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The Last Words We Said
Nine months ago, Danny disappeared and everything changed for his friends. Rae’s pouring herself into rage-baking. Deenie's deepening her commitment to Orthodox Judaism. And Ellie—Danny’s best friend and girlfriend—is the only one who doesn’t believe he’s dead.
Because she still sees him.
Moving back and forth between past and present, the story of Ellie and Danny unspools, from their serendipitous meeting to Danny and Ellie falling for each other. In the past, they were the perfect couple—until it all went wrong. In the present, Ellie’s looking for answers. Her friends are worried about her mental health, but Ellie’s certain that the tragedy that’s rocked their modern Orthodox community isn’t as simple as they all believe. She’s determined to uncover the truth about what happened to the love of her life. But to do that, she’ll have to be more honest with herself.
Because she still sees him.
Moving back and forth between past and present, the story of Ellie and Danny unspools, from their serendipitous meeting to Danny and Ellie falling for each other. In the past, they were the perfect couple—until it all went wrong. In the present, Ellie’s looking for answers. Her friends are worried about her mental health, but Ellie’s certain that the tragedy that’s rocked their modern Orthodox community isn’t as simple as they all believe. She’s determined to uncover the truth about what happened to the love of her life. But to do that, she’ll have to be more honest with herself.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published August 31, 2021
29 people are currently reading
1965 people want to read
About the author
Leah Scheier
4 books225 followersLeah Scheier was born and raised in Baltimore, MD. Leah works as a full-time pediatrician and mom to three daughters and twin boys.
Her novels, SECRET LETTERS (Hyperion/Disney 2012), YOUR VOICE IS ALL I HEAR (Sourcebooks Fire 2015) and RULES OF RAIN (Sourcebooks Fire 2017) have earned starred reviews from SLJ and Booklist and warm praise from PW and VOYA. Her fourth novel, THE LAST WORDS WE SAID is due to be released by Simon & Schuster on August 31, 2021.
You can write to Leah through her website or follow on twitter (@leahscheier) or Instagram
Her novels, SECRET LETTERS (Hyperion/Disney 2012), YOUR VOICE IS ALL I HEAR (Sourcebooks Fire 2015) and RULES OF RAIN (Sourcebooks Fire 2017) have earned starred reviews from SLJ and Booklist and warm praise from PW and VOYA. Her fourth novel, THE LAST WORDS WE SAID is due to be released by Simon & Schuster on August 31, 2021.
You can write to Leah through her website or follow on twitter (@leahscheier) or Instagram
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
August 31, 2021
Isn’t it the hardest thing saying goodbye to someone who already became inseparable part of your life? Is there any specific way to deal with your grief? Restraining, denial, lying to yourself may be the temporary solution but the pain is always there! It never goes away!
Nine months Danny disappears. Her three friends including her girlfriend Ellie who was the last person she’s seen him deal with his disappearance with different kind of defense mechanisms.
Deenie obsessively deepens her commitment to religious rituals of Orthodox Judaism as Rae turns into 24/7 Hell’s Kitchen contestant, pouring out her anger, resentment , sadness to create delicious bakeries.
But Ellie is the worst who may not differentiate the dream and reality: she keeps seeing her everyday. Even they have girl talk at their kitchen she thinks he is with them, smiling their sassy comments.
We see how they fell for each other by moving backward and learn what went so wrong.
Ellie still thinks he’s alive. They keep talking which worries her friend about her mental health.
I think this book is very much informative about Orthodox Judaism and the characters’ choices centered around the religion. We also understand the effects of religious doctrines in their lives and realize how their characters shaped, how they developed different personalities.
Interesting fact about the book is even though this book is about three unique different girls’ lives, their self discoveries, growing pains in a different secluded society, Danny may be the main the character of the book. We informed that he got lost from the first page but his unique existence appears at each chapter, helping to develop the entire structure of the emotional, heartfelt story.
Overall: I mostly enjoyed this heartbreaking young adult, thought provoking, sad and meaningful story a lot.
So many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
Nine months Danny disappears. Her three friends including her girlfriend Ellie who was the last person she’s seen him deal with his disappearance with different kind of defense mechanisms.
Deenie obsessively deepens her commitment to religious rituals of Orthodox Judaism as Rae turns into 24/7 Hell’s Kitchen contestant, pouring out her anger, resentment , sadness to create delicious bakeries.
But Ellie is the worst who may not differentiate the dream and reality: she keeps seeing her everyday. Even they have girl talk at their kitchen she thinks he is with them, smiling their sassy comments.
We see how they fell for each other by moving backward and learn what went so wrong.
Ellie still thinks he’s alive. They keep talking which worries her friend about her mental health.
I think this book is very much informative about Orthodox Judaism and the characters’ choices centered around the religion. We also understand the effects of religious doctrines in their lives and realize how their characters shaped, how they developed different personalities.
Interesting fact about the book is even though this book is about three unique different girls’ lives, their self discoveries, growing pains in a different secluded society, Danny may be the main the character of the book. We informed that he got lost from the first page but his unique existence appears at each chapter, helping to develop the entire structure of the emotional, heartfelt story.
Overall: I mostly enjoyed this heartbreaking young adult, thought provoking, sad and meaningful story a lot.
So many thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing for sharing this amazing digital reviewer copy with me in exchange my honest thoughts.
August 30, 2021
Not dead, missing. Even after nine months, that’s what Ellie believed. Their community was still feeling the effects of Danny’s disappearance, but none more than his three closest friends – Ellie, Rae, and Deenie.
I won’t lie. This was a heartbreaking story. Watching these three try and deal with the loss of their friend had me in quite an emotional state. I think all losses are difficult, but not having that closure, not knowing for certain what happened to Danny, made it a bit more painful. That battle between having and abandoning hope was a true struggle.
It was interesting seeing how each young woman dealt with Danny’s disappearance. Rae amped up her cooking, Deenie immersed herself in religion, and Ellie sank deeper into denial. Each were punishing themselves in some way, and when the truth was uncovered, my heart ached for them. The pain, the weight, the guilt they carried for so long was awful. I mean, I was still sad, but there was some amount of relief found when they unburdened themselves and allowed themselves to heal a bit.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom. As the story flashed back and forth, I got to share many happy moments with the characters. Each had a connection to Danny which was built on a strong foundation of friendship, and it was very sweet seeing that turn into more for him and Ellie. Central to the story was the friendship between Deenie, Ellie, and Rae, as well. Though their relationship was experiencing some growing pains, they always seemed to be there with love, support, and forgiveness.
I cannot say I have read too many books set in a modern Jewish Orthodox community, so I really appreciated that. There were things I knew, but I also learned a lot about of new things. I truly appreciated that window into that community and their faith.
Overall: Emotional and heartbreaking, but a beautiful exploration of grief and loss.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
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I won’t lie. This was a heartbreaking story. Watching these three try and deal with the loss of their friend had me in quite an emotional state. I think all losses are difficult, but not having that closure, not knowing for certain what happened to Danny, made it a bit more painful. That battle between having and abandoning hope was a true struggle.
It was interesting seeing how each young woman dealt with Danny’s disappearance. Rae amped up her cooking, Deenie immersed herself in religion, and Ellie sank deeper into denial. Each were punishing themselves in some way, and when the truth was uncovered, my heart ached for them. The pain, the weight, the guilt they carried for so long was awful. I mean, I was still sad, but there was some amount of relief found when they unburdened themselves and allowed themselves to heal a bit.
It wasn’t all doom and gloom. As the story flashed back and forth, I got to share many happy moments with the characters. Each had a connection to Danny which was built on a strong foundation of friendship, and it was very sweet seeing that turn into more for him and Ellie. Central to the story was the friendship between Deenie, Ellie, and Rae, as well. Though their relationship was experiencing some growing pains, they always seemed to be there with love, support, and forgiveness.
I cannot say I have read too many books set in a modern Jewish Orthodox community, so I really appreciated that. There were things I knew, but I also learned a lot about of new things. I truly appreciated that window into that community and their faith.
Overall: Emotional and heartbreaking, but a beautiful exploration of grief and loss.
