REVIEW - MORE THAN WE CAN TELL BY BRIGID KEMMERER

Title: More Than We Can Tell

Series: Letters To The Lost
*While this book exists in the same universe as Letters to the Lost, it is a standalone title.*

Author: Brigid Kemmerer

Genre: YA, Teen, Contemporary, Romance

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing UK & ANZ

Release Date: 8th March 2018

BLURB from Goodreads

Rev Fletcher is battling the demons of his past. But with loving adoptive parents by his side, he’s managed to keep them at bay...until he gets a letter from his abusive father and the trauma of his childhood comes hurtling back.

Emma Blue spends her time perfecting the computer game she built from scratch, rather than facing her parents’ crumbling marriage. She can solve any problem with the right code, but when an online troll’s harassment escalates, she’s truly afraid.

When Rev and Emma meet, they both long to lift the burden of their secrets and bond instantly over their shared turmoil. But when their situations turn dangerous, their trust in each other will be tested in ways they never expected. This must-read story will once again have readers falling for Brigid Kemmerer’s emotional storytelling.

Goodreads Link

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon US

Amazon UK

REVIEW

Having read Letters To The Lost I really wanted to read this book, especially when I realised the main character in this book was a character I had met and loved in Letters To The Lost. Who couldn't love Rev Fletcher? Would this book show me a different bad boy side or would I love him even more? I should also probably say that this book, More Than We Can Tell had the amazing Letters To The Lost book to live up.

So I've seen a couple of covers for this book and have chosen to feature the UK cover for my review and done a cover compare below for both covers. 
This cover has a white background and has what I would describe as text or speech bubbles with the title placed within them. I love the colours within these "bubbles". This cover also has a great byline which say's "Looking For Answers, They Found Each Other" which perfectly fits the situation of how Rev and Emma meet and tentatively begin their friendship which then leads onto a more romantic relationship. 

The genre's I have seen listed for this book so far are, Teen, YA, Contemporary and Romance which I totally agree with and would add that I think this book would appeal to older readers too. I can definitely say I don't fit the Teen or YA age group but read and . . . well read the rest of my review to find out what I thought.

As the blurb explains, and we learnt in Letters To The Lost, Rev has had a deeply troubled past and suffered at the hands of his so called religious father. His father used to quote parts of the bible to Rev. There was a fitting quote to hurl at Rev for any and every transgression he either did commit or that his father said he had committed. I guess at the end of Letters To The Lost, Rev was happily learning to enjoy life and living with his adoptive parents Geoff and Kristin. Suddenly, all that changes when he receives a letter from his father. Rev's instant reaction is to message back saying to leave him alone. Rev soon regrets replying as this seems to encourage his father even more! Rev still struggles to believe that his new mum and dad fully accept him flaws and all. Torn between bothering his new parents and the guilt that was instilled in him as a youngster by his father, he feels he has to reply. This interaction continues and Rev's emotions become more and more troubled. Rev also questions his own actions when he is angry, thinking maybe one day he won't stop. He thinks he could seriously hurt or even kill someone. More and more Rev wonders what his father wants by contacting him.

The other main character in this book is Emma Blue aka Azure M (her gaming name) who I wasn't sure about to begin with as she came across as a little spoilt and perhaps ungrateful, maybe a little selfish too. Emma belittles her best friend Caits hobby of you tubing about beauty and different make up styles and techniques. Emma seems to have the attitude that her gaming creation is much more important than any of Caits sessions on you tube.
When Emma's world as she knows it falls apart, we see a different side of her and I admit I did end up growing to love her during the course of the book. Emma seems to have been quite sheltered and naive. Her mum works in the medical profession and would like Emma to aspire to such a career. However Emma is more into technology and gaming like her father. Emma has designed her own game and people are actually playing it. One guy called Ethan tells her its great and regularly teams up with her virtually to play on Otherland's (Emma's game) and other online games too. The only sign of trouble on Emma's radar is another gamer called N1ghtmare who is basically trolling her. 

Rev and Emma accidentally meet due to Emma's dog taking a liking to Rev when it runs off. They talk and end up meeting again and again, slowly they begin to trust each other with their secrets. troubles and family problems.

Things rapidly become worse for Emma when she is suddenly hit with the news her parents are divorcing and the house she has grown up in will need to be sold! Then her troll turns a bad day into a hellish one! It is lucky for her that she is good with technology and has Rev when she gets herself into a rather tricky, dangerous situation.

The other complex troubled youngster in this book that comes into the temporary care of Geoff and Krisitin is Matthew. Matthew is quite similar to Rev, in that he doesn't talk much and tries to keep himself to himself. Rev tries a few times to reach out to Matthew but is rejected. The one that "breaks the ice" is Declan. It seems this is Declans specialty as it was him that had the first break through with Rev when he first arrived at Geoff and Kristin's home. Some of Matthews back story is revealed and when he is bullied at school Rev and Declan offer both, their friendship and support.

It was great to catch up with Declan and his own life is going in a good direction with Juliet. Though when he decides to visit his father for the very first time in years it is Rev who he asks to accompany him. The other important event in the book for Declan is the arrival of his mum and her new partners baby which makes the baby his half sibling. 

At around 60%-65% I had already decided that this was another brilliant, emotional book by Brigid Kemmerer. I honestly didn't think this book would be as good as Letters To The Lost, it isn't, it's even better! I'm totally besotted with Rev and Emma. Though I have an increasingly uneasy creepy feeling about Ethan & Nightmare. 

My immediate thoughts when I finished this book were, wow is it that late? I finished reading well after midnight. I couldn't put this book down once I got to 72%. It really was an amazing book, full of realistic characters, some that you could either instantly like and grow to love during the course of the book. This book tackles some tough subjects really well. Brigid had me hooked from the beginning and held fast to the very last word at the end. If you read and loved Letters To The Lost you will adore reading more about Rev Fletcher in this book. 

I wonder if there could be a third book maybe with Matthew as the central character? Maybe Geoff & Kristin would eventually adopt him too? I would certainly love more Rev & Emma and Declan & Juliet! Maybe Matthew could reveal even more of his background and maybe meet a girlfriend etc. Please Brigid say there's going to be more!?

COVER COMPARE

So which cover is your favourite and why?