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    What I Didn't Say
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    What I Didn't Say
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    What I Didn't Say
    Ebook304 pages4 hours

    What I Didn't Say

    By Keary Taylor

    4/5

    ()

    Currently unavailable

    Currently unavailable

    About this ebook

    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.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherKeary Taylor
    Release dateFeb 28, 2013
    ISBN9781301044917
    Unavailable
    What I Didn't Say
    Author

    Keary Taylor

    Keary Taylor lives on Orcas Island in Washington State with her husband and two young children. To learn more about Keary and her writing process visit www.KearyTaylor.com.

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    Reviews for What I Didn't Say

    4/5

    86 ratings25 reviews

    What did you think?

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    Review must be at least 10 words

    • 5/5
      This one had me reaching for the tissues. It's very difficult to learn a lesson the hard way, especially when you have to live with that lesson everyday. It can be even more difficult when you are the lesson for others, although, Jake did handle that part maturely and graciously. Jake Hayes was a typical teenager, loves sports and hanging out with friends, an overhaul good kid, a good kid who made a one time mistake of getting into a car with someone under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and using a cell phone at the same time. It was the trifecta of stupid mistakes. Jake's accident left him without the use of his voice, he will never be able to talk again for the rest of his life.

      When Jake wakes to hear how in one night his life will be changed forever, he tries to come to terms with the idea that his biggest dreams and deepest desires might not ever be realized. He has to make a decision on either to be strong or wallow. He knows how easy it would be to choose the latter. He had big dreams of the future and struggled with the idea he has to alter them but of all his dreams his biggest regret was not telling Samantha Shay how he felt about her since the first day he met her. He has been smitten with Sam since the first day of freshman year and had felt too intimidated to tell her.

      Jake's eyes were opened after his accident and he was able to really see Sam, and how much she has changed in the past months where before he didn't take much notice. Samantha wasn't the same girl he's been in love with, her appearance and social life has had a drastic change. Samantha herself was going through a dark time in her life and getting close to her made Jake realize that he still has a lot to be thankful for in his life. Samantha became a rock for Jake and in turn he became a rock for her. They both had to learn how to make it through the tribulations life has thrown their way.

      Jake had a lot to deal with as well as some disfigurement to his psychical appearance and some health issues. But for the most part after the initial sympathy, pity, and disappointment in the eyes of his family and friends, and the regret and anger he felt towards himself, Jake was fortunate. He had the support of his entire community and the normalcy his family and close friends brought to his situation also helped him cope a lot. Through his relationship with Samantha he gained strength and a friend that made him see that he still has his life, his family and their love.

      It was very brave of Keary Taylor to write a very bold story on such a difficult topic. She wasn't afraid to go there, she didn't take the easy way out and make Jake have a broken arm that he would recover from and say lesson learned. The truth is that more often than not people don't tend to come back whole or at all from drunk driving accidents. She was able to show through her writing the after effects such a tragedy can have on the individual and his family and friends. So cudos Keary Taylor for taking on a risky topic for a story that was written so compellingly, and beautifully.
    • 4/5
      Boy, I've been reading some tear jerkers lately. What I Didn't Say inspired me, gave me hope, made me sad and taught me/reminded me of many lessons. How does one go on after something so tragic and irreversible occurs and when the only consolation is-at least you didn't die?

      I wanted to be a part of that community. I was jealous of the love and consideration they had for one another. It's rare these days to see that, anywhere. Ms. Taylor did an awesome job showing how awkward it was for Jake's friends to deal with him being mute. They tried very hard to treat him the same and to make him comfortable but it was difficult for all involved. And just when Jake believes that life has dealt him the cruelest of hands he discovers that he's not the only one struggling with life's cruel fate.

      Samantha, what can I say? She's awesome, smart, determined, empathetic, compassionate and a great friend. I loved her character. With this story it doesn't matter that it's a YA novel. It's simply a GOOD story. Everyone can learn and relate. I don't want to give too much away.....All I can say is that this is a book to pick up and not pass over.

      I would like to thank Netgalley and Keary Taylor for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

      I
    • 4/5
      Wow. Just. Wow. I'm speechless. Again. I don't read the summary, so I don't know what this one is all about when I started reading it. But there's something that captured my interest in the beginning of the book. I can't quite name it but I know that I should read it all.

      I was devastated when the accident happened to Jake. And because of that accident, he could no longer talk since his vocal chords was removed because it was severely damaged and irreparable. That is really hard. Not being able to talk forever. I would die if that happens to me. I would succumb to the dark side of life. I love to talk, as most of my friends already know. I could talk non-stop for hours and my throat would be hoarse after. So imagining that situation of Jake? A very hard change in life.

      What I like about this book is that there's a real life lesson after finishing the book. It teaches us that drinking and/or getting high while driving is really NOT a very good idea. This shows how Jake tried to be better and not to give up. With the help of Sam, together they tried to overcome the trials put in their way.

