Before We Were Innocent

Reese's Book Club

De: Ella Berman

Narrado por: Jennifer Jill Araya

Duración: 11 h

Resumen del Editor

Reese’s Book Club Pick December 2023

A summer in Greece for three best friends ends in the unthinkable when only two return home. . . .

Ten years ago, after a sun-soaked summer spent in Greece, best friends Bess and Joni were cleared of having any involvement in their friend Evangeline’s death. But that didn’t stop the media from ripping apart their teenage lives like vultures.

While the girls were never convicted, Joni, ever the opportunist, capitalized on her newfound infamy to become a motivational speaker. Bess, on the other hand, resolved to make her life as small and controlled as possible so she wouldn’t risk losing everything all over again. And it almost worked. . . .

Except now Joni needs a favor, and when she turns up at her old friend's doorstep asking for an alibi, Bess has no choice but to say yes. She still owes her. But as the two friends try desperately to shake off their past, they have to face reality.

Can you ever be an innocent woman when everyone wants you to be guilty?

©2023 Ella Berman (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"Two BFFs are accused of murder in this novel that feels like true crime.” —Cosmopolitan

“Ella Berman reveals a teenage girl’s heart of darkness in her absorbing new novel. . . . Written with the urgency and thrill of an illicit secret, Before We Were Innocent captures the pleasures and perils of American girlhood.” —Jillian Medoff, bestselling author of When We Were Bright and Beautiful

“With evocative and astute prose, Berman’s sophomore effort is a…searing portrayal of the intoxicating power of privilege, youth, and female friendship.” —Booklist

The Ending

If there was 4.5 I would give it. Binged it through a whole day of work, couldn’t stop listening. The only real issue I had was the ending felt a little undone . Maybe the point was we don’t know if a certain character is alive still, but it felt unfinished. Like I even looked for a sequel.

Addictive

The beginning seemed slow. It took a while to grow on me. I wasn’t very fond of the characters they didn’t seem likable but they slowly started to earn a place in my mind. Wish the ending offered more closure

Wonderful narration

The story was great, I was hooked from the beginning. The voice given to these characters really came through. I wanted a better conclusion, but a great book nonetheless.

Amazingly addictive

Love how the dynamics between 3 teenagers is explained and how they grow to become wonderful women!

Great narrator, anticlimactic story

The narrator for this book was GREAT!! The different characters were all distinct & it was easy to follow who was talking. The story itself was anticlimactic, I was initially hooked but by the end it was predictable. The potential was there but didn’t really go anywhere. Overall, not a bad listen but not thrilling.

Trite story. Written to become a throw away Netflix series

Characters weren’t well developed. Friendship at center of story was hollow and didn’t feel believable. A beach read.

Just OK

Interesting story, but I was expecting more. Not a lot of twists as promised by the description.

Suspenseful, captivating, yet heartfelt

The author read perfectly this story of youth, fearlessness, the consequences of choices, and the ability to reconcile and heal

Took me back to high school

Great story, different. Took me back to when I was in high school and the things we did, being invincible. I was disappointed in the end, but not angry disappointed, just thought it would turn out different. I loved it though.

Unsatisfying Ending

This book kept me interested, I finished it in just a couple of days but I’m giving it just three stars for a lack of a satisfying ending.