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All That’s Left to Say
A poignant and powerful story of a grieving girl willing to risk everything, perfect for fans of Robin Benway and Jandy Nelson.
On prom night, Hannah MacLaren sits in the headmaster's office in her fanciest dress, soaked to the bone. She is in huge trouble after pulling the fire alarm right as the prom queen was about to be crowned. But Hannah had her reasons . . .
One year ago, her cousin Sophie, who was also her best friend and the person she loved most in the world, died of an overdose. Drowning in grief, Hannah became obsessed with one question: Who gave Sophie those pills? Who is refusing to give her family the closure they deserve?
Then she concocted a plan: enroll at her cousin's fancy private school with a new look and a mouthful of lies, and finally uncover the truth.
But Hannah didn't expect all the lines to blur. She didn't expect Sophie's friends to be so complicated. She didn't expect to fall for her longtime enemy. Now, she must choose to either let herself really mourn Sophie and move on, or see her search through to its explosive end—even if it means destroying herself.
On prom night, Hannah MacLaren sits in the headmaster's office in her fanciest dress, soaked to the bone. She is in huge trouble after pulling the fire alarm right as the prom queen was about to be crowned. But Hannah had her reasons . . .
One year ago, her cousin Sophie, who was also her best friend and the person she loved most in the world, died of an overdose. Drowning in grief, Hannah became obsessed with one question: Who gave Sophie those pills? Who is refusing to give her family the closure they deserve?
Then she concocted a plan: enroll at her cousin's fancy private school with a new look and a mouthful of lies, and finally uncover the truth.
But Hannah didn't expect all the lines to blur. She didn't expect Sophie's friends to be so complicated. She didn't expect to fall for her longtime enemy. Now, she must choose to either let herself really mourn Sophie and move on, or see her search through to its explosive end—even if it means destroying herself.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published July 18, 2023
83 people are currently reading
14626 people want to read
About the author
Emery Lord
9 books3,421 followersI'm Emery, and I write books about flawed girls who are really trying, complicated families, friends who show up even when everything's going down in flames, and the moments that change everything.
I don't check my GR inbox, but feel free to get in touch via ways listed on my website!
http://www.emerylord.com/p/site-qs.html
I don't check my GR inbox, but feel free to get in touch via ways listed on my website!
http://www.emerylord.com/p/site-qs.html
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 292 reviews
July 2, 2023
Once again, Emery Lord skillfully pulls at the strings of our hearts, composing a poignant melody that resonates with our emotions. In her latest novel, she weaves a poetic, heart-wrenching tale of grief, longing, addiction, alcoholism, and suffering, leaving us utterly speechless by the end. As you read the pouring words, you'll find yourself choking up at several moments, as they awaken a multitude of complex emotions you never knew existed, hidden behind the walls of coping mechanisms you've built over the years.
While the book may start off a bit slow, with its narrative moving back and forth between two timelines, I sincerely advise you to be patient. As the past of Hannah and her relationship with her cousin Sophie intertwines with the present, numerous pieces will fall into place, revealing profound meanings hidden within the words and tearing your heart apart.
The story unfolds on prom night, where Hannah MacLaren is called to the headmaster's office, an act of rebellion that threatens to mar the night and possibly lead to legal consequences. Drenched in her fancy gown, she stands accused of triggering the fire alarm just as the prom queen crown was about to be placed on her cousin Sophie's head, who tragically succumbed to an opioid overdose.
Under mounting pressure from the headmaster, Hannah begins her tale from the beginning.
We are transported back and forth in time, witnessing Hannah's profound grief over losing her cousin and her determination to change schools and infiltrate her cousin's inner social circle, assuming a disguised identity, all in search of the truth—finding out who supplied Sophie with the opioids and ultimately, who was responsible for her death.
Surprisingly, Hannah finds an unexpected ally in the most unlikely of places. Christian, her long-time academic rival, transforms into someone she can trust and lean on, leading to an unforeseen romance that gradually blossoms.
The mystery, the love story, the drama, and the thought-provoking exploration of addiction and dysfunctional family dynamics blend seamlessly, culminating in an emotional finale that will elicit the rawest of tears.
Emery Lord's realistic portrayal of the characters and the pervasive sadness that permeates the pages couldn't be executed any better in this poignant story.
