That Night

By: Cecily Wolfe

Narrated by: Sharmila Devar

Length: 6 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's Summary

Drug overdoses don't happen to girls with good grades and athletic talent, with longtime friends and a devoted boyfriend. Or do they?

When high school seniors Cassidy and Sarah, along with Kayla's boyfriend Paul, discover their best friend Kayla unconscious at a party, the idea that they have lost her to a heroin overdose is unbelievable. She didn't use drugs, except the pain medicine prescribed for a soccer injury, and she had no reason to accept any from a stranger. The month that follows her death is filled with anxiety, sadness, frustration, and questions. Answers won't bring Kayla back, however, so as Cass and Sarah struggle with the insensitive but predictable behavior of parents, classmates, and teachers, Paul falls into a depression that leads him down a dangerous path. With Kayla's younger sister Mia in mind, the three of them work towards forging ahead without the girl who has held them together since elementary school.

©2017 Cecily Wolfe (P)2019 Cecily Wolfe

YA Genius on real life issues

I had first read this book a year ago and I rated it five stars then and I was honestly worried about its translation into an audiobook because the narration is so vital for its success. Consider this a success. The character came even more alive than before. The feelings could be felt through the multiple voices voices by one person.


She delivered a story with truth, honesty and the reality that is now, then and the future. What I wasn’t prepared for was the depth in which I journeyed too. I expected a story of what had happened and why it happened. Bada bing Bada Boom. This was not that.

Wolfe opened up to a world of many different healings. I was left with the feeling of wanting to pick up the phone and call my best friend and remind her how important she is to me.

Kayla’s death was sudden. While we faced her death and were left with the open question of why, we saw the aftermath. The lives of those Kayla had left behind. The aftermath of how coping isn’t the same for everyone. How people can be cruel, they can be kind and they can be broken.

We follow Kayla’s best friends Cassidy and Sarah, Paul the boyfriend, Mia the younger sister and Danny the house it happened at, the closest. But neatly tucked away you a get a glimpse of the soccer team, her parents, other kids parents, coaches and school officials. A lot happens within That Night besides the main premise of the novel.

It’s a very complex story but it the most positive way. I think that because of how real the situation is, the complexity is all to understanding.

2 people found this helpful

Real and raw

That Night is a story that most people wouldn't talk about. I think that all teens should know more about drugs and not just sex. This will help them to understand that it could happen... to anyone. This is a real and raw story that makes you think this could happen to my kid if they aren't careful. Kayla’s death was a huge impact on the people (some she wasn't even that close too) around her. You're own life has impact on others. Remember that!

Everyone needs to hear this story

This book didn’t play out how I expected; it was better. The focus of the story wasn’t on the one that passed, but those that were left behind. The author did so well with the narrative, and it can really open a person’s eyes to not only addiction, but those who are left behind due to addiction. Great props to the author and narrator. Also, I loved the author’s note at the end.

Mundane

I wasn't overly fond of this book. It was incredibly mundane though I think a lot of that was by design.
Man, the narrator was bland and gave no emotion even though the content was supposed to be emotional. Her voice was so plain, that I had to stop and go back because I wasn't hearing the words.
Overall the story, walks you through each day Kayla's friends live after her death of a drug overdose. What shouldn't be emotional isn't. The author is trying to portray that even every day things are ruined by death but the narration betrays any feelings.
there were some highs as the characters dealt with depression and injuries and how Kayla's death affected those aspects of their lives. This is where the book is at it's best, truly develing into the psychology of those left behind.
Wolfe ends with a small bang. It explains something but not enough. And that's the most weighty issue here: we don't always know everything.

Lessons!

Great story of life lessons learned.As the old saying goes, never judge what you don't know! Narrator makes the story!

Wow!

Parties are for fun, for hanging out with your friends and escaping your troubles for a while. So what happens when one of your best friends is found dead of an apparent drug overdose at one? That’s the reality that best friends Sarah and Cass find themselves in the center of. For as long as they can remember, it’s been them and Kayla, but now, she’s gone, and they aren’t sure why. They are determined to do what they can to find out the truth of that night, no matter what it costs.

This book handles a myriad of topics and emotions very well. First, grief and loss were handled in a very real, expressive manner. With each character having the chance to voice their thoughts and opinions, it painted a very real picture of what someone’s death can do to those around them, how it can make them question and lose themselves. I also loved the way the story kind of made the point that even people we think we’re close to, we might not know the truth about. Everyone faces their own struggles, and not everyone will be willing to talk about it. Even people we think are fine and happy may be going through personal struggles that no one would ever imagine.

With so many different POVs woven together, this is a complex story, but one that is very powerful and important. This book is targeted for fans of 13 Reasons Why, and just like that famous book, I think everyone should give That Night by Cecily Wolf a read.

Narration was very well done. Each voice had its own little flair, and the emotional scenes were done very well.

This book was given to me for free at my request and I provided this voluntary review.

Good story<br />

This story is a good one for teenagers to read. They need to know that good things don't always happen if you do it just 1 time. The story is very thought provoking. The characters in this story share so much grief. I would listen to this again..

Grief

This book is not a story of drug abuse. It is a story of friends and family grieving and learning to go on, even after a loved one is taken from them far too soon.

The story focuses primarily on Cass, Sarah, and Paul. The two best friends and boyfriend of the girl who unexpectedly dies from a heroin overdose.

But Kayla wasn't a drug addict. Or was she?

Cass, Sarah, and Paul all follow very different paths as they deal with the shock of her death, the police investigation, and the rumors making their laps around the school.

This book is a good reminder to young people about just how dangerous drug use can be, that we aren't all immortal, and how sometimes terrible things can happen regardless of if they are deserved or not.

Gripping and emotional

That Night is a great audiobook that really captures the emotional impact of losing a close friend at a young age in such an unexpected manner. The characters are well developed and each one deals with their grief in unique ways. The narrator gives an excellent performance that is well paced with lots of different character voices.

Great insight

I really enjoyed the narrator. She did a fabulous job. She portrayed all the characters well.

This book follows the death of Kayla a s the aftermath. When I saw that it’s perfect for fans of 13RW, I decided to give it a try. While it doesn’t have the explosive twists, I thought it was interesting.
A bit slow and it really showed the aftermath of Kayla’s best friends and her boyfriend emotions. While the author tried to give a insight to the heroine addiction in our nation I didn’t feel any empathy towards Kayla’s friends. I didn’t feel the connection to them like I usually do when I read characters. But I think this could be a good tool for parents and children to speak up and for parents to listen to their children.

That Night

This is a story that I believe all teenagers should read or listen to. It is thought-provoking and emotional. This book focuses more on the loved ones left to cope and wonder why after someone overdoses. I feel this is a realistic representation of what happens in real life. I really loved the author's notes at the end of the story. I would highly recommend this book to anyone. Sharmila Devar did a great job bringing this story to life. I received this audiobook at my request and have voluntarily left this unbiased review.

Could Happen to Someone You Know

This is the 3rd book I have listened to by this author. This is about a tragedy that happens far to often. I think by writing about real experiences could help people dealing with issues could learn from this. This book just made me stop and think for a bit. I have enjoyed this author. I have never read books like hers.

WOW

This book is a very hard hitting story about the emotional fallout of a friend's overdose. The author handles this delicate subject, that needs awareness raising, with real sensitivity. The narration is a treat to listen to.