Book Review: We Would Never Tell
We Would Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau has everything I enjoy about a certain kind of thriller book.
Here we have a glamorous setting (Cannes, France, the film festival on the French Riviera), Hollywood intrigue, a mysterious murder, and a multiple-POV storyline that was done well. And by that I mean I actually cared equally about all of the points of view or perspectives of ALL of the characters. Even better, every one of the points of view felt necessary and they wove together seamlessly. Please tell me why that is so rare when I’m reading thrillers (maybe it is just me?)
Throughout We Would Never Tell, readers hear from the people who aren’t often front and center in celeb-drenched film fests: Marnie, a publicist, Lou, a struggling actress, and Constance, an up-and-coming stylist known for her edgy looks. Each young women is going through dilemmas, personal and professional. They makes lots of bad decisions, and they look fashionable while doing it, as they navigate the power-plays, gossip, parties, movie premieres and even an exclusive yacht soiree gone very, very wrong.
The Girls Most People Would Overlook…
The Cannes Film Festival is just beginning, and already Lou has spent all of the money she doesn’t have on a last-ditch effort to become an actress. After ten years of struggles in Los Angeles, she is celebrating her debut in a film and self-funding her trip to the film fest to watch the debut. She’s determined to make the most of this opportunity, even if her part is small. Or almost non-existent.
Constance is rising from the ashes of a misunderstanding with an established Hollywood icon who could still ruin her career. Is her crush, Dorian Fisher, a handsome leading man or a manipulative narcissist? Constance isn’t sure but she’s finding it hard to stay away from him, even when she scores a position as the freelance stylist for the newest, young up-and-coming star. Even as a cringed at Constance’s decisions, I could always commiserate with her and understand where she was coming from. In this way, Jouhanneau has developed some of the best character development I’ve read recently in the thriller genre.
Marnie is waiting for a promotion from junior publicist from her boss; everything at Cannes just has to proceed smoothly, no time for flaws. Meanwhile, she has written an amazing screenplay, but she is afraid to shop it around publicly. Why? Her handsome yet devastatingly average” fiancée Ben has always dreamed of becoming a screenwriter, but his writing is just…well, it’s bad.
My Thoughts
The concept of the book, including the Cannes and Hollywood setting drew me in, but the character voices and personalities kept me turning the page. The characters’ POVs were interspersed with interviews with detectives solving a murder and a gossip podcast, which varied the pacing and was fun to read. Overall, the plot was fast-paced and interesting, and I cared about the conflicts navigated and the choices made by each of the narrators.
More by this Author
I can’t wait to read Anne-Sophie Jouhanneu’s first thriller, The French Honeymoon.
Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
