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Don't Tell
I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone. I smile on the outside, but inside I feel like I’m slowly dying. I cry out for help, but nobody sees me, at least not the real me. They see a façade, a mask that I put on to hide the pain.
I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal? Maybe what I’m feeling is normal. The hurt, the disappointment, the loneliness… it could be all just be a part of life. Maybe I will never know what normal is.
I put on long sleeves and makeup to hide the bruises, but they only mask the outside. What happens when I can’t carry my burden alone any longer? What would happen if I told somebody the truth?
Don't Tell is a YA Contemporary Romance about love, forgivness and hope.
I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal? Maybe what I’m feeling is normal. The hurt, the disappointment, the loneliness… it could be all just be a part of life. Maybe I will never know what normal is.
I put on long sleeves and makeup to hide the bruises, but they only mask the outside. What happens when I can’t carry my burden alone any longer? What would happen if I told somebody the truth?
Don't Tell is a YA Contemporary Romance about love, forgivness and hope.
71 pages, Kindle Edition
First published August 25, 2012
About the author
Mercy Amare
32 books459 followersI write clean NA romance books. I have a slight addiction to Red Bull. When I'm not writing, I like to play music (I play the guitar and bass).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 44 reviews
March 11, 2013
If you are looking for a sweet but still realistic book, "Don't Tell" is the answer.
I won the book in a giveaway and started it a few minutes later. Honestly, I read it in one sit. From the first sentence till "The End", I was completely hooked with the story and it's characters. It was a quick read but also one of those you can't wait to know what's coming next.
About the characters, let me start with Lucy. Without giving too much away, she's a sweet yet strong teenager who's going through a lot. Her life isn't easy at all. However, she gets up every morning and copes her day with a smile on her face.
Ian, or as a young girl would call him, "prince charming", it's a perfect gentleman. He's tender, caring and very mature for his age. I don't want to spoil anything for you but if there is something you should know about him is that YOU WILL LOVE HIM.
The writer gets down with the plot and the characters' life immediately. As I said before it's a quick read, nonetheless I didn't felt like there was anything missing. Mercy's writing is fluent, funny and will get you hooked almost instantly.
I would definitely recommend this book to young readers or anyone who enjoys a true love story. If you like romance as much as I do, this book won't disappoint you.
I won the book in a giveaway and started it a few minutes later. Honestly, I read it in one sit. From the first sentence till "The End", I was completely hooked with the story and it's characters. It was a quick read but also one of those you can't wait to know what's coming next.
About the characters, let me start with Lucy. Without giving too much away, she's a sweet yet strong teenager who's going through a lot. Her life isn't easy at all. However, she gets up every morning and copes her day with a smile on her face.
Ian, or as a young girl would call him, "prince charming", it's a perfect gentleman. He's tender, caring and very mature for his age. I don't want to spoil anything for you but if there is something you should know about him is that YOU WILL LOVE HIM.
The writer gets down with the plot and the characters' life immediately. As I said before it's a quick read, nonetheless I didn't felt like there was anything missing. Mercy's writing is fluent, funny and will get you hooked almost instantly.
I would definitely recommend this book to young readers or anyone who enjoys a true love story. If you like romance as much as I do, this book won't disappoint you.
August 29, 2012
First Thoughts:
I was very eager to start this book, lately I’ve been reading a lot of realistic and serious books and so this was definitely at the top of my to-read list. This was a book that was very quick to read that went through a serious issue but at the same time went through a great transformation. This book didn’t dawdle with extra conflicts; it got down to the point and made the reader really see what was happening. I had a good time reading this book and found that it was really hard to put down. Just know that once you start this book you won’t put it down till you’re finished.
Plot:
This dealt with the serious issue of abuse and though I have never personally been through what Lucy has been through but I was able to get into her mind and see how she viewed her own situation. This was a book about a girl who comes from hardship trying to find her-self in along the way finding what it feels like to be loved. Now as far as the structure of the plot it was really simple, you had all the essentials and then of course the conclusion. The ending was very satisfying, especially because the author included an epilogue which allows us to see a little bit into the future and what’s happening to the characters. And really the length of this book is very short, it’s more of a short story or a novella but it’s amazing how much can happen in that short amount of pages, especially what this author pulled off. I really enjoyed that there wasn’t any unnecessary conflicts, that the author really stayed true to the main conflict and allowed the reader to really graze on that and watch as the story and situations unfolded. So overall I really enjoyed the plot, there was plenty happening to keep the reader interested and the pace was very quick; a book that can be read in one sitting.
