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Before We Were Innocent
Before We Were Innocent | Ella Berman
20 posts | 22 read | 10 to read
A summer in Greece for three best friends ends in the unthinkable when only two return home in this new novel from Ella Berman. . . . Ten years ago, after a sun-soaked summer spent in Greece, best friends Bess and Joni were cleared of having any involvement in their friend Evangelines death. But that didnt stop the media from ripping apart their teenage lives like vultures. While the girls were never convicted, Joni, ever the opportunist, capitalized on her newfound infamy to become a motivational speaker. Bess, on the other hand, resolved to make her life as small and controlled as possible so she wouldnt risk losing everything all over again. And it almost worked. . . . Except now Joni is tangled up in a crime eerily similar to that one fateful night in Greece. And when she asks Bess to come back to LA to support her, Bess has a decision to make. Is it finally time to face up to what happened that night, exposing herself as the young woman she once was and maybe still is? And what if she doesnt like what she finds?
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Beachbum
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You read something and it makes you think about your young adult life transitioning out of high school and the friendships you make in life at that time. This book did this. How as young adults we “feel” like it‘s the end of the world and when we‘re young we‘re so passionate about life. This book was a journey in that sense but that‘s not only what it was about it‘s also about friends “losing” a friend in a tragic death and the truth comes out.

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Yenya1954
Pickpick

A novel that takes the reader through the current timeframe and bounces back ten years. Three rich high school seniors go to an old island near Greece . No parents go. The story has some tragic consequences as 1 girl dies. Was it an accident and or something more sinister? There are lies to be dealt with and uncovered. It‘s slow moving in a few places and other places where the plot races. 4/5

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BookishTrish
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Pickpick

An intriguing to read dual timeline thriller about the dark side of female friendships. The 2008 timeline was much better than the 2018 mystery.

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monkeygirlsmama
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Pickpick

Good story that shows how easy it is to allow one small mistake- one lie -to ruin the rest of your life. Didn't love these characters, but they were palatable within the confines of their stories.

⭐⭐⭐⭐

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Acoleman
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Mehso-so

Just ok- I wish the loose ends were tied up better. But maybe that was part of the point?

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BittersweetBooks
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I think of the aftermath of…death and how life could feel almost normal in the pockets of time between grief, but then how the air would suddenly turn to stone around me and it felt like I might never breathe again 🌊

22 likes2 stack adds
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LatrelWhite
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One of my May reads: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

16 likes1 stack add
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Kappadeemom
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It‘s frustrating to start a new book before work…lol.

33 likes2 stack adds
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Itchyfeetreader
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Mehso-so

This is a book about wealthy, entitled girls and all the ways the intensity of female friendship especially as teenagers can be so overwhelming - in this case with tragic consequences. I found the 10 years later plot line frustrating - the mystery wasn‘t all that and I felt like we never really got To know Bess. She is frozen. A low pick mostly for the quality of writing and the feeling it captured.

Ruthiella ❤️🐶❤️🐶❤️ 9mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 9mo
AnnCrystal 💕🐕💝. 9mo
45 likes3 comments
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marleed
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Mehso-so

If Reese opts to adapt this, I think I‘d like it because her production company does a great job at choosing interesting actors and the plot has potential . But without that assistance I thought this was a disappointing dud of privileged abusive white girls envying ‘friends‘ with even more perceived privilege. They were just as unlikable in 2018 as they were in 2008. As a thriller, I also thought the ending was weak

TrishB That doesn‘t sound like I want to read it! 11mo
Deblovestoread Appreciate your review. Think I‘ll pass on the book 😀 11mo
marleed @TrishB @Deblovestoread I can‘t help but go into a Reese pick and consider if the book will be adapted. This time, those thoughts were what kept me going as I considered how a tweak here or a good actor there could help this along. 11mo
69 likes3 comments
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Kgaudiuso
Pickpick

This book wasn‘t what I expected. While it lagged in some spots, I loved how towards the end, everything I thought or expected, turned out to be wrong.

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BossLady305
Mehso-so

This book was less of a thriller than expected. Good writing, but it didn‘t have me anxiously try to finish the book. The story is more about being young, the friendships made, and how fast things can change in a matter of minutes.

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BookishTrish
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The birthday dozen!

Ruthiella Fantastic stack. Happy Birthday! 🥳🥳🥳 12mo
BookishTrish @Ruthiella Thank you! 12mo
Jas16 Happy Birthday 🎉🎂🎈 12mo
See All 10 Comments
Bookzombie Happy Birthday!! 🧁🥳 12mo
LeahBergen Nice haul! Happy Birthday! 12mo
Hooked_on_books Oooo, that‘s exciting! Happy Birthday! 12mo
Reggie Happy Birthday! 12mo
quietlycuriouskate Happy birthday! 🎁📚🎂 12mo
Megabooks Wow!! Hbd!! 🎉🎉 12mo
thewallflower0707 Happy (belated) birthday! 12mo
53 likes10 comments
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kbuggle
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Mehso-so

two friends reconnect ten years after a teenage trip to greece to determine how their friend really died on that trip- was it murder, or an accident?

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kezzlou85
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Pickpick

This was an interesting read. I wasn't sure at the start but it slowly pulled me in. The story jumps from past to present as we slowly learn all the details. The ending worked for the story and i liked how it came together yet I would have liked more of a conclusion. The story is well written and descriptive. it sets the scene and then pulls you in as you decide how you feel about the girls. #Netgalley 4*

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ShyBookOwl
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I know it's her from the moment I hear a knock at my door.

#FirstLineFridays Another random Libby Filter find. 11 chapters in and digging it! Intrigued by the characters, and I'm a sucker for a dual timeline mystery.

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ICantImReading
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

This literary mystery explores female friendship during what can be an exhilarating & painful time: the transition from adolescence to adulthood. The girls believe they are trapped between freedom & happiness, trying to figure out who they are in the world and to each other, hurting & loving each other in a thousand different ways. The slower pace didn‘t hold my attention at times, but the setting, themes, and complexity won me over.

54 likes1 stack add1 comment
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GinaKButler
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Up next on 🎧…I‘ve been looking forward to this release!

#bookspinbingo

22 likes1 stack add
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SilversReviews
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“A coming-of-age novel with a dark twist.

BEFORE WE WERE INNOCENT follows three girls, their summer abroad in Greece that ends with a murder, the ensuing media frenzy, and what happens 10 years later when one of the women is involved in another incident under the media microscope.”

FULL SPOTLIGHT: https://tinyurl.com/6etfm4wu

@ellamberman

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BookLineNSinker
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Looking forward to starting this new one from Ella Berman! Good start to a great month of reading! I liked The Comeback but excited for this new thriller from Berman!

36 likes1 stack add