[Review] What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

Title: What I Didn't Say
Author: Keary Taylor
Published: April 30th 2012 by CreateSpace
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance.
Rating: ★★★★★
Goodreads summary:

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.

*thanks to the publisher for supplying me with a review copy of this ebook (via Netgalley)*

Emma's thoughts:

“Reality hasn't really sunk in yet, I knew that. I didn't want to know what life was going to feel like when it finally did.” 

Finishing this book, all I could think was that, Keary Taylor had created something indescribably magical. The story of Jake Hayes and Samantha Shay is one I know I'll never forget. I know I say that about a lot of books, but What I Didn't Say isn't just another romance novel. It's about appreciating life, especially the simple things. We take so many things for granted, but we don't realise how different our lives would be without those little things.

Jake Hayes lives on a small island with a tight knit population. And there's that one girl, there always is. He could never bring himself to voice his feelings for her, and the one time he actually has the guts to, he can't. Not surprisngly though, the car crash, him losing the capability to speak, is what brings Samantha and Jake together.

It's a genuine, and beautiful relationship. There isn't a lack of flaws, that's for sure, and I totally admire Sam. She's so strong, and such a respectable character. Jake might have to deal not being able to tell her his true feelings, but she has to deal with not knowing what exactly is on his mind before going on paper.

They share this notebook, filled with pages of their thoughts and their lives. And that's not something people these days do often enough. We don't take the time to reflect on our days and our actions. We only ever recount the physical actions, but we don't think enough about the meanings behind them and the people behind them. And in What I Didn't Say, Keary Taylor has filled it with little musings and truths about reality and each one is beautiful.

Jake has to deal with his whole world changing. He has to deal with his future of being a pilot disintegrating to ashes. He has to learn an entirely new language just to communicate. He can't even have a proper conversation with his friends anymore. And I think that's one of the most heartbreaking things. I can't imagine not being able to converse with my friends, not being able to have a simple conversation in the middle of the hallway, not being able to easily tell them about my day. He has to learn to communicate with actions, if at all.

Reading about them, Jake and Samantha deal with the confrontations of life; not only Jake not being able to speak, but Samantha's dilemmas and Jake's determination to help her through whatever, and also the big question of love - it's heartbreaking and moving. The sheer persistence they have, to keep on fighting and to keep on going no matter what, is awe-inspiring and I know I'll be revisiting their story time and time again.

Overall rating: 5 stars~ Actions truly speak louder than words ♥

First:

There were three things that I knew for sure about Orcas Island:
One: The people here were generally weird.

Favourite:

"How'd I get so lucky to have you?" she whispered against my chest. "You always take care of me."
I pressed my lips to her hair, squeezing her tighter.
I'm the lucky one.

Teaser:

 I wrote: 'Do you really not believe in love?'
I really wished I never would have asked.

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