2.5.

Chelsea witnesses something at a party, mentions it to her popular friends, and then those who were the cause of the gossip find their lives turned upside down. All because she said something she shouldn't have. Now, Chelsea's not going to talk at all. Because her gossip impacted so many lives, she doesn't want to chance having hers hurt anymore, either.

Harrington's book was a mash up of Courtney Summers's SOME GIRLS ARE in terms of bullying, in back stabbing, in brutal cruelty; of Laurie Halse Anderson's SPEAK in terms of how Chelsea chooses to act and how she behaves as a victim (she is one); and of Molly Backes's THE PRINCESSES OF IOWA in terms of gossip, in rumors, in popularity and the highs/lows associated with it, and most strikingly, the (view spoiler)[ gossip revolving around sexuality (hide spoiler)]. The problem is that all three of these books do what they do great, and SPEECHLESS doesn't quite hold a candle.

I found the secondary characters in this book one-dimensional, interchangeable, and forgettable. There are great moments when Chelsea comes to learn about what friendship really is and what a good, caring relationship could be, but Asha and Sam are themselves underdeveloped. Moreover, though, I didn't feel like Chelsea ever deserved what she got from them; I also didn't feel like she deserved the cruelty she got, either. Chelsea wasn't all that interesting and (view spoiler)[ I don't think it was intentional, but I read Chelsea as far more a victim of this than Noah, and his story was what interested me a hell of a lot more. I didn't care about the girl who decided to share with her popular friends that she walked in on him kissing another boy. I cared about the ramifications of this on him and I didn't get that until the very end. And it was unsatisfying. (hide spoiler)]

The ending was a big let down, as I don't feel like it resolved anything nor did I feel like any of the outcomes were earned. Chelsea had been tested throughout the story, but she'd never been pushed to the point to come to the sort of outcome she should have. It was almost there, but not quite. (view spoiler)[ The last scene with Kristen felt like cheating all together, and there was absolutely nothing satisfying about the two boys who'd made Chelsea's -- and Noah's -- life hell. So they quit the team because they were going to be drug tested? Maybe they were going to be put on trial, but probably not? (hide spoiler)] It was too tidy.

This was just okay. This book will have to readers looking for something similar to any of the titles I listed above, but ultimately, it's not as memorable or well-written.

One positive was a line I've been thinking about for a while and it's one of the big things done right in the story: "Hate is easy, but love takes courage." If only this had been pushed harder, it could have been even more powerful. A good line and a very true one.