      This book really teared me up. I can't imagine all their problems. And I like how the people in the island support one another. It's really sweet they did that. I love how Jake's family are to one another. This book is heartwarming and makes me feel really blessed to have all my senses, my family, boyfriend and friends who'll always be there, all of the good things I have. And we should really not count the things we don't have because it will just make us feel depressed and all. Instead count the things WE DO HAVE as of the moment. :)
    • 5/5
      Honestly I did not expect much from this book. Reading the synopsis left me thinking it would be a Nicholas Sparks-wannabe type book that was predictable and long winded. I COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE WRONG.I absolutely loved this story! It is realistic, sad, enlightening, and everything else a story like this should be. Keary Taylor does a fantastic job at capturing the emotions surrounding someone who has suffered such a traumatic event. It had everything a teenage novel should have - fear, anger, regret, love, desire, tears, and laughter.I am so glad that the author included the note at the end about her own life experiences (I don't feel it is my place to share them here; read the book and you will understand!), as it provided great insight into herself and how she was able to write such a stunning novel. The author put herself into this book and it shows.Definitely recommended.I exchanged a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
    • 5/5
      This one had me reaching for the tissues. It's very difficult to learn a lesson the hard way, especially when you have to live with that lesson everyday. It can be even more difficult when you are the lesson for others, although, Jake did handle that part maturely and graciously. Jake Hayes was a typical teenager, loves sports and hanging out with friends, an overhaul good kid, a good kid who made a one time mistake of getting into a car with someone under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and using a cell phone at the same time. It was the trifecta of stupid mistakes. Jake's accident left him without the use of his voice, he will never be able to talk again for the rest of his life.

      When Jake wakes to hear how in one night his life will be changed forever, he tries to come to terms with the idea that his biggest dreams and deepest desires might not ever be realized. He has to make a decision on either to be strong or wallow. He knows how easy it would be to choose the latter. He had big dreams of the future and struggled with the idea he has to alter them but of all his dreams his biggest regret was not telling Samantha Shay how he felt about her since the first day he met her. He has been smitten with Sam since the first day of freshman year and had felt too intimidated to tell her.

      Jake's eyes were opened after his accident and he was able to really see Sam, and how much she has changed in the past months where before he didn't take much notice. Samantha wasn't the same girl he's been in love with, her appearance and social life has had a drastic change. Samantha herself was going through a dark time in her life and getting close to her made Jake realize that he still has a lot to be thankful for in his life. Samantha became a rock for Jake and in turn he became a rock for her. They both had to learn how to make it through the tribulations life has thrown their way.

      Jake had a lot to deal with as well as some disfigurement to his psychical appearance and some health issues. But for the most part after the initial sympathy, pity, and disappointment in the eyes of his family and friends, and the regret and anger he felt towards himself, Jake was fortunate. He had the support of his entire community and the normalcy his family and close friends brought to his situation also helped him cope a lot. Through his relationship with Samantha he gained strength and a friend that made him see that he still has his life, his family and their love.

      It was very brave of Keary Taylor to write a very bold story on such a difficult topic. She wasn't afraid to go there, she didn't take the easy way out and make Jake have a broken arm that he would recover from and say lesson learned. The truth is that more often than not people don't tend to come back whole or at all from drunk driving accidents. She was able to show through her writing the after effects such a tragedy can have on the individual and his family and friends. So cudos Keary Taylor for taking on a risky topic for a story that was written so compellingly, and beautifully.
    • 2/5
      I tried to read this novel ... I really did but by the time I got a little over halfway through it I just felt like it was very redundant and was taking way to long to get through, so I gave up on reading it.

      I wish those of you who decide on reading it good luck and I hope you'll get into it more so then I did.
    • 4/5
      A senior in high school, Jake is involved in a serious car accident following a drunken party, leaving him mute and unable to speak for the rest of his life. He had been on his way to tell the girl of his dreams, Samantha Hayes, that he had loved her for years when the accident occurred.After the accident, Jake sinks into depression, but he slowly grows closer to Sam and learns that she is carrying a heavy burden and that his life could be much worse. Sam and Jake soon become a couple, but can their relationship survive when Samantha insists she doesn't believe in love? Will their relationship be jeopardized by the revelation of Sam's secret?This book could use a good proofread as there were typos (heal for heel, here for hear, its for it's, etc.), but it wasn't enough to ruin the story for me. I also would have liked to know what exactly Jake planned to pursue once his dreams of joining the Air Force were taken away by his muteness. He does get accepted into college at the end of the story, but as far as future career goals go, he suddenly doesn't have any, and it's not really brought up again. I did appreciate the overall message of the book, including the author's personal note following the story. Right now, I am at a difficult point in my own life, and it's easy to wallow in self-pity. Appreciating family and what you do have helps to define you instead of stagnating in depression.
    • 4/5
      Boy, I've been reading some tear jerkers lately. What I Didn't Say inspired me, gave me hope, made me sad and taught me/reminded me of many lessons. How does one go on after something so tragic and irreversible occurs and when the only consolation is-at least you didn't die?

