Before We Were Sorry

“Complex, captivating, and gorgeously written.” —Karen M. McManus, New York Times bestselling author of One of Us Is Lying and Two Can Keep a Secret

We Were Liars meets Goodbye Days in this “gripping and atmospheric” (Kirkus Reviews) debut novel that sweeps readers away as they try to solve the mystery of what happened then to make Ellory so broken now—now with a brand-new look!

It’s hard to find the truth beneath the lies you tell yourself.

Then: They were four—Bex, Jenni, Ellory, Ret. (Venus. Earth. Moon. Sun.) Electric, headstrong young women; Ellory’s whole solar system.

Now: Ellory is alone, her once inseparable group of friends torn apart by secrets, deception, and a shocking incident that changed their lives forever.

Then: Lazy summer days. A party. A beautiful boy. Ellory met Matthias and fell into the beginning of a spectacular, bright love.

Now: Ellory returns to Pine Brook to navigate senior year after a two-month suspension and summer away—no boyfriend, no friends. No going back. Tormented by some and sought out by others, troubled by a mysterious note-writer who won’t let Ellory forget, and consumed by guilt over her not entirely innocent role in everything and everyone she’s lost, Ellory finds that even in the present, the past is everywhere.

The path forward isn’t a straight line. And moving on will mean sorting the truth from the lies—the lies Ellory has been telling herself.

This book was previously published as See All the Stars.

Kit Frick is a MacDowell Fellow and International Thriller Writers Award finalist from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She studied creative writing at Sarah Lawrence College and received her MFA from Syracuse University. She is the author of the young adult thrillers Before We Were Sorry (originally published as See All the Stars), All Eyes on Us, I Killed Zoe Spanos, Very Bad People, and The Reunion, as well as the poetry collection A Small Rising Up in the Lungs. The Split is her first novel for adults. Kit loves a good mystery but has only ever killed her characters. Honest. Visit Kit online at KitFrick.com and on Instagram @KitFrick.

ISBN: 9781665925938
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books
Published: September 27, 2022

"Complex, captivating, and gorgeously written, this suspenseful story of the lines that blur between friendship, love, and self-discovery demands to be read in one sitting."“Subtle and aching, with writing that crackles off the page—See All the Stars perfectly captures the aftershock of first love, betrayal, and loss.”“Kit Frick combines the hand of a consummate storyteller with the heart of a master poet to craft an intriguing, suspenseful, and compelling story of love, lies, and complicated friendship.”“Full of heart and hard truths, See All the Stars is a vivid, vibrant unraveling of friendship, loss, guilt, and betrayal.”"Not many books surprise me anymore but this one gut punched me in the best way possible. Not only is this a page-turner, but it's also a beautifully weaved story on love, trust, and friendship, that's both relatable and heartfelt. A stunning debut!" "A gritty look at complicated friendships, sure to keep the reader guessing to the end.""If you're looking for a riveting summer page-turner, you found it.""Taut and riveting, Frick’s psychological thriller will keep readers on the edge of their seats."“A gripping and atmospheric contemporary thriller that excels in portraying the complex intensity of its characters.”"The pace of a thriller and the prose of literary fiction.""A book to be devoured in one sitting....Frick's debut will especially be a treat for fans of E. Lockhart's We Were Liars."“In her debut, Frick beautifully pens a compelling tale with which her audience will relate; the sweetness of first love and the burning sting of betrayal are relatable to most. It will appeal to fans of mystery and realistic fiction alike.”