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When We Were Them
Willa, Luz i Britton były najbliższymi przyjaciółkami od dzieciństwa. Wydawało się, że nic nie może zniszczyć tej przyjaźni. A jednak wszystko zmieniła wielka miłość. I jeszcze większa tragedia.
W tym tygodniu zakończą swoją przygodę ze szkołą średnią. Razem łatwiej byłoby pokonać obawę przed jutrem, odpowiedzieć sobie na pytania o przyszłość. Ale jedna samolubna decyzja sprawia, że Willa zostaje z pudełkiem wspomnień, wypełnionym symbolami ich siostrzeństwa. I myślą, że nic już nie będzie jak dawniej, bo nie da się naprawić złamanego serca, zapomnieć o naruszonej intymności i wybaczyć podłego kłamstwa. Dorośli wszystko tylko komplikują, nikt już nie może na nikogo liczyć.
A gdy brzydka prawda wychodzi na jaw, Willa musi dzielnie zmierzyć się z przeszłością.
W tym tygodniu zakończą swoją przygodę ze szkołą średnią. Razem łatwiej byłoby pokonać obawę przed jutrem, odpowiedzieć sobie na pytania o przyszłość. Ale jedna samolubna decyzja sprawia, że Willa zostaje z pudełkiem wspomnień, wypełnionym symbolami ich siostrzeństwa. I myślą, że nic już nie będzie jak dawniej, bo nie da się naprawić złamanego serca, zapomnieć o naruszonej intymności i wybaczyć podłego kłamstwa. Dorośli wszystko tylko komplikują, nikt już nie może na nikogo liczyć.
A gdy brzydka prawda wychodzi na jaw, Willa musi dzielnie zmierzyć się z przeszłością.
384 pages, Paperback
First published November 16, 2021
51 people are currently reading
3905 people want to read
About the author
Laura Taylor Namey
7 books1,010 followersLaura Taylor Namey is the New York Times and international bestselling author of young adult fiction including Reese's Book Club pick A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow. A proud Cuban-American, she can be found hunting for vintage treasures and wishing she was in London or Paris. She lives in San Diego with her husband and two children.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 193 reviews
March 6, 2022
OMG! This book is like a strong drink hits you so fast! You don’t expect to feel so many emotions at the same time. It breaks your heart, haunts your soul! You ache for the characters, easily connecting with them. You dab your eyes, hardly restraining your tears, barely gathering yourself together.
Friendship, betrayal, grief, forgiveness, love, dysfunctional families, more emotional confrontations… This book is heart wrenching, pure, genuine and so real!
It’s also great tribute to San Diego homage from its author!
The story centered on the friendship of three main characters: Willa, Luz and Britton. Willa does something which is a definition of pure betrayal to their long time relationship! She can beg for forgiveness of Luz. But why did she do this? Why she did she act like that? What is the motive behind her actions?
When we make a backwards timeline: we realize the events occurred at graduation day affected their future lives. From POV to POV we keep reading their opinions, their actions, their reasonings. Something so traumatic happened to them at the age of 13. That thing haunted Willa’s life forever, changed her mother’s psychological well being. She started to give her full attention to her garden instead of being mother to her daughter.
Well, I already gave too much away and I still drying my tears! This book has remarkably emotional and heartbreakingly intense story! Such a tear jerker, moving, powerful friendship story I highly recommend!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster’s Children Publishing /Atheneum Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Friendship, betrayal, grief, forgiveness, love, dysfunctional families, more emotional confrontations… This book is heart wrenching, pure, genuine and so real!
It’s also great tribute to San Diego homage from its author!
The story centered on the friendship of three main characters: Willa, Luz and Britton. Willa does something which is a definition of pure betrayal to their long time relationship! She can beg for forgiveness of Luz. But why did she do this? Why she did she act like that? What is the motive behind her actions?
When we make a backwards timeline: we realize the events occurred at graduation day affected their future lives. From POV to POV we keep reading their opinions, their actions, their reasonings. Something so traumatic happened to them at the age of 13. That thing haunted Willa’s life forever, changed her mother’s psychological well being. She started to give her full attention to her garden instead of being mother to her daughter.
Well, I already gave too much away and I still drying my tears! This book has remarkably emotional and heartbreakingly intense story! Such a tear jerker, moving, powerful friendship story I highly recommend!
Special thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster’s Children Publishing /Atheneum Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
December 14, 2021
Quiet YA at its finest - a story with, in the grand scheme of things, low stakes, but quietly explores how the things that we thought were immutable inevitably change.
- Follows Willa, a teen grappling with the consequences of her actions and how this has affected her two best friends.
- Told in alternating narratives, chronicling their high school years and the present, the story explores friendship and the ups and downs that you go with your loved ones, trauma, grief, and love.
- I think I loved this story because it's just so... understated. Not to be confused as 'not impactful' though. I loved how this story holds the quiet yet life-changing moments in its palms; the impact of this story isn't like a big wave, but a quiet undercurrent that pulls your heartstrings.
- For this reason though, I can foresee this story being a miss for some people, and that is perfectly okay.
- I just loved following Willa and her best friends on their journey - all the things they go through together, all that they overcome. At its very heart, this story is about love.
- The ending was honestly perfect. One of my greatest fears is that friendships are not forever, but I loved that this book encapsulates that saying 'don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened' but in such a more profound and emotional way.
Content warning: near drowning, trauma themes, death of a loved one
- Follows Willa, a teen grappling with the consequences of her actions and how this has affected her two best friends.
- Told in alternating narratives, chronicling their high school years and the present, the story explores friendship and the ups and downs that you go with your loved ones, trauma, grief, and love.
- I think I loved this story because it's just so... understated. Not to be confused as 'not impactful' though. I loved how this story holds the quiet yet life-changing moments in its palms; the impact of this story isn't like a big wave, but a quiet undercurrent that pulls your heartstrings.
- For this reason though, I can foresee this story being a miss for some people, and that is perfectly okay.
- I just loved following Willa and her best friends on their journey - all the things they go through together, all that they overcome. At its very heart, this story is about love.
- The ending was honestly perfect. One of my greatest fears is that friendships are not forever, but I loved that this book encapsulates that saying 'don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened' but in such a more profound and emotional way.
