If We Tell You

by Nicola Dahlin

If you can’t trust your parents, who can you trust?

Cameron and Lewis Larsen are identical twins living normal, suburban lives … until their mom and dad kill two uninvited guests at a neighborhood barbecue and then disappear. Following cryptic instructions their parents left behind, the twins make their way to a small hotel in Edinburgh. Too conspicuous as twins, they hide by pretending to be one person, each gathering clues on alternate days. The closer they get to the truth, only one thing is clear: Someone is following them. Will they uncover their parents’ secrets before their own is discovered?

With no idea who’s after them, or why, the twins race to discover the truth about their parents. And, in the process, they learn a lot about themselves – and the unbreakable bond they share.

Readers will be obsessed with finding out what happens next in this highly suspenseful coming-of-age story with a deadly twist.

Genres: Mystery, Young Adult, Thriller, Book Club, Canada, Fiction, Teen

400 pages, Hardcover

Published October 1, 2024

Reviews

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC for review. To be published October 1, 2024.

I’m rating this as an adult reading YA….because that’s what I am, but I think this was pretty nice suspense for a YA reader…though I did want to drink every time Molly was mentioned. Which, if you were me, was also an older YA thing to do, but hopefully your kids are better behaved than I was.

Cameron and Lewis Larson (why do most YA characters have the most vanilla last names? Is this required? Let’s see some nice Polish names or something. This is a melting pot, dammit. Oh, correction. This actually starts in Canada. Well, then, in, carry on, I guess. I don’t know.) are identical twins living with their parents enjoying a backyard barbecue with neighbors and friends. Suddenly two gunmen rush in and grab the boys. Their parents kill the strangers and in the confusion before the police arrive their parents make a run for it, but not before sending the boys off, together, but without them, handing them previously packed go bags with clothing, money and passports. So, you know, they’ve had a day.

They follow their parents instructions to Edinburgh where they meet up with a friend of their mother’s. Since twins will be memorable they pretend to be just one person, taking turns going out to try to figure out what’s happening and where their parents are. Of course there is time for a little romance because they are only CHILDREN ON THE RUN FOR THEIR LIVES.

Like I said, I think kids will like it, and unlike most YA I read, this one works for guys.

[STEPH · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hmm. I don't know what to feel about this one. I kind of liked it, but I wasn't entirely hooked, if you know what I mean.

Cameron and Lewis are both likeable. They're twins, but they couldn't be more different. The first few chapters were confusing for me, but as the plot went on, I was able to guess what was happening. It was a bit of a slow burn, and I skipped through a couple of chapters because sometimes the conversations were repetitive and dull.

Not bad. Just not something I'll think about for days.

[Brooke · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️ 3 stars ⭐️

>I Thought I knew my parents.
Turns out, I didn’t.<

A coming-of-age thriller/mystery.

Likeable characters, interesting premise. Twins are always fascinating to read about, but the plot lacked some action, some suspense. I liked how different Cameron and Lewis were, how their personalities stood out. I wanted some more intrigue, more mystery surrounding their parents.

A perfect read for teenagers just starting to explore the thriller genre, in search for a character-driven plot and a simple storyline.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley, and am leaving this honest review voluntarily.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books I've read for School Library Journal.
Review coming soon to their site.

[Leonie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book more than people thought and it was a good read I laughed and had fun reading I feel Dahlin wrote a fun coming of age thriller I loved the twins a lot Cameron and Lewis were sweet boys to read and discover about I can’t wait to see what this author writes next in ya thriller it was a good debut also a fun fact I share a birthday with this novel too!

[Jenni · Rating 2 out of 5]

While the idea of this book sounded like a lot of fun, it just didn't do it for me. I think some of my students may like it, so I didn't give it a single star, but that's the only reason why I gave it two. I didn't care much about the characters and the story just kind of flopped for me. Hard to finish.