*ARC provided in exchange for an honest review.
BLOG | INSTAGRAM |TWITTER | BLOGLOVIN | FRIEND ME ON GOODREADS
August 19, 2024
I thought this was a beautiful book—one about grief, friendship and Orthodox Judaism. I’ve never read a story that depicts Orthodox Judaism, so I appreciated that the author described in such a way that it was easy to understand for someone who isn’t of that faith. I liked all the of characters in the book, they all seemed fleshed out. Ellie has been seeing the ghost of her boyfriend who went missing after an accident on the lake, her friend Rae has taken to baking while her other friend Deenie has made a huge commitment to her faith (no movies, morals are on high, etc). Ellie begins to write stories about how she’s been feeling on the behest of her English teacher, which at first she finds to be annoying but then becomes cathartic for her.
I highly recommend this one if you want a hard hitting story!
I highly recommend this one if you want a hard hitting story!
January 8, 2023
3.5 stars
A teenage girl and her two closest friends have very different ways of grieving after a boy they all knew dies tragically.
I found the scenes of worship in the synagogue and explanations of facets of the Jewish faith very interesting.
*Red Flags*
Frequent F-bombs, underage drinking, teens in sexual situations (not graphically)
A teenage girl and her two closest friends have very different ways of grieving after a boy they all knew dies tragically.
I found the scenes of worship in the synagogue and explanations of facets of the Jewish faith very interesting.
*Red Flags*
Frequent F-bombs, underage drinking, teens in sexual situations (not graphically)
February 6, 2022
I had been interested in reading this book because I heard that it took place in a Modern Orthodox community. The premise also sounded compelling, as there was an element of mystery.
This was a really well-written and put together novel. It has a balance between past and present. The past is told as stories from Ellie's point of view. The present is also from Ellie's point of view, but she seems more like an unreliable narrator. I was right in my assessment that the premise would be compelling, as it definitely was. I wanted to find out the truth about what happened to Danny and whether or not he would be found. There is a lot of symbolism weaved throughout, especially through the use of Danny's stories. I enjoyed all the Jewish references and didn't feel like they were overwhelming either. They fit into the story naturally. It would have been nice to witness a Shabbat or holiday meal though.
However, some things didn't work so well for me. I think I was expecting something more shocking or intense, but this was written for a young adult audience. The build-up had me hoping for something more though. After the climax, I felt like the story went on longer than it needed to in order to wrap things up and felt clichéd. I also got annoyed at how Deenie's friends were judging her about becoming even more observant.
Overall, it was a worthwhile read and I'm interested in seeing what Leah Scheier comes up with next.
This was a really well-written and put together novel. It has a balance between past and present. The past is told as stories from Ellie's point of view. The present is also from Ellie's point of view, but she seems more like an unreliable narrator. I was right in my assessment that the premise would be compelling, as it definitely was. I wanted to find out the truth about what happened to Danny and whether or not he would be found. There is a lot of symbolism weaved throughout, especially through the use of Danny's stories. I enjoyed all the Jewish references and didn't feel like they were overwhelming either. They fit into the story naturally. It would have been nice to witness a Shabbat or holiday meal though.
However, some things didn't work so well for me. I think I was expecting something more shocking or intense, but this was written for a young adult audience. The build-up had me hoping for something more though. After the climax, I felt like the story went on longer than it needed to in order to wrap things up and felt clichéd. I also got annoyed at how Deenie's friends were judging her about becoming even more observant.
Overall, it was a worthwhile read and I'm interested in seeing what Leah Scheier comes up with next.
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September 19, 2021DROP EVERYTHING AND READ THIS NOW! WHY DOES IT ONLY HAVE 37 RATINGS?? HUH???? THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. THE JEWISH REP!!! THE WRITING STYLE!!! THE FEELS!!!!!
August 18, 2021
4.25/4.5?
"There was a boy that followed me everywhere, who lived in my dreams, both day and night. Was he a kind of idol? Everywhere I looked, my Danny was there."
What an emotional and consuming book. This is one that I kept thinking about even when I had to put it down and kept getting back to as soon as I possibly could. There is so much in this exploration of love, family, friendship, religion, community, and secrets.
The Last Words We Said is about a group of friends: Ellie, Rae, Deenie, and Danny. Danny has been missing for nine months and his friends are all trying to cope in vastly different ways. Set in the modern Orthodox Jewish community, this group and their close-knit community struggle with their loss and their own perceived guilt about what happened. Ellie, our narrator and Danny's girlfriend, can't let him go... because she still sees him every day. Unfortunately, she's the only one who does.
Some of the things I loved about this book:
1. It takes place in an Orthodox Jewish community. Each of the characters grapple with their religion a bit, some going deeper in while others withdraw. I was glad for this representation because it's something I rarely see in YA books I pick up. I was also thankful to see it depicted with obvious warmth and as a connected community, but without making it or its people out as perfect.
2. The format of the book. This book is told in the present, with Danny missing, but also includes "stories" that allow us a look at these relationships building and give readers a glimpse of the story building to its present mystery. Unfolding if each of Danny's stories was "truth or fiction" as more information comes out along with the characters was intense.
3. The FEELINGS. I think the author did a great job of depicting high school feelings, those of platonic, romantic, and familial relationships. There were cringe-y bits but high schoolers are cringe-y! I was pulled in by not just how much Danny and Ellie loved each other, but just how much ALL of these characters love each other. Ellie's relationship with Danny's father is one of my favorites in the book.
4. The plot and its take on Danny. Can it be called a ghost story, and exploration of mental health/ mental illness, or is it magical realism? There's no way to really know. It's all three and I loved that.
I think this is a really gorgeous and emotional book. I would recommend it to people who love YA contemporaries with lots of feelings, YA mysteries, books like If I Stay by Gayle Forman, or books with an amazing friendship group.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC!
"There was a boy that followed me everywhere, who lived in my dreams, both day and night. Was he a kind of idol? Everywhere I looked, my Danny was there."
What an emotional and consuming book. This is one that I kept thinking about even when I had to put it down and kept getting back to as soon as I possibly could. There is so much in this exploration of love, family, friendship, religion, community, and secrets.
The Last Words We Said is about a group of friends: Ellie, Rae, Deenie, and Danny. Danny has been missing for nine months and his friends are all trying to cope in vastly different ways. Set in the modern Orthodox Jewish community, this group and their close-knit community struggle with their loss and their own perceived guilt about what happened. Ellie, our narrator and Danny's girlfriend, can't let him go... because she still sees him every day. Unfortunately, she's the only one who does.
Some of the things I loved about this book:
1. It takes place in an Orthodox Jewish community. Each of the characters grapple with their religion a bit, some going deeper in while others withdraw. I was glad for this representation because it's something I rarely see in YA books I pick up. I was also thankful to see it depicted with obvious warmth and as a connected community, but without making it or its people out as perfect.
2. The format of the book. This book is told in the present, with Danny missing, but also includes "stories" that allow us a look at these relationships building and give readers a glimpse of the story building to its present mystery. Unfolding if each of Danny's stories was "truth or fiction" as more information comes out along with the characters was intense.
3. The FEELINGS. I think the author did a great job of depicting high school feelings, those of platonic, romantic, and familial relationships. There were cringe-y bits but high schoolers are cringe-y! I was pulled in by not just how much Danny and Ellie loved each other, but just how much ALL of these characters love each other. Ellie's relationship with Danny's father is one of my favorites in the book.
4. The plot and its take on Danny. Can it be called a ghost story, and exploration of mental health/ mental illness, or is it magical realism? There's no way to really know. It's all three and I loved that.
I think this is a really gorgeous and emotional book. I would recommend it to people who love YA contemporaries with lots of feelings, YA mysteries, books like If I Stay by Gayle Forman, or books with an amazing friendship group.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my ARC!
February 24, 2022
3.5
Predictable but a nice read nonetheless. A bit preachy with its explanations of Orthodox Judaism but I guess that was necessary to educate the wider non-Jewish audience. Could have done without the leaning into the “hole in the sheet” myth.