Romance:
There was definitely romance in this book and it was so sweet and kind, though I think due to the briskness of the story it seemed a little rushed at times…but the author created the relationship in a way that made it more believable and even sweeter. And yes the romance kind of was part of the major conflict but it really was necessary to the story, to tell the story how it’s meant to be told. So overall I did enjoy the romance in the story.
Characters:
I instantly connected with Lucy, the powerful thoughts and emotions she had to go through was something I grasped onto. I really was able to understand her line of thinking and personality as the story progressed; as we got to hear her story. As for some of the more minor characters I enjoyed them as well, they all seemed to have their own role to play in this story, some more than others. And the characters seemed realistic and necessary. So overall the characters were an essential element in this book that really brought the story to light; without them this story would be pointless…dull. It’s the characters themselves that bring such importance to books and stories. So I’m glad this book had some great and relatable characters in it.
Transformation of the Character:
There was definitely a transformation in this book and I don’t really want to go into too much detail but it was definitely a great experience to watch as something so delicate became something much more. Now not all stories have these kinds of transformations but this one definitely did and I was so inspired on the steps this character took to get where she is now….overall this was definitely a great aspect and addition to the story.
Description:
I really enjoyed the description though it wasn’t too much detail just enough to allow the reader to really see the surroundings and deep inner thoughts and emotions. I really enjoyed the emotional description, it really allowed me to better connect with Lucy and understand her situation. And as for the description of the landscapes and surroundings I liked that the author used a few symbols to help symbolize Lucy’s situation and the mood of that particular scene. And as for the dialogue it was used in just the right moments and I didn’t feel any of the lines to be false or awkward. So overall I really enjoyed the description in this story.
Style:
This was written in two POV’s and in first person, this allowed the reader to get two perspectives and allow them to understand exactly what was going on in each scene. As for the author’s writing it was easy to understand and you could definitely see her personal touch as an author. I really enjoyed reading her writing and liked how she chose to write in two perspectives, it really allowed me to get another’s POV and better understand why things needed to happen the way they did. So overall I thought the style was just right for this story.
Quote of the Book:
“I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone….I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal?”
Goodreads Summary:
I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone. I smile on the outside, but inside I feel like I’m slowly dying. I cry out for help, but nobody sees me, at least not the real me. They see a façade, a mask that I put on to hide the pain.
I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal? Maybe what I’m feeling is normal. The hurt, the disappointment, the loneliness… it could be all just be a part of life. Maybe I will never know what normal is.
I put on long sleeves and makeup to hide the bruises, but they only mask the outside. What happens when I can’t carry my burden alone any longer? What would happen if I told somebody the truth?
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this to YA readers and to anyone who is looking for good romantic yet serious story. This really was a quick read so I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finishing it and it can definitely be a book you can read in-between readings. I look forward to reading other books and stories by this author, her writing definitely was fun to read and she had great characters to connect with. My overall satisfaction of this story was pleased.
I was very eager to start this book, lately I’ve been reading a lot of realistic and serious books and so this was definitely at the top of my to-read list. This was a book that was very quick to read that went through a serious issue but at the same time went through a great transformation. This book didn’t dawdle with extra conflicts; it got down to the point and made the reader really see what was happening. I had a good time reading this book and found that it was really hard to put down. Just know that once you start this book you won’t put it down till you’re finished.
