Reese’s Book Club Pick December 2023
A summer in Greece for three best friends ends in the unthinkable when only two return home. . . .
Ten years ago, after a sun-soaked summer spent in Greece, best friends Bess and Joni were cleared of having any involvement in their friend Evangeline’s death. But that didn’t stop the media from ripping apart their teenage lives like vultures.
While the girls were never convicted, Joni, ever the opportunist, capitalized on her newfound infamy to become a motivational speaker. Bess, on the other hand, resolved to make her life as small and controlled as possible so she wouldn’t risk losing everything all over again. And it almost worked. . . .
Except now Joni needs a favor, and when she turns up at her old friend's doorstep asking for an alibi, Bess has no choice but to say yes. She still owes her. But as the two friends try desperately to shake off their past, they have to face reality.
Can you ever be an innocent woman when everyone wants you to be guilty?
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"Before We Were Innocent takes a scenario we’ve seen in news reports—young women abroad falsely accused of a horrific crime—and gives it all the nuance and empathy that the media never bothered with. . . . A haunting and dazzling page-turner."
— Laura Hankin, author of A Special Place for Women
Two BFFs are accused of murder in this novel that feels like true crime.
— CosmopolitanElla Berman reveals a teenage girl’s heart of darkness in her absorbing new novel. . . . Written with the urgency and thrill of an illicit secret, Before We Were Innocent captures the pleasures and perils of American girlhood.
— Jillian Medoff, bestselling author of When We Were Bright and BeautifulBerman's an expert at the small moment, the Austen-esque tragicomedy of unspoken human desire that compounds into something too big to name, too awful to ignore.
— Sarah Langan, author of Good NeighborsIt’s a compulsive thriller, and you won’t want to put down Berman’s second book.
— ShondalandSlices to the core of a fraught friendship on the brink of disaster.
— PopSugarBrilliantly illustrates the vulnerability and cruelty of teenage girls—and how the judgments placed on them create the perfect environment for both to flourish. It brought me right back to my teenage years and cracked my heart open.
— Rachel Kapelke-Dale, author of The BallerinasBerman expertly weaves together the past and the present to create a suspenseful, spellbinding story about lies, betrayal, and what happens when the truth catches up with you.
— Elissa R. Sloan, author of The Unraveling of Cassidy Holmes“With evocative and astute prose, Berman’s sophomore effort is a…searing portrayal of the intoxicating power of privilege, youth, and female friendship.
— Booklist“This tale of how the emotional bonds forged in youth can define people’s lives long afterward will resonate with many.
— Publishers Weekly“Captivating - a rich exploration of the complexity of female friendships with a compelling mystery at its heart.
— T. Greenwood, author of Such a Pretty Girl“A page-turning thriller, with twists and turns, to keep you on the edge of your seat. This is a perfect spring novel for fans of this genre.
— Red Carpet CrashBe the first to write a review about this audiobook!
Saskia Maarleveld is an experienced voice-over actress and Earphones Award–winning narrator. Raised in New Zealand and France, she is highly skilled with accents and dialects, and many of her books have been narrated entirely in accents other than her own. In addition to audiobooks, her voice can be heard in animation, video games, and commercials.
Jennifer Jill Araya has been trained as an opera singer and orchestral cellist, lending a musicality and depth of understanding to her narration that help bring her authors’ stories to life. When she’s not narrating, Jennifer can be found hiking, biking, running, or generally exploring her home city of Cincinnati with her husband, Arturo, and their two children.