As I wipe away my tears, I wholeheartedly recommend this captivating read to you.
I extend my sincere appreciation to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books/Bloomsbury YA for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
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While the book may start off a bit slow, with its narrative moving back and forth between two timelines, I sincerely advise you to be patient. As the past of Hannah and her relationship with her cousin Sophie intertwines with the present, numerous pieces will fall into place, revealing profound meanings hidden within the words and tearing your heart apart.
The story unfolds on prom night, where Hannah MacLaren is called to the headmaster's office, an act of rebellion that threatens to mar the night and possibly lead to legal consequences. Drenched in her fancy gown, she stands accused of triggering the fire alarm just as the prom queen crown was about to be placed on her cousin Sophie's head, who tragically succumbed to an opioid overdose.
Under mounting pressure from the headmaster, Hannah begins her tale from the beginning.
We are transported back and forth in time, witnessing Hannah's profound grief over losing her cousin and her determination to change schools and infiltrate her cousin's inner social circle, assuming a disguised identity, all in search of the truth—finding out who supplied Sophie with the opioids and ultimately, who was responsible for her death.
Surprisingly, Hannah finds an unexpected ally in the most unlikely of places. Christian, her long-time academic rival, transforms into someone she can trust and lean on, leading to an unforeseen romance that gradually blossoms.
The mystery, the love story, the drama, and the thought-provoking exploration of addiction and dysfunctional family dynamics blend seamlessly, culminating in an emotional finale that will elicit the rawest of tears.
Emery Lord's realistic portrayal of the characters and the pervasive sadness that permeates the pages couldn't be executed any better in this poignant story.
As I wipe away my tears, I wholeheartedly recommend this captivating read to you.
I extend my sincere appreciation to NetGalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books/Bloomsbury YA for providing me with a digital reviewer copy in exchange for my honest thoughts.
Follow me on medium.com to read my articles about books, movies, streaming series, astrology:
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January 13, 2024
Told via a dual timeline, this story of the grief of losing a loved one to drug overdose is harrowing, and we follow Hannah in Junior and Senior year as she fights to find answers as to who gave her cousin the drugs that killed her the night of a house party.
I think the weakest part of this story was the dual timelines. In both Junior and Senior year Hannah is looking for answers, helped somewhat by friends, and this made the story confusing, as there were many moments where I had to skip back a few pages to work out where I was in the timeline.
I thought the endings of both timelines would have massive plot twists or events, and that kept me reading. I think I was hoping for more than we actually got, and I was disappointed that the small events we did get didn't change up the story or it's ending.
I think the weakest part of this story was the dual timelines. In both Junior and Senior year Hannah is looking for answers, helped somewhat by friends, and this made the story confusing, as there were many moments where I had to skip back a few pages to work out where I was in the timeline.
I thought the endings of both timelines would have massive plot twists or events, and that kept me reading. I think I was hoping for more than we actually got, and I was disappointed that the small events we did get didn't change up the story or it's ending.
July 8, 2024
3.5 stars
All That’s Left to Say is one of those books that keeps you guessing and thinking. It was sad and a bit suspenseful. Had the tiniest bit of romance in it, but overall was a YA book about a grieving girl who lost her best friend/cousin and is trying to find out who could have been involved with her death. The time jumps were a bit confusing, at least in audio format and I had a hard time remembering all the characters involved and who was who, but aside from that I enjoyed it. Emery Lord’s writing is fantastic as always.
All That’s Left to Say is one of those books that keeps you guessing and thinking. It was sad and a bit suspenseful. Had the tiniest bit of romance in it, but overall was a YA book about a grieving girl who lost her best friend/cousin and is trying to find out who could have been involved with her death. The time jumps were a bit confusing, at least in audio format and I had a hard time remembering all the characters involved and who was who, but aside from that I enjoyed it. Emery Lord’s writing is fantastic as always.
Audio book source: Netgalley
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Krystal Hammond
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Cont YA/Suspense
Length:12h 47m
November 14, 2024
1 Sentence Summary: One year ago, Hannah’s cousin Sophie died from a drug overdose, and in her grief, Hannah became obsessed with finding out who gave Sophie the pills; she created a plan to change her appearance and enroll at the private school Sophie went to, infiltrate Sophie’s classmates, and uncover the truth.