Of course the big secret was that Ellie “convinced” Danny to drink and drive. And it isn’t even that bad - a girl missing her boyfriend asked him to come over no matter what. He could have refused. Why can’t Danny be held responsible for his own actions? He chose to drink. He chose to steal back his keys. He chose to drive while drunk. He chose to not call the police or an ambulance or his father or Rae or literally anyone for help when he got to a car accident. The only thing Ellie should be held responsible for is not immediately waking up her parents once Danny called her to report the car accident. That was stupid. She should have called for help or woken her parents or gone out to drive to him. Also, why isn’t Rae on the hook for giving alcohol to minors? Or Rae’s parents/grandparents for letting an underage alcohol fueled party take place on their property?
Of course Deenie is secretly in love with Danny. (It was super obvious from their first interaction.)
And of course Rae is not-so-secretly gay and not secretly in love with Deenie. (Again, super obvious. Age twelve goes off the derech, gets an undercut and piercings? Such a stereotype.)
Editing for the dubious consent in the book. It really bothered me. Danny and Greg are never called out for their toxic behavior and violating Ellie’s consent multiple times.
Predictable but a nice read nonetheless. A bit preachy with its explanations of Orthodox Judaism but I guess that was necessary to educate the wider non-Jewish audience. Could have done without the leaning into the “hole in the sheet” myth.
Of course the big secret was that Ellie “convinced” Danny to drink and drive. And it isn’t even that bad - a girl missing her boyfriend asked him to come over no matter what. He could have refused. Why can’t Danny be held responsible for his own actions? He chose to drink. He chose to steal back his keys. He chose to drive while drunk. He chose to not call the police or an ambulance or his father or Rae or literally anyone for help when he got to a car accident. The only thing Ellie should be held responsible for is not immediately waking up her parents once Danny called her to report the car accident. That was stupid. She should have called for help or woken her parents or gone out to drive to him. Also, why isn’t Rae on the hook for giving alcohol to minors? Or Rae’s parents/grandparents for letting an underage alcohol fueled party take place on their property?
Of course Deenie is secretly in love with Danny. (It was super obvious from their first interaction.)
And of course Rae is not-so-secretly gay and not secretly in love with Deenie. (Again, super obvious. Age twelve goes off the derech, gets an undercut and piercings? Such a stereotype.)
Editing for the dubious consent in the book. It really bothered me. Danny and Greg are never called out for their toxic behavior and violating Ellie’s consent multiple times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 6, 2021
Im so happy there is a book being set in the Orthodox community. I am very excited.
I loved this book more than anything. Thank you SO much to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I loved this. I loved the relationships between the different characters in the story and the way the story developed. The theme of grief was heartbreaking and relatable. The characters and their relationship to their religion was beyond relatable. I loved Deenie and the way she was dealing with Danny's disappearance. My heart broke for Ellie. I didn't like Rae so much. I loved Danny and I loved Deenie's dad.
I loved this book more than anything. Thank you SO much to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I loved this. I loved the relationships between the different characters in the story and the way the story developed. The theme of grief was heartbreaking and relatable. The characters and their relationship to their religion was beyond relatable. I loved Deenie and the way she was dealing with Danny's disappearance. My heart broke for Ellie. I didn't like Rae so much. I loved Danny and I loved Deenie's dad.
December 13, 2021
I literally do not have the words to emphasize enough how much I thoroughly enjoyed, loved, related to, cried over, and laughed with this book. It's hard to describe a book as "perfect" because I feel like I've said that a lot in 2021, but "The Last Words We Said" to me is pretty damn close.
Ellie is a young woman of Orthodox Jewish faith living in Georgia. She has a close-knit friend group, hobbies she enjoys, and even a thoughtful, funny, well-loved boyfriend named Danny. It's revealed very early on in the book that Danny had an accident six months prior, and his body was never recovered. As a way to manage her grief, Ellie begins seeing him everywhere—and her friends and family have noticed. Although she and her therapist have "rules" about how much influence Danny's spirit has over her life, Ellie is determined not to forget him, even (in her mind) if everyone else is.
Themes of grief, sexuality, and mental health are pretty rampant in this book, especially where they intersect with Ellie's faith. The journey of self-discovery all of the characters embark upon especially in how their relationships with their faith evolve and their relationships with each other evolve is so stunning and complicated and lovely.
Grief, too, is handled so beautifully. So many kinds of grief. Grief for a friend. Grief for a boyfriend. Grief for a son. Grief for a student. No spoilers, but the scene between Ellie and Danny's dad made me ugly cry into my comforter. So many important conversations about mental health and how it connects to grief. I know that Ellie seeing Danny is a point of contention between all of the characters in the book and Ellie, but I also appreciated how patient they were with her.
I also appreciate that, for those unfamiliar with Orthodox Judaism, the elements of Ellie's life are explained in a way that it's not hard for the reader to see where she's coming from. Anyone who grew up in a religious faith likely has complex feelings regarding faith and sexuality, and I think "The Last Words We Said" did an incredible job of making those feelings hilarious, sweet, and real.
TL;DR thank you thank you thank you Leah Scheier.
Ellie is a young woman of Orthodox Jewish faith living in Georgia. She has a close-knit friend group, hobbies she enjoys, and even a thoughtful, funny, well-loved boyfriend named Danny. It's revealed very early on in the book that Danny had an accident six months prior, and his body was never recovered. As a way to manage her grief, Ellie begins seeing him everywhere—and her friends and family have noticed. Although she and her therapist have "rules" about how much influence Danny's spirit has over her life, Ellie is determined not to forget him, even (in her mind) if everyone else is.
Themes of grief, sexuality, and mental health are pretty rampant in this book, especially where they intersect with Ellie's faith. The journey of self-discovery all of the characters embark upon especially in how their relationships with their faith evolve and their relationships with each other evolve is so stunning and complicated and lovely.
Grief, too, is handled so beautifully. So many kinds of grief. Grief for a friend. Grief for a boyfriend. Grief for a son. Grief for a student. No spoilers, but the scene between Ellie and Danny's dad made me ugly cry into my comforter. So many important conversations about mental health and how it connects to grief. I know that Ellie seeing Danny is a point of contention between all of the characters in the book and Ellie, but I also appreciated how patient they were with her.
I also appreciate that, for those unfamiliar with Orthodox Judaism, the elements of Ellie's life are explained in a way that it's not hard for the reader to see where she's coming from. Anyone who grew up in a religious faith likely has complex feelings regarding faith and sexuality, and I think "The Last Words We Said" did an incredible job of making those feelings hilarious, sweet, and real.
TL;DR thank you thank you thank you Leah Scheier.
November 15, 2022
I would like to start this review by saying I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were well-developed and loveable, the story itself was as admirable as the characters were, the Jewish Orthodox representation was amazing, and the end of each chapter left me on the edge of my seat, battling sleep to keep reading just "one more" chapter. But if I take off my fan cap, simp cap, and "OH MY GOD THIS BOOK IS SO GOOD" cap, there were definitely a lot of flaws to this story.
To start off, the story, at times, felt confusing and as if there was little to no plot. A couple chapters even felt a tad bit unneeded. Some of the character's conflicts felt too drawn-out and out of character, especially the ones between Rae and Deenie. It was basically the sams squabble every other chapter. I'd also like to throw out here that the ending wasn't at all what I expected, which is both a good and bad thing. It felt rushed, forced, and slightly out of pocket.
Overall, I'm giving this great book 2.9/5 stars. It was absolutely amazing, it just had too many flaws (in my honest opinion) to be marked as "astounding."
Review with spoilers!
The same as said above, but this time I'd like to point out that one of the big reveals felt incredibly stereotypical. Rae left her religion entirely, went completely off the rails and got piercings and everything, and then came out as queer?
And as much as I adore the characters, they were all incredibly problematic and never held accountable for their actions. Danny was a liar who downplayed every bad situation, Ellie was incredibly selfish because of her unexplained hallucinations, Rae had a temper and hardly apologized for it, and Greg was just awful. Nearly every character here was a liar who existed only to piss someone off and create drama for te next two chapters. Although they did have their good moments, specifically the main four during the flashback stories that Ellie wrote.
