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They Didn't Know

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How long can you pretend to be okay? And when do you start fighting for yourself?

Over a year ago the life Victoria (Tori) Adams had vanished. The cheerleader, the happy daughter, the extrovert—they all disappeared the night Tori attempted suicide. In an effort to save her, her parents moved her from the dry deserts of Arizona to a small coastal town in Connecticut. Now she’s standing on a frozen, desolate beach, constantly afraid to say the wrong thing to her mom, hiding the dark thoughts that plague her mind, and fighting to stay.

When Tori discovers a secret room in her new house and its connection to the slightly-annoying-but-definitely-cute Nick Janus from auto shop class, she’s stuck between a painful past and torturous present. But as time passes and relationships deepen, Tori realizes that even though she’s still alive, she has a lot to learn about living.

226 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 1, 2021

87 people are currently reading
992 people want to read

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Pam Eaton

12 books23 followers

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Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews
Profile Image for tan [lana’s version].
78 reviews34 followers
December 28, 2024
“But I want you to stay. There is no one in this world like you, Tori, and there never will be again. Stay. Become all that you are meant to be.”

I’m trying to write more book reviews.
I loved this book and the portrayal of healing and what being around caring people does to your mental health. The people in the book (most of them) are genuinely really nice and safe people to be around.

Nick was so understanding and empathetic.
Her mum cared about her so much and learnt how to understand her
Her dad cared
Regina & Britney were really good friends.

I need to improve my skills on writing reviews but in a nutshell this book is amazing. Would totally recommend
Profile Image for Katherine Cowley.
Author 7 books236 followers
November 29, 2021
This is a book that I wish I had as a teenager.

Tori Adams is gone--at least her past self is gone. After her suicide attempt, her parents have dragged her across the country to try to "fix her." It's a fight to survive, a fight to stay, every single day. Can she develop friendships? Can she trust again? And what happens when she discovers that the town has secrets of its own?

This is a beautiful young adult novel about how to face darkness and despair and survive it. And not just survive it--to rebuild yourself and find purpose and meaning and joy. The narrator, Tori, is sarcastic and cynical and won't put up with any crap. The writing is compelling and heart-wrenching.

I wish, as a teenager, I had a book where the character struggles with depression. I wish I'd seen examples of what it really is like to talk to a therapist, to get help, to help others, to move forward in the darkness. The book is also excellent at addressing anxiety and triggering moments.

I highly recommend this book, for teenagers especially, but also for adults, for we all have struggles and darkness that we must face.
Profile Image for Solara!.
542 reviews106 followers
December 15, 2024
(4.75/5) tori you will always be loved by me❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹
Profile Image for Kiptyn.
10 reviews
February 18, 2024
《Kindle Unlimited Read》

I want to say, I'm sorry to anyone who is suffering through this. We all have something to live for, even though it doesn't look like it. For those who struggle, who fights these battles, you are so strong.

One of the things that made me so happy was how Tori was with her therapist. How her therapist, Dr. West, didn't push her to share at one time but at Tori's own pace.
Along with this, I loved how Tori handled Rossi and her situation involving Zack and Dani.

Finished this within, like, 2-3 hours one sitting. A whole lot more than 5 stars is deserved. To anyone who struggles: fight through it, I'm proud of you, there's always someone who loves who, and
We All Have Our Demons.

"I see the girl who lived. I see the girl who held on and came back." -Nick, Chapter 28 (Prom Convo)
Profile Image for Chandhana Gowda.
55 reviews
December 13, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5) – Powerful message, but I wanted to feel more

Going into They Didn’t Know, my expectations were sky-high after seeing all the ratings and reviews. The plot itself is excellent and deeply important—because no woman ever deserves to go through what’s portrayed in this book. That truth alone makes this story worth reading.

However, while the subject matter was heavy and impactful, I felt the execution could have been more emotional and dramatic. I wanted the story to break me, to make me cry, to sit with me long after I finished—but instead, it only brought me close to sadness without fully pulling me under.

The potential was absolutely there. With deeper emotional exploration and stronger moments of vulnerability, this book could have hit much harder. Still, the message remains strong, and the story is meaningful in its own right.