My Thoughts: THIS WAS AMAZING! Part mystery, part thriller, part romance. A story of self destruction but also of healing. A chilling warning of the United States opioid epidemic.
I loved the characters and their relationships with each other. There was fantastic character development. And the romance subplot was actually so sweet and wholesome. Also, the mystery aspect of this was very compelling, and the plot twist at the end shocked me!!
There were so many great themes of grief, addiction, loss of a loved one, healing, and getting the help you need. This is a timely and important story; more than 560,000 people in the US have died from overdoses involving opioids since the epidemic began in 2017, and the crisis claims more than 187 lives per day. (https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/...)
This was a well written and captivating story, with flawed yet human characters you can root for.
Recommend to: People who enjoy YA mystery/thriller/romance.
(Warnings: swearing; addiction; death)
My Thoughts: THIS WAS AMAZING! Part mystery, part thriller, part romance. A story of self destruction but also of healing. A chilling warning of the United States opioid epidemic.
I loved the characters and their relationships with each other. There was fantastic character development. And the romance subplot was actually so sweet and wholesome. Also, the mystery aspect of this was very compelling, and the plot twist at the end shocked me!!
There were so many great themes of grief, addiction, loss of a loved one, healing, and getting the help you need. This is a timely and important story; more than 560,000 people in the US have died from overdoses involving opioids since the epidemic began in 2017, and the crisis claims more than 187 lives per day. (https://www.fcc.gov/reports-research/...)
This was a well written and captivating story, with flawed yet human characters you can root for.
Recommend to: People who enjoy YA mystery/thriller/romance.
(Warnings: swearing; addiction; death)
Want to read
January 17, 2023new emery lord in the year 2023 ! ! !
July 22, 2023
2.5 stars
I have so many mixed feelings about this book, I don't know what to think.
The dual timeline is well-handled, and I appreciate that it takes an honest look at some difficult subject matter without really pulling any punches. But Hannah isn't really a likable character. At best she's unhealthily obsessed with what happened to her cousin (which makes reading the book extremely uncomfortable at times), at worst she's a hypocrite self-righteously yakking about the speck in other people's eyes while blatantly ignoring the plank in her own.
And with all this book has to say about the opioid epidemic, I expected an author's note at the end along with a list of resources for real teens who are (or who have friends who are) struggling with opioid addiction. And yet, there's nothing.
My final gripe is about the setting. The book takes place in Maryland, and while the immediate setting details - the made-up town/schools Hannah and her friends attend - are fine, the larger details about the state (the parts that are real) aren't accurate at all. What Marylanders call the outer loop of the DC Beltway she calls the outer belt. The University of Maryland is referred to several times as "Maryland U" - which I've never, in my 28 years living in this state, heard used in reference to any of our state colleges. It's the University of Maryland, UMBC, College Park, UMD...NOT Maryland U. And the thing is, I don't think it would take too much Googling to figure either of these things out. Why even set the book in Maryland if you aren't going to bother to do basic research?
Content notes: frequent harsh profanity, underage drug and alcohol use
I have so many mixed feelings about this book, I don't know what to think.
The dual timeline is well-handled, and I appreciate that it takes an honest look at some difficult subject matter without really pulling any punches. But Hannah isn't really a likable character. At best she's unhealthily obsessed with what happened to her cousin (which makes reading the book extremely uncomfortable at times), at worst she's a hypocrite self-righteously yakking about the speck in other people's eyes while blatantly ignoring the plank in her own.
And with all this book has to say about the opioid epidemic, I expected an author's note at the end along with a list of resources for real teens who are (or who have friends who are) struggling with opioid addiction. And yet, there's nothing.
My final gripe is about the setting. The book takes place in Maryland, and while the immediate setting details - the made-up town/schools Hannah and her friends attend - are fine, the larger details about the state (the parts that are real) aren't accurate at all. What Marylanders call the outer loop of the DC Beltway she calls the outer belt. The University of Maryland is referred to several times as "Maryland U" - which I've never, in my 28 years living in this state, heard used in reference to any of our state colleges. It's the University of Maryland, UMBC, College Park, UMD...NOT Maryland U. And the thing is, I don't think it would take too much Googling to figure either of these things out. Why even set the book in Maryland if you aren't going to bother to do basic research?
