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Sonja Yoerg

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Stories We Never Told Kindle Edition

by Sonja Yoerg (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

11,116 ratings

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From the Amazon Charts and Washington Post bestselling author of True Places comes an emotional novel of love, secrets, and obsession.

Psychology professor Jackie Strelitz thinks she’s over Harlan Crispin, her ex-lover and colleague. Why should she care if Harlan springs a new “friend” on her? After all, Jackie has everything she ever wanted: a loving husband and a thriving career. Still, she can’t help but be curious about Harlan’s latest.

Nasira Amari is graceful, smart, and appallingly young. Worse, she’s the newest member of Jackie’s research team. For five years, Harlan enforced rules limiting his relationship with Jackie. With Nasira, he’s breaking every single one. Why her?

Fixated by the couple, Jackie’s curiosity becomes obsession. But she soon learns that nothing is quite what it seems and that to her surprise—and peril—she may not be the only one who can’t let go.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“Stories We Never Told is a beautifully told story of love and obsession, a gradual unearthing of long-held secrets that can unravel even the happiest of marriages. Yoerg has a real talent for creating compelling and complex characters who wrestle with real-life situations, leaving the reader wondering who to root for until the very end. Yoerg should be on every reader’s radar.” —Kimberly Belle, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Wife

“It’s a rare psychological thriller that shows both the dark depths our obsessions can lead to and the unlikely breakthroughs that can let the light in. Sonja Yoerg’s Stories We Never Told does just that, deftly introducing a brilliant cast of characters for whom detachment and intimacy can be equally terrifying. A taut, clever, and satisfying read.” —Jessica Strawser, bestselling author of Not That I Could Tell

“Sonja Yoerg expands her literary repertoire into suspense with Stories We Never Told, a tale of obsession, love, secrets, marriage, and the lies we tell ourselves. The prose is lyrical and immersive, and the story builds delicious tension. But the characters are where Yoerg truly shines: they’re all so keenly developed, so realistic, and so surprising with their own crackling takes on relationships, academia, and each other that the story itself starts to feel almost immaterial. Until, of course, it shocks the living hell out of you.” —Kate Moretti, New York Times bestselling author of The Vanishing Year and In Her Bones

“Obsession, jealousy, and secrets smolder into a deadly fire in Yoerg’s latest, as a woman’s marriage and career implode at the same time her ex’s life seems to be on the rise. Astutely observed and beautifully written with echoes of Highsmith’s Ripley, this one’s got a deliciously diabolical villain to die for.” —Emily Carpenter, bestselling author of Burying the Honeysuckle Girls and Until the Day I Die

“Truth and trust relentlessly collide in this beautifully written and riveting page-turner. Talented storyteller Sonja Yoerg will ensnare you from page one—and her determined and endearing main character, twisted by love and betrayed by expectations, will keep you turning pages as fast as you can. Loved this!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, nationally bestselling author of The Murder List

“Stories We Never Told is Sonja Yoerg at her best—gripping characters, sizzling suspense, brilliantly written. I raced through the pages. Bravo!” —Kaira Rouda, international bestselling author of The Favorite Daughter

“Stories We Never Told is a superb, slow-burn suspense that brilliantly ratchets up the tension and character development notch by notch, layer by layer, culminating in a chilling, emotional ending. Sonja Yoerg is a master at creating characters you fall into, and her writing is stunning. A must read!” —Samantha M. Bailey, author of Woman on the Edge

From the Publisher

Why her and not me? It’s a seemingly simple question, but as psychology professor Jackie Strelitz discovers in Stories We Never Told, no question is without consequence.

Jackie is, for the most part, content in her career and marriage. But she’s completely thrown when her former lover and colleague, Harlan, returns from sabbatical and strikes up a romance with Jackie’s new associate. Their relationship sends Jackie into a tailspin of obsession, secrets, and questioning, leading her to truths that shatter the carefully constructed walls of her life.

Stories We Never Told is a gripping novel made all the more satisfying by author Sonja Yoerg’s masterful writing. The suspense builds slowly, tensions mount with each page, and dark revelations come to light in shocking ways. As Jackie is forced to examine everything she thought she knew about herself and those around her, she realizes we all have a story to tell. We often keep those stories close, but opening ourselves to others is the only way to find the ending we deserve.

- Chris Werner, Editor

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07WCP61XL
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Lake Union Publishing
Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
Publication date ‏ : ‎ May 1, 2020
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 3.1 MB
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 331 pages
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1542004671
Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled

Best Sellers Rank: #377,742 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- #565 in Marriage & Divorce Fiction
- #1,964 in Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Literary Fiction
- #2,033 in Domestic Thrillers (Books)

Customer Reviews:
11,116 ratings

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Sonja Yoerg

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Sonja Yoerg grew up in Stowe, Vermont, where she financed her college education by waitressing at the Trapp Family Lodge. She earned her Ph.D. in Biological Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley, studied learning in blue jays, kangaroo rats and spotted hyenas, and published a critically acclaimed non-fiction book about animal intelligence, CLEVER AS A FOX (Bloomsbury USA, 2001).

