Thank you to NetGalley and BooksGoSocial for my ARC of Where No One Can Hear You by J.E. Rowney. My rating is 4/5 stars. This book focuses on teenager, Amanda, experiencing an act of horrific violence and trauma and then, her process of healing. I went into this thinking it was going to be more of a mystery unraveling Amanda's experience, but found it to be more of a beautiful story of the aftermath of trauma.

While I truly enjoyed this read, I think I would have enjoyed it even further if it was in the genre of Literary Fiction, rather than Thriller/Mystery. While it's suspensful in the sense of turning pages to see how Amanda's journey unfolds, this is a story much more about the beauty in pain than it is a mysterious or thrilling narrative. The author's note at the end gave a bit more context in her wanting to write soley from the perspective of the survivor, rather than perpetrator as often done in other novels. However, I feel it leaned a bit too far in this direction, leading to plot holes. Additionally, there were times where I felt pulled out of the story and dialouge when the main character Amanda is supposed to only be a teenager, but the tone and thought process is written as a mature adult.

I appreciate the author's attention to the survivor's process of healing and the integration that takes place. A note I would give from my persepctive as a psychotherapist reader (and trauma survivor), however, is that not everything needs to be tied up in a bow to be considered beautifully written. While there was certainly moments in the story that were difficult to read or heartbreaking, it felt like for every difficult portion, there was double the amount of trying to smooth it over poetically. Which, don't get me wrong- is beautifully poetic and poignant, and I think this author clearly has a talent for writing- but took away from some of the realness and pain of trauma and Amanda's story, and the survivor's healing experience that is deeply complex, layered, and nonlinear.

Overall, I would definitely reccomend this read, but suggest going into it understanding it as literary fiction with some suspenseful themes, rather than a myster/thriller. Thank you again for my ARC!

When No One Can Hear You by J.E. Rowney is a gripping story centered around Amanda, a woman navigating the aftermath of a traumatic experience. The novel takes a different-than-usual angle by focusing on the survivor rather than the attacker. Instead of diving into the psychology of the perpetrator, we are immersed in Amanda’s world—her pain, guilt, fear, and the slow, raw process of healing.

The narrative captures the “what ifs,” the grief, and the obsessive loops that trauma survivors often face. It’s a real page-turner, and I genuinely enjoyed the read. I do feel that the middle bit was slow and repetitive. While I understand that may have been intentional—to reflect Amanda’s mental state and obsession - I’m not sure it was executed as effectively as it could have been.

I do recommend this book. Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for letting me read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. It went beyond a typical thriller genre and I became so emotionally invested. The strength that some people have is beyond comprehension. Fantastic read! Thank you.

If you're a fan of psychological thrillers that go beyond surface-level twists and dive deep into the human psyche, Where No One Can Hear You by by J.E. Rowney is an absolute must-read. Disturbing in the best way, emotionally raw, and utterly compelling.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ – A dark and unforgettable thriller that grips you by the heart and doesn’t let go.

I received an eARC of this book from Netgalley, and I was absolutely taken aback by how captivating this story is.
Luckily for me, I am not triggered by these topics but it’s important for me to tell you this book deals with themes of SA, r*pe, and death.
The emotional roller coaster i went through with this was not kind to me though..
the surprise reveal of the villain actually shocked me a little, i was entertained to say the least.
My only complaint is that it was a little slow in pace.

Honestly what a jaw dropping yet captivating book.
I literally have goosebumps.
This book has you hooked on the will to survive, and the resilience needed to pull it off.

Amanda and her best friend Sarah are walking home from school when their lives take a horrifying turn for the worst when Amanda is left with a gash in the neck, her voice is completely gone as well as no memory of how she escaped, the trauma has her struggling to comprehend and piece together the frayed pieces of her memory.

This really takes you on psychological rollercoaster, one's heart shatters for Amanda as she tries to seek answers all while struggling with this newfound silence she's forced into.
Survivors guilt eating at her.

What a 10/10 read.
Thank you J E Rowney and Netgalley for this amazing ARC opportunity.

#NetGalley #WhereNoOneCanHearYou

TW: SA, R**e, death

Whew, what an emotional story. I was quite surprised of the glimmers of hope and positivity that J.E. effortlessly wove throughout the FMC’s narrative, with the subject matter being very heavy and dark. I was pleased to read such a story that illustrated there is hope for survivors of all kind.

J.E.’s writing focused on the survivor of an SA attack ,Amanda, and the aftermath of her new reality: a missing friend, a mysterious name who the attacker called her by, and the quickly changing dynamic of her family. We follow Amanda as she initially blames herself for her friend’s disappearance and then learns to come to terms with a situation that was out of her hands. It was beautiful to see her create such deep relationships with a friend in rehab, the mysterious girl whose name the attacker called her by, and the mom of her beloved friend. Despite having different types of trauma, these survivors were able to intimately bond on the fact that something was out of their control. Add in her mom’s new partner, and new baby sibling on the way; Amanda felt she was losing her footing all around her and becoming more invisible by the day. With the help of therapy and a supportive system, she came to realize that it’s ok she can’t always be in control of a situation, especially when it’s much bigger than she is. All she can do is see that she’s not alone.

I will definitely be reading more of J.E’s work, maybe after some lighter books. Thank you for shedding light on an unfortunately realistic story.
~No one alone, all together~

I struggled with this book. I felt like it was never going to end, it was slow paced. I have read some of this authors other books and have decided that she isn't for me. The story wasn't original in anyway. It wasn't shocking or captivating.

