Texts We Never Sent: The coming-of-age debut novel of the summer

by G. Forsyth-Read

An ode to female friendship and girlhood, this is the YA debut from YouTuber, podcaster and presenter, G. Forsyth Read, perfect for fans of The Summer I Turned Pretty and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants.

Nel, Flo, Maggie and Nicole haven’t been friends for years. Caught in the limbo summer between college and Uni, each of the girls are at a precipice, deciding the direction of the rest of their lives. That’s when the notifications come through. None of them remember the time-capsule text messages they sent each other two years ago. Messages full of confessions, feelings and secrets that force them back together again . . . before they break apart.
 
Shining a spotlight on themes of body image, sexuality, romance, unhealthy relationships and toxic shock syndromeFor readers aged 14+, this is coming-of-age contemporary fiction at its finestG. Forsyth Read is one half of the dynamic duo, Ally & G – hosts of Drive Thru Diaries (YouTube) and the Leave a Message podcast

368 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 4, 2026

Reviews

[❀ Tia ❀ · Rating 3 out of 5]

| ARC REVIEW |

★ 3.5 stars ★

I thought this was such a unique story. The idea of a text message time capsule — receiving texts from your friends two years after they were sent — was such a fun premise. I've not come across this plotline in any other book I've read before, so Texts We Never Sent definitely earns points for originality.

This book focuses on topics that a huge percentage of teenagers will very likely relate to, but which some readers may find sensitive, such as abusive relationships, parent illness, body image insecurities, sexuality, and turbulent friendships. However, all these topics are handled in a tender, age appropriate manner, while also maintaining the raw emotion behind the themes. I also appreciated the Toxic Shock Syndrome storyline — something that is so incredibly important for teenage girls to be aware of.

There were a lot of pop culture references included which I don't love in a book, and also a few phrases that I personally thought were a bit out of place — for example, when one character is described as looking "like AI". It's been a while since I was a teenager so I'm obviously not the target audience for this book, which may be why some of these phrases felt clunky to me. But I can appreciate that current-day teenagers may very well find this dialogue accurate and relatable.

I adored how the girls' friendship was written: The ups and downs, the laughs and the tears. All of which were reflective of real teenage friendships. I found it a heartwarming coming-of-age tale. Each character had their own personal struggles, meaning readers will likely relate to at least one of the girls in the story — reminding readers that they aren't alone in whatever they're going through.

Overall, this was a very nice read. This is a book that I'm sure I would have found comfort in as an early teen navigating high school life, and I have no doubt that this will also be affirming for girls nowadays who are going through the motions of what it is to be a teenager.

Thank you to NetGalley, G Forsyth-Read, and Simon & Schuster UK Children's | Gallery YA for gifting this eBook in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. All opinions are my own.

[☆ melissa ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

uh!! i just love being a girl!! <33

a beautiful, touching story on female friendships. this book is the epitome of what it’s like to be a young girl trying to find their way in the world.

i felt this book on so many levels. it touches on heartbreak, domestic abuse, body image, health issues and sexuality struggles. it made me both smile and cry. i really felt part of the story because i could see myself in all the girls.

“they had helped each other, in so many ways, to mend all the bits that had broken inside them while they were apart.”

i think every teenage girl should read this book.

[Gráinne Smyth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boooooo

[Teg · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fear I’m definitely not the target audience for this book now, but I would’ve ate. it. UP. as 13-year-old Teg 🍽️

It’s a lovely story about the up’s & down’s of friendship and how to help your girls through the hardships they may be facing.

There were a LOT of current pop culture references which I don’t love in a book as I don’t typicallyyyyy read to be reminded of the world - I want to escape it 😂 also I think those types of references in a book can make it become outdated quite quickly.

But other than that it was a very heartwarming read ❤️‍🩹

[Millie Pistor · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a really nice palette cleanser. I kinda wished I listened as an audio book because I think it would’ve felt more like a podcast which is how I knew about this book. I really enjoy Ally & G and this book completely captures the humour from G that we see from her in her podcasts and videos. The wholesome friendships and maturing in this book for the 4 girls was lovely. Nicole’s storyline made me sad to

[Liberty Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5 stars)

Wow what a debut novel. This book does a fantastic job at encapsulating teenage girlhood as well as the trials and tribulations of maintaining friendships. Such an easy, comforting read <3

G if by some miracle you are reading this you have truly nailed this you should be so proud of yourself!!!

