More Than We Can Tell

By Brigid Kemmerer

_______________

NOMINATED FOR THE CILIP CARNEGIE MEDAL

'Swoon-inducing' - Irish Times
_______________

From the author of the New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series comes an intense and gripping love story about learning to be fearless and set your secrets free.

Rev works hard to keep the demons of the time before his adoption at bay ... until a letter from his father after his 18th birthday brings the trauma of his childhood hurtling back.

Emma escapes real life by perfecting the online game she built from scratch. But when an online troll's harassment starts to escalate, she fears for her safety.

When Rev and Emma meet, they're buckling under the weight of their secrets. Though both of them find it hard to put their problems into words, they connect instantly and deeply. Rev and Emma's problems might be worlds apart, but they promise to help each other no matter what. But promises are made to be tested and some things hurt more than we can tell.

Smart, funny and romantic, this is a must-read love story from the author of the bestselling Cursebreaker series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
• Release date: Mar 8, 2018
• ISBN: 9781408885062

Brigid Kemmerer

Brigid Kemmerer is the author of the New York Times bestseller Defy the Night, the New York Times bestselling Cursebreaker series, which includes A Curse So Dark and Lonely, A Heart So Fierce and Broken, and A Vow So Bold and Deadly, and Forging Silver into Stars. She has also written the contemporary young adult romances Call It What You Want, More Than We Can Tell, and Letters to the Lost, as well as paranormal young adult stories, including the Elemental series and Thicker Than Water. A full-time writer, Brigid lives in the Baltimore area with her family. www.brigidkemmerer.com @BrigidKemmerer

Reviews for More Than We Can Tell

[ilonita50 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thanks a million to Bloomsbury Publishing for an arc in order to give an honest review!"More Than We Can Tell" is about to surprise you how well written and emotionally loaded the book is, it deals with many topics and most importantly - how much is not said but assumed either by the look of someone, either by their activities, be this someone from your family or complete stranger. The story cover emotional distress by someone online, someone from the past, and present, it tells a realistic truth about adoption and foster care situations and how system is right and wrong, it tells about family and how much one means, how much human relationships matter to take a right decision and how much they influence of who we grow to be. It was heartbreaking story but a good one, the one where all the main characters face a difficulty and grows through a journey...it tells about best friends and it tells about being a teenager and dealing with so much on one plate...not being understood by own parent...being more than they assume you are...I loved the way it give an insight of stereotypes we all know, but we don't pay attention to change them - how one looks, wear clothes,  how baggy clothing not always means they are "weird" and "not a friend material" may prove wrong - character Rev in the book is. In real life stereotyped that there are awesome people who finds communicating awkward...I loved Emma's character, she deals with nerve wrecking situation where's her mum just won't understand her at all whenever Emma says, assuming she is just wasting her time with gaming...but it is not at all what it seems. Emma did code her entire own game and it's popular and people are actually playing it, it's real, but - how difficult is to find a moment to share the news with parents...there never seems to even have a normal conversation...and life is annoying if you ask anyone...thankfully there's some good players on the game......and Emma meets Rev more than once by pure accident and it turns out they find what to chat about...Declan is busy with his girlfriend and seems they are really getting well together, he is still very attentive to Rev and reads his mind instantly, knowing his best friend by heart. He also deals with his past and faces someone he has been angry for ages and this is something that sets him free...he is Rev's best friend, he is someone who finds easy to talk to people unlike it is for Rev... When Matt comes in Rev's family it is him who builds the bridge... Will there be more? Please! Thank you once again for this awesome read, a new favorite!

[Willemijn Marschal · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Depth in the characters. Deep friendships. Great conversations between characters. Loved it although there where only two story lines. Read it in 3 days.

[ellesnz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Man, you know it’s a good book when you care enough about the characters to cry when they’re hurting. This book made me cry. More than once. And I couldn’t put it down. I was up until after midnight last night, my husband fast asleep beside me, and I couldn’t stop reading. Thank god I could sleep in this morning!

The main characters are teenagers who are attending high school. Their actual ages confused me because I’m not used to the American high school system, but I eventually worked out that they’re about 18 and 17 respectively. With this in mind, this is not a steamy book. If you’re after sex, find another book. And yeah, there’s plenty of angst, but don’t panic, this is no Twilight.

Rev and Emma are two very different characters. Rev was adopted after being abused as a child by his natural father. I say abused, but it seems ‘tortured and mind fucked by a religious fanatic who has gone off the deep end’ would be more apt. Seriously, tortured. He’s been through things that most people couldn’t imagine. The kind of things that leave scars on the outside and scars on the inside. The kind of things that leave you wondering how you can move on to be a normal human being.

‘I’ve wondered how my father turned into the man he was. The man he is. I know about the cycle of abuse, and I’ve spent a lot of hours wondering when I would start to change.’

Rev is a truly believable character, and I think that’s what makes this book so powerful. It’s not ridiculous over-the-top dramatics, it’s moments of self-doubt that the author puts into context. The introduction of Rev’s foster brother, Matthew, also works really well. We see Rev’s protectiveness, his fear, his compassion and his self-doubt, and they’re all highlighted by this other boy who has his own issues going on.