Content notes: frequent harsh profanity, underage drug and alcohol use
August 6, 2024
i genuinely cannot tell you anything about this book except all of emery lord’s mcs are batshit crazy. oh and drugs were involved.
May 18, 2024
2.5 ⭐
The book is very well written and there's really nothing wrong with the story. I just unfortunately failed to connect to the characters or stay invested in the plot. The book did feel like it ran a little long, I do wish it would have been just a bit shorter. I did listen to the audiobook which I did enjoy but the narrator did have a very soothing voice which did make me sleepy (not that there's anything wrong with that it just made it hard to stay focused)
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
The book is very well written and there's really nothing wrong with the story. I just unfortunately failed to connect to the characters or stay invested in the plot. The book did feel like it ran a little long, I do wish it would have been just a bit shorter. I did listen to the audiobook which I did enjoy but the narrator did have a very soothing voice which did make me sleepy (not that there's anything wrong with that it just made it hard to stay focused)
Thank you Netgalley for a copy of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review!
September 19, 2023
3.5* A poignant story of grief, family, addiction and love. Although I admittedly found this a little confusing at the times, with trying to follow the large cast of characters amongst the time jumps (possibly audiobook wasn’t the way to go with this one?) this was an emotional story with a mystery that kept reading.
TW: overdose, drug use, addiction.
TW: overdose, drug use, addiction.
September 21, 2023
When Sophie, Hannah’s cousin, dies of an overdose, Hannah vows to find the person who killed her (sold her the drugs).
Emery Lord gets so much wrong in ALL THAT’S LEFT TO SAY, I can’t justify giving it more than one star, despite that Lord shows the grief process quite well.
ALL THAT’S LEFT TO SAY is set upon the premise what whomever sold or gave the drugs to Sophie killed her. Instead of Hannah spending 2 years looking for the dealer, I’d rather have had her invested in when the drugs started and why, signs she missed etc. If Sophie had been drugged, I’d have understood the “investigation”. I wondered if Lord thought making an “investigation” would appeal to mystery readers.
Lord must have repeated Substance Use Disorder 25 times in the book, which is the new way substance abuse is categorized and which virtually no one uses in daily life. It sounded clunky in the narration. I wish Lord had talked more about personal responsibility.
Lord’s word building and character development, though strong, weren’t enough to overcome that the MC wanted to blame another kid who probably wasn’t a drug kingpin for her cousin’s death.
Emery Lord gets so much wrong in ALL THAT’S LEFT TO SAY, I can’t justify giving it more than one star, despite that Lord shows the grief process quite well.
ALL THAT’S LEFT TO SAY is set upon the premise what whomever sold or gave the drugs to Sophie killed her. Instead of Hannah spending 2 years looking for the dealer, I’d rather have had her invested in when the drugs started and why, signs she missed etc. If Sophie had been drugged, I’d have understood the “investigation”. I wondered if Lord thought making an “investigation” would appeal to mystery readers.
Lord must have repeated Substance Use Disorder 25 times in the book, which is the new way substance abuse is categorized and which virtually no one uses in daily life. It sounded clunky in the narration. I wish Lord had talked more about personal responsibility.
Lord’s word building and character development, though strong, weren’t enough to overcome that the MC wanted to blame another kid who probably wasn’t a drug kingpin for her cousin’s death.
March 1, 2023
DAMN she’s done it again!!!! emery lord writes books guaranteed to make me cry multiple times and this one was no exception. a deeply intimate and powerful look at grief and friendship, with a delicious dual timeline and subtle mystery plot — i wanted to start it again as soon as i finished.
November 19, 2023
Sometimes even when you get the answers you're looking for you still feel empty.
