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 🫶🏻

There’s quite a bit to unpack after reading “Where No One Can Hear You.”

The story starts one afternoon when friends Amanda and Sarah walk in the woods home from school. A stranger blocks their path. Before they realize what’s happening they are both bound and gagged.

Where No One Can Hear You, I found to be very deep and thought provoking. It’s a story about trauma and healing. I would definitely recommend this book and it’s a story that’ll stay with me for a long time.

I recently finished this novel and it’ is one of those books that lingers with you. It’s a tense, slow-burn psychological thriller that pulls you into a world of isolation and unease. The story follows a young woman grappling with her own mind as she’s cut off from everything familiar, and the author does a brilliant job of making that sense of claustrophobia palpable. The pacing builds steadily, layering suspense until you’re second-guessing what’s real and what’s not. It’s not a loud, flashy thriller but more like a quiet, creeping dread that gets under your skin. If you enjoy introspective characters and a plot that keeps you on edge, this one’ is definitely worth a read.

This book explores some very dark and disturbing themes, but it does so through the lens of a naive 16-year-old girl, which gives it a unique Young Adult feel that softens the intensity without diminishing the emotional impact. I was completely drawn in by the way the story was told. Being with Amanda through her trauma was both heartbreaking and powerful—I truly “felt” something while reading, and that’s what I loved most about this book. The emotional journey felt raw and real.

That said, I do wish the story had stuck with just Amanda and Sarah. Their connection was where the heart of the book really lived! The Maggie angle just didn’t work for me. It felt unbelievable and unnecessary, and it pulled me out of what was otherwise a really compelling narrative. Still, this was a gripping and thought-provoking read that stuck with me after I finished it. A powerful narrative with a unique voice, and a haunting story worth picking up. I’d definitely recommend it to fans of psychological fiction with an emotional edge.

I love je rowney books! Thankful I was able to read this right off the bat! I’ve noticed all her books are twisty and edge of your seat type, so if that’s what you enjoy…. GET THIS BOOK! Loved it

3.5⭐️ *ARC REVIEW* This was definitely a tough read. Very sad 😔 and disturbing in some parts. I first thought this was going to be the kinda thriller where most of the book was about friends trying to escape a horrible situation together. Them fighting back and getting out. I was VERY engaged in the beginning trying to see what was going to happen. But this focused more on the recovery side. It was so sad 😩 and the anticipation was killing me. Getting through it was hard emotionally but I was determined to see how everything turned out. And, I loved how the author was able to paint the scenes so well in her words.

It was a page turner. I had so many scenarios in my head about that the ending would be. It was worth the read. J.E. Rowney did not disappoint

This book is well written and provides you with a different experience from other books of similar content. It allows you to focus on the victims instead of the perpetrator and gives you a look into the recovery of someone who has experienced a traumatic experience. I found the character Paul to be unbearable and was surprised at the change in his character near the end of the book. Overall it was an interesting read but does contain heavy topics that although are not explicit in description are implied.

This was a very good book, I just wish I had paid more attention to the trigger warnings at the beginning as I brushed them off as I don't think I am that sensitive of a reader, but it turns out I am so that is on me. Other than me not following common sense, it was a great story.

WHERE NO ONE CAN HEAR YOU BY J. E. ROWNEY.
This book gave me chills and it upped my blood pressure for sure.
Really well written and i liked the writing style for this one.
Some parts of this book are emotional and distressing.
This is one of those books that you have to binge read because you need to know what happens next.
I really liked the main female character Amanda and i felt so sorry for her.
This story is from Amanda's POV throughout.
It's got everything from trauma, violence, emotions, recovery and healing.
Trigger warnings are clearly in place before you read.
This is my 2nd book by this author and i will be reading more of her work.

Sarah and Amanda are best friends in high school. During an innocent walk to pick flowers after school, they're tied up, blindfolded, and kidnapped. Amanda wakes up 6 weeks later in a hospital, remembering little of what happened. She's unable to speak, as her throat has been slashed. No one will talk to her about Sarah's whereabouts and communication is difficult.