Content warning: near drowning, trauma themes, death of a loved one
May 20, 2024
PLS ADD THIS TO YOUR TBR RIGHT NOW. RIGHT FRICKING NOW.
this book is heartbreakingly beautiful.
that's all i have to say. go read it.
this book is heartbreakingly beautiful.
that's all i have to say. go read it.
August 4, 2022
A bland book that is sadly undeserving of its stunning cover. As someone who has spent time in San Diego, I really did enjoy the book’s setting and the accurate portrayal of the city’s culture, but I just didn’t feel anything for the characters or the story.
➳ 2 stars
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Language: Somewhat frequent usage of sh—t, f—k, and a—s. H—l and d—mn used a couple times. B—tch used once.
Violence: No violent scenes present.
Alcohol/Addictive Substances: Some adults are mentioned to drink wine at a birthday party.
Sexual content: A few kisses (described), as well as a fade to black scene with sexual implications but nothing explicit. A character’s mom demonstrates how to use a condom on a banana. The main character goes out with a boy who she thinks was planning to drug and assault her.
Trigger Warnings: Death of a sibling, PTSD.
Age rating: 16+*
*All age ratings are based off of my personal and subjective opinion.
➳ 2 stars
CONTENT WARNINGS:
Language: Somewhat frequent usage of sh—t, f—k, and a—s. H—l and d—mn used a couple times. B—tch used once.
Violence: No violent scenes present.
Alcohol/Addictive Substances: Some adults are mentioned to drink wine at a birthday party.
Sexual content: A few kisses (described), as well as a fade to black scene with sexual implications but nothing explicit. A character’s mom demonstrates how to use a condom on a banana. The main character goes out with a boy who she thinks was planning to drug and assault her.
Trigger Warnings: Death of a sibling, PTSD.
Age rating: 16+*
*All age ratings are based off of my personal and subjective opinion.
March 9, 2022
7.7/10
the hold of the past
There are moments where a book just feels so incredibly introspective that when you finish, there's this blanket of amazement and a hint of disbelief at how something so simple could make such a big impact. This was 100% the affect that When We Were Them had on me and a couple weeks later, I'm already itching to go back and re-experience this story. This is a novel about friendships and the difficult changes that come with life's crossroads - Willa makes a decision that comes back to haunt her present and jeopardize her future and she has a week to figure out how to make things right.
Following both the present and the past, Willa reveals the details that led her to "the big decision" and Laura Taylor Namey breathes life into the friendship between her, Luz, and Britton. There was something so comforting about their relationship and the unspoken understanding the trio had amongst themselves. The writing of this novel feels so vastly different from the author's previous works because of how subtle its delivery is. The syntax is almost too quiet and gentle, but somehow manages to create a sense of urgency to find the truth. Instead of being deterred by the slower pacing, I was able to take the time to connect with the characters and their experiences, their individual idiosyncrasies that made them so special, which led to a better understanding of their decisions and actions.
the hope of the future
As Willow is figuring out her past and repairing her present, there is also an element of grief and healing woven into her plot. Like Namey's The Library of Lost Things, the conversation around mental health feels incredibly intimate and genuine. The writing exposes the readers to the quirks of the characters and how their growth is affected by the changes around them. Through Willa's perspective we're able to understand why their friendship was so important to her and how that mindset led to her struggle in the present as she comes to terms that the past can't hold them back from the future that's waiting for them.
I wish I had this book at the crossroads between high school and college because it would have reframed my mindset so much. When We Were Them frames change in the light that it can't be avoided and when it comes, see the paths of growth and renewal because there are unlimited possibilities that lie ahead. This also officially solidifies Laura Taylor Namey as one of my favorite contemporary authors and displays her range when it comes to writing both stories that bring the cutest butterflies and stories that leave you lost in reflection.
Originally posted at dearrivarie
the hold of the past
There are moments where a book just feels so incredibly introspective that when you finish, there's this blanket of amazement and a hint of disbelief at how something so simple could make such a big impact. This was 100% the affect that When We Were Them had on me and a couple weeks later, I'm already itching to go back and re-experience this story. This is a novel about friendships and the difficult changes that come with life's crossroads - Willa makes a decision that comes back to haunt her present and jeopardize her future and she has a week to figure out how to make things right.
Following both the present and the past, Willa reveals the details that led her to "the big decision" and Laura Taylor Namey breathes life into the friendship between her, Luz, and Britton. There was something so comforting about their relationship and the unspoken understanding the trio had amongst themselves. The writing of this novel feels so vastly different from the author's previous works because of how subtle its delivery is. The syntax is almost too quiet and gentle, but somehow manages to create a sense of urgency to find the truth. Instead of being deterred by the slower pacing, I was able to take the time to connect with the characters and their experiences, their individual idiosyncrasies that made them so special, which led to a better understanding of their decisions and actions.
the hope of the future
As Willow is figuring out her past and repairing her present, there is also an element of grief and healing woven into her plot. Like Namey's The Library of Lost Things, the conversation around mental health feels incredibly intimate and genuine. The writing exposes the readers to the quirks of the characters and how their growth is affected by the changes around them. Through Willa's perspective we're able to understand why their friendship was so important to her and how that mindset led to her struggle in the present as she comes to terms that the past can't hold them back from the future that's waiting for them.
I wish I had this book at the crossroads between high school and college because it would have reframed my mindset so much. When We Were Them frames change in the light that it can't be avoided and when it comes, see the paths of growth and renewal because there are unlimited possibilities that lie ahead. This also officially solidifies Laura Taylor Namey as one of my favorite contemporary authors and displays her range when it comes to writing both stories that bring the cutest butterflies and stories that leave you lost in reflection.
Originally posted at dearrivarie
November 14, 2021
2.5 stars
Namey paints a detailed portrait of friendship, trauma, and grief in this contemporary YA piece, and - as a lifelong Southern California resident - I appreciate that she effectively pays homage to San Diego: a great town with a very specific environment and demographic. For me, things took a wrong turn with the pacing and the plotting.
