"I wait for him, the cold seeping through my clothes, until it finally dawns on me that he's not coming back. And I wonder why he chose her instead of me? Why he went looking for her when I was right there."
Tai and Juliet have been best friends forever – since they met at kindy and decided to get married in first grade.
They understand each other in the way that only best friends can.
They love music, beach walks, energy drinks and, they are slowly discovering, each other.
As they dream of adventures beyond the HSC – a future free of homework, curfews and parents, a life together – their plans are suddenly and dramatically derailed.
For Tai is sick.
And not everything you wish for can come true.
A poignant story of first love, hope, grief, family, and the twistedness of life.
I don't like the way I feel right now. I mean, I really do not like the way that I feel right now.
My feelings have me wanting to 1 star the book. My appreciation for such a beautifully crafted story wants me to 5 star the book.
Yes, there was an element of hope. No, I wasn't feeling it. I was so depressed by the end of this book that I couldn't absorb any positive vibes. I'm not sure why. I've read other books dealing with a similar subject matter and did not feel so bleak when I was finished. I might have to avoid the beach for a while.
Was this worth the read? Yes. *points back to the mention of beautiful writing*
For now, I just feel like I need to go hug my kids. And have a stiff drink. I'm sure that tomorrow when I wake up, I'll realize how incredible this story was. Until then, I'm wanting to shake it all off and start thinking happy thoughts.
Read as part of the Traveling Book Society for the group Rated YA-MA. The best part of experiencing this story was getting to read everyone's notes and add a few of my own. I apologize in advance for the juvenile naughty I pulled on your book Hillary...but hey, I immortalized my dog ear with a lovely note.
Well, I don't know what to say. Despite weepy reactions from a few friends, I didn't cry at all as I was reading this book, although I certainly felt a great deal of sympathy for the two young lovers who have to deal with one of them becoming terminally ill.
But 15 minutes after I finished the novel, I suddenly found myself bawling over something totally unrelated for no good reason at all. Bawling, as in I couldn't stop for a long time, despite my best efforts to control myself. Even though I'm prone to be rather emotional these days, I have to believe that part of the reason this happened is that the feelings this book brought to the surface still lingered.
While it's true that there are probably aspects that could have been more developed for a more well-rounded book, that's not the story the author chose to tell--and I'm okay with that, since it's not altogether unrealistic that it feels as though the world revolves around these two kids and what they are going through.
I thought this was a thoroughly frank, poignant portrayal of the way relationships and perception can change because of a serious illness, and the book deals honestly and respectfully with the human need to grieve, as well as to hang onto what we love most.
And as always, part of the joy of reading contemporary Aussie YA is experiencing the day to day life and slang and humor of teenagers halfway across the world. A terrific book, and an author I'm looking forward to reading again.
Obtaining a Copy
If you'd like to read this Aussie YA book, it's available online from Fishpond.com.au with free international shipping.
This books lacks the emotional punch of The Fault in Our Stars but it is still a moving story, well constructed and powerful. Juliet and Tai have been friends since kindergarten. Now in their last year at High School they realise their attraction for each other but then Tai learns he has an incurable cancer. Chapters (mostly) alternate between Tai and Juliet's narrations. This works very well, with Tai's voice (a rare male voice in a YA) being quite unforgettable. Life is not always a happy place and this book reminds the YA to value their health and opportunities.
This book is nothing short of amazing. It truly deserves way more than 5 stars. In fact I just might venture to say that it's the best book I've read...ever.
Juliet and Tai have been best friends since they met in kindergarten. They even jumped off the roof with umbrellas together trying to fly like Mary Poppins. (of course that didn't end well for either of them.) But now they are both getting ready to graduate from high school and they realize that they want more from each other. Unfortunately as their relationship grows and they plan for their future in college together fate steps in and has a mind of it's own. The reality is you can't always get what you want, and life is beyond cruel...
