Stories We Never Told

Written by Sonja Yoerg

Narrated by Lisa Flanagan, Christopher Lane, Soneela Nankani and Steve West

From the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of True Places comes an emotional novel of love, secrets, and obsession.

Psychology professor Jackie Strelitz thinks she’s over Harlan Crispin, her ex-lover and colleague. Why should she care if Harlan springs a new “friend” on her? After all, Jackie has everything she ever wanted: a loving husband and a thriving career. Still, she can’t help but be curious about Harlan’s latest.

Nasira Amari is graceful, smart, and appallingly young. Worse, she’s the newest member of Jackie’s research team. For five years, Harlan enforced rules limiting his relationship with Jackie. With Nasira, he’s breaking every single one. Why her?

Fixated by the couple, Jackie’s curiosity becomes obsession. But she soon learns that nothing is quite what it seems and that to her surprise—and peril—she may not be the only one who can’t let go.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Brilliance Audio
• Release date: May 1, 2020
• ISBN: 9781799749950

Sonja Yoerg

Sonja Yoerg is the Washington Post bestselling author of the novels House Broken, The Middle of Somewhere, All the Best People, and True Places. Sonja grew up in Stowe, Vermont, where she financed her college education by waitressing at the Trapp Family Lodge. She went on to earn a PhD in biological psychology from the University of California, Berkeley, and wrote a nonfiction book about animal intelligence, Clever as a Fox, before deciding it was more fun to make things up. Sonja lives with her husband in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. For more information, visit www.sonjayoerg.com.

Reviews for Stories We Never Told

[bookanonjeff · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Excellent Work Partially Marred By Problematic Ideas About Autism. This book, as so many of its type, starts relatively slow and low key - a woman goes to dinner with her husband and a friend, and the friend announces he is bringing someone along out of the blue. It begins to spiral from there, and we get into a mystery with the requisite twists and turns, some of which were noted long before their respective reveals, others of which were more shocking. Random and sporadic chapters taking us to other perspectives other than the primary narrator, to give the backstories of those characters - and at least two major reveals that our primary narrator will only learn about much later. Truly excellent work on that side of the story.

It is within the subplot of the primary character's actual work that things get more problematic, as this researcher is trying to diagnose Autism in babies. As an Autistic adult that only learned that label in my teens - and didn't fully learn just how much it affects my life until my 20s - I can tell you without hesitation that by and large (there are always exceptions to any rule), a label of Autism tends to be more problematic than helpful at such early ages. (Later in life it becomes less problematic and generally easier to use as a means of communication - a bit ironic, really - to help explain to others about your own neurological divergences in ways they can more easily understand at least some modicum of.) But this review isn't exactly the place to really dive into that particular rabbit hole, so with it simply noted I'll move on.

On the whole, a very well written and executed story, and much recommended.

[lorikboyd · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

3.5 Stars rounded up to 4.Jackie is a child psychology professor, happily married to Miles...or is she? Her ex, Harlan, is also a professor at the same college, and is dating Jackie’s postdoctoral student, Nasira. After the four have dinner, Jackie starts comparing her previous relationship to Harlan vs. Nasira’s new one. That is just the tip of the iceberg, as things soon take a different direction. I loved True Places, so I couldn’t wait to jump in. This is an enjoyable read for someone just dipping their toe in the psychological thriller pool. Sonja Yoerg writes beautiful, intelligent books full of emotion. I did not find this a heart-pumping read, but I loved the character development, and it really delved into the mind games. My opinions changed on many characters as the story unfolded. So many relationships to decipher and discuss...mother, husband, coworkers, stepson, ex lover. Thanks to Ms. Yoerg, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone.

[bonnie.franks · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is brilliant. Just brilliant. I met the characters, thought I knew them. Had them all figured out. I liked some, couldn't quite get a handle on some, worried about some. In other words, from the beginning, I was all in.The story line is awesome; flowing, building. The culmination will knock your socks off.That is all. Read it, read it, read it!Thank you to NetGalley.com and the publisher for my copy.