Willa, the m.c., is presently experiencing the week leading up to her high school graduation, and while some of the novel takes place during this week, a good amount of it also occurs in past reflections. Through both past and present, readers learn about Willa's longtime close relationship with her two best friends: Luz and Britton. Readers also learn about the various traumas that these three experience both individually and collectively.
The concept here is lovely, but this pacing did me in. It took me weeks to read this novel because I never felt connected to the characters. Readers get strung along - to some degree - waiting to find out what the big reveal from Willa is going to be (she is clear early on that the three were friends and then she somehow ruined it). While readers do learn that information, for me, it was too little too late. I never felt connected to the characters, never got gripped by the storyline, and never felt really engaged with the pacing until the very end, when, frankly, I was mostly speeding ahead to see if there was something more coming (there wasn't).
One thing I dislike more than not really loving a book by an author I have at other times enjoyed is having to write the review explaining why this is the case. That noted, this one really just did not work for me at all. I'll be back for more from Namey, but I will hope for tighter plotting and more engagement in the next effort.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
Namey paints a detailed portrait of friendship, trauma, and grief in this contemporary YA piece, and - as a lifelong Southern California resident - I appreciate that she effectively pays homage to San Diego: a great town with a very specific environment and demographic. For me, things took a wrong turn with the pacing and the plotting.
Willa, the m.c., is presently experiencing the week leading up to her high school graduation, and while some of the novel takes place during this week, a good amount of it also occurs in past reflections. Through both past and present, readers learn about Willa's longtime close relationship with her two best friends: Luz and Britton. Readers also learn about the various traumas that these three experience both individually and collectively.
The concept here is lovely, but this pacing did me in. It took me weeks to read this novel because I never felt connected to the characters. Readers get strung along - to some degree - waiting to find out what the big reveal from Willa is going to be (she is clear early on that the three were friends and then she somehow ruined it). While readers do learn that information, for me, it was too little too late. I never felt connected to the characters, never got gripped by the storyline, and never felt really engaged with the pacing until the very end, when, frankly, I was mostly speeding ahead to see if there was something more coming (there wasn't).
One thing I dislike more than not really loving a book by an author I have at other times enjoyed is having to write the review explaining why this is the case. That noted, this one really just did not work for me at all. I'll be back for more from Namey, but I will hope for tighter plotting and more engagement in the next effort.
*Thanks to NetGalley and Atheneum Books for Young Readers for this arc, which I received in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.
January 10, 2022
I'm sad to say that I did not enjoy this one. What should have been a beautiful book about grief, loss, and self-growth was weighed down by pacing issues and non-likable characters. Honestly, not a whole lot happened in this book.
After betraying one of her best friends, Willa is given the task to figure out why she did it or end their friendship. This happens right at the beginning so right away it felt like we started in the middle. We're not told what this deception is, only that it happened and it's big enough to end friendships. This begins a look back on the past. The book is told in past and present chapters - the present taking place over a week and the past taking place over years. In the past chapters we become more acquainted with the three best friends and other supporting characters, but nothing really happens. I spent the entire book just going, what was the betrayal? FYI, we don't find out until the very end and then everything gets wrapped up in a few more chapters.
Another reason why I couldn't get into the book were the characters. Namey did a great job in making them very different from each other so you could tell who was who, but they just became bogged down by their characteristics that there was really no growth to them. The best character for me was Britton - the singer friend. She felt real and she was the only one who really changed as the story went along. But Willa, man, she was just a complainer and had no real personality of her own. So as the protagonist, she was hard to relate to.
What I did like was the end. This felt very real on how high school friendships go and it was nice to see them be their own people for a change. Aside from that, I wasn't sold.
After betraying one of her best friends, Willa is given the task to figure out why she did it or end their friendship. This happens right at the beginning so right away it felt like we started in the middle. We're not told what this deception is, only that it happened and it's big enough to end friendships. This begins a look back on the past. The book is told in past and present chapters - the present taking place over a week and the past taking place over years. In the past chapters we become more acquainted with the three best friends and other supporting characters, but nothing really happens. I spent the entire book just going, what was the betrayal? FYI, we don't find out until the very end and then everything gets wrapped up in a few more chapters.
Another reason why I couldn't get into the book were the characters. Namey did a great job in making them very different from each other so you could tell who was who, but they just became bogged down by their characteristics that there was really no growth to them. The best character for me was Britton - the singer friend. She felt real and she was the only one who really changed as the story went along. But Willa, man, she was just a complainer and had no real personality of her own. So as the protagonist, she was hard to relate to.
What I did like was the end. This felt very real on how high school friendships go and it was nice to see them be their own people for a change. Aside from that, I wasn't sold.
May 21, 2021
I was extremely fortunate to get my hands on an early version of WWWT, allowing me a sneak peek at this lyrical portrait of a friendship at a pivotal moment of change. I don't want to say too much as the story is carefully structured to unfold in its own pace, with two timelines braiding together while three girls on the cusp of leaving high school confront their pasts, their presents, and their futures. The prose celebrates relationships to both people and places, and I felt the San Diego setting was almost like the fourth friend in the story. Readers should prepare for a coming-of-age portrait that encompasses both big and small moments--profound grief, exuberant joy, family trauma, cake, school dances, sparkly flip-flops--and a portrait that often shows us how small can become big and vice versa, pending the meaning we ascribe to the objects around us. The story is full of resonant metaphors that fit equally well in a grey box of tokens and in the heart of a reader. Though a secret betrayal creates suspense that turns pages, for me, the pulse of the story lay not in the suspense, but in the simple unfolding of the many moments that create a loving friendship, the kind that shapes a life, no matter where that life leads. Get your tissues ready. And dive in.
May 1, 2022
Heartbreaking, powerful and beautifully written, I really grew to love these girls as I read about them from age 15 through to 19. The only thing that really stopped my enjoyment of it was that it was simply way too long, and I did feel myself trying to read it, rather than needing to read it.
Read
March 3, 2022an emotional read about friendship that put me on the brink of tears. loved the audiobook!
May 11, 2025
reading this right before grad hit so different
April 9, 2022
3.5
I'm glad Willa was able to grow into herself and find what she wants to do, I was also sad about Nico, I didn't expect that to happen to him...
the friendship between the girls was told well about how strong it is, though sometimes I felt it was kind of detailed repetitively, and the same with what happened to Audrey.
