From the bestselling author of Wish Me Home comes a breathtaking novel about the secrets that families keep and one woman’s illuminating search for the truth.
Quinn Maguire has a stable life, a fiancé, and what she thinks is a clear vision for her future. All of that comes undone by her mother’s deathbed confession—the absentee father Quinn spent thirty years resenting is not her real father at … not her real father at all. With that one revealing whisper, Quinn embarks on a journey to Maui, her mother’s childhood home, a storied paradise that holds the truth about her mother’s past and all its secrets Quinn is determined to uncover.
But settling on the island has its complications, and with the fiancé she left behind questioning every choice she makes, Quinn’s quest for her truth is even more difficult than she expected. As time passes and she digs deeper into her family history and her own identity, one thing becomes clear: Maui is as beautiful as she’d always imagined, and its magic is helping uncover the woman that Quinn was always meant to be.
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Great characters, great plot and extremely well-paced. I loved the way Bratt gave readers a realistic look at local life in Maui. No touristy hype here – just a great down to earth story.
True to Me blew me away! I loved this story of Quinn as she discovered the lies and truths of the life she had been content to live. Her world is rocked to the core when her mother reveals a secret on her deathbed. Quinn travels to Maui, where it all began, to find out the truth. Quinn finds some wonderful people in her quest for answers and maybe, just maybe, she will find out what really makes her happy.
And how can a story be anything but fantastic when the setting is a beautiful island in Hawaii? Kay’s descriptions of the area made me feel like I was there. It was heavenly!
True to Me is an amazing story that I devoured and enjoyed so much! This author’s story just keep getting better and better and I’m always excited to read her books.
This book definitely deserves a five-star rating. Kay Bratt does a wonderful job of creating an interesting world and unforgettable characters in a story about needing to know who you are.
TRUE TO ME by Kay Bratt is a beautifully-written and emotional story of family, forgiveness and second chances. On her deathbed, Quinn’s mother drops a bombshell confession with no further explanation that throws into question everything Quinn knows of her mother and her whole upbringing. Determined to uncover the truth about her mother’s past and learn more about her own history, Quinn travels to Maui, her mother’s childhood home to scatter her Mom’s ashes and explore what little she has heard about her mother’s past. Shown unexpected kindness from a family on the island, Quinn learns the deeper meaning of family, friendship, sacrifice and forgiveness. There is also a romantic element that plays a subtle role in the storyline. The descriptions of the scenery of Maui, the lifestyle and the traditions dating back to ancient times are beautiful. I was completely immersed in Quinn’s journey of reflection, self-discovery and acceptance. I loved this heartfelt and uplifting book and so look forward to what comes next from Kay Bratt. Thank you to the author for a print version of the ARC to read early.
I have been a long-time fan of Kay Bratt and was excited to find out that she had a new book. And…in my opinion, it was her best book yet. The characters are well written, the plot has some mystery and some romance and the Hawaiian setting made me want to buy an airline ticket and visit Hawaii.
Quinn and her mom were close and there were no other family members, just the two of them. Quinn’s dad left years earlier and she had no memory of him. She lives with and is engaged to a very dominant man who thinks that he can control her life. When Quinn’s mom was dying, she told Quinn that her real father was not who she’s always been told he was. Those were her dying words and at her death Quinn not only has to deal with her grief but also with the mystery of who her father really was. Her mother had requested that her ashes be scattered in Maui so that is where Quinn decided that she’s start her search for her father there.
This is a beautiful book about love and friendship and the discovery of not only the past but the discovery of learning who you really are and what you want in your future.
Thanks to the author for a copy of this book to read and review. All opinions are my own.
Kay Bratt knocks it out of the park (as she always does) with this one. Fans will not be disappointed with this interesting and insightful tale of family. Highly recommend!
This book transported me to my beloved island of Maui with a story of love, family, mystery, and intrigue. I can’t wait for the sequel!
I’ve been a fan of Kay Bratt’s since reading her first book, Silent Tears. Her fiction never fails to deliver and I think I’ve read all of her novels. True to Me is my new favorite. I love the way intrigue is skillfully woven into the plot and I found the characters relatable. In this crazy world where sometimes the news skews from bad to horrible, its nice to sink into a book that captures the heart of humanity. Highly recommended!
Another beautiful book by Kay Bratt. Her books leave you breathless and with tears in your eyes. Both tears of sadness and joy. Heartache and happiness. Such emotions make her books some of the best I’ve ever read. Through in a laugh or two and you have a wonderful, heartfelt, touching, loving, story.
Ohana, means family. All Quinn wanted was a big family. Sisters and brothers. A dad who was there for her. What she had was a mother who would do anything for her. Anything to keep her safe. She loved her unconditionally and with every part of her. On her death bed she made a confession to Quinn that would change everything that she thought she knew about her and her mother.
Quinn goes to Maui to take her mother’s ashes home. That was her mother’s wish and being the kind of person she was Quinn was determined to grant her mother’s last wishes. Little did she know that her life was going to make a dramatic turn. Changes were coming for her that she would have never believed. She was leaving behind a life she thought at the time was what she wanted. Engaged to a man she thought she loved so much and would do anything for. In Maui she found her true self. Her strengths. She met people who changed her life in ways she never would have dreamed of. Sounds a bit like paradise to me in many ways.
This story is told in a way that you truly feel like you are there. The beauty of the water. The paths through the woods. The buildings and the house that changed Quinn in many ways. The family that lived in the house that is. She found so much that she never realized was missing and more. They all became family to her. This is a story of a love so deep and moving that it will take your breath away. The love of strangers and family and a best friend. Unconditional love. The only true kind.