I’m trying really hard not to give too much away, so forgive me if I am being too vague! I don’t want to ruin the story for you!

Emma is a gamer. More than that, she’s a coder. She wrote her own game. At first, her worries and concerns are very relatable. They’re the kind of concerns every teenager goes through. Mum is too critical and doesn’t want me wasting my time on a hobby that’ll never turn into a dependable and secure income. Dad never has time for me because he’s always working. My friend and I are growing apart because we’re interested in completely different things. Those kinds of things. Even when her parents announce their divorce, this is all still within the realm of normality. This helps balance the book somewhat because for most of us, Rev’s issues are not relatable, but we can relate to Emma and thus to her interactions with Rev.

‘He’s wearing dark jeans and a hoodie, and the hood is large enough to put his entire face in darkness. I feel like I’m talking to a Sith lord.’

There were times when I felt like slapping her for the way she spoke to her mother and her best friend, but this may have something to do with the fact that she’s the same age as my son. Emma’s real drama starts when she encounters a troll in the game she built. This, too, is something that many people can relate to. I certainly can. People who either outright bully you online, or people who pretend to be your friend and then screw you over when you least expect it. I’ve encountered both, and the latter are heartbreaking. Emma’s dad tells her that trolls are a matter of life in the gaming community. Truth. Rev tells her that the behaviour of the troll is in no way right or acceptable. Also truth.

One of the things I liked about the book is that it acknowledges that Rev and Emma’s troubles aren’t on the same level, but that ‘it’s not a competition’. Just because Emma’s troubles aren’t instigated by someone who literally tortured her for years, doesn’t make them trivial or less real.

The drama is not all in their heads, and there is plenty of real action and interaction, but I don’t want to give too much away.

There is definitely a romance between Rev and Emma, but by the time I was halfway through the book, I couldn’t have cared less if this was a romance or just a YA drama. I was invested in the characters and just wanted everything to work out for them. Rev seriously tugged at my heart strings. I thought his parents were great too. I know they were a little too perfect, as a foil for Rev’s natural father, but that’s okay. It kind of felt like he deserved them after everything he’d been through. And we know that people like them do exist. Amazing people who do everything they can to help an abused child find safety, peace and happiness.

I highly recommend this book. It’s definitely worth the five stars I gave it. Sure, I could see a couple of things that could use improvement, but when I was reading at midnight with tears streaming down my face, I couldn’t have given a crap about them. It’s a powerful read, and despite everything, it leaves you feeling like there are good people in the world, and we can be one of them. It makes you want to reach out and give someone a hug. Read it.

[headinherbooks_27 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sad story but unfortunately very realistic. The ending was a happy one even though realistically that's not how it always happens. Very compelling read. I couldn't put it down. I read it in one day.

[simplykelina · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

This was so disappointing. I went into expecting such an amazing story following Rev and his journey. It was not anything like I was hoping it would be.I do not feel Emma brought anything to the story. She was so unlikable, and I just did not care for any of the parts in which she was involved. Yes, her story covered some important topics but that was taken away with how bratty she was. I could have done without her throughout the whole story.I was also expecting so much more out of Rev and his story with his father. I was expecting to have this story tear my heart into pieces, but was instead just left unsatisfied.Overall, I just did not like this one.

[heatherlinc · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Having thoroughly enjoyed "Letters to the Lost" and Rev's character in it, I was excited to learn that Brigid Kemmerer had decided to give him his own novel. Thus, it was with eager anticipation that I started this one, but "More Than We Can Tell" didn't have the same emotional appeal that Letters to the Lost had. It was lovely having Declan play such a big role again, and he was just as kind as supportive as he was in the first book. However, this sequel just had too much going on.I felt so sorry for Rev as his horrific backstory was revealed, but I struggled with how the issue with his father was finally resolved. It fell flat and I thought it was totally anti-climatic considering the abuse Rev's father threw at him when he was a little boy. However, Rev's adoptive parents were lovely and even Matthew had grown on me by the end. I wouldn't be surprised if he has his own novel, as well, in the future.Emma annoyed me from the start. I loved that she was a gifted coded who created her own computer game, and I liked how the author shone a light on the struggles females have in male dominated industries, enduring harassment, sexual innuendos, vile comments and unfair treatment. However, as a character, I didn't like her. She was always angry and lashed out at everyone then went on self-pity binges where I wanted to slap her. I also hated how she belitted her best friend's YouTube makeup channel and the stupid decision to climb into a stranger's car just had me shaking my head.While I loved the relationship that developed between Dec and Juliet in "Letters to the Lost", I never felt the same way about Rev and Emma. Their dialogue always felt forced, especially all the questions and answers, and I never felt an emotional connection between them. In fact, I preferred Dec and Rev's relationship - it felt real and genuine. Overall, a very disappointing read.

[nu5bibliophile · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Sad story but unfortunately very realistic. The ending was a happy one even though realistically that's not how it always happens. Very compelling read. I couldn't put it down. I read it in one day.

[Mukvipa S. · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

this was amazing! I reading in one setting.
and cry like a baby. my heart ache for these kids.

the book was well development, family, friendship. I feel connected to every single character.
and the Fletcher's was so so sweet and kindest people in the world.

Now I WANT MORE!!!!