This novel was well-writren, but I can't help but feel like it was unfinished. The characters recieved closure that the readers never got, and the last few chapters seemed to jump around too much. In one chapter, "they found Danny." Two or so chapters later, "Rabbi Garner is a sinner." (That conversation happened right after Ellie's hospital discharge. It felt extremely out of pocket.) And then in the next chapter, it's as if all of the book was for nothing because Ellie is mostly okay. Like nothing had ever happened. And genuinely, what /did/ happen to Danny? It really would've been nice to know. Without that closure, it feels like I'm left with less knowledge and closure than the characters have.
I have a lot more thoughts on this book, but I've spent twenty minutes writing this review, and I'd prefer to spend my time doing something better.
To start off, the story, at times, felt confusing and as if there was little to no plot. A couple chapters even felt a tad bit unneeded. Some of the character's conflicts felt too drawn-out and out of character, especially the ones between Rae and Deenie. It was basically the sams squabble every other chapter. I'd also like to throw out here that the ending wasn't at all what I expected, which is both a good and bad thing. It felt rushed, forced, and slightly out of pocket.
Overall, I'm giving this great book 2.9/5 stars. It was absolutely amazing, it just had too many flaws (in my honest opinion) to be marked as "astounding."
Review with spoilers!
The same as said above, but this time I'd like to point out that one of the big reveals felt incredibly stereotypical. Rae left her religion entirely, went completely off the rails and got piercings and everything, and then came out as queer?
And as much as I adore the characters, they were all incredibly problematic and never held accountable for their actions. Danny was a liar who downplayed every bad situation, Ellie was incredibly selfish because of her unexplained hallucinations, Rae had a temper and hardly apologized for it, and Greg was just awful. Nearly every character here was a liar who existed only to piss someone off and create drama for te next two chapters. Although they did have their good moments, specifically the main four during the flashback stories that Ellie wrote.
This novel was well-writren, but I can't help but feel like it was unfinished. The characters recieved closure that the readers never got, and the last few chapters seemed to jump around too much. In one chapter, "they found Danny." Two or so chapters later, "Rabbi Garner is a sinner." (That conversation happened right after Ellie's hospital discharge. It felt extremely out of pocket.) And then in the next chapter, it's as if all of the book was for nothing because Ellie is mostly okay. Like nothing had ever happened. And genuinely, what /did/ happen to Danny? It really would've been nice to know. Without that closure, it feels like I'm left with less knowledge and closure than the characters have.
I have a lot more thoughts on this book, but I've spent twenty minutes writing this review, and I'd prefer to spend my time doing something better.
August 26, 2021
This is a story about loss. Ellie is part of a tight knit Modern Orthodox community in Atlanta. She is close to her parents and her two best friends, Deenie and Rae. On a plane trip, she meets Danny and feels an instant connection to him. After they leave the plane, Ellie believes she will never see Danny again — until one day, he moves to her neighborhood, becomes the fourth member of the friend group, and chooses to attend their school. Ellie and Danny’s connection is undeniable and soon they are a couple and blissfully happy.
But one night, after a party, Danny does not return home. The wrinkle? Ellie can still see and talk to Danny. As more time passes, she is convinced he is simply missing, while almost everyone else believes he likely died — and Ellie is coping through her visions of Danny. As the story unfolds, we see Ellie’s family, friends, teachers, and doctors seek the best way to support her when, to them, she seems increasingly delusional and they are dealing with the grief in their own ways. We also learn the backstory of each of the characters, the heavy burdens they are carrying, and the secrets they are keeping from each other.
This is a compelling and powerful story of grief and growing up. The author does a terrific job of showing how grief shapes people’s experiences after loss, and the way the same loss can impact people very differently. The author also deftly explores the dynamics of friendships and relationships among teens, at a time of change and strong emotions in their lives even at the best of times.
Highly recommended!
But one night, after a party, Danny does not return home. The wrinkle? Ellie can still see and talk to Danny. As more time passes, she is convinced he is simply missing, while almost everyone else believes he likely died — and Ellie is coping through her visions of Danny. As the story unfolds, we see Ellie’s family, friends, teachers, and doctors seek the best way to support her when, to them, she seems increasingly delusional and they are dealing with the grief in their own ways. We also learn the backstory of each of the characters, the heavy burdens they are carrying, and the secrets they are keeping from each other.
This is a compelling and powerful story of grief and growing up. The author does a terrific job of showing how grief shapes people’s experiences after loss, and the way the same loss can impact people very differently. The author also deftly explores the dynamics of friendships and relationships among teens, at a time of change and strong emotions in their lives even at the best of times.
Highly recommended!
March 24, 2022
This book is amazing for many reasons. The way the author shows Jewish religion in the book is amazing. As a Modern Orthodox Jew, I felt represented not many books show Modern Orthodox high school kids this way. The book was very emotional, I had to take a pause while reading because of the intense emotion that is in the book, as a reader you feel it. Even at the end you still feel the emotions of sadness and what the characters were feeling in the book. At first, I did not think I was going to like the format, but in the end, I found it interesting and I thought it was a smart way to show the relationship between the 4 friends. It is a very well-written book and I felt that I could be seen in that book. I connected to the characters, I saw my Modern Orthodoxy in the book.
October 14, 2024
∞/5 stars~
oh my goodness. my jaw is on the floor~ "the last words we said" was so so good, i don't even have words to describe it. i read the entire book in two sittings~ it was almost impossible for me to put down, and it's been a LONG time since i've read a book this good. i feel the best thing i can do is leave a review to let people know how moving "the last words we said" is (because it is somehow extremely underrated), but i'm almost speechless after reading it. the only thing i can say is do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book now! trust me, you won't regret it <3
oh my goodness. my jaw is on the floor~ "the last words we said" was so so good, i don't even have words to describe it. i read the entire book in two sittings~ it was almost impossible for me to put down, and it's been a LONG time since i've read a book this good. i feel the best thing i can do is leave a review to let people know how moving "the last words we said" is (because it is somehow extremely underrated), but i'm almost speechless after reading it. the only thing i can say is do yourself a favor and get a copy of this book now! trust me, you won't regret it <3
January 28, 2022
Interesting story. Overall, it was an okay book.
December 1, 2022
did not like the plot line, bad ideas and concepts throughout the book, difficult to read, not interesting,
VERY disappointing ending
VERY disappointing ending
Read
April 19, 2023DNF 😭
Read
November 9, 2021Initially posted on a href="https://bookishlyjewish.com/?p=351&qu... blog
There’s something inexplicably sweet about growing up female in an Orthodox Jewish community. The women’s singing and baking groups, the close knit families, the ability to unabashedly call your friend “the girls” as if you are the heroine of a Nancy Drew novel. Yet orthodox life can also be challenging, full of rules that restrict your behavior and limit your options. At times it can feel like a society full of clucking tongues “who only want the best for you” are hemming you in with their judgements and their love. It is this delicate push and pull that lies at the center of Leah Scheier’s contemporary YA novel The Last Words We Said.
Set in Atlanta and alternating between present day and flashbacks, the story follows three modern orthodox Jewish girls as they deal with the disappearance of their closest friend, Danny. It is a dark thriller of a ride full of secrets, but it is also a quiet exploration of faith. Each girl handles Danny’s death differently. The viewpoint character, Ellie, insists she still sees him after he is dead. Her friend Deenie throws herself into religion so completely as to be borderline fanatical, taking on “extreme chumras” (stringencies of practice that are not necessarily advised or healthy). The third member of the trio, Rae, heads in the opposite direction. Already questioning her commitment to Judaism before Danny’s death, Rae doubles down into her rebel-against-tradition status after he is gone. She also bakes like a woman possessed.
At some point in my life, I have been every one of these girls. I can’t think of a single person I know that didn’t have a religious phase, “frumming out” as it is colloquially known, during their childhood. Often these are temporary stages while the individual in question works through their own personal dialogue with God and faith. However, in cases like Deenie’s religious practice can become a compulsion used to assuage guilt over real or imagined wrong doing.