      I wanted to be a part of that community. I was jealous of the love and consideration they had for one another. It's rare these days to see that, anywhere. Ms. Taylor did an awesome job showing how awkward it was for Jake's friends to deal with him being mute. They tried very hard to treat him the same and to make him comfortable but it was difficult for all involved. And just when Jake believes that life has dealt him the cruelest of hands he discovers that he's not the only one struggling with life's cruel fate.

      Samantha, what can I say? She's awesome, smart, determined, empathetic, compassionate and a great friend. I loved her character. With this story it doesn't matter that it's a YA novel. It's simply a GOOD story. Everyone can learn and relate. I don't want to give too much away.....All I can say is that this is a book to pick up and not pass over.

      I would like to thank Netgalley and Keary Taylor for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

      I
    • 5/5
      When I started reading What I Didn't Say, I expected a light YA contemporary romance novel - even though I knew the protag would be struggling with speech loss - but what I got was a brilliant, thought-provoking, and inspirational story.Jake Hayes had been in love with Sam Shay since he first saw her (freshman year, if my memory serves me right), but he kept it in him for years. Now in their senior year and drunk at a party, he finally decided to go tell her how he felt, so he and his two best friends began driving to Sam's house. Unfortunately, on their way there, they got in a car accident and when Jake woke up in the hospital, he had already lost his vocal chords, along with the chance to say everything he hadn't.All of the characters in here were likable - well, except the antagonists. Jake had his low moments, but he actually handled his disability really well, looking at it more rationally than emotionally. I think at times when you can't really do anything to change the situation, you should just accept and live the best way you can with it, rather than look away and avoid it. His family was a big help, too; they were all loving, understanding, and supportive.But what I didn't expect was Sam. I can't say anything without being spoiler-y, but I really didn't think she'd be in the story much other than being the main character's love interest. Anyway, I loved how brave and determined she was to live her life the way she wanted to. I also loved her "naughty moments" that made even more real.Like all the few other books I've read that were written in first person from a guy's POV, it was really fun to be in Jake's head. Despite the drunk driving bout, he was actually quite the good boy, involved in sports and careful about his grades, with solid plans for the future that, sadly, had to be trashed away because of the horrible accident.I think the main lesson we can all learn from this book - heck, from the title alone - is to not put off the important things, that we should live everyday as if it were our last so we won't have anything to regret. And I surely don't regret reading What I Didn't Say.MY FAVORITE PART was the uber sweet scene after their prom. Ah, love <3
    • 4/5
      I was sent a copy of this book from the author through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I requested it because I loved Keary Taylor's Eden.This book is a departure from that one, which is nice, because I love authors with versatility. What I didn't Say, focuses on two people, Jake, an ordinary teenaged boy who gets into a horrible accident at the beginning of the book and loses his voice, and Samantha, the girl he loves. What happens next is gripping, and many times moving. I won't say any more so the readers can unveil the secrets of the book themselves.I'll be honest-- this isn't a perfect book-- it could really use a good editor to get rid of the remaining grammatical errors. However, the heart of this book really won me over. Both Jake and Samantha are terrific and likeable characters, and their story really drew me in. Whenever I thought the story was becoming too typical, Taylor would put in a twist that would turn the story on its head. I know Taylor didn't want to tack on the Author's Note, but I may have been the most moved by her own story. I thank her bravery for sharing it.Overall, a heartwarming, worthwhile YA read with great characters!
    • 5/5
      Author: Keary TaylorPublished by: CreateSpaceAge Recommended: YAReviewed By: Arlena DeanRaven Rating: 5Blog Review For: GMTAReview:"What I Didn't Say" by Keary Taylor was a very emotional, sad, happy and believable YA novel relating to HS. To have grown up in Jake Hayes family was truly a wonderful thing in how much the family enjoy and showed love for each and everyone. After a bad decision that was made with (Jacob) Jake getting into the truck with some other friends who were all drunk from alcohol.... his life changes forever. Just being alive was something , after Jake's accident where a t-post is driven into his neck that literally rips out his vocal chords and he is no longer able to speak. It looks like all of Jake's dreams has be just ripped away from Jake, but he has a love for a certain girl named Samantha who was able to help him with his disability. For Samantha (Sam) life hasn't been dealt her a great number of cards in that her mother dies leaving her to have to fend for herself. How will she be able to do this on her own? Will Jake and Sam become a item it seems that Jake's change in life may not be so tragic after all? All of the characters were off the chart good... Jake, Sam, Jordan, Kali, Rain, Jamie, Blake Shaw, Carter, John, Jenny and I am sure there are a few others that I have left out... but all were simply great."What I Didn't Say" is truly a story about life and how this family was able to make it through this challenge which comes from the love that was shown...'closeness' which explain why Jake reacted the way he did. Some of the main topics in the novel that were presented were 'teenage and adult drinking, homelessness, death of a loved one' that were all being handled very well in this writing of this novel. The author did a wonderful job with this.I enjoyed"What I Didn't Say" and would recommend as a excellent novel for the YA to read. The novel is definitely one that will make you think long after the read.
    • 5/5
      NOTE: I received an e-book copy of this book from the author/publisher.Jacob (Jake) Hayes lives on Orcas Island, a small island off Washington State and has been in Love with Samantha (Sam) Shay since the first time he saw her when she transferred into the high school and he was asked to show her how to get to her first class. The problem is he can never get up the nerve to tell her. He is at a party with his friends and other teens where drinking and pot is being used when after a few beers he decides to go to her house and tell. Riding with friends who are as drunk as he is, they get into an accident and he looses his vocal cords and can no longer talk.He has a lot of self pity and even after Sam in the other person in his special class for sign language and they start to get closer, he is afraid to tell her because she had once argued that she didn't believe in love. As the book progresses it turns out Sam has a big secret that could rip everything apart.Will Sam and Jake be able to overcome his self-pity, will he overcome her fear of love and what is the big secret she is hiding? This book will answer these and other questions and is a very good and enjoyable book about people with disabilities, both mental and physical.
    • 4/5