[Kyra Goovaerts · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the story of friendship, probably would have loved more when I was younger - but a v nice read

[Nien · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bij het lezen van de achterkant had ik een smeuïge drama verwacht, maar het was juist een “leuk” verhaal met serieuze onderwerpen. Voor mij denk ik het perfecte moment om dit boek te lezen door veel herkenbare dingen. Aanradertje!!

[Molly Cook · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listen to the pod and no one can deny that this book has G written all over it! Not my usual kind of read but i had to support our gally.

This was a gorg story about friendship and girlhood and the internal struggles we all face growing up. The book is about 4 friends who send ‘confession’ text messages to be delivered in 2 years time when they turn 18. After the summer when they go back to sixth form they all go their separate ways, they all receive the texts after 2 years and navigate rekindling their friendships.

It covers a-lot of topics and i think this is good book for the younger gallies, similar to how my generation had the Confessions of Georgia Nicolson series.

[eva · Rating 5 out of 5]

(4.5 stars rounded

“how i love being a woman!!!”

drawing attention first to the fact that i choose to read this book solely for the fact i had followed ally and g for a while and thought they were both so real and so hilarious, and their friendship was a stunning example of a healthy, supportive, loving female friendship - especially at such a pinnacle stage of life where things all whirlwind and become too busy for such; careers taking off, all-consuming break-ups, engagements and weddings etc. so when i saw g was releasing a book about friends who do in fact, have lives too busy for eachother, stop prioritising their female friendships, and undergo crazy life changes and hardships; i was already hooked!

again, another caveat, i listen to the audiobook as i read, and this book was narrated by g herself which was just such a lovely, lovely touch! it made it feel really personal and full of love, and lived experiences, especially for so many elements reflecting parts of g’s life she has already shared online in videos and podcasts - her friendship with ally and ally’s malaysian heritage, g’s own romantic relationship breakdown, body image issues, as well as where this lovely story takes place - g’s home town of cheltenham. this altogether made it feel so ‘written from the heart’. gorgeous story.

i thought the four girls each presented their own unique personality and individual concoction of ‘loves and life-lived’, but also together painted a deep and varied zeitgeist of the young girls’ minds of today, and the challenges we face. in TWNS, no two girls’ personalities, families, relationship statuses, physical appearances, goals and future plans, even blummin texting styles were the same!! g put so much care and attention to detail into making these girls feel like well-rounded, authentic individuals, rather than some broad stereotype of what ‘all girls are like’. this was further emphasised in her acknowledgements at the end “to all the _(name)_s out there who feel __ xyz __”, and emphasising the community of ‘the gallies <3’ and the reminder of ‘never needing to feel alone again’ in this community, was a really nice touch, and i can imagine for the slightly younger reader this was mainly aimed at, SUCH a huge comfort and lovely thing to read from someone you look up to. we love a positive, divine feminist, role model for the youth of today, come on!!

this does bring me on to my only tiny pointer worth flagging though, i did feel this story, most particularly the first few chapters above all, felt very YA and i’d have probably loved more if i was, say 16, instead of 21, but this was such a teeny tiny minor thing and is probably more of me thing tbh? an ish-me rather than an issue, you know? this literally knocks off 0.5 of a star as it was so minor, but i did find little pieces of the dialogue here and there a little ‘young’ for me? not in an overtly cringeworthy way, but just ever so slightly juvenile in demeanour. buttt as i say, that’s a me thing, because the girls ARE sixth form-aged teenagers after all, so it does calls for that excitable, pre-adulthood naivety in lexicon.

