What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

What I Didn't Say
Synopsis:

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat. His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again. When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn't the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.

Review:

I'm not really sure what I thought of What I Didn't Say. I didn't hate it, but I didn't really like it either. I was iffy on it going in. When I first read the synopsis it was a little...like the guy was upset because he would never be able to tell the girl how he felt and now wouldn't be able to? Which is a bit ridiculous. Maybe he cannot speak, but he can still tell her. 

I keep seeing this book mentioned in different places, so I thought I would give it a go today. It wasn't horrible, but it did read a bit like a warning to teens on the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Like an after school special almost, but not quite that cheesy. I mean everything worked out a bit too perfectly. He was in the hospital not very long then came home and was able to eat relatively quickly I thought. I mean he did get his throat impaled on a metal post. I expect that to take longer than a few weeks to heal. And everything was like that. Jake starts feeling bad for himself, and there is Sam to show him that he could have it worse and voila! No more sad Jake. The whole Sam things seems a bit unrealistic. No one in their small island knows her mom died and she is all alone? Everyone seems to know everything, except about Sam. Why weren't her teachers or anybody worried when she started to get skinnier and skinner and more disheveled? It just seems like no one really cared. That and don't people turn off their power when they leave their summer homes? Or wouldn't they notice if they get high energy bills? I don't know. Even when her dad shows up and it is bad it still doesn't seem that bad. 

Everything in this book, no matter how bad it was, didn't really seem that bad. I am not sure why. I just kind of read it like okay, cool. It was just an odd read for me. I didn't really connect with any of the characters or situations as they didn't seem realistic enough. I can't quite find the right words I am looking for to describe it. It was just odd. So I am not sure how to rate it. It wasn't horrible, it was a quick and easy read, but it wasn't really good either. I just don't know. 

Rating: 2/5