Wednesday, June 13, 2012

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
Haunt Author: Website | Facebook | Twitter
 
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

33 comments:

  1. Sounds great -- thanks for bringing it to my attention.
    And thanks for stopping by. I'm wayyyy behind on blog posts too.

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    1. Sure! It was a good quick read. I think you might enjoy it and hey it's only $2! That is always a win. I'm really behind too. My laptop power cord broke last week so I didn't get a chance to do much. I have so many reviews that need to get up so I've been posting one almost every day. I also just barely got back to all my review comments so I have replied to those finally!

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  2. It is always nice to read a great review for a self pub. book. I love indie authors, but admit to being hesitant due to not having enough time to weed through all of them to find a good one. Thank you for the review.

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    1. I read a lot of self published books. I actually have two other books by this author on my kindle but haven't had a chance to read them yet. Definitely will have to get to them because I really enjoyed this one. She has a dystopian and an angel book. Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. Can't wait to read this! Bought it as an ebook on Amazon the other day, but hadn't actually read any reviews about it. :) Thanks for sharing!

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    1. Great! I really hope you enjoy it! Very sweet and inspiring!

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  4. I was utterly surprised by how much I Love this book. I thought it was lovely and great for a self-pub. Glad you thought the same.

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    1. It was lovely! I love so many self-published books but this one definitely up there as one of my favorites! So happy you enjoyed it too!

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  5. Loved reading your review on this one! I've been wanting to get this book and will be getting it soon. Glad you enjoyed it overall! I'm loving indie books lately. The ones I've read recently have been really amazing reads.

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    1. I've read some fantastic indie books lately as well. I've read a ton and that pushed me to buy my kindle. Now that I have a kindle I would say about half of my reading is self published books. They are so good and so much more affordable especially since I read so many books. I hope you enjoy it! I think you will.

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  6. I am seeing this book everywhere! It is nice that a self pubbed book is a good solid read. I am also glad that like you sound this isn't a big emptional story. I like that it teaches you to appreciate the good things and remember to say I love you. Such a sweet and important message. What I like the most is that is based on the author's real experience so it will have a note of realism to it as well.

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    1. Yeah I was really shocked at the end when I read the authors note! I really loved that she shared that difficult experience and that she used it to write such an inspirational book. It is important to remember such an important message cause I admit I forget it sometimes.

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  7. It seems self-published authors are getting a lot of attention lately! This book sounds so good, I'm definitely buying it on for my kindle sometime soon. I'm happy it's not overly emotional because I tend to tear up pretty easily! Thanks for the great review :)

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    1. I tear up so easily! I tear up during toilet paper commercials lol you know the ones with cute puppies! I did tear up a tiny bit when the accident first happened but then it was inspirational and funny. A great read and I hope you enjoy it!

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  8. This does sound sad, but really good. I foresee crying if I read this :)

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    1. I cry during everything but not this. I got a little teary eyed at the beginning when the accident first happened but then I was able to move on. It has some good humor that kept things light. A great read!

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  9. After reading the blurb I thought this would be a very sad book, but I'm glad it turned out more inspirational than sad. It definitely sounds like an uplifting kind of book. That's good that there is some humor in it too. Great review!

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    1. I was worried I would be balling but luckily there was great humor and a great message. I found myself very thankful. Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. That's a beautiful review, Jennifer.
    I loved that this book really inspired you. :) Books like that are very rare and it's absolutely amazing when you come across one.
    I ,too, think that Sam was too hard on Jake and I never saw anything in her either. I was glad that they had each other as support though. :)

    There are great self-pub books out there. You have to read Tammara Webber's Easy. I've also heard great things about Colleen Hoover's Slammed. :)

    Lovely review, Jennifer ! :D

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    1. I know I wasn't feeling Sam but Jake was the main thing so I was able to still enjoy the story. I don't think I could be as strong as Jake if I lost my voice but it is true I would still have a lot of great things to live for. I actually have Easy and Slammed next up as to-read for self-published books! I'm excited! Thanks for stopping by!

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  11. Wow! This sounds like such a great book. I will definitely add it to my tbr.
    Great review!

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  12. I'm a huge emotional baby too -- and I mean that I cry through every sad movie and every sad book and even extremely happy movies and books too LOL -- so I'm happy that this is more than just a sad book, but an inspirational one too. I think that those kinds of books are the ones that stick with us, and the ones that stick with us are the awesome ones! It's sort of a roundabout effect ;)

    Beautiful review, Jen! Jake sounds like the sweetest, most real male protagonist ever and this sounds like a great book. I can't wait to read it! :) <3

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    1. Jake was a super sweet male protagonist. I dream of meeting a guy like him :-D I also cry at everything! I got a tiny bit teary eyed at the beginning around the time of the accident but then the humor and inspiration picks up so there is fun, romance, and emotion. Nice combo. Thanks for stopping by!

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  13. This sounds really great! Awesome review! :)

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  14. I enjoyed this one as well. My review will go up when I have some space for it (since I purchased it the review will go up when I don't have review books reviews). Sam was a little hard on him, AND I wish we had gotten to know her a little better. But it wasn't a big complaint. I gave this 4 stars as well I believe.

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    1. Yeah Sam was going through something traumatic but so was Jake and at times I felt like she was putting herself in front of him and down grading his feelings. It was still a sweet read and I enjoyed it. Glad you did too!

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  15. i\m very emotional too
    this1 sounds awesome
    and on my wishlist the 1st time i saw it
    great review chica

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    1. I hope you enjoy it when you get a chance to read it. Thanks for stopping by!

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  16. I have this to read. I'm really looking forward to it and I'm glad you read it and determined the sad factor for me. I'm a baby too. LOL Nice review!

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    1. I'm a super baby! Luckily this one wasn't as bad as I was expecting. I try to avoid super sad books but sometimes they surprise you. I think you will enjoy it!

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  17. I really need to read this one soon, but are you sure this one won't make me cry? o.O I hate being sad, I don't need sad right now -.- It sounds a little bit depressing but also cute, I cannot imagine never talking again, I'm one of those that just can't seem to shut up x) The notebook thing sounds fun. I'll just have to jump into reading it and hope for the best.

    It's a happy ending right? please tell me it's a happy ending ^^

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