Plot:
This dealt with the serious issue of abuse and though I have never personally been through what Lucy has been through but I was able to get into her mind and see how she viewed her own situation. This was a book about a girl who comes from hardship trying to find her-self in along the way finding what it feels like to be loved. Now as far as the structure of the plot it was really simple, you had all the essentials and then of course the conclusion. The ending was very satisfying, especially because the author included an epilogue which allows us to see a little bit into the future and what’s happening to the characters. And really the length of this book is very short, it’s more of a short story or a novella but it’s amazing how much can happen in that short amount of pages, especially what this author pulled off. I really enjoyed that there wasn’t any unnecessary conflicts, that the author really stayed true to the main conflict and allowed the reader to really graze on that and watch as the story and situations unfolded. So overall I really enjoyed the plot, there was plenty happening to keep the reader interested and the pace was very quick; a book that can be read in one sitting.
Romance:
There was definitely romance in this book and it was so sweet and kind, though I think due to the briskness of the story it seemed a little rushed at times…but the author created the relationship in a way that made it more believable and even sweeter. And yes the romance kind of was part of the major conflict but it really was necessary to the story, to tell the story how it’s meant to be told. So overall I did enjoy the romance in the story.
Characters:
I instantly connected with Lucy, the powerful thoughts and emotions she had to go through was something I grasped onto. I really was able to understand her line of thinking and personality as the story progressed; as we got to hear her story. As for some of the more minor characters I enjoyed them as well, they all seemed to have their own role to play in this story, some more than others. And the characters seemed realistic and necessary. So overall the characters were an essential element in this book that really brought the story to light; without them this story would be pointless…dull. It’s the characters themselves that bring such importance to books and stories. So I’m glad this book had some great and relatable characters in it.
Transformation of the Character:
There was definitely a transformation in this book and I don’t really want to go into too much detail but it was definitely a great experience to watch as something so delicate became something much more. Now not all stories have these kinds of transformations but this one definitely did and I was so inspired on the steps this character took to get where she is now….overall this was definitely a great aspect and addition to the story.
Description:
I really enjoyed the description though it wasn’t too much detail just enough to allow the reader to really see the surroundings and deep inner thoughts and emotions. I really enjoyed the emotional description, it really allowed me to better connect with Lucy and understand her situation. And as for the description of the landscapes and surroundings I liked that the author used a few symbols to help symbolize Lucy’s situation and the mood of that particular scene. And as for the dialogue it was used in just the right moments and I didn’t feel any of the lines to be false or awkward. So overall I really enjoyed the description in this story.
Style:
This was written in two POV’s and in first person, this allowed the reader to get two perspectives and allow them to understand exactly what was going on in each scene. As for the author’s writing it was easy to understand and you could definitely see her personal touch as an author. I really enjoyed reading her writing and liked how she chose to write in two perspectives, it really allowed me to get another’s POV and better understand why things needed to happen the way they did. So overall I thought the style was just right for this story.
Quote of the Book:
“I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone….I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal?”
Goodreads Summary:
I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone. I smile on the outside, but inside I feel like I’m slowly dying. I cry out for help, but nobody sees me, at least not the real me. They see a façade, a mask that I put on to hide the pain.
I pretend that I’m normal, but really, what is normal? Maybe what I’m feeling is normal. The hurt, the disappointment, the loneliness… it could be all just be a part of life. Maybe I will never know what normal is.
I put on long sleeves and makeup to hide the bruises, but they only mask the outside. What happens when I can’t carry my burden alone any longer? What would happen if I told somebody the truth?
Last Thoughts:
I would recommend this to YA readers and to anyone who is looking for good romantic yet serious story. This really was a quick read so I don’t think you’ll have any trouble finishing it and it can definitely be a book you can read in-between readings. I look forward to reading other books and stories by this author, her writing definitely was fun to read and she had great characters to connect with. My overall satisfaction of this story was pleased.
September 25, 2012
Just finished reading Dont tell by Mercy Amare. Its such a good read. I love it! Ian is like the sweetest boyfriend one can ask for, and Lucy, i feel so sorry for her. All that she went through, shouldnt be happening to someone like her. It was a short adorable and heartbreaking story. But in the end, everything worked out, and there cant be a better ending to that. :D
March 9, 2013
I could be surrounded by a million people, but I would still feel alone. I smile on the outside, but inside I feel like I’m slowly dying. I cry out for help, but nobody sees me, at least not the real me. They see a façade, a mask that I put on to hide the pain.