Sonja has since published five novels, including TRUE PLACES, a Washington Post, Amazon Charts bestseller, and Amazon First Reads pick. Her latest novel, THE FAMILY SHIP, earned a starred review from Publishers Weekly; it releases February 2021.

Sonja lives with her husband near the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia where she tends an ever-expanding vegetable garden.

Customer reviews

11,116 global ratings

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Customers find this book engaging with its psychological twists and turns, adding layers of suspense and intrigue throughout. Moreover, the writing is compelling, with customers noting they can read it in one sitting, and the characters are relatable, with one review highlighting the strong portrayal of the female protagonist. Additionally, the book explores personal relationships, with customers particularly appreciating the parts about friendship. However, the pacing receives mixed feedback, with some customers finding it slow at first.

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Story quality Readability Thought provoking Writing quality Character development Relationship development Page turner Pacing

265 customers mention "Story quality"208 positive57 negative

Customers enjoy the book's plot twists and turns, finding it suspenseful with elements of a psychological thriller.

"...Everything she writes is so honest and authentic that I find myself completely invested in the lives of the characters, so much so that I often wish..." Read more

"...I was enthralled by the subtle escalation of evil and how the characters went from discomfort to fear, and how the author made these people seem so..." Read more

"...Overall, the plot is good, but the story never shows us anything besides a failed father -figure that explains why the heroine is still hung-up on..." Read more

"...I liked how it was written, how real the characters felt, the slow-simmering suspense, the backstories that were very relevant but not books in..." Read more

209 customers mention "Readability"179 positive30 negative

Customers find the book engaging and well worth their time, describing it as a great piece of literature that surpasses other novels.

"...The transitions in this story are all logical and flawless, and the skips backward were so helpful in understanding why the story was moving forward..." Read more

"...you into the lives of people who are really smart, interesting and likeable...." Read more

"...I wanted things to go well for her. She was admirable, smart, and not vindictive. Someone I’d be friends with in real life...." Read more

"...And it was so worth the read!" Read more

157 customers mention "Thought provoking"147 positive10 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking, describing it as intriguing and spellbinding, with layers of suspense and intrigue throughout.

"...-developed characters, the complex relationships, the deep themes of both healthy independence and strengthening ailing relationships, and the..." Read more

"...fewer and fewer chances that this will end well for her There is enough action, and good writing to keep the reader firmly interested in the..." Read more

"...I did find this story interesting and read it pretty quickly, but I have an interest in the mind's inner workings and I don't mind stories that are..." Read more

"...the characters felt, the slow-simmering suspense, the backstories that were very relevant but not books in themselves, the pace ... everything...." Read more

147 customers mention "Writing quality"113 positive34 negative

Customers praise the writing quality of the book, finding it compelling and readable, with several mentioning they finished it in one sitting.

"...Everything she writes is so honest and authentic that I find myself completely invested in the lives of the characters, so much so that I often wish..." Read more

"...that this will end well for her There is enough action, and good writing to keep the reader firmly interested in the outcome for all of the..." Read more

"...I did find this story interesting and read it pretty quickly, but I have an interest in the mind's inner workings and I don't mind stories that are..." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it was written, how real the characters felt, the slow-simmering suspense, the backstories that were very..." Read more

131 customers mention "Character development"99 positive32 negative

Customers appreciate the character development in the book, finding them relatable and interesting, with one customer noting how the perspectives of different characters add depth to the narrative.

"...classic Sonja Yoerg, in terms of the vibrant setting, the well-developed characters, the complex relationships, the deep themes of both healthy..." Read more

"...by the subtle escalation of evil and how the characters went from discomfort to fear, and how the author made these people seem so real, I was with..." Read more

"I really enjoyed this book. I liked how it was written, how real the characters felt, the slow-simmering suspense, the backstories that were very..." Read more

"...I also struggled to relate to the main character, Jackie, because it also felt odd to me that she got so wrapped up in her ex's new love interest to..." Read more

18 customers mention "Relationship development"18 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate how the book explores personal relationships, particularly friendships, and one customer notes its strong elements of female friendship and women supporting women.

"...the deep themes of both healthy independence and strengthening ailing relationships, and the overall emotional vibrancy...." Read more

"...It’s complicated, ugly, happy, sad, redeeming. More sophisticated, more nuanced...." Read more

"...of jealousy, obsession, and calculating manipulation, but also, trust, understanding, and a respect for the beauty of life...." Read more

"...I did like the strong elements of female friendship/women supporting women which helped make the story more enjoyable...." Read more

16 customers mention "Page turner"16 positive0 negative

Customers describe this book as a page turner, with multiple reviews noting how it kept them engaged throughout.

