
Before We Were Innocent
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Narrated by:
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Jennifer Jill Araya
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By:
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Ella Berman
About this listen
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?
Critic reviews
"Two BFFs are accused of murder in this novel that feels like true crime.” —Cosmopolitan
“Ella 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 Beautiful
“With evocative and astute prose, Berman’s sophomore effort is a…searing portrayal of the intoxicating power of privilege, youth, and female friendship.” —Booklist
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The Ending
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Addictive
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Wonderful narration
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Amazingly addictive
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BOOK 2….
Of my 🏝️🎧 Beach Listen July🎧 🏖️ MAYBE a beach read mystery:thriller:story 🫠🤣😂🤣😂part of it is a summer in Greece for 3 best friends…..a very character driven mystery:thriller:story🎧 at times listening to it was like listening to a true crime …. I had the resist more than once to look up the case but this is fiction. ⭐️⭐️⭐️.23
Wanted more
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The story DRAGGGSSSS
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I expected some kind of chaotic storyline/writing style based on some of the reviews I read indicating the alternation between one time period and another was a challenge to follow. It is NOT a new, outlandish writing technique that is hard to follow. It is NOT complex. It is NOT confusing. I agree with one review I read (paraphrased) about people having elementary reading skills if they couldn’t follow it. Please don’t be deterred in any way if you read those reviews and wonder if the book would be too complex. You’ll be just fine. Enjoy!
Heartwarming & breaking
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A few really great twists!
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Not my favorite
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The character development was good and the characters were likable. Other than that I will never get those hours back.
Reese really?
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