Similar to Rae, I’ve been known to bake my fair share of babka while asking questions that would be deemed “inappropriate” by members of the community I grew up in. Her statement that rebellion is about her, and not about being an awful person to everyone around her, is representation that is sorely lacking in both Jewish fiction and the real world. Leaving the faith is often presented as an all or nothing event in which a person either toes the line or loses their family and become a strung out cautionary tale. Rae presents a third option and I am grateful for that.
Possibly the most universal experience, even for those not religiously inclined, is Ellie’s. The way Ellie deals with her own transgression of faith right before Danny’s disappearance and her resulting grief will ring true to anyone that has ever kept a secret from someone that is no longer around to hear it.
One of the more controversial practices mentioned in the book revolves around dating and physical intimacy. Simply known as being “shomer,” many Orthodox Jewsish boys and girls do not touch each other. It is a practice I grew up with. My shomer friends and I used to sing a little song:
Ignoring the inherent homophobia here, (because such a rule implies that touching within ones gender is totally fine as no attraction could possibly occur within that realm) it is a rule that is again both empowering and humiliating all at once. Especially when you are a teenage girl like Ellie. Because the tricky thing, that Scheier handles so deftly, is that shomer is often treated as an obligation of community morality rather than an option for the benefit of the couple in question. A must rather than a choice.
Outside expectations are layered onto to the burgeoning romance of Danny and Ellie to the point where it becomes hard to decipher what Ellie wants versus what everyone else is telling her to want. She is a young person held up as a paragon of virtue to her peers, put up on a pedestal by a society that uses praise as a cudgel to keep its members in line. Because the moment she became a member of the poster couple for “shomer” what should have been an intimate, personal decision became fodder for community gossip. Which can mess with anyone’s psyche, especially a teen who only a few weeks later then has to cope with the aftermath of her boyfriend’s death.
This is the inherent struggle in Ellie’s life. The reason she cannot let her dead boyfriend go and the reason he, in my opinion, never fully understood her. It is the same reason I feel the men in this book consistently fail to own up to their part of the problem in an equivalent way to the introspection we see from the female characters.
Ellie learns the hard way something that I have always known in my heart - that no matter how loving and caring your boyfriend is, they will never understand what it means to be a girl in a religious community. That a girls transgression will never be viewed the same way as a boys is. Because while a boy will get off with a few light slaps on the back (some of which are probably congratulatory) breaking the rules will shatter so much more than a girls self image or reputation. Because consequences aren’t the same for female presenting individuals in our communities. They never were and they never will be until we let go of some our notions about purity and gender bias.
This is a book about secrets kept not out of loyalty but out of fear. Fear that others will judge you if you make a mistake. Fear that those you love might reject you if they know your whole truth. Fear that the only community you know is not ready to embrace you. That terror felt so real to me because I do not remember a time in which I did not want to be a good girl to please those around me. Because I grew up knowing that even if I did nothing wrong but there were “rumors” it would be enough to torpedo my entire future. So for all the heartbreak that ensued, I’m glad that in the end Ellie and her friends learned to truly trust each other in a way I have never trusted a single person in my life.
My teachers used to say that everything in this world, every relationship and emotion that we experience, has been put here to help us understand God. The kind of love that these girls have for each other? The kind that never falters even when society tries to use it to tear us down and make us feel small? That’s the kind of love I like to think God has for us all. It is only our fallible human selves that have erred and placed conditions on being a member of our communities, and in doing so we wrong each other.
For what it is worth, I knew within ten pages that I was a Rae stan. While I may never have rebelled so flamboyantly, heck I’ve got every single one of these girls beat on shomer and relationship piety, Rae is still my bookish soulmate. Because that ‘really awesome wannabe rebel’ is my heart bleeding onto a page in
a way that I don’t think I could ever have the emotional spoons to write. Which is all a really long-winded way of me encouraging you all to pick up this book and find pieces of yourselves in these wonderful girls. Whether you are religious or not, it will speak to you.
There’s something inexplicably sweet about growing up female in an Orthodox Jewish community. The women’s singing and baking groups, the close knit families, the ability to unabashedly call your friend “the girls” as if you are the heroine of a Nancy Drew novel. Yet orthodox life can also be challenging, full of rules that restrict your behavior and limit your options. At times it can feel like a society full of clucking tongues “who only want the best for you” are hemming you in with their judgements and their love. It is this delicate push and pull that lies at the center of Leah Scheier’s contemporary YA novel The Last Words We Said.
Set in Atlanta and alternating between present day and flashbacks, the story follows three modern orthodox Jewish girls as they deal with the disappearance of their closest friend, Danny. It is a dark thriller of a ride full of secrets, but it is also a quiet exploration of faith. Each girl handles Danny’s death differently. The viewpoint character, Ellie, insists she still sees him after he is dead. Her friend Deenie throws herself into religion so completely as to be borderline fanatical, taking on “extreme chumras” (stringencies of practice that are not necessarily advised or healthy). The third member of the trio, Rae, heads in the opposite direction. Already questioning her commitment to Judaism before Danny’s death, Rae doubles down into her rebel-against-tradition status after he is gone. She also bakes like a woman possessed.
At some point in my life, I have been every one of these girls. I can’t think of a single person I know that didn’t have a religious phase, “frumming out” as it is colloquially known, during their childhood. Often these are temporary stages while the individual in question works through their own personal dialogue with God and faith. However, in cases like Deenie’s religious practice can become a compulsion used to assuage guilt over real or imagined wrong doing.
Similar to Rae, I’ve been known to bake my fair share of babka while asking questions that would be deemed “inappropriate” by members of the community I grew up in. Her statement that rebellion is about her, and not about being an awful person to everyone around her, is representation that is sorely lacking in both Jewish fiction and the real world. Leaving the faith is often presented as an all or nothing event in which a person either toes the line or loses their family and become a strung out cautionary tale. Rae presents a third option and I am grateful for that.
Possibly the most universal experience, even for those not religiously inclined, is Ellie’s. The way Ellie deals with her own transgression of faith right before Danny’s disappearance and her resulting grief will ring true to anyone that has ever kept a secret from someone that is no longer around to hear it.
One of the more controversial practices mentioned in the book revolves around dating and physical intimacy. Simply known as being “shomer,” many Orthodox Jewsish boys and girls do not touch each other. It is a practice I grew up with. My shomer friends and I used to sing a little song:
Ignoring the inherent homophobia here, (because such a rule implies that touching within ones gender is totally fine as no attraction could possibly occur within that realm) it is a rule that is again both empowering and humiliating all at once. Especially when you are a teenage girl like Ellie. Because the tricky thing, that Scheier handles so deftly, is that shomer is often treated as an obligation of community morality rather than an option for the benefit of the couple in question. A must rather than a choice.
Outside expectations are layered onto to the burgeoning romance of Danny and Ellie to the point where it becomes hard to decipher what Ellie wants versus what everyone else is telling her to want. She is a young person held up as a paragon of virtue to her peers, put up on a pedestal by a society that uses praise as a cudgel to keep its members in line. Because the moment she became a member of the poster couple for “shomer” what should have been an intimate, personal decision became fodder for community gossip. Which can mess with anyone’s psyche, especially a teen who only a few weeks later then has to cope with the aftermath of her boyfriend’s death.
This is the inherent struggle in Ellie’s life. The reason she cannot let her dead boyfriend go and the reason he, in my opinion, never fully understood her. It is the same reason I feel the men in this book consistently fail to own up to their part of the problem in an equivalent way to the introspection we see from the female characters.
Ellie learns the hard way something that I have always known in my heart - that no matter how loving and caring your boyfriend is, they will never understand what it means to be a girl in a religious community. That a girls transgression will never be viewed the same way as a boys is. Because while a boy will get off with a few light slaps on the back (some of which are probably congratulatory) breaking the rules will shatter so much more than a girls self image or reputation. Because consequences aren’t the same for female presenting individuals in our communities. They never were and they never will be until we let go of some our notions about purity and gender bias.