Yes this book is sad and tragic in the worst of ways. But you know by the title and the synopsis that you aren't going to get a Happily Ever After. Then again I think that is some of the beauty in this book. It's real life on paper. There are no white horse knights to save the day or music in the backround every time they kiss. There's pain, and love, and the reality that you don't always get what you deserve. That life can be cruel for no reason at all.
Put it to you this way...I was sucked into the story from the first page. I fell in love with both of the main characters, Juliet & Tai, from the beginning. And I loved, LOVED that this is told from both of their POV's. It made it so much easier to feel everything that was going on. So much so that I was crying my eyes out in the first 60 pages, and the tears just kept on coming. I cried so hard, on more than one occasion, I had to put the book down and catch my breath. A steady stream of tears rolled down my face and dripped from my chin until the last page. And even though it hurt, even though something inside me started to unravel and eventually broke, I couldn't put this book down. I couldn't look away. I needed every word like I need air to breathe. And now that it's over I still want more. I want to know what happens now, and when I close my eyes to sleep at night this story haunts my dreams. I simply can't get it out of my head.
Overall I know that I could never find the words to do this book justice so you just need to pick it up for yourself. It's a tragic story of love, loss, and a grief so deep you'll feel your inside rip apart as you turn the pages.
Buy it, borrow it, rent it, steal it if you have to, but you simply have got to READ this book!
Everything Left Unsaid is a beautifully crafted story of young love, choices and what it means to lose someone you love. I’ve had my fair share of books with characters dying of diseases, and I’m happy to say Everything Left Unsaid did not disappoint! It’s sweet, it’s sad, and it will certainly leave you with an ache in your heart, but Everything Left Unsaid is definitely worth your time!
I absolutely loved Tai and Juliet’s relationship! You could tell they really loved each other, and it was impossible not to feel their pain; having to battle through the last year of high school, (ONE year before freedom), only to be confronted with the one unthinkable obstacle – Tai being diagnosed with a brain tumour. *sobs* Their relationship felt realistic to me, and while both sides made some mistakes that irked me a little now and then, I was able to easily forgive them. (Given their situation, those feelings and actions were well…unavoidable). Tai and Juliet’s perseverance throughout this difficult time was certainly admirable- *sigh* Why does fate have to be so cruel? Tai and Juliet totally deserved a happily ever after!!
I’m still debating whether I made the right decision in reading this before my HSC …or perhaps I should’ve waited until after my HSC? On one hand, I certainly found it easy to relate to the characters and what they’re experiencing- the stress of being in Year 12, cramming for exams (Gosh, that’s a NIGHTMARE), the fear of not doing well enough to be accepted into Uni and of course, in between studying and attending school, the partying and girls night out! I honestly cannot imagine how Juliet managed to survive her final year- studying for finals AND on top of that, having to deal with the heartbreak of losing her best friend/boyfriend. However, I must admit, after reading this book, I’m left in fear of what’s to become of my future. I’m reading about everyone being accepted into their first/second preferences, and feeling extremely happy for them but part of me is thinking “What is I don’t get accepted”? (Okay, I’m trying REALLY hard not to think about that!)
Overall, Everything Left Unsaid is definitely a book you should look out for! While I wasn’t too pleased with the beginning (everything happened too fast) but it’s impossible not to be consumed by the power of the story as I read on! By the end, I was completely in love with everything about the book<3 Oh, and be sure to have a box of tissues next to you when you start reading! I guarantee you’ll be bawling your eyes out by the end!
So fucking depressing and sad. But so beautiful at the same time! I haven't cried this hard in a LONG time. I'm not even sure I'll be able to write a review. Holy crap, that was sure something =''(
Cover: It's interesting how the title font's colour is white and how some of the letters are traced since the background is white too. There is that feeling that something is hanging between the girl and the guy in the cover. I think it suits the story quite well!
Story:
What happens when everything in your life changes the moment you find out your love is sick?
