The You I've Never Known

"Afraid of lust, it's recent bloom inside of me." ~ pg. 114

What if the details of your past have been told to you versus based on your own memory? For as long as she can remember, it has always been just Ariel and her dad. Her mom disappeared when she was a couple years old. Ariel and her dad moved around a lot, making home wherever the two of them were. Now Ariel is seventeen years old in a town ready to put down roots and build romantic relationships. But every day she fears her dad will leave like her mom did.

Maya is a teenager with an abusive mother. Escaping is her number one priority; she runs right into the arms of an older man. With a baby on the way, life gets more complicated than she imagined it ever would.

When their worlds cross, Ariel and Maya try to make sense of their lives, balance love and untangle lies. The You I've Never Known is an emotional journey to find out the truth in history and how to move forward in life.

"Dependency isn't only self-defeating. It's self-perpetuating." ~ pg. 99

There is no better author to write in this verse/prose format than Ellen Hopkins. Every chapter is a poem. Perfect example of less is more! With less words on each page, the reader is drawn to flipping the pages and constructing the story that the author intends. There were no unnecessary passages. Every sentence mattered in this 500+ page novel. I learned more about the main character, Ariel, through this writing style than I would have with traditional paragraphs. And what an unforgettable plot!

"But I don't
confess it.
Will I ever?" ~ pg. 503

Bookhearts, do not let the page count deter you. The You I've Never Known is indeed a quick read. I took my time and still finished it within a few days. It will be great for those with new year resolutions of reading more and stepping outside of your normal genre. Booklist says, "Hopkins has created another winner." I totally agree!

Happy Pub Day, Ellen Hopkins!

Disclaimer: This book was received directly from the publisher for review purposes only. In no way does it influence my review. The opinions I have expressed are honestly my own and would be the same if I spent my hard-earned coins.

Title: The You I've Never Known
Author: Ellen Hopkins
Published: January 2017
Pages: 549
Edition: Galley
Challenges: Bookish Kill Your TBR—Supports My New Year's Resolution; Popsugar—A Book Set in Two Different Time Periods
Rating: ♥♥♥♥♡