Review of Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman: A Tumultuous Journey Through Friendship and Trust
When I first heard about Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman, my heart did a little jump. The premise of a fateful summer in Greece, a tantalizing mix of friendship, betrayal, and long-buried secrets, felt like a siren call to my reading soul. After reading Berman’s previous work, The Comeback, I was hopeful that her sharp insights into complicated relationships would shine through once again. So, I dove into this ARC (thank you, Shelf Awareness, NetGalley, and Berkley!) with eager anticipation.
At its core, Before We Were Innocent weaves the story of three young women—Elizabeth ‘Bess’, Joni, and Evangeline—whose friendship is tested after a catastrophic event during their summer in Mykonos. It’s not often that a novel requires us to confront the intricacies of friendship, particularly in a time when so many of us are trying to reconcile our pasts with who we are becoming. Bess and Joni’s struggle to navigate their traumatic history while dealing with a present-day crisis—Joni’s lover goes missing—has the grit of reality and the emotional stakes of a thriller. However, as I turned the pages, I wrestled with feelings of dissatisfaction regarding how deep the story delved into these themes.
Berman writes with a lush, evocative style that paints Greece in stunning detail, immersing the reader in its sun-soaked beauty. Yet, I couldn’t help but feel that at times the prose leaned more toward indulgent than insightful, particularly as long, winding sentences stretched on for dozens of words. While I appreciated the evocative descriptions, there were moments when I found myself wistfully glancing at the page count, pondering how long until I reached a resolution. The dual timelines, while intended to build suspense and depth, often felt more like a meandering path than a thrilling race towards discovery.
A striking quote from the book, "Make as many friends as you can, but don’t build your life on them alone. It’s an unstable foundation," really resonated with me. It encapsulates the fragile nature of friendships that seem unbreakable but are tested by time and trauma. However, I wished for more emotional gravity in the exploration of this theme, as I felt the story skimmed the surface when it could have plunged deeper into the emotional abyss that a lost friendship can create.
Despite these reservations, I did find glimmers of truth in the characters’ struggles. Moments of teenage silliness mixed with heartache conveyed a sense of nostalgia for my own youthful indiscretions. Yet, the repetitive nature of certain plot lines and a sense of déjà vu regarding toxic friendships dulled my connection to the story.
In conclusion, Before We Were Innocent may resonate with those who enjoy a leisurely exploration of youthful friendships gone awry, but may fall flat for readers seeking a gripping narrative. If you find joy in atmospheric writing that captures the essence of pivotal moments in life—with the understanding that not every experience is as emotionally profound as it could be—this might still be a fitting read. For me, I’m left with a bittersweet aftertaste: a reminder that while the journey may be long, sometimes, it’s knowing when to cut your losses that truly matters.
As I settled into the final pages, I couldn’t help but reflect on how friendships, much like stories, can sometimes become complicated. And perhaps that’s where Berman’s true genius lies—she reminds us that in the end, the bonds we forge and break shape us more than we might realize.