Overall it wasn't bad but it was alright.
*small spoiler*
(just wish Nico was there, I would have loved a happy ending with him, seeing how he would be doing in his career but yea...)
I'm glad Willa was able to grow into herself and find what she wants to do, I was also sad about Nico, I didn't expect that to happen to him...
the friendship between the girls was told well about how strong it is, though sometimes I felt it was kind of detailed repetitively, and the same with what happened to Audrey.
Overall it wasn't bad but it was alright.
*small spoiler*
(just wish Nico was there, I would have loved a happy ending with him, seeing how he would be doing in his career but yea...)
June 9, 2024
EVERYONE SHOULD READ THIS BOOK. STAT.
it was just so poetic ok <3
it was just so poetic ok <3
December 18, 2021
This is a story about 3 high school friends and what they do for each other. It took awhile to get engaged but plot picked up towards the end.
November 14, 2021
(Disclaimer: I received this book from Edelweiss. This has not impacted my review which is unbiased and honest.)
I was completely absorbed while reading When We Were Them. Full of flashbacks, Namey tell a story of reflection, of earthquakes forming below our feet, and wounds that may never heal. At the beginning while we don't know exactly what happened, Namey takes us on an emotional journey of all the straws breaking. All those moments you never bothered to write down but which end up being pebbles on a mountainside. And then when we find out what happened, I legit gasped aloud.
When We Were Them is a gripping story which begins at the end, going back to the beginning to see if we can make amends. Throughout When We Were Them, we witness pieces coming together in slow motion which combine to form this examination of loss and friendship. All these layers of memories and betrayals, of moments we cannot forget before we even notice the cracks. Because while When We Were Them is a story about friendship which comes alive in striking color, it's also about self-discovery and forgiveness.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
I was completely absorbed while reading When We Were Them. Full of flashbacks, Namey tell a story of reflection, of earthquakes forming below our feet, and wounds that may never heal. At the beginning while we don't know exactly what happened, Namey takes us on an emotional journey of all the straws breaking. All those moments you never bothered to write down but which end up being pebbles on a mountainside. And then when we find out what happened, I legit gasped aloud.
When We Were Them is a gripping story which begins at the end, going back to the beginning to see if we can make amends. Throughout When We Were Them, we witness pieces coming together in slow motion which combine to form this examination of loss and friendship. All these layers of memories and betrayals, of moments we cannot forget before we even notice the cracks. Because while When We Were Them is a story about friendship which comes alive in striking color, it's also about self-discovery and forgiveness.
full review: https://utopia-state-of-mind.com/revi...
December 12, 2022
Quick Stats
Age Rating:
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
I won a copy of this book from the author in a twitter giveaway a little while back, and then I put it off because I could tell it was going to be sad and I was scared.
I was right.
It is sad.
And I cried like a baby.
I read A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow—a cute romance with some heavy underscores—and while Laura Taylor Namey’s writing as just as heartfelt and beautiful, this story is a lot deeper and harder-hitting than ACGGtTaT (wow that’s a long acronym).
Willa, Luz, and Britton have been best friends for years. They are everything to each other. But Willa’s betrayal in the wake of tragedy threatens to destroy their friendship. Now Willa has until graduation—one week—to figure out the truth behind why she did what she did, or lose her friends forever.
Told in split timelines, we follow Willa from the past, spanning the start of her freshman year through the fall of her senior year, and present Willa during her graduation week. There are so many threads of hurt and trauma and tragedy in this book, that it feels like it should be too much, and it does get bogged down in it all at times, but despite there being over a half dozen huge, emotional, aspects throughout the story (as back story and as plot), for the most part, everything flows together quite naturally.
It feels real. Life is messy like that. It is never just one thing that goes wrong or has gone wrong.
This book is a beautiful testament to trauma, grief, family, friendship, and learning to be true to yourself. It is definitely a slower paced read at times, but it is truly beautiful.
Age Rating:
Over All: 4.5 stars
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Setting: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
I won a copy of this book from the author in a twitter giveaway a little while back, and then I put it off because I could tell it was going to be sad and I was scared.
I was right.
It is sad.
And I cried like a baby.
I read A Cuban Girl’s Guide to Tea and Tomorrow—a cute romance with some heavy underscores—and while Laura Taylor Namey’s writing as just as heartfelt and beautiful, this story is a lot deeper and harder-hitting than ACGGtTaT (wow that’s a long acronym).
Willa, Luz, and Britton have been best friends for years. They are everything to each other. But Willa’s betrayal in the wake of tragedy threatens to destroy their friendship. Now Willa has until graduation—one week—to figure out the truth behind why she did what she did, or lose her friends forever.
Told in split timelines, we follow Willa from the past, spanning the start of her freshman year through the fall of her senior year, and present Willa during her graduation week. There are so many threads of hurt and trauma and tragedy in this book, that it feels like it should be too much, and it does get bogged down in it all at times, but despite there being over a half dozen huge, emotional, aspects throughout the story (as back story and as plot), for the most part, everything flows together quite naturally.
It feels real. Life is messy like that. It is never just one thing that goes wrong or has gone wrong.
This book is a beautiful testament to trauma, grief, family, friendship, and learning to be true to yourself. It is definitely a slower paced read at times, but it is truly beautiful.
February 4, 2022
I'm ugly crying. Review to come.
REVIEW:
Laura Taylor Namey does it again!! I read The Library of Lost Things when it came out a few years ago (and I still haven't read A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, but I'm so excited to!!) and absolutely loved it! So when I heard that Laura was coming out with a new book, gorgeous cover, and incredible-sounding synopsis, I was already obsessed.
WWWT follows Willa, Luz, and Britton as they try to life. It's split timeline, which sounds confusing at first, but it was very easy to follow along with. You get to see almost their entire friendship, from when they're 15 year olds barely navigating high school and friendships, to 18 where they're graduating and barely navigating life. Willa messes up big time, and even though you don't find out what happened until the very end, it's definitely worth the read.
