"Our stresses and worries are like this glass of water. If we think about them for only a short time, we're fine. If we think about them for longer, we begin to hurt. If we think about them all the time, we will feel paralysed. Remember to put the glass down" 
 The Things I Didn't Say by Kylie Fornasier is a surprisingly tender and uplifting young adult contemporary that is, at its core, a story about finding your voice and the many ways in which words have power, both in their ability to destroy or tear people down as well as inspire or heal. This is a book that deals with incredibly tough concepts, but it does so with a heartfelt honesty and sensitivity that makes it easy to fall in love with the characters and their journey. 
 Fornasier tackles the frustrating and devastating effects of mental illness in a way that felt authentic and realistic, as well as exploring a range of concepts intrinsic to the teenage experience, from bullying and friendship to self-image, acceptance, standing up for yourself and self-empowerment, as well as navigating first loves and relationships. The actual narrative follows Piper Rhodes, a teenager who struggles with selective mutism and social anxiety, which makes it almost impossible for her to speak in the presence of other people outside of her family. She is such an interesting protagonist and it is easy to relate to her struggles and the intensity of her emotions. She is richly developed and beautifully expressive, and despite her limited ability to speak in public she never comes across as anything other than intelligent and strong. I feel like the character development arc, as Piper grows and changes as a person and finds her feet despite her disorder, is the true heart and soul of this story, making it a book that will stick in the readers mind long after finishing the final page. 
 I did find the plot fairly predictable, with Piper unsurprisingly forming a relationship with the most popular and handsome boy in school, but despite the somewhat derivative storyline I still think this is a book with a lot of merit. It is an effortless read and is well written. The pacing flows really well and it has some truly beautiful and sweet moments. There's something overwhelmingly moving and positive about this story and the concepts it tackles. Not to mention that on the whole the relationships portrayed are genuinely touching and the emotional journey surprisingly poignant. 
 I would recommend this to lovers of young adult contemporaries along the lines of The Problem with Forever, Yellow and One Would Think the Deep as well as fans of Australian literature.