This is a book about secrets kept not out of loyalty but out of fear. Fear that others will judge you if you make a mistake. Fear that those you love might reject you if they know your whole truth. Fear that the only community you know is not ready to embrace you. That terror felt so real to me because I do not remember a time in which I did not want to be a good girl to please those around me. Because I grew up knowing that even if I did nothing wrong but there were “rumors” it would be enough to torpedo my entire future. So for all the heartbreak that ensued, I’m glad that in the end Ellie and her friends learned to truly trust each other in a way I have never trusted a single person in my life.
My teachers used to say that everything in this world, every relationship and emotion that we experience, has been put here to help us understand God. The kind of love that these girls have for each other? The kind that never falters even when society tries to use it to tear us down and make us feel small? That’s the kind of love I like to think God has for us all. It is only our fallible human selves that have erred and placed conditions on being a member of our communities, and in doing so we wrong each other.
For what it is worth, I knew within ten pages that I was a Rae stan. While I may never have rebelled so flamboyantly, heck I’ve got every single one of these girls beat on shomer and relationship piety, Rae is still my bookish soulmate. Because that ‘really awesome wannabe rebel’ is my heart bleeding onto a page in
a way that I don’t think I could ever have the emotional spoons to write. Which is all a really long-winded way of me encouraging you all to pick up this book and find pieces of yourselves in these wonderful girls. Whether you are religious or not, it will speak to you.
August 13, 2021
ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review]
What do you do when someone so important to you is suddenly removed from your life? And then what do you do when everyone assumes they’re dead… except for you?
The Last Words We Said tells the story of Ellie and her missing boyfriend Danny. He has been missing for nine months and everyone in her life has assumed the worst outcome. Ellie, however, holds the hope and unwavering belief that Danny is out there and alive. She still sees him. She hears him. She spends time with him. The problem is… no one else can see him and no one believes in what Ellie is convinced is the truth.
I had a rather difficult time with this book. I struggled with the way the characters interacted with each other, especially as things started coming to light at the end. By the time I was finished, I felt more gutted than some of the characters did.
One of the things I absolutely loved was the Orthodox Jewish representation in this book. It was so nice to be pulled immediately into this world. A lot of people have preconceived notions about modern Orthodox Judaism and seeing different kinds of belief and practices in here was so powerful.
There is a strong emphasis on stories in this. The stories we tell each other, the stories we tell ourselves, and the stories that we change and rewrite to help cope with grief and trauma. Flashbacks are used through the stories that Ellie is remembering or the stories that are being shared with her. It’s how we learn about Danny and get to learn the whole story about how Danny went missing. I love stories within stories because I love seeing different perspectives on the same experience. This was no different.
When I finished this book, I felt unfulfilled. The characters ended up getting closure that I, as a reader, never even came close to feeling. I was more worked up upon finishing the book than I was at any other point. This will be a book that others will love, but unfortunately, this is not that book for me.
What do you do when someone so important to you is suddenly removed from your life? And then what do you do when everyone assumes they’re dead… except for you?
The Last Words We Said tells the story of Ellie and her missing boyfriend Danny. He has been missing for nine months and everyone in her life has assumed the worst outcome. Ellie, however, holds the hope and unwavering belief that Danny is out there and alive. She still sees him. She hears him. She spends time with him. The problem is… no one else can see him and no one believes in what Ellie is convinced is the truth.
I had a rather difficult time with this book. I struggled with the way the characters interacted with each other, especially as things started coming to light at the end. By the time I was finished, I felt more gutted than some of the characters did.
One of the things I absolutely loved was the Orthodox Jewish representation in this book. It was so nice to be pulled immediately into this world. A lot of people have preconceived notions about modern Orthodox Judaism and seeing different kinds of belief and practices in here was so powerful.
There is a strong emphasis on stories in this. The stories we tell each other, the stories we tell ourselves, and the stories that we change and rewrite to help cope with grief and trauma. Flashbacks are used through the stories that Ellie is remembering or the stories that are being shared with her. It’s how we learn about Danny and get to learn the whole story about how Danny went missing. I love stories within stories because I love seeing different perspectives on the same experience. This was no different.
When I finished this book, I felt unfulfilled. The characters ended up getting closure that I, as a reader, never even came close to feeling. I was more worked up upon finishing the book than I was at any other point. This will be a book that others will love, but unfortunately, this is not that book for me.
January 28, 2022
Where to begin with this book...it really made me so mad that I almost gave it one star, but I did enjoy some aspects of it and it made me a little emotional at the end, so I figured it deserved two. But only barely!
There were two main things I liked about this: one was learning about Orthodox Judaism, which I don't believe I've ever really seen portrayed in a book. The other was the friendship and romance between Danny and Ellie, which was really cute and sweet at times.
But the rest of this just didn't work for me. Ellie's best friends are annoying, each in their own way, and felt more like ideas than people. What I mean is that one of them is very devout and the other has mostly given up on Judaism. It's like they each represent an extreme, with Ellie in the middle, and it just didn't feel authentic to me. All the girls are also judgey and mean at times and just really got on my nerves.
That goes for Ellie, too. Oh, where to start with Ellie...during the whole book, she keeps hinting at something horrible she did the night Danny disappeared. I thought it was going to be that trope where the character is carrying all this guilt and then you find out what they did and it isn't bad at all. As annoying as that trope can be, it isn't the case here. Ellie really did do something horrible. And the worst part is that no one even calls her out on it. Everyone acts like she didn't do anything wrong, when in my opinion she very much did. Although she grows and learns by the end of the book, I felt that she was an incredibly selfish character throughout, and I just couldn't root for her.
The ending of Danny's story was a bit unsatisfying, too. It just felt over dramatic and weird. There's also very little exploration of why and how Ellie was "seeing" Danny, even though that's the whole premise of the book.
So, yeah, overall, me and this book just didn't get along. There were too many issues with the plot and the characters for me to overlook.
There were two main things I liked about this: one was learning about Orthodox Judaism, which I don't believe I've ever really seen portrayed in a book. The other was the friendship and romance between Danny and Ellie, which was really cute and sweet at times.
But the rest of this just didn't work for me. Ellie's best friends are annoying, each in their own way, and felt more like ideas than people. What I mean is that one of them is very devout and the other has mostly given up on Judaism. It's like they each represent an extreme, with Ellie in the middle, and it just didn't feel authentic to me. All the girls are also judgey and mean at times and just really got on my nerves.
That goes for Ellie, too. Oh, where to start with Ellie...during the whole book, she keeps hinting at something horrible she did the night Danny disappeared. I thought it was going to be that trope where the character is carrying all this guilt and then you find out what they did and it isn't bad at all. As annoying as that trope can be, it isn't the case here. Ellie really did do something horrible. And the worst part is that no one even calls her out on it. Everyone acts like she didn't do anything wrong, when in my opinion she very much did. Although she grows and learns by the end of the book, I felt that she was an incredibly selfish character throughout, and I just couldn't root for her.
The ending of Danny's story was a bit unsatisfying, too. It just felt over dramatic and weird. There's also very little exploration of why and how Ellie was "seeing" Danny, even though that's the whole premise of the book.
So, yeah, overall, me and this book just didn't get along. There were too many issues with the plot and the characters for me to overlook.
May 17, 2022
I wish this book was better than it was, I really, really do.
See, it's one of the few books I've encountered that has an honest, authentic portrayal of Orthodox (in this case Modern Orthodox) Jewish life. And I really appreciated that. It was clear to me that Leah Scheier is familiar with the world she is describing (and my suspicions were confirmed when, in her Acknowledgements, she mentioned that she'd lived in the Atlanta Jewish community for a few years).
I also liked that Jewish identity and battling with faith wasn't at the heart of this book (which it usually is for those delving into the Orthodox world). It was a perfectly ordinary story about teenagers who happened to be Orthodox Jews. But their observance wasn't ignored. There were realistic discussions of shomer negiah and davening. What I'm saying is that it felt real.
Alas, the Jewish aspect of this book was the only part that felt real to me. The characters felt flat; I had trouble distinguishing between their dialogue at some points. The plot was...okay, I guess, even though I'm not really into the whole psychological drama thing. The plot twists, I'm afraid, were entirely predictable, and pretty cliche.