I absolutely loved all of the characters!! Willa was so much fun to follow, Luz was spunky and always said what was on her mind, and Britton was such a complex character. They all have their own family issues going on in the background, and they all felt like a real group of friends.
At the end, I was absolutely crying my brains out because it was so good!! If I could give this book more than five stars, I would give it hundreds. I of course look forward to reading more of Laura's books, and I'm so excited for anything else that she comes out with!
REVIEW:
Laura Taylor Namey does it again!! I read The Library of Lost Things when it came out a few years ago (and I still haven't read A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow, but I'm so excited to!!) and absolutely loved it! So when I heard that Laura was coming out with a new book, gorgeous cover, and incredible-sounding synopsis, I was already obsessed.
WWWT follows Willa, Luz, and Britton as they try to life. It's split timeline, which sounds confusing at first, but it was very easy to follow along with. You get to see almost their entire friendship, from when they're 15 year olds barely navigating high school and friendships, to 18 where they're graduating and barely navigating life. Willa messes up big time, and even though you don't find out what happened until the very end, it's definitely worth the read.
I absolutely loved all of the characters!! Willa was so much fun to follow, Luz was spunky and always said what was on her mind, and Britton was such a complex character. They all have their own family issues going on in the background, and they all felt like a real group of friends.
At the end, I was absolutely crying my brains out because it was so good!! If I could give this book more than five stars, I would give it hundreds. I of course look forward to reading more of Laura's books, and I'm so excited for anything else that she comes out with!
July 31, 2023
Honestly, I was not eager to pick up this book and keep reading - it had me bored. I figured I'd power through because I had to finish since I started, give it maybe three stars and be done with it. Move on.
But it wasn't until about the last third of the book that I started to come to love it and understand it a lot more. It felt genuine in a way that nothing I've really read recently has, even though it took me a while to see it. I connected with these characters and felt like I could relate even though many of the experiences and hardships they've gone through I can't understand because I haven't. Still, the emotion was real. I caught myself rolling my eyes at Willa sometimes, but I came to realize that she is flawed and she made a mistake, just like everyone does. She, as well as the other characters, we're very well-written, as I could see her grow and reflect and realize that she's flawed.
It took me a while to come around, but now I do appreciate the genuine and bittersweet emotion found in this story, especially at the end. Well done, Laura Taylor Namey - you proved me wrong 😂
But it wasn't until about the last third of the book that I started to come to love it and understand it a lot more. It felt genuine in a way that nothing I've really read recently has, even though it took me a while to see it. I connected with these characters and felt like I could relate even though many of the experiences and hardships they've gone through I can't understand because I haven't. Still, the emotion was real. I caught myself rolling my eyes at Willa sometimes, but I came to realize that she is flawed and she made a mistake, just like everyone does. She, as well as the other characters, we're very well-written, as I could see her grow and reflect and realize that she's flawed.
It took me a while to come around, but now I do appreciate the genuine and bittersweet emotion found in this story, especially at the end. Well done, Laura Taylor Namey - you proved me wrong 😂
March 7, 2022
Namey does it again, but with some extra tears this time. What an absolutely beautiful story of friendship, family, love, and grief. These are the kinds of friendships that most people aren’t lucky enough to experience in their lifetime.
I knew the heartbreak was coming but it still didn’t stop my tears from coming. And that decision at the end? I’m not lying when I say that I cried TWICE while reading this book.
Also, I loved the mention of some of them being Cuban and including Spanish and the family togetherness that comes with being Cuban.
This author wowed me with her last book and I’m so glad I was able to read this one, too! She’s definitely an autobuy for me!
If you want a story about three close friends and their experiences together through hardships and grief, you might enjoy this one. This has a love story inside of it, but this story is more about the friendships that help build us up and help us grow.
Happy reading!
I knew the heartbreak was coming but it still didn’t stop my tears from coming. And that decision at the end? I’m not lying when I say that I cried TWICE while reading this book.
Also, I loved the mention of some of them being Cuban and including Spanish and the family togetherness that comes with being Cuban.
This author wowed me with her last book and I’m so glad I was able to read this one, too! She’s definitely an autobuy for me!
If you want a story about three close friends and their experiences together through hardships and grief, you might enjoy this one. This has a love story inside of it, but this story is more about the friendships that help build us up and help us grow.
Happy reading!
December 15, 2021
When We Were Them is the story of three girls who are best friends and their friendship is on the rocks. We get two time points, the current year of graduation where Willa is trying to confront her actions that led to the end of the friendship, and the second is the years leading up to it. We see all of the trials and tribulations that lead them to be so close.
It takes quite a while to get to the actual event that shook the girls but the journey there is lovely. It's a true story of friendship, loyalty and the pains of growing up. There are some terribly sad moments throughout so be braced for that.
I really liked the characters and their arcs but the writing style wasn’t my favorite. I was interested in seeing what happened to the girls but I had to fight myself into reading it a few times. I was glad I stuck with it, though I wish it was told slightly differently.
Thanks so much to Booksparks for this gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
It takes quite a while to get to the actual event that shook the girls but the journey there is lovely. It's a true story of friendship, loyalty and the pains of growing up. There are some terribly sad moments throughout so be braced for that.
I really liked the characters and their arcs but the writing style wasn’t my favorite. I was interested in seeing what happened to the girls but I had to fight myself into reading it a few times. I was glad I stuck with it, though I wish it was told slightly differently.
Thanks so much to Booksparks for this gifted copy. All opinions above are my own.
June 3, 2025
i saw a review that called it "quiet ya." yes, in the sense that there's not mean cheerleaders or authoritarian dictators & hundreds of pages of almost sex. i however found my heart race basically the entire time anticipating the horrible moments. then they'd happen & i'd want to cry. hopefully now ill have less adrenaline before bed? anyways incredible read can't believe i put it off for so long
June 27, 2021
[3.5 rounded up]
While the middle slowed down a bit too much for me, the ending was really quite powerful. For those who are looking for a sweet and serious meditative read about three best friends in high school, I'd say check it out.
While the middle slowed down a bit too much for me, the ending was really quite powerful. For those who are looking for a sweet and serious meditative read about three best friends in high school, I'd say check it out.