Read
August 7, 2023literally soooo excellent like. where to even begin- this is a book about a grief and loss, how painful and non-linear the journey can be, but it's a mystery- a hunt for answers behind the protagonist's cousin's death. it's astounding to me how well the mystery was integrated without taking away from hannah's grief. i found myself completely immersed in this world, and even with dueling timelines everything felt so smooth throughout. also loved the romance beyond belief, just very glad that emery lord was able to write this book and really hope it gets the attention it deserves <3
December 6, 2023
This book is honestly so good. 🫶🏻 It was so emotional and real and inspiring. I absolutely loved it! It’s definitely a hard read at some points but I definitely loved it! Definitely recommend❤️
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pages: 372
Language/TW: 10/10 (relationships, alcohol, drugs, OD, lgtbq characters)
Format I read: Hardback (library)
Genre: YA murder mystery
Would I recommend to others: Yes
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Pages: 372
Language/TW: 10/10 (relationships, alcohol, drugs, OD, lgtbq characters)
Format I read: Hardback (library)
Genre: YA murder mystery
Would I recommend to others: Yes
August 31, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!
It feels like I've been waiting for a new Emery Lord book for soooo long, and now it's finally here!
As always, Emery Lord's writing is impeccable. She handles prose so beautifully and masterfully, I would read literally anything that she wrote, because she just has this incredible way of making you feel exactly how she wants you to feel, whether that's giggling at the romance or crying at the grief.
And there is a very heavy focus on grief in this book. It was very poignant and emotional, and I thought done really well - it shows how grief is completely non-linear, how you have moments that trip you up when you forget that that person isn't still here, and how there is no deadline on grief.
Our main character, Hannah, is a bit unlikeable, sure, but I think it makes the book all the more realistic. If your best friend in the world has just died, you're not going to be the most likeable, sunshine person, you're not going to think clearly. I loved how Hannah was still trying so fiercely to protect and look after Sophie even after death.
I admit that I don't know that the dual timelines was the best choice for this book - I struggled with them particularly towards the end as I thought they should have caught up to each other, rather than the past timeline continuing even when we know what happened in the end in the present timeline, and I sometimes struggled to distinguish between the two timelines as they were only a few months/a year apart.
That being said, Emery Lord is still an autobuy author, I love her books so so much, and I am so happy to have read her newest release! Now to wait impatiently for the next one!
It feels like I've been waiting for a new Emery Lord book for soooo long, and now it's finally here!
As always, Emery Lord's writing is impeccable. She handles prose so beautifully and masterfully, I would read literally anything that she wrote, because she just has this incredible way of making you feel exactly how she wants you to feel, whether that's giggling at the romance or crying at the grief.
And there is a very heavy focus on grief in this book. It was very poignant and emotional, and I thought done really well - it shows how grief is completely non-linear, how you have moments that trip you up when you forget that that person isn't still here, and how there is no deadline on grief.
Our main character, Hannah, is a bit unlikeable, sure, but I think it makes the book all the more realistic. If your best friend in the world has just died, you're not going to be the most likeable, sunshine person, you're not going to think clearly. I loved how Hannah was still trying so fiercely to protect and look after Sophie even after death.
I admit that I don't know that the dual timelines was the best choice for this book - I struggled with them particularly towards the end as I thought they should have caught up to each other, rather than the past timeline continuing even when we know what happened in the end in the present timeline, and I sometimes struggled to distinguish between the two timelines as they were only a few months/a year apart.
That being said, Emery Lord is still an autobuy author, I love her books so so much, and I am so happy to have read her newest release! Now to wait impatiently for the next one!
March 20, 2023
I really wanted to like All That’s Left to Say more than I did; the synopsis sounded good and, as always, Emery Lord’s writing is of a very high quality. In the end, I struggled to keep picking it up to read more, so I think this particular book just wasn’t for me.
The depictions of Hannah’s grief over the loss of her cousin, Sophie, were tangible and relatable, and anyone who’s been through any kind of loss will know exactly what she was feeling. For me, this was the best part of the book, along with facets of Hannah’s stuttering romance (no spoilers as to who it’s with), which I thought would be more compelling than it was.
All That’s Left to Say seemed to drag it’s feet to get to the point, and I think it could have been much shorter than it was. It got a bit repetitive after a while, though I did like the dual timelines (junior year and senior year), and the overall theme of uncovering the truth and moving on.
Important themes and issues are explored throughout this book; I have no doubt it’ll resonate with YA readers, and will hopefully lead to important conversations and a greater understanding of substance abuse. While it wasn’t one of my favourite reads of the year so far, All That’s Left to Say is still a book I’d recommend to teens and young adults, and indeed anyone who’s a fan of Emery Lord. She’s an author who’s not afraid to tackle the tough stuff, and that’s never a bad thing.