I loved this story. Its hard to admit that these violence are present in this world. In one way or another I find it very relived that in the end she found a great place, a great family to start her life with. And a boy who loved her since she was 4 years old.
To be frankly honest when I hit the last page I'm kinda disappointing. Why because I can't keep my fill of needs for Ian and Lucy. I want more of their story to continue. But nevertheless its all in the hands of Mercy.
I truly enjoyed reading this Mercy. Once again you captured me in one of your great story. Looking forward for more.
I loved this story. Its hard to admit that these violence are present in this world. In one way or another I find it very relived that in the end she found a great place, a great family to start her life with. And a boy who loved her since she was 4 years old.
To be frankly honest when I hit the last page I'm kinda disappointing. Why because I can't keep my fill of needs for Ian and Lucy. I want more of their story to continue. But nevertheless its all in the hands of Mercy.
I truly enjoyed reading this Mercy. Once again you captured me in one of your great story. Looking forward for more.
December 10, 2012
When people look at Lucy, they see a beautiful, vivacious girl.
But it’s just a mask she wears. A mask to hide her pain, like the long sleeves and make-up she wears to hide the bruises.
Bruises left by Charles, her father.
It hadn’t always been like this. They’d been happy once, when her mother was still alive. Now, Charles is a mean, abusive drunk and he blames Lucy for her mother’s death. After all, she was on her way to pick up Lucy when the drunk driver smashed into her car, killing her.
Now everything is wrong. Her self-esteem is shattered and she’s afraid to trust anyone. The only one she let’s past her defensive walls is Tess, her best friend since grade school. But even Tess doesn’t know her secret.
Lucy’s never had a boyfriend, never been in love, but she yearns for it. If only she could be like a normal teen-age girl.
If there is anyone she could tell her secret to, it would be Ian. But as much as she likes him, she can’t bring herself to tell him the truth.
Ian’s the pastor’s son, captain of the football team, and every girl at school is crushing on him. He also has a secret. He’s been in love with Lucy since the first time they met. They were four years old and she kissed him on the cheek.
He’s seen her bruises, old ones and new ones. Someone she’s close to is abusing her, but Ian’s not sure if it’s her dad.
Should he tell someone? Wouldn’t that be betraying Lucy’s trust.
My heart went out to Lucy. She had her good days, especially when she was with Tess or Ian. She could almost believe everything was normal, was as it should be. Then the memories would sneak up on her, never letting her forget.
Then there’s Ian. He’s in a difficult situation. I’m sure teenagers have been in Ian’s and Lucy’s shoes. I wish it wasn’t so.
As for Charles. It’s sad and ironic that he becomes an abusive drunk. After all, a drunk driver was the cause of all his anguish. Instead of grieving and healing with his daughter, he uses the very thing that caused all this to numb his pain.
It’s very hard to feel sorry for a drunk. Everything about them can be so repulsive.
The author knows how to write about a tough subject and writing this story from Lucy’s and Ian’s points of view enables you to see how abuse has many victims, like ripples in a pond.
Having Lucy refer to her father as Charles shows how she doesn’t recognize him as her father any longer. She doesn’t know this monster.
I really enjoyed reading about the budding romance between Lucy and Ian. It had me smiling and remembering the sweetness and intensity of first love. I was really pulling for these two and was happy that Lucy had someone on her side.
I usually avoid reading about abuse, but I’m glad I read Don’t Tell. Mercy Amare showed me why someone wouldn’t or couldn’t tell anyone about being abused, and she told it in an entertaining and enlightening manner. While this is a story of darkness, there is also light, the shining light of love, friendship, hope and letting go!
But it’s just a mask she wears. A mask to hide her pain, like the long sleeves and make-up she wears to hide the bruises.
Bruises left by Charles, her father.
It hadn’t always been like this. They’d been happy once, when her mother was still alive. Now, Charles is a mean, abusive drunk and he blames Lucy for her mother’s death. After all, she was on her way to pick up Lucy when the drunk driver smashed into her car, killing her.
Now everything is wrong. Her self-esteem is shattered and she’s afraid to trust anyone. The only one she let’s past her defensive walls is Tess, her best friend since grade school. But even Tess doesn’t know her secret.