Read
July 7, 2023nie wiem. nie wiem
December 12, 2022
This book deserves a higher rating. It's very beautiful and tender and thoughtful, and maybe the friendships depicted in it are slightly toxic, but I feel like the book does a good job of addressing that and dealing with it. I found it while searching for books about friendship breakups, and it definitely delivered. It was just what I wanted. The writing was lovely.
I saw a few reviews talking about how slow the story was and saying that people might not like it because of that, and I guess there are people who would want something faster-paced, but I loved the way it unfolded. I enjoy a book that takes its time and shows care for the story it's telling. Some of the actions of the main character were bad bordering on unforgivable, but again, I think it was handled well and she did some real growing by the time the book ended.
I wanted to start it over again as soon as I finished it, and that's the highest compliment I can give.
I saw a few reviews talking about how slow the story was and saying that people might not like it because of that, and I guess there are people who would want something faster-paced, but I loved the way it unfolded. I enjoy a book that takes its time and shows care for the story it's telling. Some of the actions of the main character were bad bordering on unforgivable, but again, I think it was handled well and she did some real growing by the time the book ended.
I wanted to start it over again as soon as I finished it, and that's the highest compliment I can give.
Read
April 7, 2024DNF at 26%
I adore this author's other books, so I had high hopes. It was so slow going, I didn't feel any connection to the characters, and was honestly kind of annoyed at the great horrible secret thing the MC had done that made her friends put her through friendship tests (really?).
I adore this author's other books, so I had high hopes. It was so slow going, I didn't feel any connection to the characters, and was honestly kind of annoyed at the great horrible secret thing the MC had done that made her friends put her through friendship tests (really?).
May 22, 2022
When We Were Them follows Willa, a graduating high school student, as she journeys through her memories to make amends with one of her best friends, Luz, before graduation. Her self-reflection involves remembering painful experiences and examining how those events influenced her decision to commit the act she did.
Namey created an emotional read from start to finish. I immediately picked up on the notion that two significant events occurred in Willa’s life that were taking a significant emotional toll on her wellbeing. While I predicted what these events were, how they were revealed to the reader was a surprise. These reveals stopped me in my tracks, causing me to go back and make sure I had read correctly. Willa’s pivotal events were revealed at unexpected times, but this timing was well-crafted to give readers all the information they needed at precisely the right moment.
That isn’t to say When We Were Them was predictable. Though I could predict the two main events, there are countless others that I was not expecting and was not prepared for. I also was surprised at what the act against Luz was, despite the framework for it being given early on in the story. Her action was simple yet impactful, a desperate attempt to maintain something familiar when everything was changing around her.
As we take this journey with Willa, we aren’t only reliving her important life moments but those of her family and friends as well. Though these events are seen through Willa’s eyes, I still experienced the emotion that these characters were feeling. For example, Willa’s other best friend, Britton, experiences what can be characterized as an act of betrayal. As a reader, I experienced Willa watching Britton react, but I also felt like I was Britton. This adds to the character development throughout the story, which caused me to forge connections and remain hopeful that Willa would be able to right her wrong in time.
The ending was not what I had hoped, but it was what the story needed. The decisions made were in line with the direction the characters took, and the epilogue showed that it was the direction they needed to take. I finished reading and had questions simply because the characters made different choices than I would have. However, that’s why this book was so enjoyable to me. Each character never did quite what I expected, making the book more engaging and realistic. To me, that is successful character development. Character development drives this book more so than the plot, and it ultimately works in the reader’s favor.
When We Were Them is a wonderful depiction of a young adult reflecting on their high school experience as it comes to a close. Willa taking the necessary steps to save her close relationships before her time runs out is beautifully crafted for the readers to receive just the right amount of information when they need it but to leave them wondering until the next piece is delivered. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a coming-of-age story or for well-written characters to connect with.
Namey created an emotional read from start to finish. I immediately picked up on the notion that two significant events occurred in Willa’s life that were taking a significant emotional toll on her wellbeing. While I predicted what these events were, how they were revealed to the reader was a surprise. These reveals stopped me in my tracks, causing me to go back and make sure I had read correctly. Willa’s pivotal events were revealed at unexpected times, but this timing was well-crafted to give readers all the information they needed at precisely the right moment.
That isn’t to say When We Were Them was predictable. Though I could predict the two main events, there are countless others that I was not expecting and was not prepared for. I also was surprised at what the act against Luz was, despite the framework for it being given early on in the story. Her action was simple yet impactful, a desperate attempt to maintain something familiar when everything was changing around her.
As we take this journey with Willa, we aren’t only reliving her important life moments but those of her family and friends as well. Though these events are seen through Willa’s eyes, I still experienced the emotion that these characters were feeling. For example, Willa’s other best friend, Britton, experiences what can be characterized as an act of betrayal. As a reader, I experienced Willa watching Britton react, but I also felt like I was Britton. This adds to the character development throughout the story, which caused me to forge connections and remain hopeful that Willa would be able to right her wrong in time.
The ending was not what I had hoped, but it was what the story needed. The decisions made were in line with the direction the characters took, and the epilogue showed that it was the direction they needed to take. I finished reading and had questions simply because the characters made different choices than I would have. However, that’s why this book was so enjoyable to me. Each character never did quite what I expected, making the book more engaging and realistic. To me, that is successful character development. Character development drives this book more so than the plot, and it ultimately works in the reader’s favor.
When We Were Them is a wonderful depiction of a young adult reflecting on their high school experience as it comes to a close. Willa taking the necessary steps to save her close relationships before her time runs out is beautifully crafted for the readers to receive just the right amount of information when they need it but to leave them wondering until the next piece is delivered. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a coming-of-age story or for well-written characters to connect with.
November 17, 2021
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
You see how gorgeous the outside of this book is? Well, you're in luck, because the inside is just as gorgeous, if not more so. I fell so in love with this book, frankly. It is a love letter to friendship, and growing up. To letting go when necessary, to become your own best version of yourself. The writing is beyond stunning, and I cannot wait to read more of the author's work.
I think this is the kind of book you needn't know much about before going in, mostly because you need to experience the story for yourself. But I am going to tell you what this book has a ton of, and therefore, why you should give it a go.
