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Words We Don't Say
Words We Don't Say | K. J. Reilly
9 posts | 9 read | 14 to read
Joel Higgins has 901 unsent text messages saved on his phone. Ever since the thing that happened, there are certain people he hasn't been able to talk to in person. Sure, he shows up at school, does his mandatory volunteer hours at the soup kitchen, and spends pretty much every moment thinking about Eli, the most amazing girl in the world. But that doesn't mean he's keeping it together, or even that he has any friends. So instead of hanging out with people in real life, he drafts text messages. But he never presses send. As dismal as sophomore year was for Joel, he doesn't see how junior year will be any better. For starters, Eli doesn't know how he feels about her, his best friend Andy's gone, and he basically bombed the SATs. But as Joel spends more time at the soup kitchen with Eli and Benj, the new kid whose mouth seems to be unconnected to his brain, he forms bonds with the people they serve there-including a veteran they call Rooster-and begins to understand that the world is bigger than his own pain. In this dazzling, hilarious, and heartbreaking debut, Joel grapples with the aftermath of a tragic loss as he tries to make sense of the problems he's sees all around him with the help of banned books, Winnie-the-Pooh, a field of asparagus, and many pairs of socks.
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ItsAnotherJen
Words We Don't Say | K. J. Reilly
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This may be an unpopular opinion since I've only heard great things about this book.
So, the main character's voice comes across as much younger than most 11th graders voices do in YA books. Its throwing me off. I keep thinking he's 12.
(I still like the book, and I'm still in the process of reading it. Not done yet)
ETA: It got good
Oh my heart!! 😭💔 So many emotions..
I can now see why there is all those great reviews. I definitely recommend.

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chlolovesbooks
Words We Don't Say | K. J. Reilly
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Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Eggs
Words We Don't Say | K. J. Reilly
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So many whispers of people and thoughts inside him, but Joel can‘t face that. Will he understand that the world outside him is bigger than his own pain?

“Time can never mend
The careless whispers of a good friend
To the heart and mind
Ignorance is kind
There's no comfort in the truth
Pain is all you'll find” 🎼
#carelesswhisper #anglophileapril @Cinfhen @emilyhaldi @Mdargusch @Reviewsbylola

Texreader “I‘m never going to dance again...” 🎼🎸 5y
Cinfhen “Guilty feet have got no rhythm...” @Texreader and George Michael 🙌🏻💔 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Ah, love this song! George Michael! 5y
Mdargusch 💙💙💙 5y
Reviewsbylola ♥️♥️♥️ 5y
75 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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Eggs
Words We Don't Say | K. J. Reilly
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Pickpick

Joel Higgins and Eli volunteer at a soup kitchen together. He's crazy in love with her but can't face his real feelings; instead writes text messages to her, and also his friend Andy who died last year. Saves them all as drafts, never sends them. So many important themes here. It's timely. Debut YA novel for J K Reilly. I RECOMMEND

KimPossible89 @Eggs what a lovely photo! 5y
Eggs @KimPossible89 Thank you❣️ 5y
92 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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LibrarianRyan
Words We Don't Say | K. J. Reilly
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Words we don‘t say when I‘m #onmyown

#musicalnewyear
@Cinfhen @vivastory

vivastory Haven't heard of this one 5y
65 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Nebklvr
Words We Don't Say | K. J. Reilly
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Pickpick

By utilizing text and text messages which the main character never sends, we are able to see the grief, anxiety, humor, and love that Joel rarely shows to the “real” world. Characters-A+. Story-A+. Writing-A. Resolution-A+. Destiny Diamond gives it 4 paws up.

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Nebklvr
Words We Don't Say | K. J. Reilly
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BarbaraJean Militant reader vs. book atheists—😂 5y
Nebklvr @BarbaraJean 😘I am guessing we fall in militant reader category 5y
62 likes2 comments
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Chelleo
Words We Don't Say | K. J. Reilly
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Megabooks Lovely 6y
127 likes1 comment