Lucy’s never had a boyfriend, never been in love, but she yearns for it. If only she could be like a normal teen-age girl.
If there is anyone she could tell her secret to, it would be Ian. But as much as she likes him, she can’t bring herself to tell him the truth.
Ian’s the pastor’s son, captain of the football team, and every girl at school is crushing on him. He also has a secret. He’s been in love with Lucy since the first time they met. They were four years old and she kissed him on the cheek.
He’s seen her bruises, old ones and new ones. Someone she’s close to is abusing her, but Ian’s not sure if it’s her dad.
Should he tell someone? Wouldn’t that be betraying Lucy’s trust.
My heart went out to Lucy. She had her good days, especially when she was with Tess or Ian. She could almost believe everything was normal, was as it should be. Then the memories would sneak up on her, never letting her forget.
Then there’s Ian. He’s in a difficult situation. I’m sure teenagers have been in Ian’s and Lucy’s shoes. I wish it wasn’t so.
As for Charles. It’s sad and ironic that he becomes an abusive drunk. After all, a drunk driver was the cause of all his anguish. Instead of grieving and healing with his daughter, he uses the very thing that caused all this to numb his pain.
It’s very hard to feel sorry for a drunk. Everything about them can be so repulsive.
The author knows how to write about a tough subject and writing this story from Lucy’s and Ian’s points of view enables you to see how abuse has many victims, like ripples in a pond.
Having Lucy refer to her father as Charles shows how she doesn’t recognize him as her father any longer. She doesn’t know this monster.
I really enjoyed reading about the budding romance between Lucy and Ian. It had me smiling and remembering the sweetness and intensity of first love. I was really pulling for these two and was happy that Lucy had someone on her side.
I usually avoid reading about abuse, but I’m glad I read Don’t Tell. Mercy Amare showed me why someone wouldn’t or couldn’t tell anyone about being abused, and she told it in an entertaining and enlightening manner. While this is a story of darkness, there is also light, the shining light of love, friendship, hope and letting go!
March 25, 2013
This is a wonderful short story that will take you on an emotional roller coaster in a good way. The author takes you on a journey that touches on loss, abuse, love, loneliness, fear, hope, despair, happiness, and more. Not an easy feat in less than 75 pages, yet it's done beautifully in this story.
The reader quickly gets pulled into the story and feels as if they know the main character, Lucy, personally. She is charming and polite, nice to everyone yet harbors a secret that she hides from the world. I won't give the story away because you should read it for yourself (you will be glad you did) but she is a character you care about in a short amount of time and will likely find yourself cheering for.
I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone who likes stories that are not super long but are to the point, very well written, and capture your attention causing you to keep reading until it's done right from the start. I really enjoyed this book and think that there is a good chance many others will as well.
The reader quickly gets pulled into the story and feels as if they know the main character, Lucy, personally. She is charming and polite, nice to everyone yet harbors a secret that she hides from the world. I won't give the story away because you should read it for yourself (you will be glad you did) but she is a character you care about in a short amount of time and will likely find yourself cheering for.
I would recommend this book to pretty much anyone who likes stories that are not super long but are to the point, very well written, and capture your attention causing you to keep reading until it's done right from the start. I really enjoyed this book and think that there is a good chance many others will as well.
December 2, 2012
I was given this book by the author for a review. This is a (what I would consider) a novella. It's less than 75 pages and a quick read.
Best part: Even though this is a short story Mercy Amare really put you through an emotional roller coaster. Lucy Pierce has a very hard life. She has secrets that she has never told anyone and doesn't know how to deal with it. It isn't till her and Ian Winters becomes "closer" that Lucy's life changes. Now, this is a fast pace story and their relationship is issues but that is mainly because of Lucy's trust issues. Ian wants to be there for Lucy no matter what but it takes him a long time to gain that trust from Lucy.
Not so great about story: I really do wish it was longer! I would like to see Mercy Amare expand on this story. Lucy and Ian's story is so good that I want more of it!
I am interested to see what other stories Mercy will publish. She has a lot of talent and this is a great short story!
