Before We Were Sorry - by Kit Frick (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

"Complex, captivating, and gorgeously written." --Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying and Two Can Keep a Secret

We Were Liars meets Goodbye Days in this "gripping and atmospheric" (Kirkus Reviews) debut novel that sweeps readers away as they try to solve the mystery of what happened then to make Ellory so broken now--now with a brand-new look!

It's hard to find the truth beneath the lies you tell yourself.

Then: They were four--Bex, Jenni, Ellory, Ret. (Venus. Earth. Moon. Sun.) Electric, headstrong young women; Ellory's whole solar system.

Now: Ellory is alone, her once inseparable group of friends torn apart by secrets, deception, and a shocking incident that changed their lives forever.

Then: Lazy summer days. A party. A beautiful boy. Ellory met Matthias and fell into the beginning of a spectacular, bright love.

Now: Ellory returns to Pine Brook to navigate senior year after a two-month suspension and summer away--no boyfriend, no friends. No going back. Tormented by some and sought out by others, troubled by a mysterious note-writer who won't let Ellory forget, and consumed by guilt over her not entirely innocent role in everything and everyone she's lost, Ellory finds that even in the present, the past is everywhere.

The path forward isn't a straight line. And moving on will mean sorting the truth from the lies--the lies Ellory has been telling herself.

This book was previously published as See All the Stars.

Review Quotes

"A book to be devoured in one sitting....Frick's debut will especially be a treat for fans of E. Lockhart's We Were Liars."-- "Bookpage.com"

"A gripping and atmospheric contemporary thriller that excels in portraying the complex intensity of its characters."-- "Kirkus Reviews"

"A gritty look at complicated friendships, sure to keep the reader guessing to the end."-- "Mindy McGinnis, author of The Female of the Species"

"Complex, captivating, and gorgeously written, this suspenseful story of the lines that blur between friendship, love, and self-discovery demands to be read in one sitting."-- "Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of One of Us is Lying"

"Full of heart and hard truths, See All the Stars is a vivid, vibrant unraveling of friendship, loss, guilt, and betrayal."-- "Stephanie Kuehn, author of the William C Morris Award Winning Charm & Strange"

"If you're looking for a riveting summer page-turner, you found it."-- "Bustle"

"In her debut, Frick beautifully pens a compelling tale with which her audience will relate; the sweetness of first love and the burning sting of betrayal are relatable to most. It will appeal to fans of mystery and realistic fiction alike."-- "VOYA"

"Kit Frick combines the hand of a consummate storyteller with the heart of a master poet to craft an intriguing, suspenseful, and compelling story of love, lies, and complicated friendship."-- "Jeff Zentner, Morris Award winning author of The Serpent King and Goodbye Days"

"Not many books surprise me anymore but this one gut punched me in the best way possible. Not only is this a page-turner, but it's also a beautifully weaved story on love, trust, and friendship, that's both relatable and heartfelt. A stunning debut!" -- "Tiffany D. Jackson, author of Allegedly and Monday's Not Coming"

"Subtle and aching, with writing that crackles off the page--See All the Stars perfectly captures the aftershock of first love, betrayal, and loss."-- "Kara Thomas, author of The Darkest Corners and Little Monsters"

"Taut and riveting, Frick's psychological thriller will keep readers on the edge of their seats."-- "Publishers Weekly"

"The pace of a thriller and the prose of literary fiction."-- "Refinery29"

About the Author

Kit Frick is a MacDowell Fellow and International Thriller Writers Award finalist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She studied creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College and received her MFA from Syracuse University. She is the author of the adult suspense novels The Split and Friends and Liars, the young adult thrillers Before We Were Sorry (originally published as See All the Stars), All Eyes on Us, I Killed Zoe Spanos, Very Bad People, and The Reunion, and the poetry collection A Small Rising Up in the Lungs. Kit loves a good mystery but has only ever killed her characters. Honest. Visit Kit online at KitFrick.com and on Instagram @KitFrick.