      What I Didn't Say by Keary TaylorPages: 326Release Date: April 30th, 2012Date Read: 2012, May 6th-7thReceived: ARC from NetGalleyRating: 4/5 starsRecommended to: 16+SUMMARY -Jake is not the type of kid who would get drunk on homecoming night with his friends...or drive with them afterward. But one choice - one simple mistake - changes everything when Jake's friend crashes...and a t-post through Jake's neck takes away one of life's most important tools - the gift of speech. Now Jake has to reevaluate everything: his life, his passions, love - everything - and find a way to tell the girl he loves, "I love you" before she, too, is taken away.MY THOUGHTS -While I'm not typically a contemporary girl, I have recently been drawn to a few titles. This one, at the very very top of my list. When I was accepted to review this on NetGalley, I was ecstatic, and the book did not disappoint!Maybe there could have been more editing. Things could have changed to make the story better. Sometimes the pace felt a bit too fast, when I wanted to revel in the moment. These, however, are minor flaws.Because, really. This story is beautiful.CHARACTER NOTES -I loved Jake from page one and on. I still look back at my experience of living through his perspective, and I think, "What a guy!" His reactions to the accident, his recovery - it's all realistic and so moving. He really inspired me. He made a stupid decision, but what he makes of the consequences is so respectable.Samantha is an intriguing character. She has secrets, a hidden life, and she has a lot of love to give, even if she doesn't know it yet. She adds a strange and very neat dynamic to the story. While not a favorite character, I still wanted her to succeed and really loved the change wrought in her through Jake's friendship and care and love.Jake's parents, I must say, are rad. They are so supportive, filled with faith, and loving even when things are really hard. Their awesome relationship with their kids, especially Jake, is so nice to see, especially in YA lit. Plus, there are all of Jake's siblings, who really bring a lot to the table and definitely made me laugh a few times.STORY NOTES -I stayed up so late reading this and finished it the next morning. Fast-paced, intense, and totally engrossing.The accident and the first part of Jake's recovery hardly take up any of the story... The rest is full of romance, hardship and healing (in other areas of Jake's life). His journey is just stunningly beautiful.I love what Jake's school does for him and what the students choose to do. Jake's accident inspires them to take action in their own homes and to stay away from underage/illegal activities. I love this small-town/one-bit-family aspect of the story.The romance develops very nicely, to insta-love here! Jake and Sam's love develops so sweetly; Jake's longing to be able to speak Sam and tell her how he loves her translates into him having to show her. Sam, who doesn't believe in love, is fascinated by this devotion. I ached for Jake, though... Not being able to say the important things. Wow. Just - hard.I loved how everyone had a part in speaking into Jake's life. Again - his parents were AWESOME.The climax of the story is beautiful, realistic, and gut-wrenching. I loved it. Everything fell together and brought What I Didn't Say to a magnificent close.SUMMING IT UP -Delightful. Real. i'm going to read more of Keary Taylor now I know how awesome she is. And you should, too - you will be moved!For the Parents -A few intense make out scenes... I think one or two almost lead to sex. It is mentioned that both want to. Some details...the scenes are definitely very passionate. Sam buys lingerie and models for Jake. I'd say 16+ (My sister is 15, so I'm gauging based on that it wouldn't be the most appropriate for her right now.)
    • 4/5
      You know those books that come along and at first they seem okay and maybe sort of hoakie and then the ending is just perfect? This is one of those books. After the first couple of chapters I had decided that it was just okay, but by the second half of the book I couldn't get enough. Jake is happy, popular and in love with Sam Shay. The only problem is, he doesn't have the guts to tell her that. After a night of drunken shenanigans he is involved in a horrific accident that causes him to lose his vocal cords and, almost, his life. Smart, kind, Samantha volunteers to help Jake learn sign language and before too long they don't need words. As Jake learns more about Sam's life, he realizes that maybe other people have it worse than him. Throw in a cast of goofy classmates and a huge, loving family and you have What I Didn't Say. LIKES:Samantha: Samantha is the quintessential good girl, but even she has secrets. She is smart, kind and a super overachiever. She seems pretty perfect and Jake certainly thinks so. We find out pretty early in the book, however, that Sam's life is anything but perfect. I won't go into detail because I don't want to spoil anything, but let's just say that I don't think I could deal with what Sam has to go through. And through it all she proves to be strong and capable while maintaining her caring and compassionate nature. Sam is the type of person that we all aspire to be and it's so hard to read this book without wanting to just give her a big hug. She definitely needs one. Despite having huge problems of her own, she wants to help Jake and she works hard to do so. Their relationship and connection is really amazing and watching that relationship grow and change was just spectacular. Jake's Family: Jake has a HUGE family. There are seven kids and his parents, I would live in the yard if there were that many people living in my house. But even though it's crowded, there's also plenty of love to go around. These people, even the younger kids, are so supportive it's crazy. My brother and sister and I fight daily over who has to let the dogs out, but Jake's family is like a big puppy pile of domestic bliss (not that they don't have any fun together of course). And his mom, oh my god. She is super mom, she's constantly feeding everyone and having get togethers for the island kids and she's still slightly intimidating, which I think every mom should be. The family relationships were really nice to see and it added a lot of fun and quirkiness to the story.The Ending! (no spoilers, I promise): I LOVED the ending. You know how when you're reading a book, you have an idea of the perfect ending, exactly how you would want it to happen in real life? Well, without giving anything away, this one hit all the right marks. I actually yelled "YES!" at one point during the last chapter, that is how happy it made me. This is the type of ending I wish all contemporaries had. I just had a big goofy smile on my face all day.DISLIKES:Angelic teenagers (sort of): The kids in the book could be somewhat unbelievable sometimes. They were just too well behaved. Well, kind of. There were other things about these kids that made the idea that they were so well behaved really unbelievable. First there's Jake, who won't swear because his mom ingrained it in him that swearing was bad, but will get trashed at a party and then let his drunk friend drive him around. Really? So you won't drop the f-bomb but you'll let Drunky McLush-pants drive you home? Seriously? Sorry but I find that a little difficult to wrap my head around. A good expletive never killed anyone. And it isn't just Jake. He explains how there are lots of island parties with red plastic cups and "glass pipes" (wonder what those are for) but these same kids sign a pledge after his accident that they won't drink anymore. I just don't buy that.Ask for help, already! : Something that has always annoyed me in young adult books and movies is when someone is in real trouble, trouble that a parent could help get them out of and they refuse to ask for help. This usually ends up causing all sorts of problems and then the parent steps in anyway and helps out and all is well. Can't we just cut out the middle and save ourselves the stress? Samantha has some pretty sizable issues that she needs to figure out and I couldn't help but think that if Jake just went to his parents they could have helped her. I suppose we wouldn't really have a book then though.Predictability: There were some aspects of the story-line (especially in the first half of the book) that were just very predictable. Luckily the second half more than made up for that.Overall, I would definitely recommend this to anyone who loves realistic romance, drama and happy endings. This story will stick with me for a long time and I'll have a hard time not comparing other contemporaries to this one.