I was really excited to read this book because of the Jewish representation it promised. And it delivered. But authentic Orthodox Jewish representation does not a book make, and in this case, it wasn't enough to save it.
See, it's one of the few books I've encountered that has an honest, authentic portrayal of Orthodox (in this case Modern Orthodox) Jewish life. And I really appreciated that. It was clear to me that Leah Scheier is familiar with the world she is describing (and my suspicions were confirmed when, in her Acknowledgements, she mentioned that she'd lived in the Atlanta Jewish community for a few years).
I also liked that Jewish identity and battling with faith wasn't at the heart of this book (which it usually is for those delving into the Orthodox world). It was a perfectly ordinary story about teenagers who happened to be Orthodox Jews. But their observance wasn't ignored. There were realistic discussions of shomer negiah and davening. What I'm saying is that it felt real.
Alas, the Jewish aspect of this book was the only part that felt real to me. The characters felt flat; I had trouble distinguishing between their dialogue at some points. The plot was...okay, I guess, even though I'm not really into the whole psychological drama thing. The plot twists, I'm afraid, were entirely predictable, and pretty cliche.
I was really excited to read this book because of the Jewish representation it promised. And it delivered. But authentic Orthodox Jewish representation does not a book make, and in this case, it wasn't enough to save it.
May 10, 2022
I really liked parts of this, and really didn’t like some parts. Some parts seemed to be written to check a box and I find that annoying!
August 28, 2021
You can find the full review and all the fancy and/or randomness that accompanies it at It Starts at Midnight
In The Last Words We Said, we follow Ellie, who is still reeling from her best friend and boyfriend Danny's disappearance. Their other friends and families are fairly convinced that Danny is gone, but Ellie has yet to give up hope, and still even sees and talks to Danny. She knows her friends, parents, and therapist would like her to move on, and she often placates them with false promises she knows they want to hear, but deep down, she's not ready to let go.
It makes sense, of course, that the three friends who remain are dealing with Danny's disappearance in vastly different ways. Deenie is throwing herself as far into their Orthodox Judaism faith as she possibly can, while Rae is fleeing from their religion more than ever. I loved the deep insight into the modern Orthodox community, I felt like I learned so much while reading this story. Even more, I loved how much it played into each characters' grief process, as religion (or lack of, even) plays a huge part in feelings on loss in general.
This book not only explores grief and loss within the current events surrounding Danny, but in general. It also delves deep into the group's friendships, both pre- and post-Danny. In addition, there is a huge element of family and community involvement, which was a great addition to the story. I think my one qualm was that I didn't feel wholly connected to Ellie herself outside of her relationships with everyone else, but otherwise this was a strong and highly emotional story.
Bottom Line: A beautiful story about grief and loss, friendship and love, this one will certainly pull at your heartstrings.
In The Last Words We Said, we follow Ellie, who is still reeling from her best friend and boyfriend Danny's disappearance. Their other friends and families are fairly convinced that Danny is gone, but Ellie has yet to give up hope, and still even sees and talks to Danny. She knows her friends, parents, and therapist would like her to move on, and she often placates them with false promises she knows they want to hear, but deep down, she's not ready to let go.
It makes sense, of course, that the three friends who remain are dealing with Danny's disappearance in vastly different ways. Deenie is throwing herself as far into their Orthodox Judaism faith as she possibly can, while Rae is fleeing from their religion more than ever. I loved the deep insight into the modern Orthodox community, I felt like I learned so much while reading this story. Even more, I loved how much it played into each characters' grief process, as religion (or lack of, even) plays a huge part in feelings on loss in general.
This book not only explores grief and loss within the current events surrounding Danny, but in general. It also delves deep into the group's friendships, both pre- and post-Danny. In addition, there is a huge element of family and community involvement, which was a great addition to the story. I think my one qualm was that I didn't feel wholly connected to Ellie herself outside of her relationships with everyone else, but otherwise this was a strong and highly emotional story.
Bottom Line: A beautiful story about grief and loss, friendship and love, this one will certainly pull at your heartstrings.
September 17, 2021
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
.
It’s a rare day that I can’t find something to read, and yet a couple of days ago, when I couldn’t finding anything of interest in my TBR books, I received an email from Simon and Schuster. The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier is a YA book about love and loss. Ellie and Danny first meet on a rough plane flight where Danny (a random seat mate) tries to soothe Ellie until the plane lands. In a moment of serendipity, Ellie realizes that Danny will be living with his father in her neighborhood which is comprised of orthodox Jews. Ellie, along with her girlfriends Rae and Deenie, welcome Danny, but they have to observe many rules when it comes to boys, clothing, and faith. The prologue starts with a missing Danny as loyal Ellie waits for his return. She will not accept he could be dead. Together for years, they have experienced all the angst of first (high school) love while trying to remain chaste. After a significant lovers quarrel, Danny goes missing, and Ellie is consumed with guilt. But Ellie believes he will return to her; 9 months later, he hasn’t come back. I liked the way author Leah Scheier wrote this love story, and I enjoyed the orthodox Jewish neighborhood setting. Losing someone you love at any age is tough, but to a young girl who has only started to move toward adulthood, it’s impossible to comprehend. This book had an excellent story, a loveable young couple and friends, and parents who try to help. Grief is a bitch, and as one character states, “It’s not dramatic at all.” A poignant tale of loss and love; I enjoyed it. #faith #love #loss #thelastwordswesaid #ya @leahscheier
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. @simonandschuster #reading #books #bookstagram #book #booksofinstagram #booklovers #bookish #lindaleereads2021 #mmdbookclub #idratherbereading #readinglife #mmdsummerreading #summerreadingguide @modernmrsdarcy #mmdchallenge #September
.
It’s a rare day that I can’t find something to read, and yet a couple of days ago, when I couldn’t finding anything of interest in my TBR books, I received an email from Simon and Schuster. The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier is a YA book about love and loss. Ellie and Danny first meet on a rough plane flight where Danny (a random seat mate) tries to soothe Ellie until the plane lands. In a moment of serendipity, Ellie realizes that Danny will be living with his father in her neighborhood which is comprised of orthodox Jews. Ellie, along with her girlfriends Rae and Deenie, welcome Danny, but they have to observe many rules when it comes to boys, clothing, and faith. The prologue starts with a missing Danny as loyal Ellie waits for his return. She will not accept he could be dead. Together for years, they have experienced all the angst of first (high school) love while trying to remain chaste. After a significant lovers quarrel, Danny goes missing, and Ellie is consumed with guilt. But Ellie believes he will return to her; 9 months later, he hasn’t come back. I liked the way author Leah Scheier wrote this love story, and I enjoyed the orthodox Jewish neighborhood setting. Losing someone you love at any age is tough, but to a young girl who has only started to move toward adulthood, it’s impossible to comprehend. This book had an excellent story, a loveable young couple and friends, and parents who try to help. Grief is a bitch, and as one character states, “It’s not dramatic at all.” A poignant tale of loss and love; I enjoyed it. #faith #love #loss #thelastwordswesaid #ya @leahscheier
.
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May 14, 2025
“You’ve changed, Ellie,” Deenie says. “It’s like you’re hiding behind Danny.”
I feel his presence behind me before I turn to find him coming down the basement stairs. It’s such relief to see him, to have someone here on my side.
“Rae gave up on me the minute the cops told them I was missing,” he says, walking up to me. His voice is distant and cold. “And Deenie just buried herself in God. They never tried to find out what really happened.”
3.5 ⭐️ rounded
I have to say this: the cover is beautiful. And as a teacher (at the moment lol), reading the dedication of this book warmed my heart.
To start off with some positives, I learned a lot about the Jewish faith. It was a prominent theme in the book and it was cool to see the different characters navigate their relationships and grief with it. With that in mind, seeing how Ellie and Rae handle grief was what interested me the most. I almost wish this book came in multiple POVs so we could get a first person perspective on their very different feelings. Ellie’s stories also giving glimpses on her relationship with Danny was really cute.