Juliet and Tai are best friends since they were both young. As they grow up together, Juliet finds herself falling for Tai. And when she finally confesses her feeling to Tai, Tai also tells Juliet that he likes her. Just when Juliet thought everything will be perfect, she finds out that Tai is sick, and that everything she wishes for will not come true...
It's been a while since I read a book that made me teary and completely broke my heart and Everything Left Unsaid gave me a mixture of different emotions. The book was written from both Juliet and Tai's POV. Davidson's writing was really beautiful and felt so real. She voiced her characters really well. Reading from Tai's POV particularly broke my heart. I couldn't imagine what life was like for Tai when he found out he was sick. And what was even more painful was the fact that he was leaving all his loved ones behind, including Juliet. The book explored Juliet and Tai's relationship and their bittersweet story as they spend time together until the end of Tai's life. The ending was really sad although it ended the story beautifully. It made me feel that no matter what happens in our lives, we must go on.
Characters: One thing I loved the most about Davidson's writing was her characterization of Juliet and Tai. They felt so real to me and I connected to them although sometimes I was a bit frustrated with Juliet and Tai's relationship. Tai and Juliet's relationship was beautiful, built since they were both young with lovely childhood memories. When Juliet discovered that Tai was sick, she always spent most of her time with him and despite the fact that she cried countless times, she knew that tears won't help Tai in any ways. What frustrated me a little was the way Tai sometimes distanced himself from Juliet, even though he clearly loved her. I understood how Tai felt that his life was useless since he was dying, but Juliet was always there for him and he should have told her if he needed time alone instead of not telling her anything. There was one moment when I'm a bit frustrated with Juliet as well when her relationship with Tai was not going so well. But it all worked out in the end. I also really liked Tai's parents. They were very supportive of Tai and made me really sad. Tai's brothers, oh goodness, I really could not imagine how they felt knowing that their brother, who accompanied them through their nightmares was dying. Juliet's friend, Gen, was also a very supportive friend to Juliet.
Overall: Everything Left Unsaid is a poignant story about life. How sometimes life does not got the way we want to. How life can drastically change in one second. Beautifully written and heart-breaking, Everything Left Unsaid was a beautiful and unforgettable read.
Thank you Pan Macmillan Australia for the review copy!
I bought this book on a visit to New Zealand, looking for different literature to take home. I do not read many books about this type of topic, death and cancer. However, when I discovered that it was the story of how this disease affects young people, I couldn't resist. I read it quickly, wishing to know what would happen. Sadly, from day one we knew the story wouldn't have a happy ending.
Yet, this book's value doesn't lie in the plot. It lies in the sweetness and the emotion hidden in the story as Tai and Juliet face the changes cancer brings into their lives. Love, faith, loyalty, friendship, family, and hope rise to the surface, even if it's a loosing battle. We realize that memories are so precious, and we are grateful for the things we can enjoy while we are healthy.
The characters were realistic and truthful, which didn't detract from the story. The plot moved quickly and easily. At times, you are filled with fear and incredible sadness, as you realize this is the story of many young and old people out there in the world, right now. When you finish the book you are left with a sad feeling, but also with a sweet, melancholic smile. I am glad I read this book.
This probably makes me a horrible person, but in general, cancer books just don’t make me cry. I consider myself super emotional, but these stories just don’t hit me for whatever reason. Everything Left Unsaid is without a doubt a great book, and very very depressing, but I just didn’t get the emotional kick I was hoping for. It follows Juliet and Tai, life-long best friends who have finally admitted to their feelings for each other. Nearly as soon as their relationship begins, Tai learns that he has less than a year to live. What follows is a super sad story that doesn’t really spare any of the details of Tai’s illness. It’s like a really bad thunder storm, but there’s no rainbow the next day.