Best part: Even though this is a short story Mercy Amare really put you through an emotional roller coaster. Lucy Pierce has a very hard life. She has secrets that she has never told anyone and doesn't know how to deal with it. It isn't till her and Ian Winters becomes "closer" that Lucy's life changes. Now, this is a fast pace story and their relationship is issues but that is mainly because of Lucy's trust issues. Ian wants to be there for Lucy no matter what but it takes him a long time to gain that trust from Lucy.
Not so great about story: I really do wish it was longer! I would like to see Mercy Amare expand on this story. Lucy and Ian's story is so good that I want more of it!
I am interested to see what other stories Mercy will publish. She has a lot of talent and this is a great short story!
February 20, 2013
When I read the synopsis of the story I knew I wanted to read it. Lucy's mom died a few years ago. Her dad had a hard time dealing so he drank. He blamed Lucy for killing her mom and would hit her. Ian Winters was a classmate of Lucy's. He was the pastor's son and has like her for years. He notices the bruises on Lucy at a party but of course she lies to him and says she fell. He feels bad and wants to protect her. They eventually go out on a date and have a good time. After dating a while Ian finds out that her dad hits her but promises not to say anything. Ian was such a sweetheart and really cared about Lucy. I felt bad for Lucy because if she would have told someone sooner her life would have been a lot better. It was both heartwarming and sad story.
March 6, 2013
Not much to say about this one. The writing felt VERY amateur, the dialogue stilted and the characters were almost wooden. If you want to read something good with a similar type of plot, I would recommend bothReason to Breatheand Heart on a Chain. Both are full length novels and well done.
March 22, 2013
As much as I wanted to like this book, I didn't. I just couldn't connect witht he characters, and I felt like the whole book was rushed. I felt like there was no character building. We jumped straight into a love story, and rushed to get to the ending.
I gave the extra star to be nice, but I just really didn't like this book at all.
I gave the extra star to be nice, but I just really didn't like this book at all.
Want to Read
August 11, 2012YES IT'S FINALLY ON GOODREADS YAY
December 21, 2012
Great, sad book. I loved it.
Full review coming soon!
Full review coming soon!
November 13, 2012
OMG this book was TOO short but definetely sweet and touching! LOVED IT!!!
December 17, 2012
Rating: 3.75 stars*
This book was the perfect blend of gritty and sweet.
Lucy is a girl who, on the outside appears to have a perfect life, but in reality, behind closed doors, she suffers from abuse inflicted by her alcoholic father. I liked that this book tackled a tough and serious issue, but didn't let it dominate the whole story. This story is also about falling in love and exploring the limits of what someone would do for the person they loved.
This book is written from the dual POVs of Lucy, the girl who is suffering when no one is looking, and Ian, the golden boy of school who has been in love with Lucy for almost his entire life. I'm normally not crazy about dual POVs, but I really enjoyed getting to know both of these characters. My heart went out to Lucy for what she was going through. At times, I wanted to reach into the book and give her a big hug. I love how good Lucy was despite all that she was going through; her life was hell, but she still managed to be a kind person and a good friend. Ian was super sweet, the kind of perfect guy who could have easily become a cliché but didn't. Ian is honest, kind, and quite mature for a high school boy. He's the kind of guy that any girl would be lucky to date.
This book was quite short, but I thing so much was covered in the span of 66 pages. The story was concise, getting right down to the core of the story without any unnecessary drama. Overall, I thought the pacing was nice, however, due to its length, the point of view switched very frequently and the romance felt brisk at times. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how well I felt I got to know the characters despite the story's brevity, and there was actual character development happening! In only 66 pages! I've seen 300-some page books who never achieved the character development that this book did.
The only thing that really bothered me was how Lucy's beauty was emphasized over and over again. Yes, I understand that she is a beautiful girl, but there's no need to remind me every single time Ian lays eyes on her! She's pretty, yes, but she was also a beautiful person on the inside, always very caring and nice. I wish that had been emphasized more than her physical attributes.
All in all:
I think any fan of YA contemporary and romance would like reading this. Literally, you could read this in one sitting, and believe me, it's hard to put this book down. The only thing that's keeping me from giving this a full four stars is because I just feel like I'm missing that extra oomph that probably could've been achieved with some more time for development and transition.