I honestly had some difficulties reading this book. I wasn’t really hooked onto it until about 170 pages in when Danny was trying to get Ellie to try and tell her friends the truth and then Rae and Deenie basically gave Ellie an intervention. I wanted the book to be more like that from the get-go. And then things started falling into place and we learned more about what happened on Danny’s last night.
Also, Danny had such an interesting backstory. I would’ve loved a book on him.
January 17, 2022
I was attracted to this YA novel by its depiction of Modern Orthodox teens sharing friendships and navigating first love in a milieu that discourages physical contact between the sexes before marriage. It was especially intriguing (and enjoyable) because it's set in Atlanta, not the Northeast, important representation showing Jewish life across America. I have a passing familiarity with the Orthodox community in Atlanta through long-time friendships, so it was good to see Southern Judaism portrayed.
But I'd forgotten how deep the emotions run during the teen years, how the highs are very high and the lows are very low. When Danny disappears, everything changes for his friends--Rae, Deenie, and especially Ellie, his girlfriend. It's not just that Danny's gone, presumed dead, but Ellie still sees him. She talks with him. She expects others to acknowledge that she's conversing with Danny. Not surprisingly, she's getting serious psychological counseling.
What happened to Danny, his life, and the impact he had on the three girls unfolds in stories. Are the stories true? Does it matter? Or does learning how to deal with life and friendships become the ultimate goal, the only thing that makes sense in the light of Danny's disappearance.
I found this novel engrossing, reminding me that adults tend to dismiss teen love, but for those experiencing it, it can be the most real thing in their lives.
But I'd forgotten how deep the emotions run during the teen years, how the highs are very high and the lows are very low. When Danny disappears, everything changes for his friends--Rae, Deenie, and especially Ellie, his girlfriend. It's not just that Danny's gone, presumed dead, but Ellie still sees him. She talks with him. She expects others to acknowledge that she's conversing with Danny. Not surprisingly, she's getting serious psychological counseling.
What happened to Danny, his life, and the impact he had on the three girls unfolds in stories. Are the stories true? Does it matter? Or does learning how to deal with life and friendships become the ultimate goal, the only thing that makes sense in the light of Danny's disappearance.
I found this novel engrossing, reminding me that adults tend to dismiss teen love, but for those experiencing it, it can be the most real thing in their lives.
June 14, 2023
Pre-read this one before donating.
Incredibly sad. The grief was absolutely real. In the end, we finally make sense of why their grief is expressed the way it is. It all just makes so much sense. This is a classic ya coming of age novel. It deals very believably with the process of grieving from a Jewish perspective. I only wish I had been fortunate enough to encounter such a book (in the frum category) when I was the target demographic's age. Just wow. The three main characters are absolutely Jewish and it is a defining part of their identities. Emic perspective and not at all an afterthought. I really hope to see more similar such books from this author.
Target age: Best for teenagers.
Sex: None by the primary character, but there's some serious skirting of shomer n'giah. There is mention of others having had sex.
Atheist included: Kinda. One main character says she's an atheist, and definitely dates one. She reads more as Agnostic/Jewish but not particularly observant.
Swearing: If it was there, it wasn't noticeable. It didn't stand out.
Who shouldn't read it: Someone who has just experienced a loss.
Any life lessons:Yes, but I don't want to give away a major plot point towards the end by discussing it.
Fair representation of the Jewish community/a segment of the Jewish community: I would say yes.
Incredibly sad. The grief was absolutely real. In the end, we finally make sense of why their grief is expressed the way it is. It all just makes so much sense. This is a classic ya coming of age novel. It deals very believably with the process of grieving from a Jewish perspective. I only wish I had been fortunate enough to encounter such a book (in the frum category) when I was the target demographic's age. Just wow. The three main characters are absolutely Jewish and it is a defining part of their identities. Emic perspective and not at all an afterthought. I really hope to see more similar such books from this author.
Target age: Best for teenagers.
Sex: None by the primary character, but there's some serious skirting of shomer n'giah. There is mention of others having had sex.
Atheist included: Kinda. One main character says she's an atheist, and definitely dates one. She reads more as Agnostic/Jewish but not particularly observant.
Swearing: If it was there, it wasn't noticeable. It didn't stand out.
Who shouldn't read it: Someone who has just experienced a loss.
Any life lessons:Yes, but I don't want to give away a major plot point towards the end by discussing it.
Fair representation of the Jewish community/a segment of the Jewish community: I would say yes.
August 31, 2021
Nine months ago, Danny went missing. No one knows what happened and no one found his body. While everyone is moving on, Ellie is still seeing and talking to her boyfriend. Rae is rebelling against the world and baking everything imaginable. Deenie is diving deeper into her practice of Modern Orthodox Judaism.
First things first, I’m so glad to see a book that represents Modern Orthodox Judaism so beautifully. Typically, we see tons of Reform Judaism in books. There’s very few mainstream books that represent the Modern Orthodox community. I can only think of 2 others, and one doesn’t really do it justice. Judaism is truly central to this story, and that made my heart so full because each character has a different relationship to it. Also, I love these characters. I love how they all came of age in this book. Often I find that books that discuss grief in young people result in coming of age stories, and I think Scheier handled grief wonderfully, especially with the notion of being honest with yourself. I loved the pacing of the book and how it flipped between past and present. The ending fit the book so well too because we got to see the characters start to accept and heal.
First things first, I’m so glad to see a book that represents Modern Orthodox Judaism so beautifully. Typically, we see tons of Reform Judaism in books. There’s very few mainstream books that represent the Modern Orthodox community. I can only think of 2 others, and one doesn’t really do it justice. Judaism is truly central to this story, and that made my heart so full because each character has a different relationship to it. Also, I love these characters. I love how they all came of age in this book. Often I find that books that discuss grief in young people result in coming of age stories, and I think Scheier handled grief wonderfully, especially with the notion of being honest with yourself. I loved the pacing of the book and how it flipped between past and present. The ending fit the book so well too because we got to see the characters start to accept and heal.
April 17, 2022
There's a lot to like about this book. It's got a compelling premise -- how three girls deal with the disappearance of their friend, Danny, one of whom was Danny's girlfriend. And all the characters in the book are devout Jews, some of whom struggle with their religious obligations as much as they struggle with the loss of their friend. The book deals with trauma, relationships, and religion through 9 months of the girls' lives, alternating between the present-day and flashbacks. I cared about the characters and read to the end to see what would happen.
At the same time, I found the dialogue tedious at times. It didn't always move the plot or character development forward, and since the book is written in the first person, the heavy emphasis on dialogue made it feel a bit shallow for me.
My criticism is balanced out, though, by something very unusual that wasn't there -reference to Israel. Too often, books that include Jews in America incorporate Israel in ways that are not thoughtful or helpful. I really appreciated that "The Last Words We Said" had a religious focus without tying it to Israel.
At the same time, I found the dialogue tedious at times. It didn't always move the plot or character development forward, and since the book is written in the first person, the heavy emphasis on dialogue made it feel a bit shallow for me.
My criticism is balanced out, though, by something very unusual that wasn't there -reference to Israel. Too often, books that include Jews in America incorporate Israel in ways that are not thoughtful or helpful. I really appreciated that "The Last Words We Said" had a religious focus without tying it to Israel.
September 5, 2021
In the best way, this book had no natural stopping point. It is a "i can't put this down until i find out what happened and if the mc is gonna be okay" kind of book. I read it in one day! I managed to hold back the tears until page 281, when Danny's dad says something that breaks me. Similar to TURTLES ALL THE WAY DOWN by John Green, THE LAST WORDS WE SAID explores mental illness and grief from the perspective of a teen, but as an adult and a mom I am reading it from a wholly different personal POV where I get to glimpse how the teen's parents must be feeling. How they must want to step inside their child's mind and fix it for them but they can't. Leah Scheier perfectly captures that. Secondly, I absolutely loved that this book is about modern Orthodox Jewish teens and shows the nuance and struggles of their faith and choices. It's a window into that world for unfamiliar readers who don't know that this exists. A beautiful book. Well done.
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