►Amazingly well developed characters. Oh, how I fell in love with all of them. When we meet Willa, she's a mess, basically. And she's going to tell us all about how and why she is where she is. And intermixed with the past, we're going to see how Willa attempts to move forward, tries to grow as a human being. It's beautiful, really. We see this character for snippets in time, but we get a feel for who she is at her core. We also get to see so many of the important people in her life, and they are equally complex and messy and wonderful.
►Huge focus on all kinds of relationships. Friendship is clearly the key focus of this story, but there's so much else too. Willa and her friends are trying to navigate their late teen years with their families, with each other, with romantic partners. And it's a lot! Just growing up is a lot, and figuring out how your relationships will grow and change is a lot too. They have to figure out how to become who they want to be, what they want to be, and it's beyond daunting.
►Willa is a little lost. And I am so glad that the author acknowledges how completely okay that is! Willa doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up, and that's cool, me either. The thing is, it isn't a flaw. Willa may think so, certainly at first, but it's not. And I liked that.
►So. Many. Emotions. They ran the gamut, frankly. I obviously cried, but I laughed, and I had my heart warmed a lot too. Basically, the book is incredibly emotionally provocative, but without being needlessly dramatic- it's basically the perfect blend.
Bottom Line: I loved this story with my whole heart, and was so very grateful to be able to go on Willa's journey with her.
You see how gorgeous the outside of this book is? Well, you're in luck, because the inside is just as gorgeous, if not more so. I fell so in love with this book, frankly. It is a love letter to friendship, and growing up. To letting go when necessary, to become your own best version of yourself. The writing is beyond stunning, and I cannot wait to read more of the author's work.
I think this is the kind of book you needn't know much about before going in, mostly because you need to experience the story for yourself. But I am going to tell you what this book has a ton of, and therefore, why you should give it a go.
►Amazingly well developed characters. Oh, how I fell in love with all of them. When we meet Willa, she's a mess, basically. And she's going to tell us all about how and why she is where she is. And intermixed with the past, we're going to see how Willa attempts to move forward, tries to grow as a human being. It's beautiful, really. We see this character for snippets in time, but we get a feel for who she is at her core. We also get to see so many of the important people in her life, and they are equally complex and messy and wonderful.
►Huge focus on all kinds of relationships. Friendship is clearly the key focus of this story, but there's so much else too. Willa and her friends are trying to navigate their late teen years with their families, with each other, with romantic partners. And it's a lot! Just growing up is a lot, and figuring out how your relationships will grow and change is a lot too. They have to figure out how to become who they want to be, what they want to be, and it's beyond daunting.
►Willa is a little lost. And I am so glad that the author acknowledges how completely okay that is! Willa doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up, and that's cool, me either. The thing is, it isn't a flaw. Willa may think so, certainly at first, but it's not. And I liked that.
►So. Many. Emotions. They ran the gamut, frankly. I obviously cried, but I laughed, and I had my heart warmed a lot too. Basically, the book is incredibly emotionally provocative, but without being needlessly dramatic- it's basically the perfect blend.
Bottom Line: I loved this story with my whole heart, and was so very grateful to be able to go on Willa's journey with her.
December 13, 2021
I was familiar with Laura Taylor Namey by way of her novel A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow just for how acclaimed it was (a Reese's YA Book Club pick, if I'm not mistaken), but I hadn't read it/didn't know much about it. Holy crap will I be reading it now. Along with everything else Namey has ever written.
This is an absolute little stunner of a book about three best friends, told in reverse as the narrator, Willa, sifts through a memory box they've compiled through the years in search of an answer as to why she betrayed the other two at the beginning of their senior year of college. This back-and-forth between the present, when the friends seem broken beyond repair, and the past, when their bond seems unbreakable, is very cleverly handled, and gives absolutely nothing away until the appropriate time. As a result, you're left guessing for 80% of the book as to what exactly it was that Willa did that was so unforgivable, but in a way that's more anticipatory than frustrating. I really enjoyed watching these girls grow up from high school freshman to graduating seniors, all the while experiencing that looming sense of something bad going to happen and not being able to guess what it possibly could be.
Also, there was just something extremely comforting and wholesome about this world. Namey says in the author notes that much of the book is drawn from—and a love letter to—her own neighborhood in San Diego where she grew up, and that really shines through. This is a neighborhood where your friends are always there for you, and so are all your favorite haunts around town. Where your friends' moms are basically your bonus moms, and are there for you, too, through all the worst things—and there are a lot of worst things. At its heart, this novel is about grief and guilt and how these things can haunt us. It's not a coincidence that the book opens with talk of what Willa and her friends call "the haunting game"—a game where they guess where and how they would haunt one another if they died.
Also, the writing was just an absolute cut above! I'm a sucker for a pretty sentence, and Namey is a poet with her words.
Tl;dr: this book had the absolute unmitigated audacity to steal my heart, then break it, then put it back together again. I will be pursuing legal recourse.
This is an absolute little stunner of a book about three best friends, told in reverse as the narrator, Willa, sifts through a memory box they've compiled through the years in search of an answer as to why she betrayed the other two at the beginning of their senior year of college. This back-and-forth between the present, when the friends seem broken beyond repair, and the past, when their bond seems unbreakable, is very cleverly handled, and gives absolutely nothing away until the appropriate time. As a result, you're left guessing for 80% of the book as to what exactly it was that Willa did that was so unforgivable, but in a way that's more anticipatory than frustrating. I really enjoyed watching these girls grow up from high school freshman to graduating seniors, all the while experiencing that looming sense of something bad going to happen and not being able to guess what it possibly could be.
Also, there was just something extremely comforting and wholesome about this world. Namey says in the author notes that much of the book is drawn from—and a love letter to—her own neighborhood in San Diego where she grew up, and that really shines through. This is a neighborhood where your friends are always there for you, and so are all your favorite haunts around town. Where your friends' moms are basically your bonus moms, and are there for you, too, through all the worst things—and there are a lot of worst things. At its heart, this novel is about grief and guilt and how these things can haunt us. It's not a coincidence that the book opens with talk of what Willa and her friends call "the haunting game"—a game where they guess where and how they would haunt one another if they died.
