Review: What I Didn't Say by Keary Taylor

What I Didn't Say  by Keary Taylor

Published: April 30, 2012

Available: Amazon

Synopsis:

Getting drunk homecoming night your senior year is never a good idea, but Jake Hayes never expected it all to end with a car crash and a t-post embedded in his throat.

His biggest regret about it all? What he never said to Samantha Shay. He's been in love with her for years and never had the guts to tell her. Now it's too late. Because after that night, Jake will never be able to talk again.

When Jake returns to his small island home, population 5,000, he'll have to learn how to deal with being mute. He also finds that his family isn't limited to his six brothers and sisters, that sometimes an entire island is watching out for you. And when he gets the chance to spend more time with Samantha, she'll help him learn that not being able to talk isn’t the worst thing that could ever happen to you. Maybe, if she'll let him, Jake will finally tell her what he didn't say before, even if he can't actually say it.

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Review:
I've said it countless times that I'm not big on reading books told from a male's perspective, and I think I'm preparing to eat my words considering some of the books I've reviewed lately. What I Didn't Say is just one more book that makes me realize that reading from a guy's point of view isn't a bad thing.

Jake Hayes is a typical small town guy with dreams of leaving home after high school and becoming a pilot in the Air Force. He secretly pines for Samantha Shay and just when he has finally gathered some liquid courage he is left facing a life without talking. I was wondering how this book would read, with a main character that can't talk, but Taylor does an amazing job with dialogue and how Jake is forced to communicate. Jake's actual reaction to his sudden disability felt realistic. He sways back and forth between anger, depression, and acceptance in a swiftness and depth that was genuine.

Although from the blurb Sam seems to be in a role of supporting Jake through his acceptance, she has a life of her own and it quickly becomes part of the main plot. I like that Taylor doesn't have Sam's life completely revolving around Jake. The troubles she is having, that she struggles to keep hidden, give her depth and allow Jake to have something other than his disability to focus on. Sam is smart, pretty, nice, and though she's not 'popular' she is well liked. But her family life is far from perfect and it makes her a more sympathetic character.

The romantic angle of the story comes through as very natural. We get to see a few flashbacks that allow us to see their relationship building over years, and that give the reader a reason to believe that these two people belong together. I definitely recommend this for anyone looking for a sweet romance.