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The ghosts that haunt us aren't always human.

Liss Larkin and Nao Kao Inthavong hail from opposite corners of the world when they meet in graduate school; she an exuberant daughter of the American Midwest, and he the reserved survivor of Southeast Asia's long wars. Yet their connection is immediate and their bond gradually deepens - right up until the moment Liss walks away without a word of explanation. 

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Twenty years later, Liss and Nao Kao unexpectedly cross paths again and emotions that seemed lost to time resurface as the pair reckons with the decisions they made years ago. Ultimately, Liss finds herself traveling to Laos, bound toward the one person she had sworn to forget, nor sure what, or who, she will find when she lands. 

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I Never Said I Love You is a gorgeous meditation on travel, friendship, forgiveness, and roads not taken that follows one woman's journey through her past and across the world. From the ancient temples of Luang Prabang to a remote corner of Senegal and through the heartland of America, Liss traces the contours of a relationship that spans decades and continents as she comes to terms with what it means to either shape life or be shaped by it.

 

I Never Said I Love You is sure to resonate with any reader who has turned left at a fork in the road, only to wonder years later where the path to the right would have led.

Awards and Reviews

 

**2024 American Fiction Awards Winner: Travelogue**

**2024 American Fiction Awards Finalist: Multicultural Fiction**

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Sarah Magee excels in creating characters and connections that embrace cultural and psychological differences. ... I Never Said I Love You holds vivid and unexpected insights about friendships, connections, and life events which drive people either together or apart. ... It deserves recommendation to book clubs and patrons interested in debating and thinking about the impact of travel, revelations, and deals with the devil in a story that churns out delightfully complex and thought-provoking details that readers won't see coming.

- Midwest Book Review

This is a story readers will want to lose themselves in.

- Sharon Emery, author of 2023 Michigan Notable Book It's Hard Being You

...a poignant and beautifully crafted narrative that delves into the complexities of human relationships and the journey of self-discovery. ... Magee's prose is eloquent and engaging, with a seamless blend of introspection and external observation. ... Its engaging narrative, well-crafted characters, and thoughtful exploration of complex themes make it a standout work in contemporary fiction.

- The St. Louis Literary Review

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Set against a poingantly and nostalgically painted backdrop...Their interactions are played out with a strong sense of cultural awareness that nods to the importance of having global perspective when forming human connections...It's clear the author did extensive research on Laos...

- The Michigan Daily

A photo of Sarah Magee in a boat facing the water.

About Sarah

Sarah is an inveterate traveler, unabashed globalist, and firm believer in always eating dessert first. It is never too early for ice cream. She is a master packer of suitcases and lifelong Michigander. I Never Said I Love You is her literary debut.

For literary, film, or TV inquiries, please complete the contact form below.

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