    • 5/5
      I've said it countless times that I'm not big on reading books told from a male's perspective, and I think I'm preparing to eat my words considering some of the books I've reviewed lately. What I Didn't Say is just one more book that makes me realize that reading from a guy's point of view isn't a bad thing.Jake Hayes is a typical small town guy with dreams of leaving home after high school and becoming a pilot in the Air Force. He secretly pines for Samantha Shay and just when he has finally gathered some liquid courage he is left facing a life without talking. I was wondering how this book would read, with a main character that can't talk, but Taylor does an amazing job with dialogue and how Jake is forced to communicate. Jake's actual reaction to his sudden disability felt realistic. He sways back and forth between anger, depression, and acceptance in a swiftness and depth that was genuine.Although from the blurb Sam seems to be in a role of supporting Jake through his acceptance, she has a life of her own and it quickly becomes part of the main plot. I like that Taylor doesn't have Sam's life completely revolving around Jake. The troubles she is having, that she struggles to keep hidden, give her depth and allow Jake to have something other than his disability to focus on. Sam is smart, pretty, nice, and though she's not 'popular' she is well liked. But her family life is far from perfect and it makes her a more sympathetic character.The romantic angle of the story comes through as very natural. We get to see a few flashbacks that allow us to see their relationship building over years, and that give the reader a reason to believe that these two people belong together. I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a sweet romance.
    • 5/5
      Ms. Taylor is hands down, one of my favorite self-published authors. Her books are always writtenwith great depth. And it's no wonder why I instantly fell in love with this book.There is so much in the story that I what to just gush about. For instance, the plot line. How can you express your emotions if you can no longer talk? Convey what you have felt for years and in a swift moment have it all taken away from you? The plot line alone intrigued me to read faster. The way Ms. Taylor leads the reader into Jake shoes, leaves me with a serious book high.The love interest just triples my love for this book. With a serious communication strain, it's easy for the reader to be amused and laugh at the attempts to...well communicate. Some parts are so sad cause you just want to words spoken, while other moments leaves you breathless.Take it from me when I say that this author needs to be put on your "books I must read list." What I Didn't Say speaks to the reader as if you are the character. Thoughtful and engaging, What I Didn't Say captures the irony in love and words. It's not in all what you say, but in what you do.
    • 3/5
      Genre: Young AdultPages: 326Rating: 3 StarsI received a copy of this book courtesy of Keary Taylor via Net Galley for review.This is the story of Jake, a teenage boy who has everything: a great family, good friends, a spot on the football team, a crush on Sam (who he says he has loved forever). Then one tragic night Jake makes the mistake of his life: drinking with his friends and then going for a ride. The ride ends in tragedy with Jake being injured beyond repair. He loses his vocal chords and, thus, his ability to speak. The story unfolds showing his growth during the process of learning to heal, learning what love really is, and becoming a man. He bonds with Sam and they grow to love each other by learning to overcome his disability and the tragedy that has recently happened in her life.This book is a rollar coaster of emotions as the two teens come to terms with how they need to change their lives in order to pursue their dreams. I felt an immediate connection to the main character, feeling both saddened by his situation and inspired by his ability to try and see past it; to learn something from it. It made me laugh in spots and then a few pages later made me cry. It's the story of becoming inspired, overcoming adversity and rising above obstacles.The book starts out strong, with the main even happening right at the beginning. Jake realizes he must deal with his inability to communicate without his voice. His family is very supportive. We feel their pain at Jake's loss and their happiness, at the same time, because they still have Jake around. We see Jake pull away from family and friends. We see him angry and frustrated as he tries to learn sign language and communicates mostly through the written word. He spends much of the book nodding his head, raising his eyebrows, making hand gestures, furrowing his brow. All body gestures we may use every day with our verbalizations of how we feeling. But he does not have the ability to verbalize, so people must learn to read him and understand him by those gestures.Then there's Sam, the girl Jake has loved for so long. She is brainy and, according to him, doesn't seem to see anything outside of her studies. Little does he know that she has had her own tragedy in her life. She is as broken as Jake is, but for other reasons: she has no family and has to fend for herself. We see her slowly deteriorate and close down. She becomes disheveled and loses a lot of weight. Finally, she confides in Jake that her mom had died the summer before and she has been living on her own, fending for herself with no one to help her. But her secret doesn't last for long when one of her school mates turns her in and her abusive, drunken father comes and takes her away.It is not long before we see the two teens reunited and profess their love for one another.I have to say that when I first started the story I did not know the main character was male. The voice just did not strike me that way. And even throughout the story, I thought the voice was more on the feminine side. But perhaps this was showing the sensitive man that Jake really was.I did note there were quite a few editorial error (spelling, grammatical) that stood out to me, tho they did not take away from the story for me, which is good. I was never bored with the story, in fact, I finished it in less than 24 hours time because it kept me wanting to know what would happen next.I loved that Taylor included an author's note at the end explaining why the story line was so near and dear to her heart; and why it was so hard for her to write, even though she knew it had to be done. Once I read the note, I felt even more connected to the characters. It caused me to reflect on what it was like being a teenager who had no disabilities to overcome. It made me realize how lucky I was and how lucky I still am to be able to hear, see, talk, smell and taste.The thing that stands out most for me in this story is the fact that most of us take for granted the ability to say those three little words to our family and friends: I love you. What if you could not say those words? What if the person you loved was never able to hear your voice again? Would you try and overcome this adversity or would it shatter you into pieces?If you want an action packed story, this is not it. This is a simple story of learning how to love, how to let go, how to grow. I very much enjoyed it and look forward to reading more of Taylor's writing in the future.
    • 4/5
      * I received a review copy from NetGalley*

