What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor Review

What I Didn't Say
By Keary Taylor
CreateSpace, 184 pages
30th April, 2012

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.

- Goodreads.com description

Jake seems to have it all. He has decent grades, he’s on the football team and has a happy family. And he has the biggest crush on Samantha Shay since Freshman Year. But after one drunken night at a party, everything went crashing down. Jake could never tell Sam that he likes her. The car accident damaged his vocal cord and he could no longer speak for the rest of his life.

So, I have a knack of requesting whatever titles there is on NetGalley that seems eye-catching enough and when What I Didn’t Say got approved, I was like, ‘When on earth did I requested this?!’

And I was SO glad I did! I mean, I read the synopsis but didn’t remember how the story’s suppose to go so I just jumped into this(it was about to expire). I thought that maybe I wouldn’t connect that much with a mute protagonist but I connected with his character pretty well. Somehow I could understand his pain and all. To not have a voice, that is.

Samantha doesn’t believe in love. She thinks it’s preposterous. That it doesn’t really exist. But somehow, the tragedy brought Sam and Jake closer together. Sam and Jake are the most adorable couple ever! They’re so sweet!

But life ain’t so sweet for Samantha. Sam was active at school but when she became a Senior, she suddenly pulls back. From both school activity and friends. People didn’t know what she hides behind her smile. But together, Jake and Sam get through their challenges.

What I Didn’t Say is a very endearing story. It’s an emotional ride as well. What I Didn’t Say teaches you to appreciate what you have before you lose it. Contemporary fans will definitely eat this up!

Fara