{Book Review} We Are The Goldens by Dana Reinhardt

Nell worships her older sister, Layla. They're one unit, intertwined: Nellayla. As Nell and her best friend, Felix, start their freshman year in high school, on Layla's turf, there's so much Nell looks forward to: Joining Layla on the varsity soccer team. Parties. Boys. Adventures.
   But the year takes a very different turn.
   Layla is changing, withdrawing. She's hiding something, and when Nell discovers what it is, and the consequences it might have, she struggles. She wants to support Layla, to be her confidante, to be the good sister she's always been. But with so much at stake, what secrets should she keep? What lies should she tell?
   Award-winning young adult author Dana Reinhardt explores questions of loyalty, love, and betrayal in this provocative and intimate novel.

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Nell Golden has lived in the shadow of her older sister Layla for as long as she can remember.  She can’t wait to start her freshman year at City Day so that they can finally be in the same school again.  Layla is a beautiful, popular and smart junior who is studying hard and making plans for a successful future. 

But as the year progresses, something is happening to Layla.  Rumors are floated and questions are evaded.  The secret that Layla is hiding has the power to destroy lives – and when she confides in her sister – Nell promises to tell no one.  

“Can you say the same thing? Can you imagine something major in your life, something seminal, a rite of passage, a game changer – can you imagine something happening that’s bigger than big and not telling me about it?

Can you?

I think you can.

Actually, Layla, I know you can.”

But things don’t always go as planned.  People change or aren’t who you thought they were or they get sick and maybe that forces you to reevaluate.  But now Nell is torn between keeping the trust of the sister that she has always admired and revealing what she knows will save her.

You leaned over to kiss my cheek.

"We’ll talk more later?”

“Yeah, sure”

“I love you tons,” you said.

“I know”

“And, Nell?”

“Yeah, I know.”

“You do?”

“Of course.”

“Promise?”

“Don’t insult me.”

I closed your door.

That’s how I vowed to keep your secret.

Young Adult is not a genre that I venture into very much these days but I am so glad that I did for We Are The Goldens.  Dana Reinhardt paints her story with such beautiful and poetic prose that I was instantly drawn deep.  I related to each of the characters as people – not just as high school students.  It was smart, painful and true.  This story broke my heart and then gave me hope.  An absolute must-read…

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