the concept behind this book was truly so so unique, and nothing i’ve ever read, much less, even heard of before! what a creative, clever clever idea, and executed so well. when i first read maggie’s text, i genuinely did a baby gasp. it made me think ‘ohhhh shit, this is going to be a tough story in places’, but also, as a fellow type-A gal identifying with maggie’s people-pleasing ‘Women Who Love Too Much’ nature, (yes, pls read that book if you identified with maggie at all !! its by robin norwood, lots of love and happy healing gal xx) … made me fall in love with maggie’s character that much more. she was identifiable, and an encapsulating dichotomy of being so passionate and firecracker-ish, and also a more shy, pacifying, gentle breeze kinda person? very easy to form empathy and root for this kind of character.

similar case goes for the other three girls too. i really felt for flo and wanted to hug her and tell her it all gets better and easier when you get older, andddd wanted to see what her final piece painting looked like!!! i thought nell’s intellect and brazen ‘grab life by the balls’ (or boobs, rather!) energy was so inspiring and contagious. and then brave brave nicole, who’d endured so much and was still looking after herself and those around her in the process. so much to be learned from female friendships like these and stories like this.

i just cannot recommend this heartfelt, heartwarming, girlhood-celebrating novel enough! especially for a debut novel, i mean how fab! it was well-paced, brilliantly structured, and a perfect balance of vivid description and attention to detail in painting the visual picture of the scene, but didn’t ever go OTT with overexplaining insignificancies, agonising over every tiny, irrelevant, pace-stunting detail of what the sink in the family bathroom is like (cough cough, Pre-Loved by lauren bravo - sorry!), it was just right! i sailed through this book with genuine joy and pleasure. take this as my pledge to put Texts We Never Sent on the gcse english essential reading list !!

[Books By Your Bedside · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Gallery for the advanced copy of this title in return for an honest review.

I had this on pre-order but had to cancel it due to money problems so was thrilled to get sent an early copy.

I believe this is Forsyth-Read's debut novel, and it is a very promising one indeed. It bodes well for a fabulous career and I hope she brings out many more books in the years to come.

I loved this from the very start. It's got so much going for it. A fun plot, great storytelling, relatable characters. It's advertised as a YA book, but at 32, I really loved it.

It is so relatable and familiar. Our four main characters are so different and that way readers can hopefully see part of themselves in at least one of them. To have four teenage girls as main characters, they could have all merged into one and become stereotypes of teenage girls but they're so distinct. I feel we had more focus on some of them than others, but that's not a huge issue. They all have interesting stories individually, and they all work well together.

It's not shy at tackling tough topics - I won't go into too much detail for fear of spoilers, but you've got themes such as body image, young romance, sexuality, unhealthy relationships, and illness. Everything is handled so sensitively and it never gets overwhelming. A lot of children/YA books talk down to their readers, like they won't understand the tough topics. But Forsyth-Read believes her audience will understand and that it's important they learn about these tough things and learn that life isn't always easy, no matter your age.

It's billed as a YA book, and I think they will definitely like it, but don't let it put you off if you're an older adult, because it's still very enjoyable. Having said that, there were a lot of pop culture references and young chat where being dumped by a boy is the worst thing that could ever happen, so it may not always be relatable, but as someone in their 30s, I loved it.

It's really quick and easy to read. At over 350 pages it's not a short book, but it reads so well that I finished it in a matter of hours. It's so effortlessly written which makes it effortless to read.

It's definitely character heavy rather than plot. The plot itself is quite thin, so if you want a meaty plot, you need to look elsewhere. But for someone who prefers characters to plot, I thought it worked.

My one criticism is that this text capsule the girls make...I wish it was longer. They have this idea and then it's opened just 2 years later. Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed it, I think it would have been stronger if there was a longer gap because two years doesn't feel long enough to really change that much.

[Mia · Rating 4 out of 5]

this book was so wholesome. I went on such an emotional rollercoaster with these four girls and the various things they were dealing with.

this book was written in a way that created four distinct and real voices for each of the girls and really allowed for you to connect to them and feel for them. although it’s now 3 years since I’ve been 18, there were certain feelings that I could still remember feeling and was able to relate to. even with situations that weren’t personally applicable to me, the overarching exploration of girlhood and friendship and navigating those years of change enabled this relatability throughout.

I really grew to care for these girls and was rooting for them in every way. seeing their journeys and also how they rebuilt their friendship was really heartwarming.

