When I picked up WHAT I DIDN'T SAY by Keary Taylor, I wasn't really expecting much more than a breezy teenage romance between a popular girl and a guy that was really down on his luck after a drunken accident. The cover was cute and the story sounded charming enough that I figured I'd at least have a quick weekend read, even if nothing more transpired from the novel. 
 I'm happy to say that I was pleasantly surprised by the sensitivity and depth the author managed to bring to this story and I found myself not only entertained but also inspired by this sweet tale of living life to the fullest even amongst life's most rocky obstacles. 
 Backing up a bit to the plot -- WHAT I DIDN'T SAY is the story of Jake, a popular high schooler who lives on a beautiful island and harbors a lingering crush on future valedictorian Samantha. On the night when Jake gets bold enough, after several drinks at a high school party, to finally confess his innermost feelings to Samantha, he instead finds himself recovering from a devastating car accident that has shattered his voicebox, leaving him completely mute. 
 Feeling sorry for himself and the terrible circumstances that fate has brought his way, Jake resigns himself to the fact that a broken guy like himself could never catch the eye of the beautiful, intelligent Samantha. But soon, as Jake finds himself in an independent study on sign language with Sam as the only other student, he learns that she has been hiding a terrible secret of her own, one that suddenly makes Jake's predicament seem less tragic after all. As Jake learns to move beyond the things he didn't say while he had the chance, Sam also begins to teach him that his life is full of opportunities and blessings that he never seemed to notice before. He just hopes it isn't too late for him to take a chance and finally win Sam's heart. 
 The characters were so endearing, their personal struggles were so inspiring, and the storyline was so engaging that I wouldn't hesitate to recommend WHAT I DIDN'T SAY to anyone who loves a raw, emotional read, especially those who adore realistic young adult fiction. 
 I did receive this e-galley for the purposes of providing an honest review, but I enjoyed it enough that I already purchased my own finished e-book on Amazon. You just never know when you might be in the mood for a heart-felt feel-good teenage romance on a rainy day in the future, right?