Everything We Never Said

Dark romance is a subgenre of romance, and these texts are called “dark” because, though they tell the story of a romantic relationship, they often feature morally ambiguous characters, heavier themes, and even trauma and/or violence. A thriller is a kind of fiction that usually contains a mystery and provokes feelings of suspense, excitement, and anxiety in the reader. Thus, a YA dark romantic thriller is a work of fiction that portrays a romantic relationship, often between characters who are relatively young, and features some characters with questionable morals, weighty themes, and a suspenseful mystery meant to appeal to an older adolescent and young adult audience. Sloan Harlow’s Everything We Never Said fulfills these expectations.

First, Sam Wilkens and Sawyer Hawkins, both of whom were physically abused by their fathers, embody the potential moral ambiguity of characters that is typical of the genre; similarly, Phoebe’s emotional abuse of Hayley highlights the trauma inflicted by some mother-daughter relationships. The novel explores the consequences of childhood abuse on one’s adult and young adult relationships. This is one aspect of the dark romance that differentiates it from regular romances, as “most romance keeps its characters unequivocally good and its themes light, [but] dark romance is not afraid to explore the darker aspects of human nature and relationships. This genre delves into taboo themes like power dynamics, obsession, and fear” (“What Is Dark Romance?” Dipsea, 15 May 2024). Everything We Never Said depicts the initial (apparent) romantic nature of Sam and Hayley’s relationship as well as its metamorphosis into Hayley’s struggle for independence from Sam’s control. Sam initially seems protective, though that protectiveness quickly turns into possessiveness and a desire to manage every aspect of Hayley’s life. As Ella reads her friend’s diary, she begins to associate Sawyer’s protectiveness and anger, which is often just below the surface, with the concern for power and obsessive behavior that Hayley identifies in “S.” Likewise, Phoebe’s abusive behavior, like Sam’s and Sawyer’s, draws attention to the cyclical nature of abuse, a weighty theme that further develops the characters and the novel’s mood.

In addition to the character types and heavy themes common to the dark romance subgenre, Everything We Never Said embodies key elements of the thriller as well: “A thriller is a type of mystery with a few key differences [from a regular mystery]. As its name suggests, thrillers tend to be action-packed, page-turners with moments full of tension, anxiety, and fear. Without fail, they are plot-driven stories with plenty of plot twists” (Dukes, Jessica. “What Is a Thriller?” Celadon Books). Because Ella cannot remember the day of the accident and because Sawyer is carrying guilt for hiding something from her, Harlow creates significant mystery around the circumstances of Hayley’s death. Moreover, the ambiguity of Hayley’s reference to Sam as “S” in her diary—an initial he shares with Sawyer, Sean (Phoebe’s predatory boyfriend), and Scott (another student who harasses Ella for her role in the accident)—creates uncertainty for Ella and the reader. These elements, as well as the revelation that Hayley is alive, produce the tension and anxiety consistent with the thriller genre.