What We Never Say by Paulette Stout Book Review! @paulettestoutauthor @StoutContent #WhatWeNeverSay #NetGalley

 

SOMETIMES SECRETS ARE TOO BIG TO IGNORE.

After a lifetime of lacking confidence at work and in life, Rebecca has finally found her voice. Her blog for women is gaining traction, even getting noticed by the world’s top fashion magazine. When they request an article, Rebecca is beyond thrilled. So why is her boyfriend Kyle so concerned?

Kyle has a blank spot in his past he won’t share—not even with Rebecca. But his secret is blown when a powerful woman from Kyle’s fashion past, becomes desperate to get his attention. It’s attention he never wanted and has been trying to forget for eleven years.

As Kyle takes steps to heal, Rebecca’s article becomes a global sensation. Events force Kyle’s past and present to converge, putting Rebecca’s future at serious risk.

Kyle and Rebecca must now act to reclaim their lives before it’s too late.

With this bold novel, Paulette Stout delivers a deeply personal story that proves the power we hold to reclaim our own lives. What We Never Say is yet another bingeable read from a rising Women’s Fiction author.

This book includes delicate subject matter.

Kindle Edition

Published October 28, 2022

Paulette Stout is the fearless author of Women’s Fiction that tackles taboo topics too long ignored. Her debut, Love, Only Better, is an empowering women's fiction read and bedroom rallying cry for women everywhere. Her follow-up, What We Never Say, is due out November 1, 2022, and dives into the topic of #MeToo from a male victim's perspective.

Raised by a single dad in Manhattan, Paulette is the gold-star wordsmith and owner of her content marketing agency, Media Goddess Inc., where she crafts content for her list of global clients. Prior to MGI, Paulette led content and design teams at several tech companies, and one educational publisher where her elimination of the Oxford comma caused a near riot.

Paulette’s prior career as a media buyer/planner in New York earned her three industry awards, including a MediaWeek All-Star. She earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Cornell University and her MBA in Marketing from the Lubin School of Business, Pace University.

You can usually find Paulette rearranging words into pleasing patterns while wearing grammar t-shirts.

For free reads, prequel, and sample chapters, visit Paulette's website at paulettestout.com/free-reads.

Follow Paulette on social media on Instagram: @paulettestoutauthor, Facebook: @paulettestoutauthor Twitter: @StoutContent and on her website at paulettestout.com. BookBub: @paulettestoutauthor.

My Thoughts

Rebecca, the protagonist of What We Never Say by Paulette Stout, has finally come into her own. For most of her life she has been insecure about her sex life. She ended up seeing a sex therapist and then decided to start writing a blog about her experiences of lack thereof. She gets noticed by a popular fashion magazine, MOD, and they ask her to write an article for publication.

Kyle, her boyfriend, is concerned about the article but does not want Rebecca to do it. He has secrets from his past he would rather not share. But he does with Rebecca. Turns out he was a model in the past and had been sexually molested by the head lady. Yes, I said lady. This "lady" gets in touch with Kyle hoping to rekindle their "relationship". Kyle is of course reluctant because of the scars the relationship left with him. He has had therapy and found out that he was not the only one with a history with his abuser.

Rebecca and Kyle concoct a plan to expose her. Kyle goes with his abuser to a Gala and exposes her with a tape that he had done in her apartment while getting ready for the Gala. What ensues is he said, she said scenario. Are Kyle and Rebecca successful? There are a few other characters in the story, including Kyle's sister, who is getting married but does not like Rebecca. Rebecca is included in the wedding party, of which she would rather not be, but she goes along with the dress shopping, rehearsals etc. The sister has secrets of her own and Rebecca finds out about them and wants to help her as much as she can.

This book is a sequel, of which I did not know, but that is ok. I enjoyed the story a lot as it was really about sexual abuse instead of man on woman it was just the opposite, woman on man. I think that the author handled this sensitive topic with empathy and a real caring for Kyle. This is not just another romantic book; it is so much more than that. 

I liked the book well enough to give it 5 stars. 

I received a copy of the book for review purposes only.