Overall, it’s a good, important read—but I wished it had gone one step further emotionally.
Profile Image for Kayleetemple.
247 reviews1 follower
September 8, 2024
Call your mom by Noah kahan started playing and I fear I’m going to burst into tears.
Profile Image for *ੈ✩Jo ೃ༄.
65 reviews8 followers
October 24, 2024
Was shocked to see how little reviews were made for this book. Truly such a well written book.
Profile Image for Jill.
610 reviews61 followers
December 22, 2021
they didn’t know by Pam Eaton

Book Review by Me.😊

⭐️Trigger warnings: talks about attempted suicide, suicide, and mental health issues. Please be advised.⭐️

How long can you pretend to be okay? And when do you start fighting for yourself?
Over a year ago the life Victoria (Tori) Adams had vanished. The cheerleader, the happy daughter, the extrovert—they all disappeared the night Tori attempted suicide. In an effort to save her, her parents moved her from the dry deserts of Arizona to a small coastal town in Connecticut. Now she’s standing on a frozen, desolate beach, constantly afraid to say the wrong thing to her mom, hiding the dark thoughts that plague her mind, and fighting to stay.

When Tori discovers a secret room in her new house and its connection to the slightly-annoying-but-definitely-cute Nick Janus from auto shop class, she’s stuck between a painful past and torturous present. But as time passes and relationships deepen, Tori realizes that even though she’s still alive, she has a lot to learn about living.

They Didn’t Know is a gripping, coming of age YA novel that deals with life after attempted suicide.

My review on this book without spoilers.

What can I say? This was a book that I was completely drawn to especially by the cover and the synopsis of the book. The story of Tori Adams, was one that had me reeled in hook line and sinker. You knew that she was fighting some kind of battle. Then to have to move from Arizona to Connecticut to start in some respects a new life at a new school trying to make new friends was definitely a struggle for Tori. Then entered Nick Janus The boy from auto shop class yes that’s a tiny spoiler alert.

This definitely paints a picture of mental health and definitely talks about suicide. It definitely was at times very emotional for me to read. I think it has to do with the fact that I have a daughter around the same age as Tori in the book so it’s being a mom reading this about a teenage daughter with today society definitely kind of struck a chord. I definitely recommend us read but definitely look for trigger warnings as I stated above. It is a quick read and one that I definitely recommend. My 16-year-old daughter wants to read it she knows exactly what it’s about without spoilers that I’ve given to her so that’ll be her winter break book.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.💫

10 reviews1 follower
December 25, 2025
“But instead of counting the what-ifs, grab on to the what-now’s.”

“It’s going to be hard. It’s going to be painful. But think of all the hard things you’ve already done. You’ve lived the hardest day of your life and you’re still here. This is how you start taking back your control.”

“I’ll try.”

Dr. West looks so proud. “That’s all I’ll ever ask of you.”


This was probably the best book I have ever read, simply flawless writing and a perfectly paced plot. My one minor problem with the book is the trope it falls into, however, even that is less present than in other books. I always enjoy when the author models their characters at least partially off themselves, as it makes for a much more personal and heartfelt writing and reading experience. I thought that Tori was such a distinctly brave main character, choosing to make progress for herself and the ones around her. I never suspected the deep story that Zack carried, but his impact upon everyone in both phases of his disappearance offered such a special perspective. Regina and Britney are extremely unique and refreshing characters; they might not be intended to be part of the main trope, but they still manage to play a huge role through their genuine personalities. The words on every one of these pages highlight the vulnerability and bravery that the author showed herself decades before she ever decided to write the book.
Profile Image for ✰ vickyy ✰.
92 reviews
January 18, 2025
1.5

Super cliche, to much for me. I mean, come on:
- Mean girls names, I laugh so hard at this one
- Everybody likes her, ew
- Crush with your only friend crush, ew
- New girl
- Class of all boys

There were at least a thousand mistakes on the book, to many casualties that their not casualties and were just there for Tori. Like appearances, character actions (casually the counselor was there) (casually she HAD to be partners with the pretty guy with unbelievable body), the fucking counselor guessing she went through abuse, knowing her 5 seconds, WHAT WAS THAT. The therapist letting a boy go to therapy with the other girl to make her suffer and "understand", putting a side everything the boy said opening his heart to his bff death.
They literally GUESS he was dead, there wasn't any funeral, OR talk with the parents, he could literally be in a mental health facility. LOL, no one even THOUGHT about that.

