The Bookish Ashley

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 Stars)

Ella Berman’s Before We Were Innocent is a riveting, multi-layered exploration of friendship, guilt, and the way our pasts shape our present. This novel masterfully weaves together two timelines: a dreamy, sun-soaked summer in Greece ten years ago that ends in tragedy, and a tense, present-day reckoning between former best friends Bess and Joni.

The story opens with Bess living a quiet, controlled life, doing everything she can to escape the shadow of the media frenzy that followed the death of their mutual friend, Evangeline. In contrast, Joni has leaned into her infamy, building a career as a motivational speaker. When Joni shows up on Bess’s doorstep asking for an alibi, the two are forced to confront their shared past and the secrets they’ve kept buried.

What makes this book shine is its unflinching look at the complexity of female friendships, particularly those forged in adolescence. Berman excels at capturing the intoxicating, sometimes destructive bond between Bess, Joni, and Evangeline. The chapters set in Greece evoke a visceral sense of freedom and recklessness, making the eventual tragedy all the more haunting.

The present-day narrative is equally compelling, offering a nuanced exploration of how guilt, both internal and external, can shape our identities. Bess’s struggle to reconcile who she was with who she has become feels raw and authentic, while Joni’s unapologetic confidence adds an intriguing layer of tension.

However, the pacing occasionally falters. Some sections of the present-day storyline feel repetitive, and the resolution left me wanting a bit more clarity about certain key events. That said, the ending’s ambiguity is likely intentional, forcing readers to grapple with the novel’s central question: Can we ever truly escape the court of public opinion?

Before We Were Innocent is a thought-provoking read that will appeal to fans of character-driven dramas like The Girl on the Train or Little Fires Everywhere. It’s a story about the power dynamics of friendship, the weight of societal judgment, and the ways in which the past can both haunt and define us.

Final Verdict: A beautifully written, deeply introspective novel that will leave you questioning the nature of innocence and the price of loyalty.

Would love to hear your thoughts! Did you sympathize with Bess, Joni, or Evangeline the most? Let me know in the comments!