When We Were Worthy, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
When We Were Worthy, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen
2 Rating(s)
List: $35.99 | Sale: $25.20
Club: $17.99

When We Were Worthy

Author: Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Narrator: Joshilyn Jackson

Unabridged: 9 hr 5 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download (DRM Protected)

Published: 09/12/2017


Synopsis

“Evoking Emmy limited-series winner Big Little Lies, Whalen’s novel is about a Georgia town ripped apart when an outcast boy kills three cheerleaders in a car accident, bringing secrets and simmering tensions to the surface.” —The Hollywood Reporter When the sound of sirens cuts through a cool fall night, the small town of Worthy, Georgia, hurtles from triumph to tragedy. Just hours before, they’d watched the Wildcats score a winning touchdown. Now, they’re faced with the deaths of three cheerleaders—their promising lives cut short in a fatal crash. And the boy in the other car—the only one to survive—is believed to be at fault. As rumors begin to fly and accusations spin, allegiances form and long-kept secrets emerge.At the center of the whirlwind are four women, each grappling with loss, regret, shame, and lies: Marglyn, a grieving mother; Darcy, whose son had been behind the wheel; Ava, a substitute teacher with a scandalous secret; and Leah, a cheerleader who should have been in the car with her friends, but wasn’t. If the truth comes out, will it bring redemption—or will it be their downfall?

About Marybeth Mayhew Whalen

Marybeth Mayhew Whalen is the author of several novels, including When We Were Worthy and The Things We Wish Were True. She speaks to women’s groups around the United States and is the cofounder of the popular women’s fiction site www.shereads.org. Married for twenty-six years, she and her husband, Curt, live in North Carolina with their six children, ranging from young adult to elementary age. Although Marybeth spends most of her time in the grocery store, she occasionally escapes to scribble some words and work on her next novel. Visit her at www.marybethwhalen.com.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Chelsea on December 20, 2017

My first MBW novel was her previous book, The Things We Wish Were True (pub 2016) and I adored it! Being a fellow southern belle, Marybeth's writing feels familiar in an easygoing sense, and when I had the opportunity to meet her in Savannah later that same year, I was able to experience her warm he......more

Goodreads review by Deanna on September 29, 2017

My reviews can also be seen at: [URL not allowed] After reading the description for WHEN WE WERE WORTHY, I knew it was another novel that I just had to read. The events in the novel take place in, WORTHY, GEORGIA. Population 4162 Worthy is the like most small towns, ever......more

Goodreads review by Susanne on November 12, 2017

4 Stars. In the town of Worthy, Football is all that matters - that is until tragedy strikes. A car crash happens - killing the three most popular High School cheerleaders: MC, Brynne, and Keary, leaving the town in pieces. The worst part? Graham, a teenager from the High School was also involved in......more

Goodreads review by Tina on July 21, 2017

My first book by Marybeth Mayhew Whalen and what a tremendous story! She is a very talented author. The story takes place in a small town in Georgia. A devastating event occurs for the town and changes many lives forever. The story is told by 4 different people and each has something else going on i......more

Goodreads review by Sarah on September 11, 2017

Can we just take a moment to admire that gorgeous cover?Look at it! Stunning. I was powerless against it and had to give this one a shot. Small town Worthy, Georgia. Where football is huge, wins make your week and losses devastate. That's a lot of pressure to put on high school boys... and a huge e......more


Quotes

A Liz and Lisa Best Book of the Month“Evoking Emmy limited-series winner Big Little Lies, Whalen’s novel is about a Georgia town ripped apart when an outcast boy kills three cheerleaders in a car accident, bringing secrets and simmering tensions to the surface.” The Hollywood Reporter“A fast-paced, heart-pounding story with secrets, tragedy, finger pointing and forgiveness. The characters are multifaceted and interesting: some are caring, some cunning, some are hard as stone, and others are unpredictable. Whalen is a talented author and she brings small town values and troubles to life in this novel.” —RT Book Reviews“As events of the night are slowly uncovered, all four women’s stories become intertwined, all coming to an explosive finale. A story of small-town secrets and the women behind them, the story will keep readers guessing until the end.” The Parkersburg News and Sentinel“Whalen (The Things We Wish Were True) delivers small-town anguish, anger, gossip, and heartbreak in this page-turner. For readers of Jodi Picoult and lovers of Liane Moriarty’s Big Little Lies.” Library Journal“A gripping, emotional read from an extremely talented author.” —Novel GossipWhen We Were Worthy is a startlingly clear look at life in a small town where the carefully crafted characters are neither heroes nor villains—they are simply real people wedged into an unimaginable situation. Heart-wrenching and vivid, this is a beautifully written novel about letting go and holding on, of family, of love, and, ultimately, of forgiveness.” —Karen White, New York Times bestselling authorWhen We Were Worthy is a poignant, haunting story of truths and secrets—the power of tragedy to unravel an entire community, and then stitch it back together—I couldn’t turn the pages fast enough.” —Amber Smith, New York Times bestselling author of The Way I Used to Be“Not everyone who lives in Worthy, Georgia lives up to the name. In When We Were Worthy, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen explores the spectrum of guilt and innocence in one small town after the tenuous connections between neighbors and friends are tested by a horrific accident. Told in alternating voices, this compulsively captivating novel weaves a tapestry of wrenching grief, love, anger, danger, and, eventually, hope.” —Ella Joy Olsen, author of Root, Petal, Thorn and Where the Sweet Bird Sings“Fans of Liane Moriarty and Jodi Picoult—this is an author for your favorites shelf. Marybeth Mayhew Whalen’s taut, smart novel is a natural-born page-turner that doesn’t sacrifice depth of feeling or character. Whalen knows this town, these people, and she lays them open for us with razor-sharp insight, wit, and empathy. Don’t miss this one.” —Joshilyn Jackson, New York Times bestselling author of Gods in Alabama and The Almost Sisters“What do you do when your whole life is turned around, crushed, and destroyed? Do you rise above it? Do you seek revenge? Do you run away? Do you blame yourself? When We Were Worthy is a brilliant, gripping novel that challenges the fabric of who we think we are, a story that speaks to both the fragility and strength of the human spirit in the wake of tragedy. I highly, highly recommend this novel!” —Joy Callaway, author of The Fifth Avenue Artists Society and Secret Sisters“In When We Were Worthy, Marybeth Mayhew Whalen expertly weaves a haunting story of a small town ripped apart by tragedy. Narrated by four women—each with unique ties to the victims of a terrible car crash—each revealing secrets and lies that will make you second-guess everyone and everything. Written with heart and a splash of southern spice, When We Were Worthy is both charming and powerful.” —Liz Fenton and Lisa Steinke, authors of The Good Widow