ALL THE THINGS WE NEVER SAID

Three suicidal teens find reasons to live when they develop friendships while preparing for their ends.

Mehreen Miah, Cara Saunders, and Olivia Castleton have one thing in common: They want to end their lives. The three girls meet via the website MementoMori.com, “a matchmaking service for suicide partners.” As a practicing Muslim, Bengali British Mehreen feels the site offers the loophole she needs—“someone else to take away the guilt, take the blame”—as she tries to escape the negative voice in her head she calls the Chaos. Lesbian Cara was left paraplegic by a tragic car accident and is struggling to adjust; she seeks assistance to end her life. Meanwhile, Olivia is counting on the site to help her escape sexual abuse by her mother’s boyfriend. Cara and Olivia read white. With each meeting after they’re matched, the girls feel more seen and understood. But when the tasks set forth by MementoMori get more sinister, the girls decide that suicide may not be the answer. Even so, their demons are not so easily shaken off. Rahman thoughtfully fleshes out each character. The jagged typeface representing Mehreen’s intrusive thoughts and the striking layout of the free verse in Olivia’s chapters amplify their perspectives and enhance Rahman’s skillful writing. Though friendship becomes a reason to live, it is not a magic cure; the characters’ struggles despite their new relationships feel poignantly realistic.

Honestly portrays the dark parts of life—and shows that there is hope.