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4.09 AVERAGE
4.09 AVERAGE
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
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:
Yes
I enjoyed the book for a bit, intrigued by the FMC’s muteness. Then it got to be kind of ridiculous and then the end was just plain stupid. Almost 20 years of the FMC’s life was stolen and THAT’S how she reacts when confronted with her assailant?!? It was just so darn unbelievable. Ruined the entire ending for me. I liked Brooks but didn’t believe his character development at all. Maggie was fine, and I grew to like her more near the end when she finally stood up for herself. Disliked the mother character from start to finish. So much I didn’t like vs what I did!
You telling me she never got pissed off enough to speak before in the like...the whole 22 years she was mute???
Oh, the feels! I'd say make them stop, but that's one of the reasons I read Brittainy Cherry.
This is probably closer to 4-1/2 stars, though not quite, so I'm rounding down. Still, it was a gripping, sweet, tragic, incredible story. And through writing this review... screw it, I'm upping it to five. It's one of those stories that will stick with me.
Maggie May was a vibrant young girl with an outgoing personality. She was going to marry Brooks at ten years old, despite his objections. She's adorably pushy when it comes to plans for their wedding in the woods. And while Brooks resists, he doesn't really. She demands he be in the woods the night before their wedding for the rehearsal, and when she goes, she gets lost in the woods and witnesses a murder. Before she can get away, the murderer sees her and comes after her, too! The only thing that saves her is Brooks calling for her (he was late to the rehearsal) and the murderer taking off. Maggie loses her voice, her vitality, her freedom (she won't leave the house)... everything that was outwardly awesome about her... but Brooks becomes her anchor.
Over the years, Brooks is her unwavering friend. He visits her often. Shows her new music. Shows her his own music. And even though she doesn't speak, they have deep conversations. Even when he tries dating others, Maggie is still important to him, which causes problems in his relationships, but also opens the door so the special connection that they share can become deeper through intimacy. And then Brooks gets his chance to live his dream and she tells him to go. And he does. He lives his dream. And he tries to move on, but it's still just Maggie for him.
And then Brooks needs Maggie. He doesn't think he does, but he so does. And she decides to become his anchor, whether he likes it or not, and through this experience, she finally finds her voice again. Which helps him find his voice again as well.
I loved the phrase Maggie's dad would always say to her, and I loved that Brooks adopted that phrase as well.
And I almost cried at the author's note. Kids can be so cruel. I'm so glad she found her voice.
This is probably closer to 4-1/2 stars, though not quite, so I'm rounding down. Still, it was a gripping, sweet, tragic, incredible story. And through writing this review... screw it, I'm upping it to five. It's one of those stories that will stick with me.
Maggie May was a vibrant young girl with an outgoing personality. She was going to marry Brooks at ten years old, despite his objections. She's adorably pushy when it comes to plans for their wedding in the woods. And while Brooks resists, he doesn't really. She demands he be in the woods the night before their wedding for the rehearsal, and when she goes, she gets lost in the woods and witnesses a murder. Before she can get away, the murderer sees her and comes after her, too! The only thing that saves her is Brooks calling for her (he was late to the rehearsal) and the murderer taking off. Maggie loses her voice, her vitality, her freedom (she won't leave the house)... everything that was outwardly awesome about her... but Brooks becomes her anchor.
Over the years, Brooks is her unwavering friend. He visits her often. Shows her new music. Shows her his own music. And even though she doesn't speak, they have deep conversations. Even when he tries dating others, Maggie is still important to him, which causes problems in his relationships, but also opens the door so the special connection that they share can become deeper through intimacy. And then Brooks gets his chance to live his dream and she tells him to go. And he does. He lives his dream. And he tries to move on, but it's still just Maggie for him.
And then Brooks needs Maggie. He doesn't think he does, but he so does. And she decides to become his anchor, whether he likes it or not, and through this experience, she finally finds her voice again. Which helps him find his voice again as well.
I loved the phrase Maggie's dad would always say to her, and I loved that Brooks adopted that phrase as well.
And I almost cried at the author's note. Kids can be so cruel. I'm so glad she found her voice.
I knew when I opened The Silent Waters that I was probably going to cry. Brittainy C. Cherry had reduced me to an ugly cry in the past. Then from the very first page, I knew that this story wouldn’t be like any of the others I’ve read. Despite my love of reading and my desire to be a writer, words have never flowed easily for me but I’m going to try my hardest to describe how this book just hit me in the soul.
There can be such beauty in silence, both peace and pain can be felt there. Cherry was able to capture that and put it into words. Maggie once was a precocious little girl, always talking and dancing. Then her voice and sense of self is stolen from her in moments. Brooks is her brother’s best friend and eventual bandmate. He promises to be her friend and anchor. Their journey through friendship, rocky times and love is such a beautiful thing to witness. There are painful moments but oh the sweet moments make that pain seem worth it. The characters were flawed and raw. There was beauty in that too. And deep truths about life after trauma or tragedy are delved into here.