One issue that I had with Everything Left Unsaid was Juliet and her mother. I couldn’t believe some of things that they said as Tai’s illness progresses. Juliet’s mom actually tries to ground her! Why in the world would she want to keep her daughter away from her best friend and boyfriend when he only has limited time left?! I do understand that she wanted her daughter to keep up with her studies, but university will still be there in a year, while Tai won’t. She’s also worried about them having sex, but seriously, they’re 17, in love and don’t have much time together. Get over it! Then at the end Juliet herself began to frustrate me. She complains that Tai doesn’t text her all day long anymore and denies her invites to hang out. Um, he’s too sick to even sit up in bed most days! How do you expect him to do everything he was able to before?! She even says things like the following:
“He’s sick. Every time I see him he’s sicker, and his parents have taken him and his brothers away for Christmas. It’s like what I want doesn’t even matter. It’s just happening to me and I can’t do anything about it.“
Excuse me? God forbid his parents want to have one last family holiday with their dying son! Juliet, this is not about you! You are not the only one about to lose him! Selfish!
Anyway, other than the above, I did enjoy Everything Left Unsaid. I felt awful for Tai as he struggles to come to terms with his death. He has major decisions to make but doesn’t really have the physical or emotional strength to make them. His relationship with Juliet was very sweet in the beginning and they have some seriously mushy scenes together, even as his illness gets worse. However, in the end, it was just another cancer book that failed to make the world’s biggest crybaby shed even a single tear. I do think it’s worth reading though if you have access to it.
Everything Left Unsaid was a beautiful, heart-warming book. I completely fell in love with everything about it. The story was amazing, heart-warming, but heart-breaking. I was laughing and crying. This book was an emotional rollercoaster. It was so unbelievably sad, and I loved every minute.
Juliet and Tai have been best friends for years. Their friendship and love for each other has always been strong. With their mutual love of music, beach-walks and energy drinks, they complete each other. When Juliet finally realises her true feelings for Tai, everything between them just gets better. Their love grows. Then, when the unthinkable happens and Tai is sick, how will they both cope? Is their love strong enough for even this?
Everything Left Unsaid left me a crying, blubbering, emotional mess. Tai and Juliet’s love story was beautiful. Although, there were some times when I could’ve wacked Tai because he was being silly, but I didn’t because what he was going though was enough.
I felt sorry for Juliet. She tried to be strong and bold, but really she just wanted to cry and cry and cry. She was losing the love of her life and no one really understood her pain. The only person she could talk to was Tai, and he was the problem. Tai was… alright. I liked him in the beginning, but his illness turned him into something he was not. It was quite painful to read, from his POV and Juliet’s.
Overall, Everything Left Unsaid was a beautifully written contemporary. It was so sad, though. I knew this book was going to be emotionally draining, but I warn you, it is so much more. It’s emotionally draining and so touching. It was beautiful. I would recommend this to everyone. I loved it so, so much!
Also, the author is Australian and the book is set in NSW. That alone is purely awesome.
There isn't much you need to know about this book before I recommend you go out and buy a copy. Everything Left Unsaid is such an addictive and refreshingly realistic novel that I feel it could be enjoyed by almost anyone.
Tai and Juliet have been best friends since kindy but only just discover a romantic fondness for each-other in their final year of school when graduation and uni are on the cards and a semi-adult life is about to begin. All of this comes to a sudden halt when Tai finally goes for a check-up on a reoccurring headache that has been bothering him for quite some time. It turns out Tai has a brain tumour and with a couple rounds of chemotherapy and a surgery, he may be able to live for a few more months.
I'm not usually one to be drawn to such a morbid sounding novel but I just couldn't resist the idea of this Aussie YA novel. I'm really glad I got a chance to read this book as it's such a quick and easy read with a roller-coaster of emotions and a few teary moments thrown in near the end. I even found myself bringing Everything Left Unsaid along on each and every outing in the hopes of getting stuck in a queue at some point during the day and having even more time to spend reading this book.
I especially loved how Jessica Davidson included lots of little Australianisms which made it an even more enjoyable novel for me. I'm sure it'd work just as well worldwide with such an addictive story-line.
