Book Review: What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 447 KB
• Print Length: 326 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B008177HVE

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.

Jake Hayes has it pretty good. Decent grades, star football player, great family. But then a few beers, one seriously bad decision and a t-post changes his world forever.

When he learns that he will never talk again, Jake thinks it is the worst thing that could ever have happened to him. No one understands, no one gets how hard it is, no one could possibly understand how he feels. Jake lashes out, his anger at the situation boiling inside him. He expected people to be nervous around him, to say something stupid or avoid him altogether. What he didn’t expect was the way his whole community rallied around him to make things easier and show their support.

With his school schedule readjusted, Jake now has way more time with Samantha Shay than he did before. Samantha Shay. His one regret – never telling her he was in love with her. And now thanks to the accident, he will never speak the again.

Slowly, Samantha brings Jake back to life. She shows him ways around his inability to talk and how he may not have chosen to lose his voice, but how he deals with it is entirely up to him.

What I Didn’t Say was inspirational and achingly romantic. Jake’s frustration radiated off the page as he struggles to get used to life without talking. I loved the interactions between him and his family, who treat him exactly the same. Samantha’s subplot helped keep the story interesting as the couple face yet more obstacles in their path.

One for a rainy day to curl up on the couch with.