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phantomgecko's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Everything I Never Told You is aptly named because none of the characters talk to each other in the whole book. There's dialogue, but no one is saying anything important and especially not what they're thinking. The reader knows what they're thinking because that's most of the book.
At one point, I remember thinking, this is the most depressing book I've ever read. And I was reliving some wild childhood traumas. (Though my childhood was blessedly different than this dysfunctional mess, I still resonated strongly with some of the sentiments of all three children.)
But it honestly gets better. The ending is hopeful though still sad. It does leave you feeling bereft tho (my favorite kind of novel takeaway.)
The "twist" in Lydia's death felt like missing a step on the stairs. I was so so so certain that she just straight up killed herself. But to find out it was actually an accident... Oof.
At one point, I remember thinking, this is the most depressing book I've ever read. And I was reliving some wild childhood traumas. (Though my childhood was blessedly different than this dysfunctional mess, I still resonated strongly with some of the sentiments of all three children.)
But it honestly gets better. The ending is hopeful though still sad. It does leave you feeling bereft tho (my favorite kind of novel takeaway.)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, Infidelity, Death, Grief, Racial slurs, and Racism
sophia2203's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Bullying, Death, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Grief, and Misogyny
lily_eames's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I absolutely loved this book. The Lee family is so complex and interesting, detailing racial and gender tensions. While the book started with a bang, the story is more of an introspective cross generational tale than a mystery. Every character is morally grey and makes some bad decisions, but you end up feeling for them anyway. Beautiful, short read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Racism, Racial slurs, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity
vedpears's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I think I have become a Celeste Ng fan girl now. The writing is beautiful and mesmerizing - such great storytelling! I disliked every character except Nathan and Hannah (spelling? I consumed this book via audiobook). Narcissists all around. I recognized so many scenarios from my own family dynamics and those of my friends'. I find it interesting that some reviews I have read said these characters weren't believable. I whole-heartedly disagree with that sentiment and am certain that those reviewers aren't paying attention to others in their lives, are like one of the parents in the book themselves, or live very fortunately charmed lives.
I think Celeste Ng does a great job threading context/ characters' histories into the current narrative. That story telling tool often irritates me but she does it so well that it doesn't feel like an interruption.
I think Celeste Ng does a great job threading context/ characters' histories into the current narrative. That story telling tool often irritates me but she does it so well that it doesn't feel like an interruption.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Child death, Grief, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Murder, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Xenophobia, Suicide, Sexual content, and Pregnancy
Minor: Toxic friendship, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Vomit
caceelizunmisig's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
i sobbed
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Racism, Sexism, and Grief
kxtekss's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
this book was sad. like so sad I think it might have been to the detriment of the book's overall quality because I'd feel sick reading it. so incredibly sad I thought about tabling it, but Ng is such a great writer that I couldn't bring myself to do it.
this book will leave you feeling hollow, will force you to come face to face with everything in your life that you've done right and wrong, as if there can really be a right and a wrong. as the title implies, you'll think of everything these characters never tell each other and think of all the things you should say but couldn't, and the things you did say but didn't mean. this is my second novel by Ng, and I think this might be her specialty. she can create a story that is just so heartbreakingly beautiful.
Ng does a wonderful job of switching between the POVs of various characters, showing us what each person was feeling, how others interpreted it, and the reality of the consequences of their actions. I thought this is what made the book extraordinarily special---you were watching everyone's feelings unfold so fluidly before your eyes, and by the time you find out what happened to Lydia, you realize just how preventable it could have been.
again, it's a sad book, so caution going into it, but I'd suggest. personally, I think Ng might be one of the best contemporary writers out there.
this book will leave you feeling hollow, will force you to come face to face with everything in your life that you've done right and wrong, as if there can really be a right and a wrong. as the title implies, you'll think of everything these characters never tell each other and think of all the things you should say but couldn't, and the things you did say but didn't mean. this is my second novel by Ng, and I think this might be her specialty. she can create a story that is just so heartbreakingly beautiful.
Ng does a wonderful job of switching between the POVs of various characters, showing us what each person was feeling, how others interpreted it, and the reality of the consequences of their actions. I thought this is what made the book extraordinarily special---you were watching everyone's feelings unfold so fluidly before your eyes, and by the time you find out what happened to Lydia, you realize just how preventable it could have been.
again, it's a sad book, so caution going into it, but I'd suggest. personally, I think Ng might be one of the best contemporary writers out there.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny, Child death, Grief, Racism, and Sexism
Moderate: Suicide, Infidelity, and Racial slurs
Minor: Outing and Homophobia
ptitirodactyle's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Death, Child death, and Grief
Moderate: Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicide, Homophobia, and Sexism
Minor: Death of parent and Outing
emmilou18's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racial slurs, Racism, Child death, and Grief
waytoomanybooks's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
I was fully ready to rate this book 5 stars until I read the twist ending that undercuts the first 80% of the book. Don't get me wrong though: it's beautifully and expertly written. The characters are richly described, have deep inner lives, and have exquisitely unique senses of their self. I appreciated the exploration of family dynamics at play, as well as seeing things from the point of view of characters of color as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book...except for the last 30 pages, which I will discuss in the spoiler tag below.
The catalyst for the entire novel is because Lydia had an accident. Even her death robbed her of her agency. I was going to give this book a five-out-of-five rating because I thought I was reading an actual true-to-life account of a teen struggling with depression, but no. She drowns on accident. Because her foot missed the dock when she was climbing out of the boat.
This book is just another example of literary fiction grief porn. Lydia "had to" die for her family to learn how to live. Even her death is only meaningful to those who are living. Even her death was taken away as a thing meant just for her.
I was hugely disappointed.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book...except for the last 30 pages, which I will discuss in the spoiler tag below.
This book is just another example of literary fiction grief porn. Lydia "had to" die for her family to learn how to live. Even her death is only meaningful to those who are living. Even her death was taken away as a thing meant just for her.
I was hugely disappointed.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism, Grief, Death, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Child abuse, Child death, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
harleighc's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
This was a good book, with definitely some very powerful moments and great depictions of grief and growing up and lots of complex emotions, but I felt the story as a whole wasn’t super cohesive and it was just a lot of meaning and touched on so many things in one book for me to truly grip it all. However, I think every them that was conveyed was well done but something about the timing is off for me. I wasn’t in love with the prose either at the end but you gotta pick your battles.
Everything I Never Told You is at times incredible and deep, but for me at least the story as a whole had a bit much going on to be cohesive.
Everything I Never Told You is at times incredible and deep, but for me at least the story as a whole had a bit much going on to be cohesive.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Grief, and Child death