      I really wanted to give this book 5 stars for just the plot alone, but there was a little too much unbelievable in there for me.

      The first thing that really caught my attention was this line " On an island this size, with its whopping 5,000 residents, there are no secrets."
      I've always dreamed of living in a very small town, where everyone knows you and you know everyone else. I think that it would be awesome to have that close knit feeling with your community. But more to the reason I can barely give this book 4 stars.
      Jake is a senior in high school, he's football player, but not like all the top jocks from other books. He has his friends, and is secretly (to most anyway) in love with Samantha Shay; the smartest girl in the school. Jake and his buddies go to a party after the homecoming game and of course there is drinking; what teen story isn't complete without some? Things take a turn for the worse as Jake and his buddies Rain and Carter get in the car to take Jake to tell Sam that he is in love with her. Alcohol and not paying attention to the road causes the boys to be in an accident. Jake ends up in the hospital after having a t-post(i had to look that one up) go in one side of his neck and out the other. The bad news? His vocal chords were too damaged and they had to be removed. Jake struggles with not being able to talk, and having to communicate by writing everything in a notebook that he carries with him.
      After being released to go back to school, Jake's schedule is rearranged and he ends up in more classes with Sam and in an Independent Study class (ASL) with just him and her. The two form a tentative friendship, him still in love with her, and you can see that she is starting to feel something for him. Now here comes the unbelievable part for me. Turns out Sam's mom passed away the summer before she started senior year. No one on the island knew and Sam has been living on her own in a motor home since August. Now, how in the world in a small,remember 5,000, community does Sam get away with this? Sam tells Jake the whole story and throughout the book Jake helps her anyway that he can, sneaking food and other things from his house, working to be able to buy her new clothes.
      I love that the book is told from Jake's POV, but there are some things said by Jake that I really don't see an almost 18 year old saying. It's almost like he was written as a girl and then it was changed. The romance between Sam and Jake slowly blossoms and while they do have their ups and downs, things always work out in the end.
    • 3/5
      See the full review on Short & Sweet Reviews.

