“I loved it (even though it made me cry).”—Jojo MoyesFor fans of This Is Us comes a story of a family divided and the secret that can possibly unite them – a life-affirming novel with a twist will break your heart and an ending that will put it together again. A secret between two sisters.A lifetime of lies unraveling. Can one broken family find their way back to each other?Audrey’s dream as a … sisters.
A lifetime of lies unraveling.
Can one broken family find their way back to each other?
Audrey’s dream as a mother had been for her daughters, Jess and Lily, to be as close as only sisters can be. But now, as adults, they no longer speak to each other, and Audrey’s two teenage granddaughters have never met. Audrey just can’t help feeling like she’s been dealt more than her fair share as she’s watched her family come undone over the years, and she has no idea how to fix her family as she wonders if they will ever be whole again.
If only Audrey had known three decades ago that a secret could have the power to split her family in two, and yet, also keep them linked. And when hostilities threaten to spiral out of control, a devastating choice that was made so many years ago is about to be revealed, testing this family once and for all.
Once the truth is revealed, will it be enough to put her family back together again or break them apart forever?
“Utterly compelling and completely heartbreaking. I couldn’t put it down.”
— Ruth Hogan
“Totally engrossing, achingly sad and so perceptive about the corrosive legacy of family secrets.”—Kate Eberlen, author of Miss You
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I loved it (even though it made me cry).
An emotionally engaging, clever, and wonderfully satisfying novel–proper storytelling at its finest.
An emotionally devastating novel. So compelling that I read it, cover to cover, in a single day.
Compelling and deeply moving. So beautiful it made me cry.
Audrey has cancer and is moving into her daughter Jess’s house. Her one wish is for Jess to reconcile with her sister Lily. They have been estranged for many years because of secrets within the family. This is an emotional roller coaster of a ride book. The chapters are told in Audrey, Jess, and Lily’s voices in alternating chapters. This allows the reader to really connect with the characters. You will definitely need tissues as this is a book that brings out all the feels. I received an advanced readers copy and all opinions are my own.
Family secrets that are kept too long can tear a family apart and even when the secrets come to light, the pain can still keep the family fractured. This new novel by Hannah Beckerman is about a family secret that destroyed the relationship between two sisters for over 30 years – they refuse to speak to each other or allow their daughters to meet. Their mother is desperate to reconcile her family no matter what it takes.
I really enjoyed the way that the author told this story. The secret was revealed slowly to keep the reader guessing. The story is told in alternating chapters by Audrey, Jess and Lily so that we get to know each character very well. All of the characters were so well written that they felt like people that I know in my life. And the big question through out the novel is whether the family can find their way back to each other after years of secrets and silence.
This book was an emotional roller coaster with three wonderful characters and a lot of misunderstanding between them. Have Kleenex close because you’re going to need it. This is a story about family, love, grief and honesty and one that I won’t soon forget.
Thanks to Library Thing for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own
I liked the storyline but it was very slow and seemed to drag on.
This book was indeed a tear-jerker. A family is ruined by secrets, misunderstandings, and horrible loss which carry forward for 30 years. While I found parts of this book a bit repetitive, overall it held my interest with its short chapters and POV of 3 main characters. I don’t know what I would have done in the same situation but I’d like to think I would not have let the secrets eat me alive and destroy my family.
When you are a child, you remember things a certain way. You don’t think of other scenarios, just what you see. This is the problem go Jess. This action starts an almost 30 year estrangement between Jess and her sister, Lily. No one except Jess knows why and she’s not talking. This story unfolds as mother, Audrey, is fighting her own battle and wants to reunite her family.
This novel was family drama, at its best/worst, all characters evolving and enfolding their own battles. Have tissues handy as your heart won’t be able to take all the drama. Well written. Every individual handles grief differently, this family is no different. Each situation will frustrate you and tug at your heart at the same time. The last chapter…oh my!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. Opinion is mine alone!
A beautiful tale, written with such elegance, heart, and insight into both the fragility and strength of family relationships.
Breaks your heart, but with an incredible skill and elegance…. I loved it to bits.
Utterly compelling and completely heart-breaking. I couldn’t put it down.