The depictions of Hannah’s grief over the loss of her cousin, Sophie, were tangible and relatable, and anyone who’s been through any kind of loss will know exactly what she was feeling. For me, this was the best part of the book, along with facets of Hannah’s stuttering romance (no spoilers as to who it’s with), which I thought would be more compelling than it was.
All That’s Left to Say seemed to drag it’s feet to get to the point, and I think it could have been much shorter than it was. It got a bit repetitive after a while, though I did like the dual timelines (junior year and senior year), and the overall theme of uncovering the truth and moving on.
Important themes and issues are explored throughout this book; I have no doubt it’ll resonate with YA readers, and will hopefully lead to important conversations and a greater understanding of substance abuse. While it wasn’t one of my favourite reads of the year so far, All That’s Left to Say is still a book I’d recommend to teens and young adults, and indeed anyone who’s a fan of Emery Lord. She’s an author who’s not afraid to tackle the tough stuff, and that’s never a bad thing.
Read
August 17, 2023Unfortunately I just couldn’t push myself to finish this one.
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury Australia for gifting me a review copy!
Thank you so much to Bloomsbury Australia for gifting me a review copy!
April 27, 2023
ANOTHER EMERY LORD BOOK THAT DESTROYED ME. Honestly, this book is SO GOOD. The alternating timelines drew me through the story, and I desperately wanted to know what happened even as I shouted at our mc Hannah "don't do that!" The love between Hannah and her best friend Sophie is everything; and I desperately wanted to hold Hannah as she struggles with her loss and grief. For someone who is so perceptive in all things, I loved Hannah's absolutely inability to see herself. I loved all the secrets in this book, the swoony romance, the mystery of it, and above all, the friendship that's at the heart of every Emery Lord book. I immediately want to read it again.
January 20, 2023
THIS BOOK. SO FREAKING GOOD.
October 19, 2024
3.5/5
All That’s Left to Say by Emery Lord has a lot of heart and some really relatable characters, but the plot just felt like it dragged on forever. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but it never quite got there. The themes of grief and healing were definitely moving, and there were some really touching moments, but the slow pacing kind of took away from the overall impact. It’s still a good read, especially if you’re into emotional stories, but I just wish it moved a little faster.
All That’s Left to Say by Emery Lord has a lot of heart and some really relatable characters, but the plot just felt like it dragged on forever. I kept waiting for things to pick up, but it never quite got there. The themes of grief and healing were definitely moving, and there were some really touching moments, but the slow pacing kind of took away from the overall impact. It’s still a good read, especially if you’re into emotional stories, but I just wish it moved a little faster.
April 1, 2025
I liked the concept & the subject discussed but the route to the conclusion felt long, repetitive, tedious & a little too childish! Definitely could have been executed better or maybe done away with the "mystery" elements as my expectations would definitely have been different
August 28, 2023
sadly the main character in this book is written by Emery Lord so she has not-like-other-girls syndrome.
May 13, 2024
Holy crapdoodles that was sad
August 26, 2023
I enjoyed the writing style and the fact that this novel tackles some difficult topics like grief, wealth, drug use, and 'coming of age'. And while the dual timelines started off interesting, it became tedious as they were both set after Sophie's death and were so similar as Hannah hadn't really 'come to terms' with her cousin's death. I also felt that the audience didn't really get to know Sophie as a character really well, due to the timelines, so I didn't really have a drive to find out what happened to her.
August 17, 2023
Another absolute winner from Emery Lord. I shouldn’t be surprised but candidly this is not the type of book I’d usually read (sad books about grief and heavier topics). She’s an auto-buy for me so I just had to do it. I trusted her to deliver as she always does… and she did. Really heartbreaking story, well-written, emotional. The usual things you’d expect from her regardless of topic. Hannah was definitely a tough character to read from and the dual timelines were sometimes hard to follow too. I think overall though the impact is fully there.
July 16, 2023
All That's Left to Say takes a deep look at grief and friendship.
When Hannah's cousin dies of an opiate overdose, she's devastated. How could she not know Sophie was using? Where did she get the pills from? Who's to blame?
