Having read Kyra Lennon’s Game On Series, and her stand-alone novella If I Let You Go, I’ve come to expect a certain high standard from Lennon; especially when it comes to character development and raw, relatable emotions.
Nobody Knows didn’t just deliver this, it far exceeded my expectations.
At the centre of the story is young artist Ellie, a woman we can all relate to, as at some point in our lives we’ve loved someone so deeply we’d do anything for them. In Ellie’s case, it’s two someones, but Lennon expertly avoids the often over-played love-triangle.
Ellie has two men in her life - her best friends since childhood and up-coming rockstars - the Brooks brothers. As Drew and Jason Brooks are thrust to stardom by a fake feud, which dredges up terrible memories of their pasts, Ellie is left torn between the two people she loves most. A matter that becomes even more complex when Ellie admits she’s in love with Drew and they begin a relationship.
As I said above, Lennon expertly avoids the often over-played love-triangle, and this isn’t a story about two brothers fighting over the same woman. She loves both Drew and Jason, but in very different ways, and that dynamic makes the story all the more fascinating.
At the core of this story is what Lennon excels at – real, relatable, raw human emotions. Any reader can identify with either Ellie, the woman caught between two people she loves, Drew the insecure older brother who’s always been over-shadowed by his younger brother, or Jason the wild-child who has made a lot of mistakes in the past, and is now doing his uttermost to redeem himself and not fall back down the same slippery path. The way in which Lennon describes these three different, but interlinking characters, and the rich history between the trio is what makes this story not just compelling, but a novel that pulls you in so deeply you cannot put it down until you’ve finished, and discover how the situation resolves for Ellie, Drew and Jason.
In true Lennon style, there are plenty of twists and turns along the way, and nothing is simple for our heroine, as she tries to unite the feuding Brooks brothers. But through Lennon’s impressive writing, Ellie does it all with charm and grace. And though she’s not perfect, and makes fatal mistakes along the way, she owns these mistakes; never once slipping into the role of victim or martyr.
As expected, the story is supported by a brilliant cast of secondary characters, who all feel like real people, not just names placed to fill a gap. The ones that stand out for me are Ellie’s bubbly, ray of sunshine, younger sister, Lucy and fan of the band Natalie.
Another layer Lennon adds is the dynamic of an up-and-coming rock band, and through the portrayal of gigs, rehearsals and how much music means to the Brooks brothers, you know Lennon has a passion for the music industry herself.
Lennon’s usual first person style is at its strongest in Nobody Knows, and Ellie’s unique voice shines through without ever feeling forced. There are some terrific lines, both in the sense of comedy, and poignancy. Some of my favourite include:
“Everywhere our bodies touched seemed to tingle with Drew’s sadness, like some kind of emotional osmosis, and my chest ached for him.”
“What are we making?”
“I hadn't decided. Maybe a vase?”
“Sounds good. Not very manly, though.”
“You don’t need to worry about feeling manly while you're sitting behind me, half naked.”
“You should make the most of your figure,” I teased. “It won't last forever!”
“I bloody hope not, I want some boobs one day.”
I snorted out a laugh. “You're gorgeous as you are, Luce.”
“Easy for you to say with your massive hooters!”
“They're not massive,” I laughed, throwing a cushion across the room at her. “They're... well proportioned.”
The combination of unique voice, realistic main characters and relatable emotions, coupled with excellent supporting characters and the obvious passion for music makes Nobody Knows a story everyone will enjoy. This is a story about all the different types of love one can experience, and how that love can make you do both amazing, nerve-wracking, unbelievable things, as well as life-altering, soul tearing unbelievable things.
Nobody Knows will make you laugh, cry, cheer and possibly even throw the book in anger (at the characters’ actions), but it will also make you come back for more, and stay in your head, and heart, for a long time after finishing it.