Sooooo, yeah. This is probably one of the more depressing cancer books I've read, though I'm not exactly sure what to point to and say, "This is what makes this book more depressing than the others." But the fact remains that at the end, I wasn't feeling that hopeful peaceful feeling. Maybe it's the realistic and devastatingly true way that the details and roller coaster of emotions are handled. Maybe it's the dual POVs of both the cancer patient and the person who loves the cancer patient. Maybe it's that nobody is stoic or brave in this situation in this story. The fear is evident and nobody thinks it'll be okay. And it's not okay. And in the end I still feel like none of this was okay. But it's authentic. And sad. I prefer The Fault in Our Stars, though, because I think I need that humor to lighten the mood in heavy subject books like these.
Traveling book at YA-MA. Thanks guys for letting me take part!
Wow. What a tear-jerker this turned out to be! A quick yet emotional read, this story follows a young couple faced with death during a time when they should be thinking about the future. Juliet and Tai were likable, though honestly Juliet kind of annoyed me at times. I wasn't even fully invested in their story until the last 50 pages or so. It basically gets to a point where the tears start and they don't stop!
I would have given this story 3 stars, but the heart breaking end pushed it up to a 4. It definitely brings about emotion in you, especially if you've lost someone close to you. Recommend for someone looking for a good (ugly) cry!!
I tried to read this book in small doses because I knew I was going to be a bawling mess. I succeeded for a short time, but then the time came to rip the band-aid off...and boy did that bitch hurt.
Everything Left Unsaid by Australian author Jessica Davidson was a poignant read that will teach you a thing or two about life, the power of choice, and the effect those choices can have on the people you may leave behind. Going into this book I knew what it would involve and ultimately how it will end. Everything Left Unsaid has characters that you can’t help but to immediately want to read about and as the book goes on you fall in love with them too no matter what their situation is by the end of the book. This book is one for contemporary-romance lovers.
Although they have been friends since they were young and did everything two young best friends would do, it was guaranteed that Juliet and Tai would begin to like the other as more than a friend. But after they confess their liking for each other and everything seems perfect in those moments together amid Year 12, exams, planning for Schoolies, their career, and their future, Tai is delivered devastating news that not only interferes with his future and his family, but also rocks his relationship with Juliet. Both Juliet and Tai have to make choices—and what good are choices when in some instances either one will lead to the same outcome. This story is about acceptance, choice, love, and most importantly life.
Juliet and Tai’s relationship was built upon childhood memories so it was truly believable from the moment Juliet tells Tai that she likes him. There is complete respect and understanding between the two; it is something that many romance-driven stories fail to achieve. Although their relationship sails through rocky times when Tai is diagnosed and becomes reclusive and hopeless, distancing himself from Juliet to not hurt her anymore, Juliet continues to support him. It got frustrating at times because Juliet would not know what Tai’s intentions were and vice versa, but we as the reader did since this story is told through both perspectives. You just want to shake Tai out of his gloom. But it is this gloom and yearning that makes this story and these characters so real and relatable. I personally haven’t had anyone I know go through cancer—or at least someone so close to me—but I understand that those periods of reclusion and uselessness are both key to bringing about self-acceptance. And it’s not just Juliet and Tai but also their families that pulled my heart; I found myself really gutted over Tai’s younger brothers as they were left in the dark for most of the time as to what was happening.
There is no happy ending here, but for someone looking for something a bit more emotional than your average boy-meets-girl contemporary read then this is the perfect book for you.
I wanted to read fluff, just to have something different because I've been having a hard time with everything, like a break from all the stress and just indulge myself with all the cuteness of everything.
And then I saw this book.
Man I don't know, it felt like I thought it'll be a cliche story because the plot is like a best friend-turned-to-lovers thing but when I read "For Tai is sick" and then I was like no, not again. Not another story about me shipping a couple that will sink in the end because the guy dies. Not another story that will make me emotionally unstable. I just want to flip everything because why the hell would they include this in the preview something? Gahd.