[Nicole Austin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley and Kids Can Press for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Nicola Dahlin's "If We Tell You" is a gripping, suspense-filled novel that brings together the elements of a coming-of-age story with a deadly twist of mystery and intrigue. This story keeps you on the edge of your seat, eager to uncover the secrets alongside the protagonists. The book is told through 2 perspectives, Cameron and Lewis, identical twins identical twins living an ordinary suburban life until a horrifying incident shatters their world. Their parents kill two uninvited guests at a neighborhood barbecue and subsequently vanish, leaving the twins with a set of cryptic instructions. Forced to fend for themselves, Cameron and Lewis embark on a perilous journey to Edinburgh, seeking refuge in a small hotel. To avoid detection, they pretend to be a single person, alternating their appearances each day. As they delve deeper into their parents' enigmatic past, the twins realize they are being followed. With mounting tension and danger at every turn, Cameron and Lewis must uncover the truth about their parents while keeping their own secret hidden. I think this book would work really well with reluctant readers who enjoy thrillers (like spy books), especially those who may enjoy a book with two male protagonists.

Dahlin expertly portrays the bond between the twins, highlighting their reliance on each other and the strength of their connection. The alternating perspectives as they navigate their investigation add depth to their characters, revealing their individual strengths and vulnerabilities. For example, you can see how Lewis struggles with his anxiety while Cameron struggles with how he feels inadequate compared to his brother. The twins' growth and self-discovery are central themes, making this not just a mystery but also a coming-of-age story. I actually enjoyed their growth as characters/individuals more than the actual mystery within the book. Even as the two were pretending to be the same person, their perspectives and personalities were quite distinct throughout.

The book explores themes of trust, identity, and the unbreakable bond between siblings. Cameron and Lewis's journey is as much about solving the mystery of their parents as it is about understanding themselves and their unique relationship. Throughout the book, there are a lot of hints scattered throughout to help you, the reader, try to figure out what exactly is going on, just like Cameron and Lewis. Dahlin masterfully maintains a high level of suspense, with each chapter revealing new clues and raising the stakes, though the pacing was a bit slow in the beginning of the book. However, things really started picking up in the second half of the book as more and more information is revealed and new characters are brought in. I definitely wasn’t expecting some of the major twists towards the end of the story. I was not expecting a mafia book going in, though it was very interesting to learn more about this particular plot point.

Overall, "If We Tell You" is a compelling read where Nicola Dahlin's skillful storytelling and well-drawn characters make this a book that is hard to put down. For fans of suspenseful, character-driven mysteries, "If We Tell You" is a must-read. The ending wrapped everything up nicely while also potentially setting up for a sequel in the future. I definitely can’t wait to read more from Dahlin.

[Cassandra Larsson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Kids Can Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book by Nicola Dahlin.

If We Tell You is about twin siblings Cameron and Lewis Larsen who finds themselves in a sticky situation where they have to run from their neighborhood barbecue. Their parents just killed two people and they have no idea who they are. They make their way to Edinburgh where they find an old friend of their mother. Now they have to find out what is going on and where their parents are hiding.

This book left me guessing throughout the whole thing. I had no idea who I suspected most, everyone was a suspect and no one at the same time. In my opinion and with my book taste it had a bit of a slow (but not so slow) start. It took me a while to get into it but when I did, I didn´t wanna put it down.

I definitely recommend this book to everyone who enjoys Young Adult mysteries. It comes out October 1st.

I rated it 3 stars.

[Ren · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit I'm woefully not a huge thriller fan, but this was decent enough. Cameron and Lewis were a little bit hard to tell apart for their thought processes and dialogue for me, despite them supposedly being twins who are "complete opposites" they really didn't feel that way for a lot of the book. That may just be me, but their inner dialogue was fairly similar most of the time and I'm not sure that them being twins was really a major factor for anything other than conflict. Not my favourite out there, the writing was strong enough but there were too many plot lines that felt dangled.

