Every Word You Never Said (3) (A Noahverse Story)

Product Information

The project, which has proven incredibly popular across the world and gone on to become a best selling book, has also afforded him numerous exciting opportunities, including an invitation to dinner with the US Ambassador to South Africa, Donald Gipps as a consultant on digital development within South Africa, and a speaking spot at TEDx Johannesburg. Skylar and Jacob communicate through text messages and social media as well as in person; transcripts of their text messages, complete with emojis, help to tell the story. Visual and sensory descriptions abound as the boys grow and develop, finding their voices and values, even when facing judgment from school boards and a pastor, all of whom insist that they are living sinful lives. The characters where flat and vastly underdeveloped. The one person of color was almost exclusively described as "sassy" and the f-slur was extremely overused.

I’m not a teenager anymore, but I still remember my school days and the characters are a perfect reflection of school and teen life. It’s gorgeous. And I’m still smiling from all the feels. When I was 16, I went to Kuala Lumpur for the second time in my entire life and I bought a poetry book called I Wrote This For You: Just the Words In the moving young adult romance Every Word You Never Said, two gay teenagers find each other and fight bigotry.I received an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review! Read on for only potential MINOR spoilers!*

I wanted and hoped to write a 100%, five star, totally happy with this book, review. After spending nearly three months going from one book to the next, not finishing any because of issues with the narrative or the writing, I had hoped Jordon Greene's Every Word You Never Said would snap me out of this downward spiral of implausible stories. Every Word You Never Said is a Queer YA romance between two boys navigating high school, their feelings and first relationship while dealing with negativity from small-minded people. Filled with loving parents, supportive friends, bookshop hangouts, corn maze kisses and figuring out life one step at a time. I've said all I wanted to say, so I'll close out with one of my favourite passages from the collection:I don't usually like pop culture references in books as it makes them dated and are usually just cringey and this book supported that. And for about 80% of the book, it nearly did. Jacob and Skylar were well written, well crafted, characters. Both have minor issues, both have wonderful personalities, and both have positive and supportive friends. If anything, for the first 80% of the book, I thought I was in for a pleasant, no drama beyond what we see coming, type of story. I enjoyed the presentation of the language barrier between the two protagonists. And, although I think of myself as an old gay cuss, I loved the crossing of the gender line with regards to how we all are free to dress how we wish. So far so good. I also really love that Skylar likes to wear skirts and makeup. Once again, it’s something we don’t see a lot of, even in more progressive and diverse books/movies/shows, so it was really nice to have a gender non-conforming MC. Poetry is such a personal experience on what will impact us when we read the words and what won't. We all view things differently and this is one reason I love to read poetry. I enjoy seeing how others piece together what they are experiencing and how it brings some insight into my own life. Some words hit harder than others, some collections work and some don't. For me, Every Word You Cannot Say completely worked and there were a few times tears stung my eyes. Jacob and Skylar were loveable characters, both dealing with feeling like outcasts for different reasons. Watching their relationship slowly develop with lots of sweet and awkward moments was a joy. Towards the end I was a little frustrated with their separation but, it did make sense because of the characters' individual insecurities. Their happy ending was super cheesy, fun and satisfying.

I really wanted to like this but unfortunately it was a struggle just to finish. The entire book would have really benefited from sensitivity readers. It was nice to see non-verbal rep but it was riddled with ableist rhetoric, and not just from the bullies. The ending to this was just beyond sweet and uplifting and heartwarming. I loved the big plan Jacob came up with. I love me them together so much. Beyond that, the story itself was fine. The writing exclusively tells the reader everything rather than showing them; a choice I hate, but know others don’t mind, notice, or might even prefer. I found all of the characters' personalities undeveloped and their actions felt like what would move the plot the way the author wanted it to rather than something they'd actually do. For example, the big third-act conflict was the most contrived dramatic quarrel and absurd fallout. And then the resolution was literally "He really did like me all along, it's so clear now." after the forgettable grand gesture. I literally lol'd reading that sentence. And while you're waiting, if you haven't read A Mark on My Soul or Watching for Comets, you have plenty of time. All three of these books are in the Noahverse, but they're easily read as standalones too. You just might get a few neat little extra things out of it if you read the first two books before Every Word You Never Said comes out. Why the focus on sex??? Like, these people have known each other for 2 weeks and are already trying to guess who’s a “top” and a “bottom”????? 🥴 Idk, maybe I’m just wired differently, but that whole thing was weird lmaoSkylar moves to a new town after being adopted at age 15 by a married couple. The thing is Skylar is not only gay, but also nonverbal and likes to wear skirts, which does not bode well in a town ruled by narrow minded, conservative Christians.