I thought I would be annoyed by the mostly staccato sentence structure of part 1, but it seemed to work well for the storyline. Amanda's descriptions of her struggles are almost suffocating at times, but in a way that makes you want to keep reading. I would read this author again.

Four stars - recommended for those who like mysteries, redemption arcs, and stories about the aftermath of trauma.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

I recently had the pleasure of reading this, and I have to say, it exceeded my expectations in so many ways. From the very first page, I was hooked by the engaging style and the intriguing characters. The author does an excellent job of building a world that feels both immersive and believable, making it easy to get lost in the story. The plot was full of twists and turns that kept me on the edge of my seat. Just when I thought I had it figured out, the story would surprise me with something unexpected. I highly recommend this and all their work.

I’m an avid reader (300 books yearly) and abduction books are one of my favorite tropes so I was excited for this one. What I wasn’t expecting was to be completely blown away by this story. Completely blown away…

This book started out seemingly YA, best friends
Walking home from school.. But don’t be fooled. Once you get to part 2, everything ramps up quite quickly.

After being abducted with her best friend Sarah, Amanda wakes up several weeks later in the hospital and nobody will tell her what’s going on or where Sarah is… Amanda’s journey to answers had me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I cried so many times during this book. I would love to tell you more but that would take away the fun for you. Go read this book!!

Great and easy to read book. While in the beginning I was captivated and could not put it down, I felt as the story unfolded it was pretty predictable. I love that the author gives a trigger warning at the beginning of the book as it does describe some graphic violence. Amanda, the main character, is a true hero and her story is one you won’t forget.

Where No One Can Hear You by J.E. Rowney is a chilling psychological thriller that will keep readers on the edge of their seats from start to finish. The story follows 16-year-old Amanda Gray, whose life is turned upside down after a seemingly innocent walk through the woods with her best friend, Sarah, spirals into a horrifying ordeal.

When Amanda wakes up in the hospital, disoriented and with a slash across her throat, she discovers that her memory of the traumatic event is fragmented. Worse still, she’s unable to speak, leaving her trapped in a silent world where her only way of communicating is through her thoughts. What really happened that day, and where is Sarah?

Rowney masterfully weaves a tale of suspense, exploring themes of trauma, silence, and the horror of not knowing what really happened. Amanda's struggle to piece together her shattered memories adds an extra layer of tension, as she’s forced to rely on her fractured recollections to uncover the truth. The eerie atmosphere, combined with Amanda’s unrelenting need to uncover what happened to Sarah, creates a fast-paced narrative that will have readers racing through the pages.

The emotional depth of Amanda’s character is compelling; her sense of isolation and frustration at not being able to share her memories with those around her heightens the suspense. The slow unraveling of the mystery keeps readers guessing until the very end, with plenty of twists and red herrings to keep you hooked.

Where No One Can Hear You is a gripping and haunting thriller that explores the psychological toll of trauma and the dark secrets that can be buried in silence. Rowney’s gripping writing and tightly woven plot will appeal to fans of psychological suspense and mystery, making it a must-read for anyone who loves a good, heart-pounding thriller.

Amanda and Sarah are a couple of teenagers who are the best of friends. They are there for each other through thick and thin. One day, the unthinkable happens and they are both brutally attacked. Amanda is left for dead and Sarah is missing. The story follows Amanda's journey through recovery and learning how to cope with the trauma she endured.

Where No One Can Hear You was a very hard read. Not because it wasn't well written, but because it WAS so well written and the topics discussed were heavy. This book absolutely broke my heart. The survivor guilt that Amanda felt was intense and the author did a fantastic job making you feel the pain that Amanda was going through. Amanda is a child but she the things she went through yanked her from childhood faster than anyone should ever have to experience. She had to try and heal physically while at the same time, carrying the heavy burden of guilt that she felt for not being able to save her best friend. My heart went out to her and I just wanted to give her a huge hug. As a parent myself, the thought of having to help your child through an experience like that hit me hard. I can't imagine the pain and guilt that Amanda's mother felt as she tried to help her daughter heal. I appreciate the fact that the story was told through Amanda's point of view and focused on the journey of her healing and not focused on the violent act/attacker. It was a heart wrenching read but absolutely worth it!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinons.