What We Kept

by Amanda Kade

265 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 30, 2026

Reviews

[Kaylee Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What we Kept is a heartbreaking story about survival, trauma and hope under horrifying circumstances.

Mia and Liam are abducted as children and spend 10 years in isolated captivity. It follows them trying to keep their humanity while surviving and falling in love. Through shared trauma, they become each other's everything, and develop an unbreakable bond.


This book was HEAVY! Definitely check the trigger warnings on this one.

I was entranced by the writing. The pain and suffering of the characters was so well-written, it was like we shared their pain.

I've read Amanda's books before but this emotional story hit so differently!

[booksandkelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow I was not expecting this book to hit me like it did! I felt all the emotions!! I was rooting for Mia and Liam so hard the whole way through, iykyk. I recommend checking the triggers for this one, such a heartbreaking read but worth every page. The writing style is so well done, Amanda Kade is on my radar from now on

Thank you to The Books And Bitches Down Under arc team for sending me an arc of What We Kept to read and review

[Naiomi Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has wrecked me.

Amanda keeps giving her all with her books and I will keep reading.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

What We Kept, by Amanda Kade, is a harrowing exploration of the psychological endurance required to survive long-term captivity and the profound, traumatic bonds formed under extreme coercion. This is my first book by this author, but that will change!

The story centers on Mia and Liam, two individuals abducted as children who spend a decade in forced isolation. Together, they develop an intense bond that is their only source of humanity. This is not your typical dark romance. Here, because of isolation and shared trauma, they become each other’s entire universe, tethered together by shared suffering.

The book emphasizes various aspects, such as psychological isolation, moral compromise, and communication. The trauma of their situation also comes with fragmented memories of their past and a profound sense of invisibility to the outside world. Their survival required Mia and Liam to adopt behaviors such as forced obedience, which altered their childhood development. Communication was between the two. Tapping on walls and stolen whispers were the only things that prevented total psychic collapse.

This book is NOT a HEA. It was gut-wrenching and hard to read. It is a visceral examination of human resilience. I’m used to having a nicely wrapped happily ever after, but this one caught me off guard and broke my heart. It was well worth the read, and I encourage you to do so.

Thanks to Amanda Kade for gifting me an eARC of What We Kept. I am leaving this review voluntarily. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Marissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What We Kept is a heartbreaking story of survival, hope, and the resilience of the human spirit.

This is a book where the trigger warnings matter. Please read them before diving in.

Mia and Liam have survived ten years of captivity. This is their story of holding onto hope, finding love in impossible circumstances, and daring to dream of something more.

This was a difficult read at times, but it was balanced with moments of hope, connection, and a love strong enough to endure unimaginable circumstances. The reality of what it means to be kept captive by a monster is devastating, and the emotional weight of that never felt far from the surface.

Mia clings to life and hope through her connection with Liam, and Liam never once forgets Mia. Everything he does is driven by his determination to protect her and hold onto the future they both deserve. For two young people facing such horrific circumstances, I was grateful they had each other.

This story is emotional, raw, confronting, and deeply human. It carries a different kind of terror, one grounded in survival and the lasting impact of trauma. I was completely glued to the pages until the very end, and even now, I'm still processing the emotions it left behind.

I received this book as an ARC, however, this review reflects my honest thoughts and feelings, shared voluntarily.

[Rachs_Bookish_World · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never in my wildest dreams did I believe that I would love this book the way I did. The way Liam and Mia will live rent free in my mind forever, is so completely unexpected but also absolutely incredible. It shows what a powerful story Amanda Kade has written.
I’ve never read a tragedy before. But I have cried over books and I thought I was prepared for whatever this author could throw at me. I was so very wrong. Never have I sobbed so hard. Or sent a voice message at 3am calling someone unspeakable names because I was completely devastated. This story broke me in ways I will never be able to explain but I would live it again and again just to experience the hope. The moments in the night where two hands meet between a wall and love blooms in the most impossible circumstances.
If you want to have your heart torn out and stomped on, or just love an incredible story that DOES NOT have a HEA, I highly recommend you read this book.
Please please please be sure to check the triggers first though because this book, it’s not for the feint for heart. It will hurt, I can promise you that.

[Amy Schultz · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 🌟 only because I was promised I would cry but I didn't. Thats a me thing though and doesn't change the fact that its an incredibly heartbreaking story.

Amanda Kade is an auto-read author for me. I have read her books since You Had Me At Thirteen and I love being able to watch her journey as an author. I feel like her writing gets better with every book she writes.

What We Kept was unexpected. I knew the story was dark and heart breaking and it was but it also was nothing like I expected. Having only just finished the book, I still feel a bit numb to how I feel about it but I know the story will stay with me and as crazy as it sounds I think I would reread this one

[Cassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I honestly struggled with the rating for this story just due to the graphic, and heartbreaking nature thats in it.

Check the trigger warnings before reading this one, this is a story that will stay with you for a while.

The story itself is gripping, intense, traumatizing, & emotionally rough. I did want to know why Henry did what he did, but I felt like there were enough things happening to put those pieces together.

Mia and Liam had to survive the most brutal things, for 10 years. This is a tragic story. If you want to be emotionally damaged, check this one out.

[Nyesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely incredible. I was blessed to have the chance to read the ARC of this book. The story was gripping, heartbreaking, heartwarming, horrible and loving all at once. The pain of the characters is so strong it’s like you can feel it. The book is so well written, it’s like you’re right there watching it all unfold. I never knew what to expect. Absolutely spectacular. I can’t wait to read more of Amanda Kade’s book. Maybe a sequel about Liam or a book about the what ifs? They would be fantastic

[Paigey Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely finished me! I was obsessed with the characters and their story from the first chapter!

I shed so many tears and wanted nothing more to jump in there and fight for them.

I absolutely adore Amanda’s work and this book so was beautifully written, a reminder to everyone that sadly not everyone story will have a happy ending.

Liam and Mia made me so proud 🩷 The bond these two share was absolutely beautiful🤍

[Carisse Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very fortunate to beta read this.
.... or maybe unfortunate because the feelings that were felt!
The roller coaster of this book. It had me on the edge of my seat and then staring blankly at a wall for 30mins with a steady stream of tears.

I read this back in April and still regularly think of Liam and Mia.
What we Kept has been burnt into my soul. And I'm not mad about it. It is beautiful in every sense of the word!

[Mrsz_reads13 · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was rooting for Mia, and Liam throughout the entire book. Their suffering was horrific yet bonded them in unfathomable ways. There are so many unexpected twists in this book that had me in tears 😢 😭.. I want to Thank Amanda Kade for the opportunity to read this book, it was an absolute pleasure.

[April · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a new to me author and OMG did she rip my heart out. This is an emotional, traumatic romance that will have you questioning everything. This did not end the way I thought it would and devastated me. I'm not an emotional reader and I honestly cried. Will definitely read more from her

[Alexis Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional read, definitely read the triggers for this one. I was so heartbroken while reading this one. Seeing Mia and Liam’s relationship and how they were handling captivity was very emotional. My heart broke at the end for sure. Definitely a tough one

[Jamie Calhoun · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5-Liam and Mia's story is heartbreaking. Enjoyed it.

[ARA · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m still crying!

Sobbing, yes there was sobbing. What a beautiful story.
Please don’t go into this book lightly, it is not a romance, but a love story built on trauma.