Things We Couldn't Say written by Jay Coles and reviewed by Bethany Bratney

Summary: Gio’s life is tough. His dad drinks too much and disapproves of both Gio’s love of basketball over church and his coming out as bisexual. His grades are poor partially due to near constant racism within his classes. And his birth mom, who abandoned him and his brother when Gio was nine, has unexpectedly reached out and asked to see him. Fortunately, Gio has support in his stepmom, his two best friends, Ayesha and Olly, and his new basketball teammate and neighbor, David. As Gio and David become closer, romance begins to blossom, but Gio isn’t sure he can handle anything new while he is trying to navigate his feelings about his mom. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: There is a lot to unpack in Things We Couldn’t Say, which at times made the narrative feel cluttered and slowed the pace of the novel. Gio is a likeable character, and his problems at home and school are depicted with sensitivity and realism, but there were times that the book felt more like a list of issues than a story. Gio’s new-found relationship with his mom, in particular, was understandably fraught with tangible emotion, but missing narrative components that helped the reader understand Gio’s intense reactions. Consequently, Gio’s decision about his relationship with his mom at the end of the story may feel confusing or abrupt to readers. The bright spots in this book were definitely in the friendships and romance. Ayesha and Olly were excellent side characters, and display the devoted and honest friendship that we wish for all kids. David joins this circle of friends, eventually becoming a love interest that helps Gio to balance his feelings and find some joy in his life. The sensitive and heartfelt way that they relate to each other as they go through challenging moments is a high point of the story and a beautiful model for teens navigating first love. A possible addition to collections where books heavy on social issues and trouble at home are popular.