"...author of "Stories We Never Told" has written an intense, edgy, page-turning, suspenseful and riveting novel...." Read more

"Sonja Yoerg's STORIES WE NEVER TOLD is a wonderfully written, page-turning, character-driven book that I had a hard time putting down...." Read more

"This book is a page-turner, almost immediately, with the way it slowly simmers, leaving you wanting to know more at every turn...." Read more

"...can keep you interested in every page of the story, but still be a page turner...." Read more

65 customers mention "Pacing"21 positive44 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book, with several noting it starts slowly and drags for quite a bit, though one customer mentions it picks up momentum after the first few pages.

"...book, in one very good scene, but that is shown very briefly and comes too late...." Read more

"...are times that the writing feels a bit (for lack of a better term) pretentious — it almost undermines the reader’s intelligence, how dramatized and..." Read more

"...Yoerg does a great job of smoothly transitioning forward and backward in time...." Read more

"As others have said, this book was a little bit slow in the beginning and the 1st person, present tense narration felt a little odd to get used to...." Read more

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B.A. Wilson
Gave Me Both the Ick and All the Feels
Reviewed in the United States on April 28, 2020
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This was intense and captivating. Every time I picked it up, I was sucked back into the world and the complex psychology of these characters. If I had any nails left, in the midst of this pandemic, I would have bitten them all off while reading this one. It’s both absolutely relatable, and also occasionally horrifying.

A lot of time when I’m reading a thriller, I just think, “Really? Come on, now!” But that never happened with this story, because despite some of the unsettling events and moments, I could always completely relate to the main character. I could see that a lot of the paths she took could have easily been paths I would have taken, and that made reading this even more disturbing.

Genre-wise, this novel was a bit of a change from some of Yoerg’s previous works, but stylistically, it’s absolutely classic Sonja Yoerg, in terms of the vibrant setting, the well-developed characters, the complex relationships, the deep themes of both healthy independence and strengthening ailing relationships, and the overall emotional vibrancy.

I swear if you put a Sonja Yoerg novel in front of me with someone else’s name on it, I would immediately become suspicious of foul play, because she’s such a strong writer and storyteller. However, when I’m caught up reading, I don’t even notice that. It’s just such a smooth and immersive reading experience. I get lost in her worlds and characters, but when I pause to really think about the writing and the story, that’s when I realize she should be teaching master classes in how to setup and execute a scene.

Everything she writes is so honest and authentic that I find myself completely invested in the lives of the characters, so much so that I often wish I could pick up the phone and give them all an earful, mid-book.

This novel is darker, twistier, and a bit more chilling than some of the previous Yoerg novels. It had me second guessing myself almost all the way through. It’s written in a nonlinear format that is absolute perfection. It doesn’t have that choppy feeling that some nonlinear stories do. Yoerg does a great job of smoothly transitioning forward and backward in time. I got enough information and story from each chapter and section that I felt fully immersed in the story, and I didn’t suffer any of the whiplash that I sometimes get from nonlinear stories, when they suddenly jolt me forward or backward in time before I had gotten settled in the current moment. The transitions in this story are all logical and flawless, and the skips backward were so helpful in understanding why the story was moving forward on its current trajectory.

I liked this book so much, that even though I was given a free ARC to read and review before publication date (coming May 1!), I still went back and picked it up as a Kindle First Read and then also preordered the audiobook. So basically, I have put my money where my mouth is on this one, and if you like stories that are a bit psychologically dark, emotional, and full of complicated characters, relationships, and situations, then you’re going to love this one. I suggest that you get your hands on a copy as soon as it releases on May 1, just PSA: please don’t leave your house to do that, unless absolutely necessary, in light of the current COVID 19 situation.

And also, wash your hands! It won’t remove the ick that you’re going to feel while reading some of the twisted moments in this story, but it is far better to have an icky mind than icky hands. Or at least I thought that was true, until I just wrote it out and had to read it back to myself. What I meant to say was sometimes you have to suffer through a bit of emotional ick, in order to get to all the other serious feels, which this story is full of. Both the ick and the feels.

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Cid Herman
Jealousy is a controlled burn, until you throw some gaslighting on it!
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2020
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Sonja Yoerg's new novel, STORIES WE NEVER TOLD was a really good choice for my Amazon April First Reads selection. I normally navigate to mystery/thriller books and STORIES WE NEVER TOLD is a mystery, but it is much more than that. It is a VERY smart indepth examination of contemporary roles and relationships. I was enthralled by the subtle escalation of evil and how the characters went from discomfort to fear, and how the author made these people seem so real, I was with them. My real life faded into the background, as it does when a good book captures all your attention.

