We Would Never Summary, Characters and Themes
We Would Never by Tova Mirvis is a dark, introspective novel set in rural Maine in 2019.
Told through shifting perspectives and structured into eight interconnected chapters—all titled the same—it explores the psychological and emotional unraveling of a family entangled in a morally fraught decision: whether to murder a man they believe is emotionally abusive. Through layered character portraits and haunting memories, Mirvis confronts themes of generational trauma, guilt, spiritual reckoning, and the blurry line between justice and vengeance. The novel’s quiet tension and deeply personal narrative voice make it a piercing meditation on the cost of choosing to act—or not.
Summary
We Would Never follows the moral and emotional descent of a fractured family confronting the shadow of a destructive patriarch, Jonah Gelman.
Set entirely in Maine in 2019, the story unfolds through a fragmented structure where each chapter bears the same title but provides a different point of view, deepening the sense of claustrophobia and psychological tension.
The book opens in the wake of Jonah’s murder, with his ex-wife Hailey being questioned by police. Media coverage paints Jonah as a complex and controversial public intellectual, but the personal toll of his behavior—especially on his family—is starkly revealed.
Hailey has retreated to a remote cabin with her daughter Maya, trying to escape public scrutiny and process her trauma. Her grief is complicated by relief, fear, and the eerie suspicion that her family may have been involved in Jonah’s death.
Sherry, Hailey’s mother and the emotional core of the novel, takes center stage next. Driven by her fierce maternal instincts and fear for Hailey and Maya’s well-being, she begins to consider an unspeakable solution: killing Jonah.
Her reflections are steeped in religious guilt and existential dread. Conversations with her son Nate and Tara—Nate’s girlfriend and a morally ambiguous co-conspirator—show the increasing seriousness of their plot.
As plans solidify, Sherry becomes both the mastermind and a prisoner of her own moral compromises. Meanwhile, Hailey and Jonah’s past is revisited through strained co-parenting moments, which depict Jonah as manipulative, condescending, and emotionally abusive.
A bitter encounter over custody reveals Sherry’s desperation as she offers Jonah money to let Hailey move away. Jonah’s mocking refusal catalyzes the family’s grim resolve.
Each interaction underscores the depth of trauma Jonah has inflicted and how deeply it has corroded the family’s ability to cope through legal or emotional channels. Nate emerges as a reluctant participant, grappling with the legacy of his own childhood suffering.
He is torn between loyalty to his mother and moral uncertainty. He recalls pivotal moments of familial disconnect, such as a disastrous family trip meant to heal but only deepened their wounds.
His internal battle mirrors the family’s broader reckoning: they’re acting out of protection, but doing so through violence. The plot thickens as Sherry and Tara edge closer to executing their plan.
Sherry rehearses what she’ll say and do during a final confrontation with Jonah. She tries once more to convince him to let Hailey go, but the interaction is a volcanic clash of grievances, bitterness, and long-suppressed rage.
Sherry nearly hits him with her car afterward—a moment that symbolizes how close she is to the precipice. As Yom Kippur arrives, Sherry seeks spiritual clarity, only to be met with profound emptiness.
Her guilt swells. She ultimately gives Tara the green light, cementing her place in a murder conspiracy.
From this point, the novel’s atmosphere turns feverish and ghostlike. Hailey begins to suspect the truth, confronting Sherry, who weakly denies involvement.
The novel’s title—We Would Never—becomes an echo of Hailey’s disbelief, denial, and the last fragile defense of her conscience. The story closes in the aftermath.
At a family funeral, Hailey finally admits to Adam, a confidant, that she knows Sherry and Nate were responsible. Yet, she clings to a performative normalcy for Maya’s sake.
The family sits together, bound by a secret they cannot name but cannot escape. Despite their physical closeness, a chasm of guilt and silence remains.
Mirvis ends the novel not with resolution, but with the haunting awareness that even acts committed in love can shatter the soul.
Characters
Hailey
Hailey is a central figure in the novel, portrayed as a woman entangled in complex emotions and a turbulent past. As the ex-wife of Jonah Gelman, she is burdened by both guilt and confusion.
