Like It Never Was by Faith Gardner

Title: Like It Never Was

Author: Faith Gardner

Publisher: Mirror House Press

Release Date: July 2, 2024

The deeper the secret, the darker the shadow.

Ten years ago, Jolene nearly killed her friend Elizabeth in a gruesome accident. And no one has any idea. Not even Elizabeth.

Jolene has been trying to outrun the guilt ever since, wandering from place to place and career to career. So she’s shocked when, after her latest move, she runs into the very person she’s been trying to avoid for ten years.

Elizabeth still lives with scars from the accident. And she’s still clueless about what happened that fateful night.

Or is she?

As the two women rekindle a friendship, Elizabeth’s increasingly disturbing behavior makes Jolene wonder if it’s her own guilt stalking her—or Elizabeth finally exacting her revenge.

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As a fan of Maxine, I couldn't pass up Like It Never Was.

The story revolves around Jolene, a high school senior who makes a fateful decision to prank her friend Elizabeth. What starts as a joke spirals into a chain of events with devastating consequences for both young women.

For ten years, Jolene has been haunted by guilt over what happened that night. She knows she’s responsible for the events that led to Elizabeth’s tragic accident. Unable to find peace, she drifts from country to country and job to job, her criminal attorney father frequently stepping in to bail her out.

Now, Jolene has decided to move back to Berkeley. She hopes to rebuild her life and find some stability. Her father helps her secure a new job, and she finds an apartment within walking distance of her workplace.

Then she sees Elizabeth again. To Jolene’s surprise, Elizabeth wants to reconnect and rekindle their friendship. But what is Jolene supposed to do? Could Elizabeth know the truth about that night—and is she seeking revenge?

The plot is intriguing, centered around an unstable protagonist. Jolene is a mental breakdown waiting to happen. Her paranoia leaves you questioning whether the danger is real or all in her mind.

My only complaint is that the book sometimes felt too YA for my taste. That said, the twist at the end made it a worthwhile read.

Cliffhanger: No

3.5/5 Fangs

A complimentary copy was provided by Mirror House Press via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.