Before We Were Innocent by Ella Berman is a contemporary novel that explores the dynamics of teenage friendships and how the sins of our youth can haunt us into adulthood. It’s also a brilliant look at how media and society judge young women amid a tragedy crucifying them for not fitting into societal norms and demonizing them.
Synopsis
Ten years ago best friends Bess, Joni, and Evangeline decided to vacation in Greece for the summer as a final celebration before they started college in the fall and went their separate ways. However, tragedy strikes the friend group when a fatal accident claims Evangeline’s life. Due to the circumstances of her death suspicion falls on Bess and Joni and they become suspects and undergo grueling media scrutiny and a sham of an investigation built on circumstantial evidence and disapproval of the girls’ behavior.
After six months the case falls apart due to lack of new evidence and the girls are free to return home. Bess struggles with the guilt over Evangeline’s death and the trauma that followed. She proceeds to lead a solitary existence shrinking from social interactions and the public eye. Leading a small, secluded existence and foregoing her dreams.
Joni returns with a renewed vigor and zest for life capitalizing off her experience and exploring a career as a writer in New York and later becoming a motivational speaker. Over the years the two drift apart until one night Joni shows up on Bess’s doorstep asking for a favor. Bess feels herself being pulled into Joni’s powerful orbit once more. As she begins to come face to face with the past she’s tried to run away from and facing truths about herself and her friendship with Joni.
Content ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Berman does a superb job of exploring the key themes of this novel while simultaneously providing commentary on media and society vilifying young women in traumatic situations that damage their reputations and livelihoods. She captures the complex dynamics and hierarchies that exist within teenage friendships. She shows how Bess was willing to act and alter her personality, beliefs, and behaviors to acquiesce to her friends to gain acceptance and approval.
She also details the frailty of these friendships when they begin to assert their independence and express their individuality apart from the friendship circle. The rocky dynamics of the girls’ friendship is explored in depth during their vacation in Greece and we see the cracks tearing them apart. As their loyalty to one another is tested.
You get excellent commentary regarding how media and society play a role in high-profile cases involving young women abroad in tragic situations. The questionable narrative is created to vilify, dehumanize, and prosecute Bess and Joni in the court of public opinion. Turning innocuous conversations, petty pranks, and typical teenage behavior into something sinister. And the damaging impact media coverage has on their lives forevermore.
Writing Style ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
You experience the content of this story through Bess’s eyes as you enjoy a single point of view first person narrative. You see how the narrative changes as Joni grows as a character. She moves from an emotionless, stiff tone to a rich tone full of emotion and hope. Allowing you to see her transformation as a character.
The atmosphere and tone of this story were mysterious, tense, and reflective. Berman’s decision to pace the story with alternating timelines that gave you glimpses of the past when the events transpired and how it paralleled with the present and the events unfolding heightened the suspense making for a propulsive read.
Plot Development ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The plot was slow-moving as this is a character-driven story that explores themes directly related to events that transpired in Bess and Joni’s past and their impact on their present. There weren’t major plot twists and the revelations weren’t shocking. Perhaps that’s the point and you’re meant to see these reveals as unremarkable. This way you can better understand how the guilt Bess undergoes is unfounded in light of the actual events that transpired. And that essentially she’s punishing herself.
Yet, when it concludes you don’t receive a satisfactory resolution to either storyline. Much is left up to the interpretation of the reader.
Characterization ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bess and Joni were deeply flawed characters and while multi-layered they weren’t necessarily well-developed. The dynamic between Bess and Joni felt random. Bess stated that Joni was manipulative and controlling and she’d strived for her approval continually during their teens. But much of this appears to be Bess projecting this onto Joni to excuse her actions and behavior.
Despite their friendship dynamic falling flat and feeling forced they both had interesting character arcs in the story. Bess finally faced her trauma and the past and Joni finally confronted her shortcomings in her way.
Rating & Recommendation
This novel is a fascinating read with interesting themes and commentary regarding teenage friendships, the impact of media and public scrutiny on young women involved in a tragedy, our obsession with true crime, grief, guilt, and the impact of trauma. If you enjoy books with these themes this one’s for you.
Also, this would be a great pick for a book club as there’s much conversation and discussion that could be had regarding the themes and commentary explored in this novel.