I loved how this book was set in my hometown too, it just made me chuckle to see certain places mentioned and being able to picture these places. definitely was a fun aspect of the book for me.

there were certain metaphors or just imagery in general which I found were unique. the way things were described made me smile and laugh in some instances as they were presented in a real, relatable way and added to the lighthearted moments to the book.

overall this was such a fun and wholesome read and I really enjoyed reading it.

I’d also like to say thank you to the team at the Simon & Schuster stand at London Book Fair for gifting me this ARC! I’m so grateful to have come away from the fair with such a cute proof!

[Thia Naik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow-no notes. As an 18 year old girl reading who has just finished her Alevels and is now 2 weeks into enjoying her summer, this book is everything i could have needed. The combination of humour, sadness and RELATABILITY is something any girl from her early teens to her late twenty’s will be able to resonate with. The ups and downs show the real truth behind friendship and convey emotions we all experience in the long and complicated reality of girlhood. A massive thank you and well done to G. Forsyth-Read for creating a book with such character and Personalism, it is truly a masterpiece.

I have been following ally and g right from the beginning of their journey and it was not long after watching them that it became a comfort channel for me. There has been little days that have gone by where i have not watched these girls or listened to their effortless humour, crazy story’s and their ability to make you feel as though you are sat right in the back of back seat driver. Anyone who has been following the journey of this book will know the dedication and passion that has gone into the making of this book and if you have read it you will know- it shows.
Thank you again G for making this happen x

[Kiki Loureiro · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

Listen, am I a Gallie? Hell yeah. Is my opinion still just about the book and style of writing? Absolutely!
TRUST ME if I hadn’t liked it I would either still review it honestly, or just keep quiet after rating it low…
Disclaimers done, here is what I really thought of G’s book:
LOVED LOVED LOVED! I don’t remember the last time I read a book this easily and fast! AND NOT ON MY KINDLE either! It was the best company for my long commute to work and even helped me not get as angry at slow walkers in my way.
The rhythm was perfect for me. Again, I don’t remember the last time I didn’t think a book was repetitive a some point, but this one was always to the point, with sufficient and satisfying description, and a gripping plot.
I also LOVE a multiple-pov book, so this was heaven! And the characters were so well distinguished and described from the get go, that I never had to go back to “double check”.
I didn’t feel the nostalgia aspect that I think this book has the potention to instill in English readers BUT I loved all the current references :)
Can’t believe this was her first book! Thank you for such a heartwarming coming of age book, G 🤩

[Eleanor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful ode to girlhood. An ode to sisterhood, and the incomparable thread which connects women to each other. It is a testament to the way in which female friendships ground, protect and save you over and over again, offering you refuge, inspiration and love in such a tumultuous world.

As a long time Ally & G fan I believe this book entirely captured their ethos about the importance of female community and bonds, how having the right women around you can make everything feel right in the world. Just as their podcast has got me through some of the darkest times of my life, this book is a shining light reminding me of the incredible women I’m surrounded by and that I must never take on my issues alone. She handles issues such as body image and insecurities in such a raw and relatable way - I could feel myself in the pages of the book and I felt as though G herself was talking to me and giving me advice. Thank you G for writing this book, the acknowledgements made me tear up as I couldn’t stop thinking about my own girls. Please don’t keep us waiting too long for the sequel ❤️❤️

[Abbie Muirhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

ugh this book completely stole my heart!! <33

such a beautiful and emotional story about friendship, growing up, and finding your place in the world. it felt so real and honest, and every character had something that made me root for them.

this book explores so many important topics, from heartbreak and family struggles to self-worth, identity, and learning how to heal. there were moments that made me laugh, moments that made me tear up, and moments that just sat with me long after i finished reading.

what i loved most was how authentic the friendships felt. the bond between the girls was messy, supportive, complicated, and full of love in a way that felt incredibly true to life. i saw parts of myself in so many of them.

this is the kind of book that reminds you how important friendship can be. 💕📚

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a really fantastic book, especially as it's this author's debut. Whilst the plot is pretty non-existent (so if you want that, maybe give it a miss), it's a fantastic character-driven story which delves into relationships and friendships between teenage girls.