As Hannah sets out to answer these questions, her life turns upside down.
Told through an alternating timeline of Hannah's junior and senior year at school, readers are taken on a journey with Hannah.
This book will hit you right in the feels.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books/Bloomsbury YA for an early copy for review.
Book releases 7/18/23
When Hannah's cousin dies of an opiate overdose, she's devastated. How could she not know Sophie was using? Where did she get the pills from? Who's to blame?
As Hannah sets out to answer these questions, her life turns upside down.
Told through an alternating timeline of Hannah's junior and senior year at school, readers are taken on a journey with Hannah.
This book will hit you right in the feels.
Thanks to Netgalley and Bloomsbury USA Children's Books/Bloomsbury YA for an early copy for review.
Book releases 7/18/23
July 27, 2023
once again, emery lord has delivered an emotional, heartbreaking, beautiful novel that resonates deeply and explores often unexplored territory with tact and kindness. she is literally my queen i would go over a cliff for this woman
May 10, 2024
I LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT THIS.
esp the hannah and christian thing 😭
BUT, gabi, yes, i love her.
emery should make a book on the little sister and how she goes at st annes.
honestly this book is so.. good
the b person though is very interesting, i mean it's understandable why they did what they did but they should've just spoken up about it.
i love emery lord.
esp the hannah and christian thing 😭
BUT, gabi, yes, i love her.
emery should make a book on the little sister and how she goes at st annes.
honestly this book is so.. good
the b person though is very interesting, i mean it's understandable why they did what they did but they should've just spoken up about it.
i love emery lord.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 16, 2024
ugh one of the best YA books of this decade fs, reflection of our changing society and how that impacts young people!!
January 5, 2024
{89/2023} 4/5🌟 YA General Fiction | 372 pages
I don’t know why I kept thinking of Rory from Gilmore Girls as the MC. Perhaps, because the character was as spunky as Rory, with a single mother, from a middle class family and schooling in a private school.
However, this ain’t no Stars Hollow ( though the male characters pursuing the MC could be imaginative enough as Dean and Logan). It is a story about teenage life and responsibilities, grief, family, friendship and love.
Hannah, the MC, had literally grown up together with her cousin, Sophie. They were best friends, soulmates - whatever you want to call it. What makes them different? Well, Hannah was from a middle class family, but thriving; while Sophie was practically born with a silver spoon in her mouth. However, that could never separate Hannah and Sophie. They had their own friends, went to different schools, had different interests and perhaps opposite upbringing style, but in the end, they would always come together. Both Hannah and Sophie were good students. They excelled academically as well as in their non-academics. Future certainly looked great for both of them.
That was until Sophie died of an overdose.
Hannah was so confused. Sophie had never shown any signs that she was an addict. Life was normal for them. Day in and day out. Hannah knew this should be a case of truancy. Someone must have had given the substance to Sophie. Hannah became obsessed as she she was seeking for the closure. She lost her other half and it didn’t make sense for her to accept everything as it was. She was grieving, but she was grieving on her own. She pushed other people away.
That was when she decided to take matters into her own hands.
With hard determination, Hannah enrolled herself at Sophie’s fancy private school anonymously. Nobody from the school should know that she was Sophie’s cousin. She needed to know who were Sophie’s friends or enemies. She needed to find out who gave Sophie the drugs. In the search, Hannah found new life. She made new friends and friendships blossomed and she enjoyed her school, but deep down Hannah knew she had other missions. Questioning herself whether to move on and lead her life peacefully or finish whatever she started till the end. The presence of her first crush, young puppy love didn’t make it any easier and should she really be making friends with Sophie’s “besties” from the fancy school?
Life is always about making choices. Sometimes the choices we make can never satisfy people around us. As young adults, peer pressure is something that is obligatory. We want to be cool, we want to look cool - so when we are not on par with the rest of the tribe, things might be tricky. Yup, that’s life.
Do not be afraid to speak to any trusted adult if there is anything concerning your life, because we definitely can’t go through it on our own. Hannah and Sophie both faced complex issues in their lives and what made it worse was when they kept everything to themselves.
Substance use and sex are worrying issues we can found commonly among teenagers - which is NOT GOOD. If you think you couldn’t speak to any adult, there will always be hotline numbers from trusted agencies which could help. Do not go through it alone.
