Before We Were Innocent

By: Ella Berman

Narrated by: Jennifer Jill Araya

Reese’s Book Club Pick December 2023

A summer in Greece for three best friends ends in the unthinkable when only two return home. . . .

Ten years ago, after a sun-soaked summer spent in Greece, best friends Bess and Joni were cleared of having any involvement in their friend Evangeline’s death. But that didn’t stop the media from ripping apart their teenage lives like vultures.

While the girls were never convicted, Joni, ever the opportunist, capitalized on her newfound infamy to become a motivational speaker. Bess, on the other hand, resolved to make her life as small and controlled as possible so she wouldn’t risk losing everything all over again. And it almost worked. . . .

Except now Joni needs a favor, and when she turns up at her old friend's doorstep asking for an alibi, Bess has no choice but to say yes. She still owes her. But as the two friends try desperately to shake off their past, they have to face reality.

Can you ever be an innocent woman when everyone wants you to be guilty?

©2023 Ella Berman (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"Two BFFs are accused of murder in this novel that feels like true crime.” —Cosmopolitan

“Ella Berman reveals a teenage girl’s heart of darkness in her absorbing new novel. . . . Written with the urgency and thrill of an illicit secret, Before We Were Innocent captures the pleasures and perils of American girlhood.” —Jillian Medoff, bestselling author of When We Were Bright and Beautiful

“With evocative and astute prose, Berman’s sophomore effort is a…searing portrayal of the intoxicating power of privilege, youth, and female friendship.” —Booklist

Heartwarming & breaking

The story kept me engaged the entire time and on the edge of my seat until the very end. I felt the honesty and hope the author conveys and can’t help but relate. I wish I could share the story with my son (he probably wouldn’t receive it, though lol), so he can catch a glimpse of the struggle of “growing up” including the naïveté we all inevitably experience.

I expected some kind of chaotic storyline/writing style based on some of the reviews I read indicating the alternation between one time period and another was a challenge to follow. It is NOT a new, outlandish writing technique that is hard to follow. It is NOT complex. It is NOT confusing. I agree with one review I read (paraphrased) about people having elementary reading skills if they couldn’t follow it. Please don’t be deterred in any way if you read those reviews and wonder if the book would be too complex. You’ll be just fine. Enjoy!

A few really great twists!

I really enjoyed this book and its twists. It’s a little Amanda Knox and a little Brokedown Palace combined. The author did a great job of describing the effect that the media has on cases like these, and the harsh judgment of the public on 17 year old kids. Best book I’ve read in some time.

The story DRAGGGSSSS

The book could have ended an hour earlier. It drag on for so long after the climax. I was waiting for another twist - but was disappointed…

Not my favorite

Long, drawn out and the reveal wasn’t worth the exhaustive backstory. A little too adolescent for me. A bit whiny and self serving for the main character Bess.

Reese really?

This book was just inane. I really was hoping for more. It just fell flat.
The character development was good and the characters were likable. Other than that I will never get those hours back.

Not the most likable characters

Just finished listening to Before we were innocent..the plot was ok but the main characters were not very un-likable , I found myself wondering why these three girls were even friends in the first place. Did not love the way it ended either..

Liked a lot of it, the plot??

There is a lot to really like about this story. Characters are really well defined and personalities jump off the page/ headphones. The author chose a plot similar to actual events in respect to place, ages, behavior, consequences. Maybe it would read better if it wasn’t so similar. Seems unimaginative and limiting. As the story continues again some similarities but enough side stories to really recognize that the writing is really good. Close to being a really great listen. Definitely worth it if you’re not too invested.

Narration was great. Really captured the main characters separating their voices and inner dialogue.

The Narrator

The Narrator was great. The story only ok. It was a bit slow is in sections.

Really well written!

Kept me in suspense the whole time. And we really thought it was very well written hard to determine what was going on not easy to predict but explained really well very enjoyable lots of lessons to learn from this one.

The Ending

If there was 4.5 I would give it. Binged it through a whole day of work, couldn’t stop listening. The only real issue I had was the ending felt a little undone . Maybe the point was we don’t know if a certain character is alive still, but it felt unfinished. Like I even looked for a sequel.