[Izzys_Internet_Bookshelf · Rating 1 out of 5]

1.5/5

The idea of this book was super interesting but I personally didn’t like the writing style and on top of that I just felt like the pacing was really slow, which led to me skimming the last 1/3s of the book. I just felt like they really spent the whole book asking the same questions and never getting any answers

[Aleesa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Um holy crap this book was amazing?? I can’t wait to book talk it to my students tomorrow!

[YeanaKabir! · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars!

It was interesting, the plot was intriguing for sure, I just felt like the beginning was kind of slow and it was a taddd bit confusing but other then that, it was pretty good!

[Audrey’s Bookshelves]

DNF @45%

[Lisa Aiello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was actually quite good. It is YA in the sense that the characters are twin 15 year olds, so it is told through their viewpoint. The plot itself is pretty intriguing. Perhaps it's a bit easy to deduce what is ultimately happening, but that takes nothing away from the story. It was fun and interesting to watch this unfold and refreshing to see a viewpoint/characters I wouldn't normally read. I think teens would absolutely love this book, and this old fart did too!!

[Zoë · Rating 2 out of 5]

Extremely boring and it had an awful ending. I liked Cameron’s character but everyone else was insufferable.

[Kyra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for my English curriculum class as a part of our Forest of Reading Book groups. Not sure how I felt about it. Super easy read, kept me pretty interested, but I do think there wasn’t enough wrap up and no real solution at the end!

[Randy · Rating 3 out of 5]

First Red Maple of the season. Once again teens are able to do so much! The setting in ascot land is filled with history and intrigue. He twin angle allowed for so many tricks that we all imagine twins play.

[Pam Withers · Rating 5 out of 5]

This highly engaging who-done-it involves almost nonstop chase scenes as we follow 15-year-old identical twins Lewis and Cameron from Canada to Edinburgh, Scotland. They’re on the run from a harrowing incident that tore them from their parents, who have gone into hiding either because they’re on the wrong side of the law (something the boys aren’t initially willing to believe) or involved in some kind of undercover work.

In any case, the goal is to follow clues that will help them reunite with their mother and father, and in the process, determine what lives they led before they left Scotland in a hurry more than a decade before.

The boys soon realize they’re being followed – but by people who mean them harm, want to locate their parents or are perhaps protecting the twins? Either way, they can’t seem to trust anyone, even those whom their parents had assured them would help. And when they devise a plan to dodge pursuers by hiding the fact they’re twins (they take turns hiding out and venturing out so there’s only ever one to be seen), it inevitably leads to trouble, awkwardness and narrow escapes, including in the romance sphere.

Several colorful, local teens join in their escapades, which ramps up action and tension. The twins may look alike, but their personalities and agendas differ, including the fact that one is straight and one is gay (or is he?) and one is smoother socially while another is better at math. It all adds to twists and turns in the plot, and ups and downs in their own relationship, until a fight prompts one to flee into the night.

People would see me for me, rather than half of a pair…
I checked the contents of my pockets – Ethan Martin’s passport, a ten-pound note, Clare’s keys and a dog biscuit. Not enough for a taxi, even if I could find one, never mind a flight home.

And that leads to a harrowing kidnapping and subsequent rescue attempt.

The chase scenes immerse readers in Scottish history on the fly, including the kids’ attempt to navigate a labyrinth of dungeon tunnels beneath a castle. The mystery of who is following them and why make the entire read a nail-biter. Teen dialogue is authentic and offers the welcome relief of a little humor, whereas the full cast of diverse characters is well developed.
This review also appears at www.YAdudebooks.ca

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn’t hate this book. Most of it I enjoyed well enough. But I had some issues with it that were relatively substantial.

The majority of my issues, admittedly, had to do with the very last chapter and the extremely sudden way the book wrapped, with a time jump that is sort of alluded to in the text but not called out in any kind of explicit way. At the end of the penultimate chapter the twins have decisions to make, and the book shows them making absolutely none of them. Even in the last chapter, what has actually happened is really only shown in very broad strokes. We can somewhat assume but do not 100% know where they live.

1. The title is dumb. No one ever says this or anything close to this at any point. It does not make sense to the plot, really. I hate it.