The idea of time capsule texts is an original one, and a clever way to start the story. Whilst some people have said they don't like the pop culture references (and maybe sometimes there are 1 too many), I think that does make the dialogue between the 4 girls more authentic, and feels like genuine conversations I had at 18 with my friends.

All in all, whilst it wasn't a real page-turner due to the lack of real plot, I thoroughly enjoyed it, especially once I'd gotten about halfway through and felt I understood the characters more.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely adored this book, it perfectly highlights the strength of female friendships as well as showing how personal struggles can effect individual lives. Each one of the characters were written beautifully but for me personally it felt like reading about myself in the character of Nel, she blossoms so beautifully within the book and seeing her grow in confidence and learn to accept herself is was so heartwarming. I’ve followed Ally and G for over a year now and their podcast as well as this book has truely helped me realise how it’s not scary to grow and change but instead it’s something to look forward to and also this book has taught me to hold your friends closer in tough times rather than push them away. A definite 5 stars !!

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite literally everyone needs to experience this book. Whether you're a young girl who's learning, a teen or young adult who's relating, or a grown woman who is reflecting, this story will touch your heart as the characters become friends of your own. You'll see bits of yourself in each of them, finding such genuine surprise, shame, and comfort.

Listening to the author's narration felt like being read "a bedtime story that (you'd) heard three nights in a row but still wants to listen to." A truly incredibly feeling to experience, never-mind quote at the same time. The nostalgia. The grief. The connection. I will be recommending this to every one I know and then some!

[megumi ִ ࣪&#x16910; · Rating 4 out of 5]

love me a book about girlhood 🫶🏽 the group reconciling was so satisfying to read about! i love how each chapter was in a different pov i was so entranced i didn’t even notice it was written in third person LOL but omg i had no idea toxic shock syndrome was a thing?! wow that’s just solidified my fear of tampons as rational bye. the only thing that was frustrating was maggies missing backbone omggg i was screaming at her to leave that bum nel in that one scene 😛 mhmmm i was very happy with that!! my fav part was seeing them be so supportive of one another <3

[Caitlin Stemp · Rating 4 out of 5]

definately not the target market for this one as it’s definitely teen/YA but I love this authors socials and wanted to support and actually really enjoyed. Listened to it in a day such a sweet story with great lessons. To any teen 15-21 I really really recommend and any adult who wants that hit of nostalgia from the likes of ‘love lessons’ without the controversial parts. The ending actually made me tear up a little thinking back to being 18 and the problems and friendships etc.

[Lauren Mellor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Books like this help young girls to understand forgiveness growth and learning to respect yourself whilst maintaining friendships that support you without limitations. Every reader can find a peice of themselves showcased in this book. For every Nel, Maggie, Flo or Nicole, this book is a reminder that youve got this.

[Tessa Boswell · Rating 4 out of 5]

TWNS is an amazing story that really makes you grateful to be female. It had me laughing, (almost) crying & reflecting on how much I appreciate the female friendships in my life. My friends who I lean on, laugh with and love. G highlights so many topics that are so important to talk about and I only wish that 16 year old me had this book.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such a lovely book on friendship and growing up. Characters are very relatable and it was so fun choosing who was most like myself and my friends.
I wouldn't rate it a 5 star book but probably a 4 but wanted to support G.
Read in a few hours and it was lovely xxxx

[elizapiza · Rating 4 out of 5]

whilst slightly young adult, the themes in this book are fairly deep and some are very relatable. it was an easy read and did make me cry at more than one point. as a debut book i think its really good. i would have probably given this 5 stars if i read it at 19.

[Maddie Boddice · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is not my usual type of book at ALL but i loved this so much! all of the girls so likeable but all with flaws which made it so relatable and enjoyable. such a nice read, wanted to pick it up all the time, loved

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

my close and personal Friend G wrote this. from watching drive through so many times i saw so many details that were drawn from G’s own life and experience and its so beautiful seriously loved this book

[Sophie Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

truly one of the funniest sweetest most poignant books about teen girl friendship i have ever read

[Katie (cozynatured)]

Can’t wait to read this!! Thank you so much S&S for the proof copy!

[Megan Jane · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book beautiful written. Highly recommend for a sweet easy read