Book Review: What We Never Say

Today is my turn on the book tour for What We Never Say by Paulette Stout that was just released last week.

What We Never Say follows couple, Rebecca and Kyle. Rebecca works in marketing, but for a while now has written and run an anonymous blog called “Bedroom Diaries” where she writes about her sexual journey. When MOD Magazine puts out an issue with favorite photos from over the years, Rebecca learns that Kyle was a popular model when he was in his late teens to early 20s. Surprised that he has never spoken about this, Kyle reveals that he abruptly left modeling after he was groomed and sexually abused by the editor in chief of MOD, Jane, for years starting when he was 18.

But, moving on from his painful past isn’t going to be so easy because Rebecca’s blog caught the eye of MOD and they want her to write an article for them and an on-going column where people write in letters with questions for “Bedroom Diaries”. Rebecca’s identity as the author is supposed to be kept secret, but will they be able to avoid Jane when she is the most powerful woman in fashion? And after avoiding Jane’s attempts to contact Kyle for the past 10 years, will he be haunted by the past when she inevitably worms her way back into his life?

I really liked this book and honestly could not put it down. I wanted to know what was going to happen. I thought it was so interesting to read about Kyle’s experience especially because hearing stories from males who are sexually harassed or abused is so rare. Kyle even expresses what many people in real life think which is that how can a man be coerced into sexual relations when they are bigger and stronger? But there is more to it than just being physically assaulted. Oftentimes, no matter the gender, people can be sexually abused because they are groomed to believe that the predator is the only one who can help them or the only person who truly cares about them. They are made to believe that if they don’t agree, they will be ruined or their careers will be destroyed.

I really liked Kyle, but Rebecca got on my nerves a little bit at times. I felt like she didn’t always make good decisions or made selfish decisions, which was surprising at times because for someone who is the author of a blog about a sensitive and personal topic you would think she would be more considerate of Kyle’s feelings.

Anyway, other than my eh feelings about Rebecca at times, I liked the book a lot!