Review: What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

What I Didn't Say 
by Keary Taylor

Release Date: May 6, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 326
Genre: YA Romance
Source: Netgalley
Purchase: Amazon $1.99 Kindle | Barnes & Noble
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Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat. His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again. When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.   ADD TO GOODREADS

Jake Hayes made the same mistake that so many people make in high school. He celebrated homecoming by getting drunk and doing something stupid. But most people leave that mistake behind as a bad memory. Jake will never be able to leave behind the fact that he got drunk and got in the car with another drunk friend because they got in a car accident and his throat was punctured. It was only the second time he ever drank and being on an island there wasn't much else to do but have parties. But now he will never speak again. Good bye pilot career. Good bye ever getting the chance to tell Sam that he loves her. Hello to the whole island staring at him. Everyone knowing what happened. Everyone staring at the scars on his neck that he will never escape.

This story was so much about regrets, moving on, and appreciating what you have. There is an author note at the end that explains that the author was inspired by real life events to write this book. She lost half her hearing as a teenager but realized how much she still had. The theme of the story is supposed to be the song Someone Wishes They Were You. I definitely felt all this before getting to the note. Jake has went through something horrible. He has some difficulties learning sign language but as he gets to know Sam, he realizes all the great things he still has. Also he takes a sign language study class with Sam. That was a bit convenient but brings Sam and Jake together. Jake had strong family support and friends who tried really hard to still treat him the same. This won't make it easier to adjust but it gives him hope, appreciation, and something more to live for.

I was worried this book would be really sad, cause I'm a big emotional baby, but it was really inspirational. Made me appreciate things and also reminds you to say I love you cause you just never know when you might not be able to. It's always hard to look on the bright side but it's important to remember all the great things you still have. I loved that Jake was so sweet and wanted to help Sam. He has had a crush on her all through high school but was afraid to say anything since Sam declares she doesn't believe in love. Sam was really hard for me to warm up to. She was going through so so much but I still felt like she was a bit hard on Jake. I didn't see too much in her but that's okay because Jake saw so much. I loved how sweet Jake was to Sam and how strong and supportive. I also loved getting into a guys perspective. I thought the author handled the way he communicated after the accident really well. Jake uses body language a lot which added humor sometimes as well. I also loved the notebook that Jake and Sam use to write back and forth to each other. The chapter titles were humorous and it was a very enjoyable and light hearted read considering the main topic.

"Someday I'll tell her, I thought."

"There was nothing like getting yelled at and not being able to defend yourself."

"Three words I wanted to say more than anything, but the person I wanted to say them to wouldn't let me. And I literally couldn't say those three words."

Rating: 4/5