Before We Were Innocent

Reese's Book Club

By: Ella Berman

Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya

Length: 11 hrs

Publisher's summary

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?

©2023 Ella Berman (P)2023 Penguin Audio

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

There was no ending…

The ending left me feeling unfulfilled and just sort of ended. The story was building up and it was like it just ended. Overall the story was good, but I think in some ways it drug on a bit and in other ways it was cut short.

What happened to the ending?

It was a good book but the ending left you waiting for an actual ending.

Truly so good

This is one of my favorite Reese picks to date. Wow. What a story of twists and turns. I’m SAD. Relieved. Happy at the same time.

Beautifully written!

Ella did an incredible job writing this story! The flow between the timelines was impeccable and had me on the edge of my seat!

I feel seen

Man did this hit home. I found the main character extremely relatable. It made me reminisce over my teenage years. A very accurate depiction of what teenage girl friendships were often like. An easy and entertaining read that was still really well written and didn’t feel like an embarrassing guilty pleasure. I wonder how much of this the author took from her own teenage years. It’s a bummer people are rating the book lower than deserved because they think the ending was anticlimactic. I understand why people might think that but personally thought the ending was perfect. Can’t wait to read what she writes next.

Beautifully Told

I loved the details of this book and how the writer referred back in time as the story unfolded. I had hoped for a better ending, but just as the story in the book, sometimes stories don’t have that. I would highly recommend this to a friend!

Not sure of the hype

I read this book because it kept popping up everywhere but to me it was extremely boring. I found myself checking constantly for how much longer I had. I'm not a picky reader but I struggled to stay interested. overall a good story just boring in my opinion.

Pretty good. Purposefully misleading. Not the most likable characters

I liked a lot about this audiobook. There were several times I had to rewind and repeat some of the “evidence” because it didn’t measure up or made no sense.

Heartwarming & breaking

The story kept me engaged the entire time and on the edge of my seat until the very end. I felt the honesty and hope the author conveys and can’t help but relate. I wish I could share the story with my son (he probably wouldn’t receive it, though lol), so he can catch a glimpse of the struggle of “growing up” including the naïveté we all inevitably experience.

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!

A few really great twists!

I really enjoyed this book and its twists. It’s a little Amanda Knox and a little Brokedown Palace combined. The author did a great job of describing the effect that the media has on cases like these, and the harsh judgment of the public on 17 year old kids. Best book I’ve read in some time.