On a random note:
You want to know the weirdest thing about this book? The fact that the blurb says Lucy always wears long sleeves to cover the bruises, but the girl on the cover is wearing a tank top! O__o
*I received a copy of this book from the author review purposes. All opinions are my own.
This book was the perfect blend of gritty and sweet.
Lucy is a girl who, on the outside appears to have a perfect life, but in reality, behind closed doors, she suffers from abuse inflicted by her alcoholic father. I liked that this book tackled a tough and serious issue, but didn't let it dominate the whole story. This story is also about falling in love and exploring the limits of what someone would do for the person they loved.
This book is written from the dual POVs of Lucy, the girl who is suffering when no one is looking, and Ian, the golden boy of school who has been in love with Lucy for almost his entire life. I'm normally not crazy about dual POVs, but I really enjoyed getting to know both of these characters. My heart went out to Lucy for what she was going through. At times, I wanted to reach into the book and give her a big hug. I love how good Lucy was despite all that she was going through; her life was hell, but she still managed to be a kind person and a good friend. Ian was super sweet, the kind of perfect guy who could have easily become a cliché but didn't. Ian is honest, kind, and quite mature for a high school boy. He's the kind of guy that any girl would be lucky to date.
This book was quite short, but I thing so much was covered in the span of 66 pages. The story was concise, getting right down to the core of the story without any unnecessary drama. Overall, I thought the pacing was nice, however, due to its length, the point of view switched very frequently and the romance felt brisk at times. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by how well I felt I got to know the characters despite the story's brevity, and there was actual character development happening! In only 66 pages! I've seen 300-some page books who never achieved the character development that this book did.
The only thing that really bothered me was how Lucy's beauty was emphasized over and over again. Yes, I understand that she is a beautiful girl, but there's no need to remind me every single time Ian lays eyes on her! She's pretty, yes, but she was also a beautiful person on the inside, always very caring and nice. I wish that had been emphasized more than her physical attributes.
All in all:
I think any fan of YA contemporary and romance would like reading this. Literally, you could read this in one sitting, and believe me, it's hard to put this book down. The only thing that's keeping me from giving this a full four stars is because I just feel like I'm missing that extra oomph that probably could've been achieved with some more time for development and transition.
On a random note:
You want to know the weirdest thing about this book? The fact that the blurb says Lucy always wears long sleeves to cover the bruises, but the girl on the cover is wearing a tank top! O__o
*I received a copy of this book from the author review purposes. All opinions are my own.
July 27, 2015
The first chapter of Don't Tell was horribly misleading. It had such a wonderful start with high prospects, but as you get farther into the story the author's writing gets sloppy and the story's plot line began to disappoint me. The main element of this book that I didn't like was how the author seemed to imply was that the only way you get your happily ever after is if your Prince Charming sweeps you off your feet. I realize this message may not be an entirely universal one, but it was like a punch in the face to all the females in the world because, if we're being honest here, other young girls in the same situation as Lucy may not have a knight in shining armor awaiting them. Books about such topics should not be promoting such unrealistic hopes and expectations. Another thing that bothered me about this book was the author's writing style because it seemed too juvenile. This book is supposed to be from the perspective of two high school students, yet it seemed as if it was a middle schoolers attempt at writing a story. My analogy may seem harsh, but it really seems that way. The last thing that really made me dislike this book was the wooden characters. To be honest, the leading roles were about as deep as a kiddie pool. The only reason I added another star was because when you read it a second time, the story isn't so bad (still not decent enough for me to enjoy it, unfortunately). Although, I don't want to have to read a book twice to finally have a (only slightly) better opinion about it.
September 25, 2012
I liked the concept an the fact that we are dealing with an abusive relationship. I like reading about it, because it is interesting how an author deals with the problem and how the characters grow through such painful experiences.
I think that most of the characters (the good ones, really) were very likeable and Ian truly was a great boyfriend - sweet, honest, protective, caring. I liked that Lucy was humble and couldn't see how incredible she really was, but it made me sad that his dad had made her self-esteem so low.
