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A review by sweetordinary
We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
If you are looking for an intense, challenging, and cynical story that centers around a dangerous cycle of behaviors and broken boundaries within friendships first and romantic relationships second, this book deserves a chance.
It's a fast pace book that centers around the struggle of identifying toxic relationships and breaking out of them. I found it difficult to fully understand and accept the dynamic between the two main characters from the first chapter. With that said, the book had a nice quick (yet, steady) pace that challenged me as a reader to understand Emily's - the main character's - perception of her relationships and how one in an extremely toxic relationship navigates the world.
A big issue I had with the storyline falls in the last handful of chapters. The final fifteen to ten chapter the speed of the story quickens heightening the tension and stress to align with the characters' experiences. In the final handful of chapters, the speed goes beyond helping to create and maintain tension and stress to match the mood of the plot. It wraps in a mess of non-closure and a glimpse into a cycle of behavior in relationships.
It's a fast pace book that centers around the struggle of identifying toxic relationships and breaking out of them. I found it difficult to fully understand and accept the dynamic between the two main characters from the first chapter. With that said, the book had a nice quick (yet, steady) pace that challenged me as a reader to understand Emily's - the main character's - perception of her relationships and how one in an extremely toxic relationship navigates the world.
A big issue I had with the storyline falls in the last handful of chapters. The final fifteen to ten chapter the speed of the story quickens heightening the tension and stress to align with the characters' experiences. In the final handful of chapters, the speed goes beyond helping to create and maintain tension and stress to match the mood of the plot. It wraps in a mess of non-closure and a glimpse into a cycle of behavior in relationships.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Blood, Physical abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Toxic friendship, Violence, Murder, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Violence, and Blood
Minor: Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Toxic relationship