A Liz and Lisa Best Book of the Month
“Evoking Emmy limited-series winner Big Little Lies, Whalen’s novel is about a Georgia town ripped apart when an outcast boy kills three cheerleaders in a car accident, bringing secrets and simmering tensions to the surface.” —The Hollywood Reporter
“A fast-paced, heart-pounding story with secrets, tragedy, finger pointing and forgiveness. The characters are multifaceted and interesting: some are caring, some cunning, some are hard as stone, and others are unpredictable. Whalen is a talented author and she brings small town values and troubles to life in this novel.” —RT Book Reviews
“As events of the night are slowly uncovered, all four women’s stories become intertwined, all coming to an explosive finale. A story of small-town secrets and the women behind them, the story will keep readers guessing until the end.” —The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
“Whalen (The Things We Wish Were True) delivers small-town anguish, anger, gossip, and heartbreak in this page-turner. For readers of Jodi Picoult and lovers of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies.” —Library Journal
“A gripping, emotional read from an extremely talented author.” —Novel Gossip
“When We Were Worthy is a startlingly clear look at life in a small town where the carefully crafted characters are neither heroes nor villains—they are simply real people wedged into an unimaginable situation. Heart-wrenching and vivid, this is a beautifully written novel about letting go and holding on, of family, of love, and, ultimately, of forgiveness.” —Karen White, New York Times bestselling author
“When We Were Worthy is a poignant, haunting story of truths and secrets—the power of tragedy to unravel an entire community, and then stitch it back together—I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” —Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be
“Not everyone who lives in Worthy, Georgia lives up to the name. In When We Were Worthy, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen explores the spectrum of guilt and innocence in one small town after the tenuous connections between neighbors and friends are tested by a horrific accident. Told in alternating voices, this compulsively captivating novel weaves a tapestry of wrenching grief, love, anger, danger, and, eventually, hope.” —Ella Joy Olsen, author of Root, Petal, Thorn and Where the Sweet Bird Sings
“Fans of Liane Moriarty and Jodi Picoult—this is an author for your favorites shelf. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen’s taut, smart novel is a natural-born page-turner that doesn’t sacrifice depth of feeling or character. Whalen knows this town, these people, and she lays them open for us with razor-sharp insight, wit, and empathy. Don’t miss this one.” —Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Gods in Alabama and The Almost Sisters
“What do you do when your whole life is turned around, crushed, and destroyed? Do you rise above it? Do you seek revenge? Do you run away? Do you blame yourself? When We Were Worthy is a brilliant, gripping novel that challenges the fabric of who we think we are, a story that speaks to both the fragility and strength of the human spirit in the wake of tragedy. I highly, highly recommend this novel!” —Joy Callaway, author of The Fifth Avenue Artists Society and Secret Sisters
“In When We Were Worthy, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen expertly weaves a haunting story of a small town ripped apart by tragedy. Narrated by four women—each with unique ties to the victims of a terrible car crash—each revealing secrets and lies that will make you second-guess everyone and everything. Written with heart and a splash of southern spice, When We Were Worthy is both charming and powerful.” —Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, authors of The Good Widow
09/15/2017
On a crisp, fall football Friday night in Worthy, GA, the Wildcats play to win and the whole town shows up to watch. Afterward, three of the four elite varsity cheerleaders, Mary Claire "M.C"; Brynne; and inexperienced, nervous designated driver Keary, pile into a car on their way to celebrate. Graham, who didn't make the team even as the son of a Worthy Wildcat legend, gets in his new car for the first time and heads out as well. When the vehicles collide, the deaths of all three girls fracture the town. Cheerleader Leah, who was not in the car, struggles to explain why she wasn't there, and Graham, the lone crash survivor found guilty by the jury of public opinion, face the questions and wrath of devastated families and friends. This tale is told alternately by Leah, Graham's mother, M.C's mother, and Ava, a substitute teacher, as each grapples with secrets that, if made public, could lead to healing or ruin. VERDICT Whalen (The Things We Wish Were True) delivers small-town anguish, anger, gossip, and heartbreak in this page-turner. For readers of Jodi Picoult and lovers of Liane Moriarty's Big Little Lies.—Susan Santa, Shelter Rock P. L., Albertson, NY
Delivering the points of view of multiple characters can be a challenge for a narrator. Joshilyn Jackson, however, skillfully portrays a large group of characters as she recounts the solemn days that follow a small-town tragedy. As the story unfolds, Jackson depicts more than 16 individuals—from young cheerleader Leah to middle-aged restaurant manager Clay. Jackson’s vocalization of each character’s attributes—even down to their Southern drawl, or lack thereof—helps listeners remain aware of who is speaking. Steadily maneuvering between multiple narratives, Jackson brings the residents of Worthy, Georgia, to life and allows listeners to connect with their hopes and fears. V.T. © AudioFile 2019, Portland, Maine