      This book was a very quick read. You get sucked into the story and Jake's narration very quickly. The author does a great job at keeping the pace moving forward, even when Jake is sinking down into depression after his life drastically changes. I liked having the change of pace of seeing a male narrator. It was nice to hear a different voice for once, especially in what is mostly a teen romance novel. Usually it's the girl who is doing the pining over a boy she doesn't think will ever care about her, and the situations are reversed here. The location, a small island off the coast of Washington, makes for an interesting setting. The community is tight-knight and really bands together after Jake's accident. After reading several books where it seems like the main character is abandoned after bad things happen, it was great to read about people supporting someone in their time of need, even if that person doesn't really want their help.

      I thought the romance blossoming between Jake and Sam was very sweet and realistic. I like the fact that it wasn't a book about people wanting to change someone else -- Jake loves Sam because she's the smartest girl in school and doesn't try to change that or take her away from her studies. Of course, their relationship is fraught with miscommunication. It's realistic for teenagers but was frustrating to read sometimes. I kind of wanted to shake the book (well, my Kindle) and ask them what they were doing. As a reader, I had a lot of ideas for how the characters should have handled some of the situations that came up, but then again, I don't know that I would have done things any differently as a 17/18 year old. But still, you spend a lot of time going just ask for help, come on! which can be a bit of a distraction.
    • 3/5
      This wasn't a bad book but I felt something was missing especially near the end. I liked both Jake and Sam - they were nice, down-to-earth characters and the relationship between them was sweet. I also liked Jake's big, loving family but I thought having seven kids with names all starting with J a bit corny. Also, there were parts of the book that were rather unrealistic and I didn't like how the focus changed about halfway through. An okay read, but could have been so much better.
    • 5/5
      This has now become one of my favorite books, and the author is phenomenal to boot!
    • 3/5
      My rating is an average of 2.5 stars due to the editing issues (possessives instead of pluralist; your/you're mixups; "shutter" when it should have been "shudder"), and 3.5 stars for the story.

      The story itself had an interesting premise, a teenage boy who loses his ability to speak after an alcohol-related car accident, and how he deals with things after that. There was also the teen romance that was very sweet.

      Things got a little preachy at times, especially around the drinking and drugs issue. And I had trouble buying Sam's situation, though the explanation. that was given toward the end of the book kind of made sense.