Hailey’s inner turmoil is especially evident in her interactions with her family, particularly her mother, Sherry, and her daughter, Maya. She appears torn between seeking freedom and dealing with the fallout of Jonah’s death, which seems to have been influenced by her family’s actions.
Hailey is also depicted as somewhat passive, allowing those around her to shape her decisions, especially in terms of her daughter’s future. However, as the novel progresses, Hailey begins to confront her own complicity in the events surrounding Jonah’s death, ultimately acknowledging that she knew more than she initially let on.
Sherry
Sherry is a woman caught between her maternal instincts and her moral convictions. Her character arc is one of deep internal conflict, driven by a desire to protect her daughter at any cost.
She becomes entangled in a morally ambiguous plan to eliminate Jonah, believing that his existence endangers Hailey’s well-being. Throughout the novel, Sherry is portrayed as a woman who is willing to cross ethical boundaries for the sake of what she believes is her daughter’s safety, though she is constantly tormented by guilt and spiritual unease.
Her role as a mother is both her strength and her weakness, as it blinds her to the consequences of her actions. Sherry’s unraveling mental state is explored through her conversations with other characters and her inner dialogue, which reflects a woman teetering on the brink of moral collapse.
Jonah Gelman
Jonah, though not present for much of the narrative, looms large as a contentious and divisive figure. He is depicted as brilliant, yet deeply flawed, and his relationship with Hailey and his daughter Maya is fraught with tension.
Jonah’s character is revealed through flashbacks and the perspectives of other characters, mainly Hailey and Sherry. He is portrayed as someone who commands respect but also instigates conflict, making him both a victim and a catalyst for the events that unfold.
His murder, or at least the plot to kill him, is framed as a necessary act in the eyes of Hailey’s family, though it is clear that Jonah’s death is a product of complex, personal motivations rather than a simple act of justice.
Maya
Maya, Hailey’s daughter, plays a more passive role in the story, but her presence is significant. She symbolizes the tension between Hailey and Jonah, serving as a focal point for their custody disputes.
Maya is also a representation of the collateral damage of adult conflicts. While she is caught in the middle of her parents’ turmoil, she is also a victim of her family’s emotional and moral failures.
Maya’s innocence contrasts sharply with the dark events that occur around her, especially as the novel progresses and her family’s secrets begin to surface.
Nate
Nate, Sherry’s son, is another crucial character who grapples with his place within the family dynamic. He reflects on his childhood and the intense emotional conflicts that shaped his sense of identity.
Throughout the novel, Nate is caught between loyalty to his mother and a growing recognition of the moral implications of the plan they are involved in. His character is torn between family loyalty and a deepening understanding of the wrongness of their actions.
As the story progresses, Nate becomes more deeply implicated in the scheme, highlighting his internal struggle with the consequences of the choices made by his family.
Tara
Tara is an accomplice of Sherry in the plot to kill Jonah. While her motivations are less clearly outlined compared to other characters, Tara’s role in the plan makes her a key player in the unfolding events.
She is often seen in conversation with Sherry, grappling with the moral and ethical implications of their actions. Tara’s involvement in the plot brings out her vulnerability, and it is through her interactions with Sherry and Kevin that we see the unraveling of the plan and the characters’ shifting emotional states.
Kevin
Kevin, Tara’s boyfriend, plays a more passive role in the narrative but acts as a sounding board for Sherry’s increasingly erratic behavior. His interactions with Sherry are filled with tension and an underlying sense of complicity, even though he is not directly involved in the decision to kill Jonah.
His responses to Sherry’s manipulative actions suggest that he may be aware of more than he lets on. Kevin’s character reflects the theme of denial and complicity that runs throughout the novel, as he appears to be caught up in the family’s dysfunction without taking clear action.
Themes
The Struggle Between Redemption and Destruction
The novel We Would Never grapples with the profound tension between the desire for redemption and the destructive actions that arise when individuals feel trapped by their circumstances. This theme is explored through Sherry’s internal conflict, where her longing to protect her daughter, Hailey, from Jonah’s psychological and emotional grip leads her down a dangerous path.