But I did love the book! It was very cute and realistic. I skimmed some reviews and others said they cried, others said they didn't. I was a part of the first. I cried too much I made sobbing sounds, good thing I was alone in a dark room or else I might be too embarrassed because I cried too much over a book ;u;
Juliet was okay for me. I don't really want to judge her for being such an extrovert and attends a lot of parties. I'm the exact opposite of her but I did like how she loved Tai too much it hurt her :-(
Tai. I love Tai so much too omfg!! I really just gah he's so cute and smart and I think he has a lot of self-control because I've always had the thinking that if a couple is alone in a bedroom they would just immediately do it but it took a lot of time before they actually did it and I just think, you know? Tai is very sweet and I love him and his notes to Juliet that me wail. I love him T_____T
River and Hendrix are the cutest brothers ever I fricking swear! They made me laugh, they made me wish to have brothers again and I cried too much because of them. They really resembled me and my youngest sister when my sibling died. They touched my heart so much ;u;
Juliet's mom resembles my mom. Overprotective, school-deprived. Minus the part where she somehow supports Juliet with Tai lol.
this is basically me when I was reading the book:
and when I cried too much I found myself sniffing and my cold got worse and so I have to remind myself to stop crying for a while. I don't regret getting the cold though ;u;
The ending though. It feels like Juliet will be really moving on with her life and find someone another guy. I am so selfish for not wanting that to happen although I have a strong feeling that Sam will be that guy. I am so sad, Tai. I am so sad.
Wow. This story absolutely broke my heart. I cried like a little girl. It was so fantastic and so moving.
Juliet and Tai have been best friends since kindy. They both love the same music, share Red Bull and generally understand each other. They are in their final year of high school and exams, schoolies and university is looming. It has taken this long, but Juliet has finally realised just how much Tai really means to her, in more ways than a friend. Tai has known for awhile and now they are finally getting a chance to be together, to explore the boundaries that their friendship restricted. But things are never easy, and now Tai has found out that he is sick. Will their love and friendship survive?
Juliet and Tai. Tai and Juliet. Best friends since forever, Tai is finally out of the dreaded "friend zone". Their friendship and blossoming romance is so gorgeous, I just hated knowing that something bad was going to happen. But that's what this story is. It is a window into a world where things seems perfect, but hidden underneath the surface is a devastating life change, just waiting to happen.
Juliet is such a strong character. Yes, she cries a lot. I mean, who wouldn't in her situation. She watches her best friend and love of her life change, his health deteriorating, making him a shadow of his former self. Not only is she strong, for standing by, but she is strong, for never giving up. Yes, she has moment's of doubt, of hurt, but overall, she handles the situation really well, considering.
Tai is such a gorgeous character. He just wants to get his licence, graduate, move out with Juliet and live on two-minute noodles. But the world has other plans. From the moment you meet him, you want to be his friend. You want to have that kind of friendship with him and it breaks your heart to watch him disappear, becoming someone else. At least it did for me, perhaps I am just a sap.
We watch them build this romance, and watch it slowly crumble. We see what happens when life throws you a curve ball. We watch them be strong, until they can't be strong anymore. This story is achingly beautiful and will stay with you for a long long time.