Jackie is at the center of the story and she is a really likeable all around good person. The writing is so good you KNOW her and she feels like a friend. She is a tenured professor, in a prestigious psychology department, halfway through a well funded 4 year Autism research study. She has been happily married for two years, to Miles. Her and Miles socialize casually with her ex boyfriend and coworker, Harlin, who she left when he did not want to push their 5 year relationship to the next level. Harlin had no interest in marriage or children, so Jackie moved on.

It IS possible for a couple to be friends with one of their exes. I know this because i've been there ... but if any lingering feelings or regrets are at play between the ex lovers, this is recipe for disaster. If the new lover EVEN thinks there may be unresolved feelings, between the exes, rational or not, the three of you are never going to be pals. Jealousy is one of the most powerful and unpleasant emotions you can feel.
,

But Jackie is OVER Harlin ... at least until Harlin starts dating a stunning young student, who Jackie is mentoring. In fact, Jackie spent 5 years with Harlin without getting the level of commitment he has extended Nasira, in a manner of weeks. Jackie is jealous and can't stop thinking about the new lovebirds. When her own sister calls her a "crazy mad stalker" Jackie knows she has to get a grip before she ruins her Academic reputation and her marriage.

The dynamics among these 2 couples and four indivduals, shifts dramatically and changes all of them, in ways that could never have been predicted. It's the little things that start to show the cracks in the relationships and eventually lead to murder. Jackie's world begins to spiral out of control, but all is NOT what it seems.

It is a beautifully written story that sucks you into the lives of people who are really smart, interesting and likeable. You get to see how the secrets we keep (sometimes even from ourselves), sneak into relationships. The harm comes when assumptions are made to try to understand the intent and motivations of people we tend to think we know well.

Jackie is caught in a web of sinister manipulation. Luckily for us readers, we are caught in up in the story, compelled to watch Jackie, as things escalate, with fewer and fewer chances that this will end well for her There is enough action, and good writing to keep the reader firmly interested in the outcome for all of the fascinating characters in the story. I really liked this one.

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Top reviews from other countries

Pyne Family
What a book!!
Reviewed in Australia on May 5, 2020
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Lots of twist & turns that are very unexpected. Story about a career minded woman & how things can change very quickly when you least expect it. Couldn’t put it down & look forward to reading more from this author.

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ALPP
Good story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 20, 2020
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It held me, good story, enough characters and detail and some twists and turns. Would recommend this as a good story to pick for an easy and enjoyable read.

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J V
A Good Read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 10, 2021
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Stops just short of being too crazy to believe. Great characters created and the reader cares what happens to them

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Eim
A slow burning suspense thriller.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 18, 2020
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In stories we never told we meet Jackie, an extremely well educated woman who becomes obsessed with her ex.
I found this book extremely slow burning, I was tempted to put it down and not take it back up many times.
The story unravels extremely slowly with very detail included even them that you really don't need! It's at about 65% when the story really starts to get good if you can hold on that long!
At 65% I got more engrossed in the story, the characters and their relationships.
There is a lot of strong topics glanced at in Yoergs writing, so much turmoil within every character.
But then the ending......
Dear God so predictable in the who did it kind of way. How said character was caught was very anticlimactic in my honest opinion.
Stories we never told us a great book for anyone who likes slow burning suspense thrillers, some parts of the story in the end half of the book were gripping and left you wanting more but overall I was disappointed.
I gave this book 3stars because the idea behind this book is a great plot and it had some high points.

This quote Sat well with me;

"If you fall in love with life itself, happiness is yours for as long as you live."

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Charlotte Evans
Intelligent and gripping
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 21, 2020
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I love reading psychological thrillers, but sometimes feel the writing isn't great - I mean, they're pacy and gripping but a bit clunky, obvious, two dimensional characters and so on. This book was none of those things - a rare find of a a really absorbing plot but also intelligently written with some interesting characters - loved it.

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Stories We Never Told Kindle Edition

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Top reviews from the United States

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5.0 out of 5 stars Gave Me Both the Ick and All the Feels

4.0 out of 5 stars Jealousy is a controlled burn, until you throw some gaslighting on it!

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars What a book!!

5.0 out of 5 stars Good story

4.0 out of 5 stars A Good Read

3.0 out of 5 stars A slow burning suspense thriller.

5.0 out of 5 stars Intelligent and gripping

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Gave Me Both the Ick and All the Feels

Jealousy is a controlled burn, until you throw some gaslighting on it!

What a book!!

Good story

A Good Read

A slow burning suspense thriller.

Intelligent and gripping