Throughout the novel, Sherry wrestles with the moral implications of her involvement in the murder plot against Jonah. As the plan draws closer to execution, Sherry attempts to rationalize her actions as necessary for Hailey’s freedom, even as she feels an increasing sense of spiritual dread.
Her belief that she is acting for a greater good, combined with her self-destructive tendencies, creates a powerful dynamic of inner turmoil. Ultimately, Sherry’s journey reflects a larger commentary on the complexities of moral justification and the devastating impact of decisions driven by unresolved guilt and a desire for control.
The Weight of Memory and Its Impact on Identity
Memory and its role in shaping personal identity is another central theme in We Would Never, woven throughout the narrative as the characters struggle to reconcile their past actions with their present selves. The haunting recollections of Jonah’s abusive behavior and Hailey’s complicated relationship with him play a critical role in defining who they are and how they view their place in the world.
For Hailey, memory is both a source of strength and a burden, as she grapples with the identity forged by years of manipulation and emotional abuse. Sherry, too, is impacted by her memories of past trauma, particularly those linked to Jonah and her dysfunctional family dynamics.
Her recollections motivate her actions, but they also bind her to a destructive cycle where she is constantly at war with her own identity. The novel highlights how past experiences, especially those involving emotional manipulation and trauma, shape not just the choices individuals make but also how they perceive their worth and the world around them.
The Interplay Between Familial Love and Betrayal
Familial relationships in We Would Never are steeped in love, but that love is constantly tested by betrayal, manipulation, and moral compromise. Sherry’s actions are driven by a twisted form of maternal love for her daughter, Hailey, but this love becomes entangled with deep-seated resentment and a desire for control over Hailey’s life.
Sherry’s decision to involve others, such as Tara and Kevin, in her scheme to murder Jonah is a direct result of her desperate need to protect Hailey, but it also reveals the extent to which she is willing to compromise familial loyalty for what she believes is the greater good. The complicated interactions between Hailey, Sherry, and other family members illustrate how love within families can be simultaneously nurturing and destructive.
Hailey’s denial of her family’s involvement in Jonah’s death further complicates the emotional landscape, as she attempts to shield herself from the painful reality of her mother’s actions while still clinging to the belief that “they would never” commit such an atrocity. This tension between love and betrayal underscores the complexity of family bonds, where devotion can morph into toxic control, and trust can be easily shattered.
The Paradox of Moral and Spiritual Reckoning
A recurring theme in We Would Never is the paradox of moral and spiritual reckoning, as characters continuously struggle with their guilt, fear of punishment, and a desire for redemption. Sherry’s experience during Yom Kippur, where she attempts to find solace in synagogue prayers but instead faces overwhelming guilt and spiritual dread, exemplifies the tension between her actions and her understanding of moral rightness.
The story paints a vivid picture of how individuals who engage in morally questionable or destructive acts often wrestle with their spiritual identity and their understanding of divine justice. Sherry’s escalating sense of guilt and her interactions with the people around her—especially Tara, Kevin, and Hailey—demonstrate the internal conflict that arises when one’s actions are in direct contradiction with their spiritual or moral beliefs.
The novel portrays how spiritual and moral reckoning can sometimes lead individuals to an irreversible path of destruction, as they rationalize their actions and come to terms with the consequences of their decisions, whether through denial or acceptance of guilt.
The Corrosive Effects of Media and Public Scrutiny
Another critical theme in We Would Never is the impact of media and public scrutiny on the lives of the characters, particularly Hailey and Jonah. The media’s portrayal of Jonah as a complex and divisive figure exacerbates the tension between his public persona and the private reality of his abusive relationship with Hailey.
As Hailey becomes the subject of media attention following Jonah’s death, she is thrust into a battle not just for her own survival but for the truth of her personal identity, which becomes overshadowed by public perception. The media’s role in the novel underscores the ways in which individuals are reduced to symbols of larger societal issues, often losing their personal narratives in the process.
This theme highlights the dehumanizing effects of public attention, where individuals are no longer seen as complex human beings but as subjects of external judgment and exploitation.
Hailey’s struggle to maintain her sense of self amidst the media frenzy reflects the challenges many individuals face in an age of constant surveillance and media sensationalism, where one’s identity can be easily manipulated and distorted.