I love the set up of the book, the dual perspective gives such an insight into the characters and both sides of the story. This is such a heavy story, and the grief comes off the page and grabs me and didn't let go until the last page. I nearly cried every other page and felt such hope, pain and love while reading. It is the ultimate story of loss from both ends. I loved the relationship between Juliet and Tai, it felt so authentic and sweet. They'd been friends forever and boyfriend and girlfriend for a while. They had the history behind them to make their relationship build, not just be told that they are in love. We get the little moments, glimpses into their routines and just how they interact with each other, and I was sold. I really appreciated how this book showed not only how cancer effects the one who is sick and they one they love that loves them, it also features strong family ties. I loved Mia, Tai's mother as well as his brothers River and . It gives such a child-like view into what is going on and how they deal with the grief. It was nice that Tai and Juliet weren't in their own little bubble, seeing their family involvement makes it all the more real to me. This story gets a little gritty at time, mention of blood, peeing, pain and the like, but it is not graphic, and I think that it really adds power to the story. I think that it gets across that life doesn't always give us what we want, and things can't have a happy ending, but that you have to find your own strength to go on, and accept what comes at you. But that even though you have to find your own way, that your family and friends will be there for you and with you, if you allow yourself to be helped. Bottom Line: It was a very heavy and emotional story and it was just what I needed in a book right now.
I can't read novels about dying teenagers anymore. I just can't. I've reached my limit. (I think writing a novel about a dying teenager didn't really help.) That said, Everything Left Unsaid is beautifully written and sweet and thoughtful. As well as being, naturally, incredibly depressing. This is a good book to read if you want to have a good cry, but then afterwards you should probably read something light and uplifting and not-at-all serious.
One of the more remarkable things about this novel is the utter believability of the dialogue. I think there's a tendency in YA generally for everyone's conversations to be filled with incredible wit and snappiness and generally more eloquence than teenagers actually have, which is entertaining but perhaps doesn't always ring true. There was no point at which the dialogue seemed false in Everything Left Unsaid, and the way the characters related to each other (and the way in which they behaved) was very authentic. There's also quite a lot of drinking and sexual references. There's a great deal of realism overall, which makes it all the more heart-breaking.
Davidson is yet another Australian writing brilliant contemporary YA. Really. I don't think I've read a single contemporary YA novel by an Australian author in the last year that I've disliked.
I'd recommend it to older YA readers (and adult readers also) if only because the tone is incredibly somber. It's a heavy and incredibly poignant novel. If you read it and don't cry (or at the very least get that unpleasant about-to-cry sensation in your chest), then I'm not sure you have a soul.
This book reminded me a lot of The Fault in Our Stars. Cancer separating two young lovebirds. The difference was the point of view and language. The Fault in Our Stars was all from Hazel's point of view where this was from both Juliet and Tai's view. The Fault in Our Stars had amazing language and a distinct voice. Hazel and Gus were truly kids growing up with cancer. Everything Left Unsaid had typical teenage language. It was realistic towards the drinking, partying, and school life of the average teenager. It just happens that Tai gets cancer and starts pulling away from school. I should stop comparing the two but I can't seem to help it. The Fault in Our Stars rocked me and made me cry. Everything Left Unsaid made me angsty and a little annoyed at the beginning and then made me sad and teary eyed at the end. I was angsty because I couldn't stand the fact that Tai couldn't talk at first. Even before the cancer. That shouldn't annoy me so much because I don't talk a lot as well, but for some reason it did. It was annoying how he shut everyone out. You need to talk to someone or else it would eat you from the inside. But I did like how his thoughts explained how he hated when everyone was crying, no one was treating him normal, and how he tried to keep it hidden to keep from upsetting people further. I also was loving the australian slang and vocabulary.
Overall it was a good book. But if you are looking for amazing, you should definitely read The Fault in Our Stars.
Soo…. I cried. I cried a lot. Everything Left Unsaid is a terribly sad book, and I don’t recommend reading it if you don’t like anything emotional. There isn’t really much to say here. The back of the book makes it pretty clear that Tai is going to die, and somehow knowing that throughout the whole book didn’t make it any less painful when it actually happened. The story has split narration…. is that what it’s called? Basically every other chapter or so switched perspectives between Tai and Juliet, best friends since Kindergarten that finally realize they’re in love during senior year. Just in time for Tai to get sick. So while they should be falling in love, finishing school, heading to Uni, etc. they’ll learning how to deal with grief, and the hardest types of goodbyes. I felt like I was reading a diary between two friends of mine. The characters were written so wonderfully… I can’t think of a single flaw. The writing was beautiful, and the author had to have gone through something similar to understand this level of grief. She had to have, because it was completely on point. The connection between all of the characters was amazing. I cried so much. I can’t stress enough how much I cried.
