The You I've Never Known

By: Ellen Hopkins

Narrated by: Candace Thaxton, Rebekkah Ross, Kirby Heyborne

How do you live your life if your past is based on a lie? Find out in this “satisfied and moving story” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) in both verse and prose from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ellen Hopkins.

For as long as she can remember, it’s been just Ariel and Dad. Ariel’s mom disappeared when she was a baby. Dad says home is wherever the two of them are, but Ariel is now seventeen and after years of new apartments, new schools, and new faces, all she wants is to put down some roots. Complicating things are Monica and Gabe, both of whom have stirred a different kind of desire.

Maya’s a teenager who’s run from an abusive mother right into the arms of an older man she thinks she can trust. But now she’s isolated with a baby on the way, and life’s getting more complicated than Maya ever could have imagined.

Ariel and Maya’s lives collide unexpectedly when Ariel’s mother shows up out of the blue with wild accusations: Ariel wasn’t abandoned. Her father kidnapped her fourteen years ago.

In bestselling author Ellen Hopkins’s deft hands, Ariel’s emotionally charged journey to find out the truth of who she really is balances beautifully with Maya’s story of loss and redemption. This is a memorable portrait of two young women trying to make sense of their lives and coming face to face with themselves—for both the last and the very first time.

RAW AND UNCOMFORTABLE

This one hit me like a ton of bricks. If you’ve ever read a verse novel, you know they’re usually quick, but the emotional weight of this one made me have to put it down and breathe for a second. It follows two different timelines that eventually crash into each other, dealing with a girl whose mother basically kidnapped her and a guy struggling with his own identity and a pretty toxic home life.
It’s a 5-star read because it’s raw and uncomfortable in that way only a really honest story can be. Being a mom now, the parts about the daughter being manipulated by her parent made my stomach turn; it really makes you think about the scars we carry from how we’re raised. The writing is gorgeous but sharp, and while it’s technically YA, the themes are heavy enough to keep me engaged even with my MHRM brain switched on. It’s a heartbreaking look at how we try to find ourselves when the people who are supposed to love us are the ones holding us back. Definitely grab some tissues for this one.

Another great read by Ellen!

I'm biased as Ellen is my favorite author. I've enjoyed 99% of all I read and listen to of hers. I enjoyed this very much! The story flowed well and kept me wanting more.

A+++

once again, Ellen Hopkins does an amazing job. she is favorite author. highly recommend reading all her books! I know I have!

Invested start to finish.

I know the paths of Maya and Ariel had to cross somehow. The way they do catches you off guard. The reader of ariels story is such a great voice actress, she had me tear many time throughout the book from the pain she mimics from the characters.
10/10 will listen again.

Heartbreaking and wonderful

I love Ellen Hopkins and how she can pull you into the story. Such a riveting story