2. Loose ends. Some loose ends make sense to leave.
But there are some things that are sort of devastating, like the loss of the twins’ mutual best friend, that I didn’t think should just be left flapping in the wind forever.

3. Their names. The book makes a point of repeatedly telling the boys both that they basically do not have real identities, names, citizenships, etc. in the last chapter, they just keep referring to them as the same first names as before and have not told us anything about how they are (spoiler) still in the UK even though the UK, to borrow a phrase, hates them.

4. My biggest issue. Did they just… not get to see their parents at all, even for a visit at secure location while the dad was recuperating? And they just…
don’t get to see them again? What the actual f though? I thought that was a weird choice, to not have the reader never meet these people that the book is essentially about.

Lastly, I do get that the author is trying to set up the next book at the end, but babe, I am not fully convinced that I liked the way you closed this one out. So yeah, hold your horses, I am just not ready to jump back in yet, though I did really appreciate the opportunity to read the ARC and really enjoyed the local Scots (Maggs, Aisha, and Jamie), and well as the intrepid Padma.

[Claire · Rating 2 out of 5]

The concept of this book was super interesting, and throughout it there were plenty of turns I found exciting. I did have some fun reading it, and wanted to pick it up again after I put it down. Overall, my biggest issue with the book was the writing and our main characters. I had a difficult time getting into the story, and I think it was because there is very little description in the writing. It is all telling and very little showing, making it hard to feel attached and interested in the story. An example is this quote from the beginning, “The dog barked. We heard Margaret Ross telling it to calm down.” Another issue was Lewis and Cameron’s personalities. I had the most difficult time keeping the two of them separate, and am still not sure who was who. The story was told from both of their perspectives, and unfortunately their sections sounded the same and I couldn't keep them straight. Although, a stand out of this book were the themes about identity and how we define ourselves. As a twin myself, I really liked how the boys compared themselves to each other, as that was very relatable. To sum it up: the writing was flat and I found the main characters difficult to keep separate, but the twists were exciting and the themes added great depth and heart to the book. (Also Padma was the absolute best, she had great dialogue and characterization— my fav)

[Summer R Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you, Nicola Dahlin and NetGalley, for the ARC. I leave this review voluntarily and happily. Also, thank you publishers for your hard work!

A book filled with mystery and twists and turns. Sadly, I wasn't into it as much as I wanted to be. It's definitely a nice thick book for those who have the time to read it. Murder, stealing, espionage, and so much goes on in this book it's like, where do you start? Even so, it really seemed to just drag for me. There could have been so much more action or danger in my opinion, but this is definitely more for those who want to explore this type of book.

Twin brothers have no idea what's going on. All they know is they have to run away from everything they know and don't have much to go off of, and they have no idea where their parents are. They are on the run, and bad people are after them. Why? What's going on, and will they ever be ruinited with their parents? Read to find out.

Like I said above, I really wanted to enjoy this book it was just too slow for me.

[Jacob Urbach · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book follows two twin boys Cameron and Lewis. They start their journey after their parents kill two people at a barbecue. They run away to the UK where they are followed by a mysterious person. They hide away at a family friend's house while they try to live their lives as one person so as to not attract attention towards themselves. Here they try and find out who their parents are and why they did what they did.

This book did a good job of keeping me guessing on who their parents were and what was going to happen next. I liked the fact that we got time to learn about the side characters and who they were as people so that I could care about them as characters. Each character had a distinct personality; however, I was sometimes confused by the two lead characters who are twins. Sometimes I would forget which twin did what. I did like the different perspectives the twins had as we switched between them and how each of them thought about their parents. One thing that left me disappointed by the book was the ending as it wrapped up too quickly after the conflict was resolved.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Identical twins Cameron and Lewis are on the run since their parents shot and killed two strangers who turned up to a neighbourhood barbeque at their home in Canada. Their parents have disappeared, leaving two packed bags with passports and instructions for the twins to find an old friend in Edinburgh.
The story is told from the dual narrative of the twins and whilst this can be a bit confusing at times, it gives a good portrayal of the bonds between them. I enjoyed seeing how they mature and each find their own skills and strengths in response to the challenges they face. This is a relatively quick read with lots going on, multiple suspects and a mystery to be solved. It would be a great choice for teenage readers who want to try YA thrillers.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC

[Julie (Bookish.Intoxication) · Rating 3 out of 5]

If We Tell You is action packed from the very first page, the reader is thrown into the world of runaway protagonists Lewis and Cameron as they try to stay alive.

