More Than We Can Tell by Brigid Kemmerer

SYNOPSIS

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay...until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.

When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.

Synopsis from Goodreads

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PERSONAL REVIEW

After reading Letters to the Lost, I keep thinking about the characters and wishing that I could fall back into their story. Happily, I found out that Brigid Kemmerer had already written a companion novel, which meant I could read it immediately! (I love finding older series so there's zero wait time in reading). More Than We Can Tell gives us a look at new characters and some interactions with old ones, and I'm happy that I was able to read it right away. 

Love Rev's Development
I’ve been excited to know more about Rev since we met him in Letters to the Lost; he’s such an amazing best friend to Declan and had clearly been through trauma of his own. It was great to get a book with his POV where we finally got to know more about him. My heart seriously broke in the last book when he talked about his fears that he would become like his father and hurt someone; this time we actually see that the only time he really looses control is in the defense of others, which againshows just how amazing Rev is. It was hard to watch him let his father control him again, but I’m so happy he found some closure.

​Emma Seemed Too Juvenile for Him
I want to be clear: I don’t think that being upset about your parents divorcing is a juvenile reaction, but I did feel that everything about Emma just didn’t seem to fit the maturity of Rev. There’s only a grade difference between them, but it felt so much bigger. Her naivety was often really frustrating to read about and I found myself wishing that the book had solely been told from Rev’s perspective. Emma just didn’t bring the same weight to the story and often felt like another problem for Rev to deal with instead of an independent character.

​Still In Love With Declan & Rev
The bromance in this book was often more emotional than the romance. I loved Declan and Rev previously and it was amazing to see them together again. Their friendship continues to be a highlight of these stories, especially the ease in which they support each other. Even when Rev hurts Declan, there's zero animosity between the two; they know when the other is in pain and don't let each other get away with being a bad friend. I'm also a massive fan of how they know they can literally go to each other at any hour of the day or night and know that they will be welcomed. They make my heart smile every time I read these books. 

Overall, More Than We Can Tell was a good story and I enjoyed reading it, even if I didn't feel like it had the same weight as Letters to the Lost. I think a big shift for me was Emma; she just didn't stand out as an equal to Rev and I found myself frustrated by her more often than not. That said, reading about Rev finally overcoming his demons and getting to see Declan and Juliet again made me really happy! This is a strong recommendation for anyone who loved Letters to the Lost or has enjoyed other Brigid Kemmerer books. I'm quickly falling in love with her contemporary novels and can't wait to read another one!

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FINAL RATING: 3.5/5