. I felt the characters weren't relatable and honestly felt a little boring. The setting and plot were generally okay but nothing I would obsess over. I felt like I was waiting on the edge of my seat for some big reveal that just... never came?

This one is less thriller and more mystery, which maybe if I knew that going in I would have expected less and probably not have been left wanting more.

aehaggerty's review against another edition

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2.0

2.5 I hate manic pixie dream girls

brooklynrose's review against another edition

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emotional lighthearted mysterious medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

etinker's review against another edition

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adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

sassyykassie's review against another edition

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1.0

DNF at 8%

It’s a huge disappointment when none of our teens act like teens. We have a 14, 15, and two 16 year olds having an existential discussion where they all sound like they’re in their late teens/early 20s.

Two are pointed out as “you seem older” but the other two, our leads, seemed older in the earlier scenes before we even meet the second set of characters.