However, I did not like that it was so short. Maybe it is just the writer talking in me, but I usually enjoy a bit longer descriptions of well, everything! It just felt a bit rushed, the entire relationship between Ian and Lucy. I know he loved her since he was five, but I still feel like a good relationship needs a bit more time to truly work.
I think that most of the characters (the good ones, really) were very likeable and Ian truly was a great boyfriend - sweet, honest, protective, caring. I liked that Lucy was humble and couldn't see how incredible she really was, but it made me sad that his dad had made her self-esteem so low.
However, I did not like that it was so short. Maybe it is just the writer talking in me, but I usually enjoy a bit longer descriptions of well, everything! It just felt a bit rushed, the entire relationship between Ian and Lucy. I know he loved her since he was five, but I still feel like a good relationship needs a bit more time to truly work.
November 2, 2013
3.5 Stars!
Definitely a sweet and quick read. Really liked the book; the characters had depth and since it was short the author wasted no time in revealing the plot. Absolutely loved Ian, he was very sweet and understanding of Lucy's situation. He was there for her but he knew her safety was his number 1 priority and he made the ultimate sacrifice my telling her secret. Lucy was just so sad, broken, hurt and didn't think she deserved happiness but Ian gave her his heart and with his help they got a HEA.
Definitely a sweet and quick read. Really liked the book; the characters had depth and since it was short the author wasted no time in revealing the plot. Absolutely loved Ian, he was very sweet and understanding of Lucy's situation. He was there for her but he knew her safety was his number 1 priority and he made the ultimate sacrifice my telling her secret. Lucy was just so sad, broken, hurt and didn't think she deserved happiness but Ian gave her his heart and with his help they got a HEA.
June 14, 2013
This book is not worth your money. It is way to short and the climax ends in the blink of an eye. It is good for those readers who feel like they have accomplished something by reading a paragraph. I read this book in close to an hour. The shortness is not the biggest problem though, it is the lack of effort put into this book. They could have made so much better by creating more problems along the way and some more characters, and reasoning. Thus do not bear the burden of this book!
July 22, 2014
First of all, this book is so short I read it in an hour. That in and of itself is disappointing.
Secondly, the back and forth between Lucy and Ian's POV takes away any mystery this story may have had.
Thirdly, Lucy never seems to struggle with the reasons why she can't tell. Not only that, they are never even addressed.
And lastly, the amount of typos on top of everything else makes me deeply regret buying this book.
Secondly, the back and forth between Lucy and Ian's POV takes away any mystery this story may have had.
Thirdly, Lucy never seems to struggle with the reasons why she can't tell. Not only that, they are never even addressed.
And lastly, the amount of typos on top of everything else makes me deeply regret buying this book.
October 21, 2012
Not exactly what I expected... The storyline is okay, but it is more of a novella... Very short. There was something about the writing... It felt choppy or something. It just didn't have a good flow. I don't know how to explain it, but reading it almost felt like reading a script or something. Overall, it was okay.
July 13, 2015
I don't like books like this, for the reason that they get me so mad at the stupidity of the main character and ruins it for me entirely. Young girl gets beat by her drunk dad, then falls in love SUDDENLY with this perfect boy, but she has to hide it blah blah blah. Cut the Lifetime act. I forced myself to finish this book, would not recommend.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 25, 2014
I loved the story. Just wish it was longer. :/ and I know almost nothing about the characters. I felt disconnected from the story for the lack of information. But I loved all of the well written descriptions of her emotions.
September 25, 2012
Not what I expected..
September 29, 2013
wanted to read this book for awhile. I finally did. good book. short, fast read. don't feel like it was a waste of time. realistic story. loved the couple. glad I finally read.
December 16, 2013
This book had great potential but the characters were very naive and immature. I think if the author had more time to develop the characters it would've been a more enjoyable read.
March 24, 2013
emotional, real and very sweet.
April 26, 2013
not a novella fan, so I am surprised I liked this as much as I did.
May 20, 2013
I loved Lucy and Ian! This novella had the perfect blend of sweet and tender moments with a realistic view of abuse.
May 28, 2013
Cute story. Wish it was longer.
July 29, 2013
I love short stories like this; they're right to the point with no long annoying inner monologue.
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