All I can say is wow and how thankful I am that I was chosen to be an arc reader for this book, from start to finish it gripped me and I dove into the story of Amanda and her journey through this thriller. I recommend it to anyone who loves to read, the metaphors, the writing style and the well-rounded story deserve so much praise and be well-known within the book community. I can’t remember the last time I stayed up late reading but this book made me not want to put it down!

Please go give this book and author some love from the book community

Disclaimer: I was provided with this arc in return for an honest review via Netgalley. I want to thank the author and publisher for selecting me for this role.

Oh my GOSH. This book had me on the edge of my seat, it was so intense! Please read the trigger warnings thoroughly before starting this one, as it does get a bit dark.

It touches on some sensitive subjects, but without being too detailed or gory. There were quite a few unexpected moments and I was quite surprised to see who the villain was.

I did not think I was going to enjoy this book at the beginning, but it took such an unusual turn in the way that it was told. It drew me in in a way I did not expect. The perspective of this story was so unusual and it covered so many feelings from terror to heartbreak. This is absolutely worth the read!

Thank you to NetGalley, J.E. Rowney, and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is my second book by Rowney and I like this one ever better than the first. I highly enjoyed it and it felt like I flew through the book in a great way.

I truly enjoyed this book. Great character development and an engaging story line kept me interested until the end. Also, this story can invoke some powerful emotions as you process the horror of what the girls went through and then the moments of forgiveness and healing that are woven throughout the story. I was fully invested in the story from the first chapter. I would definitely read other books by this author!

Thank you to BooksGoSocial via Netgalley for the ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

Sixteen-year-old Amanda Gray's life shatters when what should have been a simple walk home with her best friend Sarah turns into a nightmare. One moment they're picking bluebells in the woods; the next, they're at the mercy of a predator who seems chillingly familiar with his routine. She wakes up in the hospital with a slashed throat, unable to speak, and no-one can talk to her about Sarah.

Just to preface, this book was not what I expected at all. Definitely read the trigger warnings, but know they are not talked about as in depth as I thought.

Now with that being said, I loved that this focused more on the victims/survivors vs the perpetrator. Too often books, movies & the news focus on the perpetrators and never on the victims themselves how they survived (if they did) what they are going through in the aftermath, their families etc. and I feel this book did that. This is my first book by this author and I will definitely be reading more. I felt like there was just enough about what happened to these girls to understand their trauma without needing the amount of detail some authors go into.

If you like true crime fiction this book is for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the e-arc.

This is my first book from J.E. Downey and it won't be the last! This book had me thinking it would go one way but once I hit part to it was gas to the floor and the ride was worth it!

This dark, emotional story is told through the naive lens of a 16-year-old girl, giving it a unique YA feel that softens but doesn’t diminish its impact. Amanda’s journey felt raw and powerful—it was truly moving. This is a gripping, thought-provoking read with a distinct voice. Recommended for fans of emotional psychological fiction.

When I first picked up this book, I expected a typical kidnapping thriller filled with tension and escape sequences. Initially, the story leaned more toward a YA tone, and it took a while for the main event to unfold. Surprisingly, that central plot point wrapped up within just a few chapters, and the rest of the novel focused heavily on the aftermath. Had I known what to expect going in, I might have approached it differently.

That said, the deeper I got into the book, the more I appreciated the character development. The author did a remarkable job exploring the emotional and psychological impact of trauma. The way these themes were written with such sensitive, raw, and honest approach was truly commendable. While I personally would have liked a more fast paced plot or a twist or two to maintain momentum, the quality of the writing and the thoughtful treatment of difficult topics really stood out. Overall, it’s a well crafted novel with powerful emotional depth.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Where No One Can Hear You by J.E. Rooney

I was thoroughly engrossed in this gripping psychological thriller. The book's dark and suspenseful atmosphere is expertly woven throughout the narrative, keeping me hooked throughout.

The emotional and distressing parts of the book are skillfully handled, and they kept me hooked from start to finish. The author's ability to convey the characters' emotions and inner turmoil is impressive, making it easy to become fully immersed in the story.

The author's writing style is engaging and I just could not put this book down.

A must read!

Thank you Netgalley and BooksGoSocial for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Amanda and Sarah are best friends walking home from school when a man comes out of the woods asking them if they have seen his dog. Anyone who is into true crime at all would notice this red flag right away, but the girls are too late. He kidnaps them both, and Amanda wakes up six weeks later in the hospital having survived life threatening injuries. Now the question is - Where is Sarah?

This is definitely not your typical thriller. The focus instead is mainly on overcoming trauma that comes from experiencing horrific situations. Because of this, I do think that marketing it as a thriller is a little misleading and might throw some people off when reading. However, I do think it is definitely a worthwhile read!

There was one quote near the end that l'd like to share:
"I'm learning that grief and joy can exist together, that one doesn't cancer out the other. That life continues, changed but not ended by loss." I feel like that perfectly sums up what the book wanted to prove.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Words cannot describe how much I loved this book.

The beginning shattered me, how the MC felt unseen and unwanted hit so close to home for me and how she described the feeling throughout the pages.
When this book is released, I definitely want my own copy.
It's very heartbreaking as she battles her emotions after something traumatic.
The way it's brought into this book and into her world is almost like you can feel it yourself as how the author describes it, as she fights for healing and battles through the tension of the danger around throughout.
It's very well written and I loved this book 4-5 stars.🤧

Thanks netgalley and the publisher for this free copy in exchange for an honest review 🫶🏻