I've read this already, didn't have any new and unique stuff to read. It was like a collage, with pieces of It Only Hurts at First and The Way I Used to Be. And not in a good way. I thought it was as cringy as twilight, lol.

I liked one quote:
"I want you; whole, damaged, on the mend, wherever you feel you are that day. I see you."
- Nick
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Angie.
88 reviews1 follower
January 7, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️
I would like to start by saying that I was looking for a book about a girl overcoming trauma and finding love, but this isn’t exactly it. They Didn’t Know was really about Tori learning to deal with what she went through and mostly her just building up to telling people what happened to her and kind of making surface level connections with new people.

I definitely wouldn’t label this romance, mostly because our “love interest” was really just there for her to learn to trust people again and he obviously had a crush on her but we never really saw any feelings other than her almost being comfortable with him. It would’ve been the same story if he stayed as really good friend.

The more I think about it I realize we really didn’t see a whole lot of the friendship building or romance and this could’ve been longer. I’m kind of glad it ended where it did and Tori isn’t fully done healing but starting her next chapter learning who she wants to be now.

Also the name Nick Janus is criminal, every time his last name was written I would think Hugh Janus. Which is so immature but I just couldn’t get over it.
Profile Image for Jana Miller.
Author 2 books22 followers
December 2, 2021
I love finding books like this. Books that are open and honest about depression, suicide, and trauma. Books that treat difficult issues with dignity and empathy and hope, but without rose-colored glasses. Books that reach out to those who need to feel understood and let them know they're not alone.

The writing is evocative, stark, and real while not being overly dramatic--it's telling a truth, not trying to shock. The emotions are real without being overpowering. It's not an easy feat to write about depression without it being depressing (I've tried), but Pam Eaton has balanced the heaviness with beautiful glimmers of hope and beauty and surrounded her main character with a cast of realistic individuals who all have their own way of dealing. I appreciated that nobody is all good or all bad; everybody does their best with varying degrees of success.

I especially loved the portrayal of good, therapy and the healing it can help provide. The insights given by the therapist in this story are realistic and full of hope.
Profile Image for ari.
252 reviews1 follower
January 20, 2024
there's not enough pages. i NEED more. it was so good, moving, and original. <3

tori is such a relatable character, and i'm so glad that she was able to find strength in therapy, and of course, nick (but not in a way that the trope was "girl meets boy and boy fixes girl").

dani was such a shitty friend. i wish there were more pages where i could see dani's downfall. she was awful.

i also wish there were more pages for me to see more of tori's growth, her relationship with nick, and her newfound friendships.

all in all, amazing writing - i literally could not believe i finished the book when i did because it didn't even feel like time was passing - that's how good the book was. the discussion of mental health was executed respectfully, educationally, and relatable. this book is a new favorite for sure.

if there HAD to be a con, it's that i wished i had people like tori had in her life - that part was probably the most unrelatable aspect of the book, aside from everyone immediately falling in love with her...
243 reviews1 follower
January 12, 2023
WOW I was not expecting to cry that much today. This book did mental health right! After Tina's attempted suicide following her being raped, her family moves and she starts at a new school with an old friend - who is a JERK and told nick about Zach and told the whole school she attempted. There, she meets and is partners with Nick for a project. She hears a lot about Zach, the boy who lived in her now current residence who was Nick's best friend. She starts working with a new therapist and learning how to trust herself and others and find some things that bring her joy although she will never be that happy cheerleader of her past again. She fins a secret room in her bedroom with pictures that Zach had drawn and uncovered that he didn't go to military school but rather committed suicide. She is falling in love with Nick and now has to help him cope with this new information. This book was so good and Im going to have so many quotes to pull from it. one of my new favorite reads
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for ..
407 reviews
September 23, 2025
ugh this could've been so good, but at the halfway mark i knew this wasn't going to be what i wanted. i wish she got closure, it didn't even have to be them ending on good-terms, with dani, i wished we got more of an emotional relationship with nick, sometimes i felt like she wasn't even into him, i wish we got more into her and her mom's relationship, and idk there was just so much missing. i also hate the way she kind of just shouted about her past, and also how in a way her experience was pushed behind?? like i really did love the parallel with her and zach, but also why do none of her friends talked to her about it??
Profile Image for Hullabaloo22.
88 reviews
September 13, 2025
Heartbreakingly believeable.

