WESLEY’S BOOKSHELF

This bookshelf brings together the books that first drew me into reading and the novels that helped shape The Life We Never Lived.

At the top are Hatchet and To Kill a Mockingbird, two books I read in junior high and high school that helped spark my love of reading. They belong here because they were the beginning, long before I ever imagined writing a novel of my own.

The other books on these shelves have influenced my novel in different ways. Some taught me something about dialogue, the rhythm of a conversation, or what a character leaves unsaid. Others showed me how deeply a story can draw readers into someone’s emotional life, including the confusion of questioning a relationship, another person, or yourself. A few share themes and emotional territory with The Life We Never Lived, helping me understand where my story might sit alongside other novels.

I hope this shelf gives you a glimpse into my writing—and a few ideas for what to read next.