Key Insights & Memorable Quotes
Below are the most popular and impactful highlights and quotes from Things We Hide from the Light:
“Being vulnerable doesn’t mean you’re weak. It means you trust yourself to be strong enough to handle the hurt. It’s actually the purest form of strength.”
“However, unpopular opinion here. You’re not responsible for how you were brought up, but you are responsible for your actions and reactions once you’re an adult.”
“Whenever you’re close, everything is better. The closer you are, the easier I breathe … You take away the dark, the cold. And you remind me what it’s like to want to be here.”
“Sometimes you don’t have to weigh every single pro and con. Sometimes the answer is the one that just feels right.”
“He made me feel like I was special … He made me feel like he needed me. No one’s ever needed me.”
“Friends make friends better. We accept the bad parts, celebrate the good parts, and we don't torture you for your mistakes”
“Whenever you’re close, everything is better. The closer you are, the easier I breathe, the less I feel like life is just a never-ending pour of lemon juice into an open wound that won’t heal. You take away the dark, the cold. And you remind me what it’s like to want to be here.”
“I just wish I woulda kept trying to look to the light instead of sinking into the dark,” he said. “A man can learn to live in that dark, but it’s no life.”
“Stop seeing Sloane and the job is yours.” “You’ve gotta be fuckin’ kidding me,” Nolan said. “Okay, seriously? You hate her guts but you don’t want her dating anyone else? Even you have to realize how unhealthy that is,” I said. “I never claimed to be healthy,” Lucian said in his scary voice. “Then why the hell am I taking advice from you?” I demanded. “How the hell should I know?” “Bunch of feral assholes,” Nolan muttered, storming out of my office.”
“Lucian was the type to methodically and creatively destroy your life”
“That vulnerability shit is just like respect. It’s earned.”
“Yep,” I squeaked. “Totally fine. Just a…charley horse.” In my vagina, I added silently.”
“You’re everything I always wanted and never thought I deserved.”
“You went to Lucian for advice? That guy is one typewriter away from The Shining. I mean, it’s great that he owns his fucked-upness, but he’s the guy you go to for stock tips or to make someone disappear. He’s not the guy you go to for advice on women.”
“You shaved,” she said when I remained silent. I ran my hand over my jaw and grinned. “Thought it would make for a smoother ride.”
“It was a feeling. Some kind of magic. A rightness, I guess. It definitely didn’t make any logical sense. On paper we couldn’t be more ill-suited to each other. But there was something so right about how it felt to be with him.”
“She turned to Knox. “And you were right about Nash getting hurt and now you’re both mad at each other for that.”“Well, breakfast didn’t help,” Knox admitted.Naomi closed her eyes. “Is that why you were such a bridezilla with the florist yesterday?”“Baby’s breath is stupid. Fight me,” he said.”
“Your gun is digging into me.” “That’s not my gun,” I said through clenched teeth.”
“Just so you know for future purposes, this abduction could have been a text or an email.”
“Maybe it’s about experiencing it all. The good, the bad, and everything in between.”
“Some things are tougher than others to get over,”
“He’s also got that whole broody thing going right now. Like the man’s got storm clouds in his head and he’s just lookin’ for a little sunshine.” “Yeah, well, he can go find his vitamin D someplace else.” And so would I. Ha. Solid inner monologue dick joke.”
“Why did you provoke me?” she asked.“You make me feel things. And after going long enough without feeling anything, feeling something – even if it’s anger or adrenaline – is better than the nothing.”
“I can’t believe you got me out of bed with Naomi for this,” Knox complained. “Same here.” “Your brother was in bed with Lina,” Lucian tattled. “The fuck he was. The fuck you were,” Knox said, swinging my way. “Don’t you fucking start,” I warned. “I told you to stay away from her.”
“But Nash struck me as the settling-down type, and I was allergic to relationships.-Angelina Solavita”
“Naomi elbowed him in the gut. “Be polite.” “No,” he growled.”
“As for you, I’m not a man to be truffled with. Your boyfriend should have known that."Trifled,” Nikos corrected. “Truffle is a goddamn mushroom, you fucking idiot.”
“Thanks for the dance, Angel.”
“For fuck’s sake. They can’t get together.” He pointed at Nash. “This idiot practically has ‘put a fuckin’ ring on it’ tattooed on his fucking ass” Then he jerked his chin in my direction. “And that pain in the ass has ‘love ‘em and leave ‘em’ tattooed on hers.”
“Baby, it’s not a game to me. This is my life. You are the only thing in my entire existence that makes me feel like I’ve got a shot at finding my way back. I don’t understand it. And frankly I don’t need to. All I know is I feel better when I’m touching you.”