My words here seem inadequate. All I know is that this book is unforgettable and one that I’ll be rereading again. There are a ton of feels packed into its pages. Grab some tissues and be prepared. But definitely one-click it today.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
For more reviews, visit
There can be such beauty in silence, both peace and pain can be felt there. Cherry was able to capture that and put it into words. Maggie once was a precocious little girl, always talking and dancing. Then her voice and sense of self is stolen from her in moments. Brooks is her brother’s best friend and eventual bandmate. He promises to be her friend and anchor. Their journey through friendship, rocky times and love is such a beautiful thing to witness. There are painful moments but oh the sweet moments make that pain seem worth it. The characters were flawed and raw. There was beauty in that too. And deep truths about life after trauma or tragedy are delved into here.
My words here seem inadequate. All I know is that this book is unforgettable and one that I’ll be rereading again. There are a ton of feels packed into its pages. Grab some tissues and be prepared. But definitely one-click it today.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book.
For more reviews, visit
My least favorite of this series so far. I was bored for half of this book and the other half so unrealistic. I know this isn’t reality and I need to suspend some belief but GOOD GRIEF the way these characters responded to trauma and the way they suddenly healed after decades was just not even in the realm of remotely normal.
The heart that Brooks had through this whole book just pulled at my heart. I absolutely loved the dynamic of this book. All the connections that were made from the present to the past. Highly recommend this book!
I don't think this is my kind of book. I love romance books (which sometimes surprises me because I am a big cynic in real life), but this was a puzzling read for me.
So a quick recap: due to a traumatic event that happened when her when she was 8 years old, Maggie became mute and gets extreme panic attacks when she tries to leave her house. This led her to live in a sort of seclusion from the outside world, and her only true friends are Brook, her brother's best friend and her neighbor Mrs. Boone, an elderly lady who comes from time to time to have tea with her. From the first chapters, something troubled me. I honestly don't understand why she didn't get the help she obviously needed. I completely believe that a child may take a longer time to come out from a trauma like that, but it seems like her parents didn't get her any help for 18 years. I simply can't believe it. I may understand why she herself didn't particularly seek out help, but seriously what are the adults in this book actually doing, where is this "perfect family" she claims to have??
I do understand when an author has to stretch thing a bit out to give some meat to the book, but it was just too melodramatic for me. Some parts were just too long, the characters were at times unbelievable and downright cruel, and the plot twist was so obvious. Whenever I think about this book, a visualize a gray, rainy day and not a nice one where you get to be under a blanket with some hot chocolate and a good book with you, but the type of day where the cold gets under your skin and muddies your brain and there is no blanket, hot chocolate or book in sight.
I do love the writer's style quite a bit, but I don't think I will read any other book of hers for a while.
So a quick recap: due to a traumatic event that happened when her when she was 8 years old, Maggie became mute and gets extreme panic attacks when she tries to leave her house. This led her to live in a sort of seclusion from the outside world, and her only true friends are Brook, her brother's best friend and her neighbor Mrs. Boone, an elderly lady who comes from time to time to have tea with her. From the first chapters, something troubled me. I honestly don't understand why she didn't get the help she obviously needed. I completely believe that a child may take a longer time to come out from a trauma like that, but it seems like her parents didn't get her any help for 18 years. I simply can't believe it. I may understand why she herself didn't particularly seek out help, but seriously what are the adults in this book actually doing, where is this "perfect family" she claims to have??
Spoiler
Moreover, her suddenly gaining her voice back is just too weird. You're telling me she never yelled when her sister did all that horrible stuff, or when her mother kept saying cruel things behind her back, but she gets it back for the "love of her life"? It's just not plausible (but then, that might be the cynic in me). And the way she just started to talk doesn't add up with the 20+years of mutism she lived through.I do understand when an author has to stretch thing a bit out to give some meat to the book, but it was just too melodramatic for me. Some parts were just too long, the characters were at times unbelievable and downright cruel, and the plot twist was so obvious. Whenever I think about this book, a visualize a gray, rainy day and not a nice one where you get to be under a blanket with some hot chocolate and a good book with you, but the type of day where the cold gets under your skin and muddies your brain and there is no blanket, hot chocolate or book in sight.
I do love the writer's style quite a bit, but I don't think I will read any other book of hers for a while.
It was all going so well!!! Then it just fell into those silent waters and drowned. Seriously, this story stattes off just perfect. It was sweet and cute and I was in love with the characters. Unlike B. Cherry’s other books I’ve read, we had quite a situation early in the book. “Yaaasssss!” I thought, “now we’re talking” the book continued to take off and then put it no where it just got so unbelievable I struggled to finish.
****spoilers****
She TALKS to brooks. That’s not my issue, no. My issue is the moment she chose to talk was a bit irrelevant. There were so many other situations that desperately needed her voice and TAHTS even she chooses to talk. After that it just went down hill.
****spoiler end****
I have it 3* because it really kept me hooked up until that point. Normally, something like that would get an immediate dnf but I really loved the first half. I will def keep reading her books.
****spoilers****
She TALKS to brooks. That’s not my issue, no. My issue is the moment she chose to talk was a bit irrelevant. There were so many other situations that desperately needed her voice and TAHTS even she chooses to talk. After that it just went down hill.
****spoiler end****
I have it 3* because it really kept me hooked up until that point. Normally, something like that would get an immediate dnf but I really loved the first half. I will def keep reading her books.