      I recommend this book if you like a nice YA novel and can overlook the editing problems.
    • 4/5
      What I Didn't Say is a captivating, emotional story. We follow the story through Jake's point of view as he comes to term with the consequences of his actions. After getting drunk with some friends one night and getting into a car accident, Jake's life is changed forever. No longer able to speak, he must learn how to come to terms with his disability and communicate again, not only with his family but with the rest of the world as well. Through the story we watch Jake grow, although he does have setbacks, and he also learns that he's not the only one with problems. Enter Sam. Jake had been crushing on Samantha since she first moved to their town. As the two become closer, Jake learns that, although she appears perfect on the outside, she is struggling with her own troubles. I enjoyed watching the changing dynamics of Jake's life and his relationship with Sam. I think this story was all the more powerful because it could be true. Everything that happened to Jake could happen to any teen today in real life.
    • 5/5
      Writing about a teenager with a disability is risky. Is the author treating the subject with dignity? Are they the voice of experience? Can they write about it in a realistic and accessible manner? In the case of Keary Taylor’s self-published novel What I Didn’t Say the answer is a resounding, “Yes!”Jake Hayes lost his heart to Samantha Shay the moment he first set eyes on her freshman year of high school. The smartest girl in school, Sam has always seemed just out of reach. But after winning the homecoming game and downing some liquid courage, Jake and his friends head off to find Sam so Jake can tell her how he really feels. A deer in the roadway, an overturned vehicle, and a t-bar in his throat end Jake’s chances of ever telling Sam how he feels. Now Jake has to learn how to communicate without speech, and readjust all his plans for the future. With the help of family and friends – including Sam – Jake is about to discover that even in silence a lot can be said, and losing the power of speech isn’t the worst thing that can happen to you.I was a little nervous starting this book thinking that with its subject matter it might be dark or depressing, but instead found a story that was engaging, emotional, and so realistically told I felt like I knew these characters personally. The serious issue of drinking and driving is handled delicately, but not glossed over, and there are consequences to the poor choices that are made. I think Keary Taylor made a smart move setting her story in a small community where it is easy to see how one wrong decision can affect others. She also has Sam facing important issues of her own, but since I don’t want to spoil that part of the story I can’t say much except that I thought it was well-written and really made me think about what could happen to kids caught in her situation – most of it pretty frightening.Jake is written as a solid, well-adjusted teen with a big family who loves him wholeheartedly and friends who are behind him when times are tough. I like that he consciously makes a decision not to let his speech loss ruin his life, but then has moments of despair and anger. Like a typical teenager he is both mature (loving Sam’s intelligence as much as her looks) and immature (striking back in a stupid manner when she accidentally hurts him). Sam is sweet, smart and determined to help Jake with his communication issues. She handles everything with a quiet strength that is appealing, but also shows frustration and worry when things seem overwhelming. Together she and Jake are a perfect match.Many of the secondary characters – such as Jake’s parents and friends – were fleshed out enough to have personality and keep things interesting. I liked the way Kali, an island resident who helps Jake learn sign language, uses everyday tasks and sports as learning aids and the way Jake’s mom is portrayed as a woman with a big heart who refuses to have a curse word spoken in her presence. Little details help make these characters seem like they could be my friends and neighbors.I picked up the epub edition of What I Didn’t Say, and there were positives and negatives with the format of the story. On the plus side, I liked the way Taylor titled the chapter headers as a countdown to or from an important moment of Jake’s life instead of the traditional number system. Unfortunately, there is no Table of Contents and chapters run together with only the chapter headings giving them definition. There are a few editing issues here and there, with a couple of missing words, some odd changes in verb tense, and a consistent misuse of the word “passed” instead of “past.” None of this detracts from the story; I obviously noticed the problems, but the power of the narrative overcame them.Keary Taylor has a very natural writing style that makes it easy to get lost in the narrative. Pacing throughout is steady yet quick; I would have had it finished the day I started if I didn’t begin reading right before bed. The way she is able to write so realistically from Jake’s point of view (this is a first-person narrative) is explained in the Author’s Note at the end of the story, which is a must-read if you pick up this book.Keary Taylor’s What I Didn’t Say tells an engaging and heartwarming story about a teenager who has lost the power of speech and learns that silence can speak louder than words when it comes to love. With realistic characters, an easy pace, and a light touch on some very serious issues, What I Didn’t Say is a wonderful young adult contemporary romance that makes you realize if you have something important to say then don’t delay – say it before it’s too late.
    • 4/5
      My Synopsis:Jake Hayes is a normal 17 year old boy, until a terrible drink driving accident causes him to lose his voice box. He has been in love with Samantha Shay for years, but never got up the guts to tell her. Now he will never be able to say it. Can he find another way to tell her, and how will he cope without being able to talk again.Why I picked this book up: I love a bit of YA romance, and seeing how people cope with hardship and tradegy, this book had both so perfect for me. I love a good book where I can really get inside the characters and see what it would feel like to be so different.Did it live up to my expectations:To be honest I’m not really sure, the story had me gripped, but mostly for the romance, and for Samantha’s story rather than Jake’s. I didn’t feel as though I really connected with him and understood how he felt.What I thought: I loved the way the chapters were headed with references to time, usually a countdown to something, or past something. It gave the book a more personal feel and helped you always know exactly where you were as there were a few flashbacks. The first half of the story was good, we got to see how Jake started to learn to cope with his disability, and see something starting between him and Sam. In the second half the story changed from Jake’s story to Sam’s, it was still a good story and still had me gripped, but wasn’t what I picked the book up for, I still wanted to hear about how Jake was coping, but suddenly it seemed as though he was okay with everything that happened to him and coped fine by writing notes all the time? Maybe Sam’s story should have been a separate book.A few things annoyed me throughout too, firstly all 6 of Jake’s siblings and himself had a name beginning with J, this just made it harder to remember which one as which especially as we don’t see very much of them except Jordan. Also Rain had a twin sister called River, seemed abit too much. We also have a few characters that don’t really seem to go anywhere or have any reason to be in the story, firstly, River, we find she is gay, and getting so much information makes t seem as though we will hear more of her, but she only makes a few appearances. The other character is Kali, he is bought in to help teach Jake sign language, and later moves into the loft space, but nothing else ever comes of him, the story would’ve fine without him.Overall it is fine as a romance, but not so good in learning how people cope with a life changing disability.Read if: You like a sweet YA romance