When we meet Tori, her mother is hanging up motivational posters in the house that they've just moved into. Tori is about to start at Saybrooke high school, with Dani, a friend from her past. Circumstances conspire to put her in contact with Nick, a guy who is obviously attracted to her.

I don't want to say more about the storyline, other than to say all the characters safe believable.

Perhaps there should have been trigger warnings, dealing as it does with depression, rape and suicide
Profile Image for Kaitlynn Taylor.
781 reviews6 followers
April 10, 2022
This is an absolute must read, for everyone no matter what age.

This was a truly emotional read, one that I read in one sitting as I couldn’t bring myself to stop reading. The storyline is so heartbreakingly beautiful and real, something that most people can relate too.

This is one of the best books I’ve ever read, I cannot wait to read more from this author and would highly recommend it to others!
Profile Image for Bryant Condie.
Author 4 books2 followers
May 3, 2024
Gripping story

This book is well written and sensitive to the hard topics of rape and suicide. The characters experience great emotion and many of the ups and downs of these traumas. I'm proud of the author for writing this book without tons of swearing which would have turned me and possibly other readers away. The character growth is a beautiful thing to read. Highly recommended!
Profile Image for Nicole Corzine.
4 reviews
December 20, 2022
amazing gut wrenching roller coaster of a story and worth every page turn.

I will hands down recommend this book to anyone looking to rip off a bandaid on a broken bone and really dig in to try and heal parts of yourself you may not know are still broken. Thank you for this, Ms. Eaton.
Profile Image for Sneha.
35 reviews
April 1, 2025
This book will first break your heart and then mend it.
I love books that show raw human emotions, books with the topics most people are afraid to talk in real life. This book talks about the mental health which is till date ignored by people. I loved this book. The feelings, chills, goosebumps I got while reading tells that it is written beautifully.
Profile Image for Lea Becher.
69 reviews
May 3, 2025
Books like these should be read in school! It amazes me how good certain topics like depression and anxiety can be described, it’s like I’m living it! These types of books are good for people who don’t really know how we think and why we handle things like we handle them or why we think the way we do(does that make sense?) Both mental illnesses (depression and anxiety) were perfectly portrayed
Profile Image for Kirsten Jenkins.
13 reviews
May 4, 2025
This is definitely one of the better books that I have just accidentally stumbled across and had never heard of on Kindle before and it’s even better because it got the point across without bringing in sex or anything unnecessary like most authors do. I really enjoyed it and it was very relatable unfortunately to my personal life on that topic. 10/10
Profile Image for Jasmine May.
9 reviews
October 13, 2024
As someone who has struggled with past suicide attempts this book Is very eye opening on how both sides feel and or think about the situation at hand. I cried four times. Reading this book it hit home for sure.
Profile Image for Danielle Arthurs.
34 reviews1 follower
December 12, 2025
I really want to rate this book 4/5 but the drama in the first half didn’t have me hooked. This book sends such an important message though of needing to stay in this world. That part makes me want it to be a 4/5.
Profile Image for Kayla Hylton.
106 reviews
January 21, 2024
loved this so much. i had to take a few breaks because i just related to this too much but i got through it and it helped tremendously. i hope others can read and relate to this as well.
Profile Image for catherine lawrence(Nerd_who_reads).
1,148 reviews16 followers
February 11, 2024
Heartbreaking

My heart hurt for Tori and her family. This is definitely a book of healing and overcoming. An emotional ride but a needed one for these characters.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 49 reviews

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