Before We Were Innocent

Premise sounds so much more exciting than it was. This is a drama marketed as a thriller. Was far too long and wordy. 

2/5 was all I could give it. I didn't understand the purpose of the story.

Our biggest mistake had been buying into the lies that had been sold to us - that we would ever truly be sexually liberated, that the summer after we graduated high school had to be unforgettable, that we would be friends for the rest of our lives.

Dark psychological thriller that has its roots in the infamous 2007 Amanda Knox incident. ICYMI, a 20-year old American vacationing in Greece was accused of killing her British roommate, and the resulting media circus convicted her long before her trial.

In this novel, three rich California girls spend the summer in Greece, but one dies under mysterious circumstances. The dead girl becomes a martyred angel, and every mean or selfish thing the remaining two ever posted online is used against them by the justice system and the court of public opinion. Berman does an excellent job at capturing the complex dynamics of the girls' relationships, and the volatile, hormone-laden emotions of being 18. She excoriates the media and true crime fanaticism that allows anyone with access to the internet to believe that they know The Truth, forgetting that there are often no easy answers whenever real, flawed human beings are involved.

Before We Were Innocent is not an easy read, but I'm feeling angry these days, and wanted a book that mirrored my emotions.

Yes, I liked this story. But if you are thinking about reading it because it is about a summer in Greece, just know there isn't really much said about the country. The island of Mykonos is mentioned and the impression was that all the people there had brand name apparel and accessories. But I went to that island (along with others) several years ago and didn't get that same impression. It's an interesting story about three teenage girls who did teenage things and then their words and actions are used against them. The story is also about mental health and friendship and family. I didn't really like the ending, as I was left without a concrete closure. This may have been intentional if the author wants to write a follow-up book, but I'm not sure.