The story was written from two different timelines alternately. One, was during Hannah’s junior year, as we go through the timeline until Sophie’s death; the other one was during Hannah’s senior year, when she began her own investigation at Sophie’s school. The changing from one year to another bore connections to what happened in the past to the present - which I admitted got me a little confused in the beginning because I thought I missed certain storyline. The mystery plot certainly intrigued me of what really happened, and what a surprise plot twist.
A good read and reminder for young adults especially.
Thank you #pansing for this review copy in exchange of my honest review.
#justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #DecemberReads #DecemberTBRs #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #myfavouritemonth #mybirthdaymonth #allthatslefttosay #emerylord
I don’t know why I kept thinking of Rory from Gilmore Girls as the MC. Perhaps, because the character was as spunky as Rory, with a single mother, from a middle class family and schooling in a private school.
However, this ain’t no Stars Hollow ( though the male characters pursuing the MC could be imaginative enough as Dean and Logan). It is a story about teenage life and responsibilities, grief, family, friendship and love.
Hannah, the MC, had literally grown up together with her cousin, Sophie. They were best friends, soulmates - whatever you want to call it. What makes them different? Well, Hannah was from a middle class family, but thriving; while Sophie was practically born with a silver spoon in her mouth. However, that could never separate Hannah and Sophie. They had their own friends, went to different schools, had different interests and perhaps opposite upbringing style, but in the end, they would always come together. Both Hannah and Sophie were good students. They excelled academically as well as in their non-academics. Future certainly looked great for both of them.
That was until Sophie died of an overdose.
Hannah was so confused. Sophie had never shown any signs that she was an addict. Life was normal for them. Day in and day out. Hannah knew this should be a case of truancy. Someone must have had given the substance to Sophie. Hannah became obsessed as she she was seeking for the closure. She lost her other half and it didn’t make sense for her to accept everything as it was. She was grieving, but she was grieving on her own. She pushed other people away.
That was when she decided to take matters into her own hands.
With hard determination, Hannah enrolled herself at Sophie’s fancy private school anonymously. Nobody from the school should know that she was Sophie’s cousin. She needed to know who were Sophie’s friends or enemies. She needed to find out who gave Sophie the drugs. In the search, Hannah found new life. She made new friends and friendships blossomed and she enjoyed her school, but deep down Hannah knew she had other missions. Questioning herself whether to move on and lead her life peacefully or finish whatever she started till the end. The presence of her first crush, young puppy love didn’t make it any easier and should she really be making friends with Sophie’s “besties” from the fancy school?
Life is always about making choices. Sometimes the choices we make can never satisfy people around us. As young adults, peer pressure is something that is obligatory. We want to be cool, we want to look cool - so when we are not on par with the rest of the tribe, things might be tricky. Yup, that’s life.
Do not be afraid to speak to any trusted adult if there is anything concerning your life, because we definitely can’t go through it on our own. Hannah and Sophie both faced complex issues in their lives and what made it worse was when they kept everything to themselves.
Substance use and sex are worrying issues we can found commonly among teenagers - which is NOT GOOD. If you think you couldn’t speak to any adult, there will always be hotline numbers from trusted agencies which could help. Do not go through it alone.
The story was written from two different timelines alternately. One, was during Hannah’s junior year, as we go through the timeline until Sophie’s death; the other one was during Hannah’s senior year, when she began her own investigation at Sophie’s school. The changing from one year to another bore connections to what happened in the past to the present - which I admitted got me a little confused in the beginning because I thought I missed certain storyline. The mystery plot certainly intrigued me of what really happened, and what a surprise plot twist.
A good read and reminder for young adults especially.
Thank you #pansing for this review copy in exchange of my honest review.
#justreaddontbawang #bookmehnia #DecemberReads #DecemberTBRs #bookstagrammalaysia #bookstagrammy #malaysiamembaca #bookstagrammer #bookgram #bibliophile #bibliophilemy #bookish #bookaddict #bookaesthetic #bookish #readersofinstagram #goodreads #bookrecommendations #bookreview #bookworm #myfavouritemonth #mybirthdaymonth #allthatslefttosay #emerylord
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