In an idyllic small-town neighborhood, a near tragedy triggers a series of dark revelations.
From the outside, Sycamore Glen, North Carolina, might look like the perfect all-American neighborhood. But behind the white picket fences lies a web of secrets that reach from house to house.
Up and down the streets, neighbors quietly bear the weight of their own pasts—until an accident at the … accident at the community pool upsets the delicate equilibrium. And when tragic circumstances compel a woman to return to Sycamore Glen after years of self-imposed banishment, the tangle of the neighbors’ intertwined lives begins to unravel.
During the course of a sweltering summer, long-buried secrets are revealed, and the neighbors learn that it’s impossible to really know those closest to us. But is it impossible to love and forgive them?
more
Very good book and so engrossing. There was a thing or two you might figure out beforehand but there are quite a few you did not see coming. A real page turner!
The Things We Wish Were True is the story of a summer in one suburban community. It asks you this: even if you know your neighbors, how well do you REALLY know them? Told through multiple perspectives, there is a homecoming, some romance, and a tragedy at the neighborhood pool, around which the action revolves. What made Jencey leave right after high school, and why did she come home? Does Bryte’s husband, still hold a candle for his old flame? Where did Lance’s wife really go? What exactly is Zell’s relationship with her sons?
The multiple points of view help spice up the action; even if the other characters don’t know something, the reader does. Interestingly enough, the only first-person perspective is that of Cailey, a young girl. Through her story and that of the others, the theme is expertly woven: everyone has things they hide or at least are hesitant to share, even with those close to them. An engaging mystery, slice-of-life novel, and thought-provoking testament to community relationships, this is a must-read!
Great plot and characters
Ending very satisfying
The further you read, you find each person has their own secrets. And a new one unfolds the farther you read. This book was really good, definitely makes you think and wonder what secrets you can keep and how you’d feel if it was kept from you.
Such a compelling story. It was kind of slow to start, but once it pulls you in it will not let you go. The characters were a bit over the top, and dramatic at times. But for me it was like reading about the neighborhood next to “Desperate Housewives, Wisteria Lane”.
Everyone has secrets. Some are small, like a note from a secret admirerer. Others are big. And big secrets spread out like ripples, affecting those who aren’t aware a secret even exist. Some even affect a whole community. In Marybeth Mayhew Whalen’s The Things We Wish Were True everyone has a secret, and how these secrets play out one hot Southern summer are as refreshing, and as sour, as a homemade dill pickle.
Zell, Bryte, Jencey, Cailley, and the other residents of Sycamore Glen gather daily at the community swimming pool throughout the hot summer of 2014. Cailley’s brother’s near drowning brings her into the orbit of the other women, all who wrestle with secrets. Some recent, some long past, they all have the potential to explode each other’s lives. It is Cailley, however, who uncovers the biggest secret, kept by an unassuming neighbor. The revelations that come as summer draws to a close bring healing, forgiveness, and unlikely second chances.
The blurb makes it seem as if the incident with Cailley’s brother is more important than it actually is. Though it does put characters in each other’s path, it is not a key part of the plot or as dramatic as one might think. And some of the unraveling of all the secrets gets a bit tedious. The writing is deft and skillful, but it meanders slightly at the end. This does not, however, detract from the overall pleasure of reading, or, in my case, listening to the audiobook.
I always enjoy Ms. Whelan’s books. She has a strong grasp of the Southern woman, both old and young, and conveys the intricacies of social interactions, even everyday ones, with humor and insight. I recommend this book as a summer read, or save it for winter when you need a bit of literary sun.
Enjoyed the story! Enough subtle twists and turns to keep me guessing!
A look behind the perfect exteriors of small town America. You get to see how seemingly unrelated happenings intertwine and weave together.
Easy read. I love the character development and the small town feel. You actually feel like you’re there in Sycamore Glen. A lot is going on but it was still very enjoyable.
I enjoyed this book and how the the story was developed from different characters point of view. The title says it all.
I enjoyed reading this book! It was different and much better than I expected. I followed the characters with baited breath, hoping everything would turn out for the best for all of them! Except for the creep, of course…