This story made me have lots of ugly crying tears. Not all in a bad way either. The joys and happiness. The ups and downs. The breakups and losses. Family can be such a beautiful thing and it’s not just blood that makes a family. It’s in your heart.
Kay Bratt has a way with words that will have you reeling from chapter to chapter. From one thing to the next. Her books always leave me feeling full. I can’t wait for the next book now to see who we meet and who comes together. Yes, Ohana means family. A huge big family that were strangers just a few days before.
I loved this book from the first word to the very last. It pulled me in and pulled at my heart. It kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. The characters were so likable and you will feel like they are old friends. With the exception of the fiancé, Ethan. I didn’t like him at all. Nothing about him. But all the rest were so loving and kind and felt like family and old friends.
Thank you to #NetGalley, Lake Union and Kay Bratt for this ARC. This is my own review and is from my heart.
I give this one 5 stars and a high high recommendation.. A must read.
I can’t say enough about this book! Kay Bratt is a masterful storyteller! Her writing is exquisite with beautiful detail. I am awestruck by the beauty described on the island of Maui ! If I could give it 10 stars, I would! I just want to climb inside this book & experience Hawaii myself! Loved it
Quinn Maguire has grown up believing that she knows the truth about her complicated childhood. But when her mother dies shortly after revealing an earth-shaking family secret, everything changes in an instant. Kay Bratt beautifully draws the story of a daughter returning to Maui — the enchanted land that she believes holds the key to her past — where she unlocks a promising future she never could have imagined. Full of secrets, love and gorgeous settings, True to Me is the ultimate escape.
True to Me blew me away!! I immediately loved the cover and the blurb, but I still wasn’t sure what to expect because this is the first Kay Bratt book I have ever read. After finishing this book, I can say that it will most definitely not be my last.
Quinn is on a journey to find her father after her mother confesses on her death bed that the man, she thought was her father isn’t. She sets off to Maui to spread her mother’s ashes and find her father, but she gets way more than she could have ever thought. This story is more than that of finding a father, it is a story of love, loss, and finding yourself. The way Bratt describes Hawaii makes me want to jet off immediately and see the “real” Maui.
The only reason I didn’t give True to Me five stars is because I felt that at the beginning of the story it took me a little longer to really get involved in the story. Quinn’s fiancé just rubbed me the wrong way in too many ways but once the story got going around a quarter of the way in I was absolutely sucked in.
I have not found that any of Kay Bratt’s books are bad. I loves her books so much! I have read all of them except one and I am planning to read it when it comes out in a book form. Her books are interesting and keep me engaged to the stories! I have learned a lot of things from the stories that she writes about! Her books is a must read!
An interesting tale that drew me in. Upon her mother’s death, a young woman whose life is all in order and planned out for her suddenly find herself on the way to Maui with confusions related to who her father really was. She is determined to find out more about her history and that of her mother plus she wants to put down roots on the island that was her mother’s home. She finds herself enveloped in Hawaiian traditions and Hawaiian concepts of family and realizes she feels at home with much of this new life. And all along she is finding out more about her own story as well as seeing a new side to her fiance back in the States. As I got into the story, I found myself wanting to know how things were going to work out. I won’t reveal the details of the plot or the ending because I do try to leave spoilers out of my reviews. And I will indeed be looking for more books by Kay Bratt.
Quinn has lived returned to Hawaii to solve the mystery of who her real father is what she does not realize is that Hawaii has much more to offer then just the answer she is looking for. Quinn gets surprised when the house she bought is still being lived in by a family that is going through their own drama, but she quickly realizes that drama or not family stays together. The joy of being in Hawaii is that although Quinn has not lived there forever, she is embraced as a local and supported as she continues her search for her truths.
True to Me is my first Kay Bratt book and I am excited to read more by her. The setting of Hawaii is beautiful and amazing. The characters are real, fun, and interesting. The storyline is phenomenal. I was pulled in and invested in what would happen to Quinn and the friends she made in her journey.
I have just recently discovered Kat Bratt and she is quickly becoming one of my top favorite author’s. She really has a way of telling a story that almost feels like you are seeing it instead. Her wide variety of characters and locals are a welcome change from the norm.
In this book, Quinn is told my her mother on her deathbed that the man she thought was her father (even though she never met him) was not actually her father. She goes on a journey to Hawaii to try to discover who she might be and why her mother lied. Does she ever discover some hard and interesting
truths.
Really enjoyed this book and the journey it took me on.
This is my first book by Kay Bratt, an audio, but it won’t be my last. A woman is left a death bed letter that changes her life. She is tossed from the mainland to Maui, Hawaii, searching for truth, the ability to trust herself, to reevaluate what is truly important in life , and finally, to reach for forgiveness and healing. I particularly learning about the native Hawaiian language and culture. A very good read.
Such a well-written tale of a woman finding not only her past but who she is. She grows to be stronger with each page and finds the she truly belongs in Maui. Great characters, unexpected twists and a hint of future romance makes this a satisfying read.
Beautifully written, emotional, rich in history of Maui, lovely characters that have you wanting to meet them in real life. When Quinn’s mom passes away she’s left with heartache , no family ties til she decides to go to Maui and find the father she never knew , her moms dying words was a secret she held on to. Quin discovers the meaning of family , and herself on this magical journey.
I am always looking for clean intertwining books to read. This book held my interest page after page.