Just by reading the back of this book you know how it will end. You know as soon as Tai gets the news that there will be no miracle, no 'Oops, we were wrong' and that he and Juliet will get their happily ever after. Knowing this, why did I still cry at the end? I knew there was no happiness as I turned the pages, but the last twenty or so pages are now wet with tears.
It's no secret that I love YA stories, both the realistic and fantasy kinds. This was a great realistic story, full of cut off dreams. We see how it affects his whole family, including the comments from his younger brothers that had me getting even more weepy. Even his mates, who couldn't deal with the idea at all seemed so true. How can you comprehend dying at 18, and knowing that you were dying as it happened over months? This is the big time for Aussie youth, this is HSC, first jobs, first loves, moving out and driving. Tai doesn't get a choice in what he misses out on.
I found my copy in a bookstore, for the surprising price of $16.99. If you love YA, and weep buckets when reading sad stories, then this one is for you.
My goodness this was so riveting. So very emotional. It's not like I didn't expect it to be a sad tale... but I didn't know how very deeply it would touch me. I should not have read the last 20 or so percent at work during my lunch hour -- because I cried. I would have cried a lot more, had I been at home under the covers reading alone. Forget happy ever after. Forget miracle cures. Tai has a brain tumor and he is going to die. There is no second guessing that outcome. But the way it is written is so heart wrenching and beautiful. I could go on and on about how much I loved this book and how I hope everyone reads it... I loved Tai and Juliet. Two beautiful souls who spent Tai's last year knowing how much they loved one another. This is going on the list of top reads for 2012. Amazing book.
Everything left unsaid is a beautifully planed and written book about teen-life, drama, school, love and social life. Juliet and Tai have been best friends forever and they are always by each others side. One night they go to a party and everything changes between them. Tai get really sick and its not completely treatable so they make the most of their time together. A character I found interesting was Juliet because although she was heartbroken and found it hard to concentrate on school she stayed brave and stayed strong for Tai. I decided to read this book because the book cover and title grabbed my attention and it looked interesting and the blurb sounded interesting. I really enjoyed this book because of the connection between Tai and Juliet and life. I learned that in life we need to take risks and don't always have to play it safe because our days in life can be numbered
I am such a glutton for punishment. WHY DO I DO THIS TO MYSELF? Why did I have to read another The Fault in Our Stars-esque book, this time coached in a lovely Aussie setting (I do so love Aussie YA)?
It wasn't flawless or worth 5 stars, since it could have used some cleaning up. But I did ugly sob over the last 20 pages and found it a beautiful portrayal of a relationship rocked by the news of sudden and impending death. Having personally gone through something like Tai, I found myself getting goosebumps over his diagnosis and treatment scenes. Then there was the ugly sobbing. I am a water tap and proud of it.
Juliet and Tai are young and in love. But Tai is dying and the future will no longer be the way they ever imagined. This is a story of love, heartbreak and sadness.
This is a very good Australian novel. I love that you are given two perspectives to the story and go through the emotions that they do. It is written the way teenagers speak and act and bought back a lot of memories of my own time doing the HSC. There is no happily ever after and you WILL cry reading this book (I had lumps in my throat when the characters did and I sobbed and sobbed at the end). Even now, hours after finishing it I am tearing up thinking about it.
Overall, Jessica Davidson's novel EVERYTHING LEFT UNSAID is something of a bittersweet read and many readers will connect with it one way or another! With a story all about first loves, bestfriends, friendships and a one person's battle of terminal illness that will change everything around them, I would highly recommend this book to everyone because it was a brilliant read and made me want to cry in the best possible way!