Also, the writing was just an absolute cut above! I'm a sucker for a pretty sentence, and Namey is a poet with her words.
Tl;dr: this book had the absolute unmitigated audacity to steal my heart, then break it, then put it back together again. I will be pursuing legal recourse.
November 26, 2021
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for a complimentary earc to review
I have enjoyed reading this author’s first two books and so it saddens me to have to make a review like the one I will be making. It sucks to read a book you dislike by an author you do like. In no means I am saying this is a bad book. Namey writes well and it shows throughout every book she has written. This one just didn’t mesh me and that’s okay, although still sad. I know that there is an audience for this book and it will do great because of it.
The book is told from two timelines, past and present. The present is very short since it only captures a week leading up to graduation for the group of friends. The past takes up a good chunk of the book. Both timelines are from the perspective of Willa. Usually I would be on board with a dual timeline. I have enjoyed many books with it. For this one, I’m not entirely sure but I think it boils down to the slowness of the plot as well as not connecting with the characters.
Friendship is a big part of the plot and these particular friendships go through a lot including grief. Grief isn’t a new topic in books, but I am always curious to see what writers do with the topic and how their characters will handle it because it can be different. I do get grief and I can connect on the surface level of it from this particular book but not being able to connect with the characters is what ultimately caused me to not mesh with the book. It really sucks when it happens, especially for a book you were hoping to love.
The book does start out with giving us a hint that the friendship between two of the girls has gone amiss. There really isn’t much to the mystery of it besides going back into past to figure out what went wrong. There wasn’t any particular plot twists that kept you engaged and maybe that is why it felt slow. I don’t think the payoff at the end was major and just kind of had me feeling meh about the whole thing.
Overall, this was okay. I liked the friendship between the girls and seeing how sometimes things happen that make friends drift away. The grief was understandable too. I just couldn’t connect to the characters and with the plot being on the slower side I just couldn’t mesh with it.
I have enjoyed reading this author’s first two books and so it saddens me to have to make a review like the one I will be making. It sucks to read a book you dislike by an author you do like. In no means I am saying this is a bad book. Namey writes well and it shows throughout every book she has written. This one just didn’t mesh me and that’s okay, although still sad. I know that there is an audience for this book and it will do great because of it.
The book is told from two timelines, past and present. The present is very short since it only captures a week leading up to graduation for the group of friends. The past takes up a good chunk of the book. Both timelines are from the perspective of Willa. Usually I would be on board with a dual timeline. I have enjoyed many books with it. For this one, I’m not entirely sure but I think it boils down to the slowness of the plot as well as not connecting with the characters.
Friendship is a big part of the plot and these particular friendships go through a lot including grief. Grief isn’t a new topic in books, but I am always curious to see what writers do with the topic and how their characters will handle it because it can be different. I do get grief and I can connect on the surface level of it from this particular book but not being able to connect with the characters is what ultimately caused me to not mesh with the book. It really sucks when it happens, especially for a book you were hoping to love.
The book does start out with giving us a hint that the friendship between two of the girls has gone amiss. There really isn’t much to the mystery of it besides going back into past to figure out what went wrong. There wasn’t any particular plot twists that kept you engaged and maybe that is why it felt slow. I don’t think the payoff at the end was major and just kind of had me feeling meh about the whole thing.
Overall, this was okay. I liked the friendship between the girls and seeing how sometimes things happen that make friends drift away. The grief was understandable too. I just couldn’t connect to the characters and with the plot being on the slower side I just couldn’t mesh with it.
November 27, 2021
I almost loved this. Our world needs far more stories about friendship-breakups and the intensity of that grief, books that don't necessarily revolve around how it was all a misunderstanding and everything will be back to normal by the final page. All the characters were compelling and distinct, and despite the slow pacing, I found I enjoyed just spending time with the different families and allowing myself to get drawn in to the complexities of their intermingled lives. The narrators emotions ring true, and honestly, it was cool to read about tight-knit friends who have to find identities outside of those relationships too.
But man, the whole book revolves around discovering what the heck Willa might have DONE to prompt such intense anger and weird ultimatums from her friends. And while the big reveal was definitely A Mistake on Willa's part, it was one she immediately redacted and acknowledged as wrong, and the way her friends pressure her to come to some intense personal revelation within a week or they'll friend-dump her seemed . . . kind of manipulative and creepy, to be honest. I totally understood why they'd be outraged and step back from the friendship for a bit, but giving her tasks and a deadline to "earn" forgiveness (though it wasn't worded that way) left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Like, grapple with what she did and forgive her or not, up to you, but don't put her through that kind of "hmmmm, well, I MIGHT forgive you if you end up running this ill-defined emotional gauntlet to my satisfaction in time!" It felt like the author wanted an outside incentive to prompt Willa to dig through her own past and trauma so she couldn't just do an avoidance dance forever, and for a story with slower pacing like this one, I can see why she made that choice. But I ended up feeling less like Willa needed to find a way to demonstrate that she understood her mistake and more like I ought to be relieved for all three of them that they were going to take a break from friendships that had become too entangled to be healthy.
But man, the whole book revolves around discovering what the heck Willa might have DONE to prompt such intense anger and weird ultimatums from her friends. And while the big reveal was definitely A Mistake on Willa's part, it was one she immediately redacted and acknowledged as wrong, and the way her friends pressure her to come to some intense personal revelation within a week or they'll friend-dump her seemed . . . kind of manipulative and creepy, to be honest. I totally understood why they'd be outraged and step back from the friendship for a bit, but giving her tasks and a deadline to "earn" forgiveness (though it wasn't worded that way) left a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Like, grapple with what she did and forgive her or not, up to you, but don't put her through that kind of "hmmmm, well, I MIGHT forgive you if you end up running this ill-defined emotional gauntlet to my satisfaction in time!" It felt like the author wanted an outside incentive to prompt Willa to dig through her own past and trauma so she couldn't just do an avoidance dance forever, and for a story with slower pacing like this one, I can see why she made that choice. But I ended up feeling less like Willa needed to find a way to demonstrate that she understood her mistake and more like I ought to be relieved for all three of them that they were going to take a break from friendships that had become too entangled to be healthy.
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