This is a YA thriller, which will hit its target audience perfectly. While reading you do forget how young the protagonists are, and when their age is mentioned it feels like a slap, that they are enduring all of this stress and trauma. Yet on the other hand it is enjoyable watching them in London and Edinburgh for the first time, experiencing the people, culture and beauty of the cities.

If We Tell You is easy to read, fast paced and exciting. Targeted to the younger bracket of the YA audience, it is easy to follow and to process what isn't said.

[Kaeleigh · Rating 3 out of 5]

As an adult reviewing a middle grade book - 3⭐

If I were in middle grade - 4 ⭐

I teach middle grade students and I try to find time to read books for their level so that I can promote a love of reading. We got this book in our school library as part of the Forest of Reading program and the premise was so intriguing that I had to read it.

Approaching this with an adult brain, there were definitely some flaws, but for teens who like books like The Inheritance Games, Good Girls Guide to Murder, One of Us is Lying, etc., I think they will really enjoy this book.

The twins go through some great character development, the setting is fun and there is enough action/mystery to keep them hooked. The book also ends with a little setup for a possible sequel.

[Diah · Rating 1 out of 5]

digital arc was provided by Netgalley and Kids Can Press

If We Tell You starts with a gripping premise: twins Cameron and Lewis unraveling their parents' dark secrets after a shocking incident at a barbecue. However, as the story unfolds, it loses steam. While one twin is quite allright, the other consistently makes frustrating choices, making it hard to connect with either of them.

The plot takes unexpected turns that feel more confusing than thrilling, leaving me disengaged by the end. What began as a promising mystery ultimately fell flat, leaving me wishing for more depth and tension. If you’re after a captivating read, you might want to look elsewhere.

[Ali Manning · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has many twist and turns that make you think about what’s happening. With the British setting, as a Canadian this was hard at sometimes to understand. Throughout those times I would skip the pages and then miss something and have to go back. The characters are difficult to understand sometimes as they are switching identities. This book is a good one however I wasn’t as intrigued as I wish I could be. The ending was definitely the best part. When they all gathered together and another twist ends the book, that’s how you know another’s coming. Overall I recommend if you would like a simple but complexed read.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️ rounded up.
Picked this book up to read as my son is reading it (taking the opportunity to be able to discuss a book with him). As a teen, he's enjoying it so far. So many YA books are so lovey-dovey, which isn't an interest to all readers. As an adult who primarily reads thrillers, it was just okay for me. Being from Alberta and knowing the area, the geographic descriptions were accurate, making the beginning of the book relatable. I think for a teen or young adult exploring this genre, it's a good place to start!

[Kiara Kenney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’d give this 4 out of 5 stars. The book was intriguing but I absolutely hated the main characters. I get they’re 15 but they were so very immature and lacked common sense. Or maybe I should say they lacked street smarts. Other than that there was a bunch of mystery and adventure that made me want to keep reading. There was a random character that was never explained beyond him being spotted multiple times. That kind of confused me as to why he was even mentioned. The ending was realistic given the circumstances so I appreciated that. All in all I would recommend this.

[Kait · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4⭐️ The ending was not what I was expecting but it still wrapped up nicely! Even left room for a potential sequel.

~ Twin brothers are on the run after an incident involving their parents. Unable to trust anyone but each other they follow clues to find out what happened and why. But will they like what they find? ~

*I received an ARC of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review with my honest opinion.*