The Things We Carry

The Town #1

by Kate Anslinger

A page-turning, domestic drama that tells the gripping story of two families faced with a tragedy that could change them forever.

Two couples.
Two daughters.
Two sons.
One tragedy.
Too many secrets.

Lauren Rivers has it all. Two beautiful daughters, a doting husband, and a home that belongs on the cover of a magazine. She also has roots that run deep in the esteemed beach town of Flagport, Massachusetts. When Evie Sullivan moves across the street, the two become fast friends. Evie is nothing like Lauren’s other friends. She’s quiet, contemplative, and holds steady to her modest upbringing. These are the things that Lauren loves about her new best friend. But that all changes when Lauren’s teenage daughter, Lily, is in a car accident. As Lauren races to the hospital to see the daughter she’s always put on a pedestal, she runs into Evie’s family. What she finds out next will threaten their friendship forever. Fears set in, secrets come to the surface, and one of the women must come to terms with her past.

Genres: Mystery, Fiction, Contemporary, Thriller, Audiobook, Mystery Thriller

262 pages, Kindle Edition

First published August 1, 2023

About the author

Kate is the author of the Grace McKenna Mystery series and The Town Series. She’s also penned several standalone novels and co-authored a nonfiction book or two. In addition to her life as a novelist, Kate is a ghostwriter, book coach, and a veteran of the United States Air Force. Her debut novel Saving Jason, touches upon the struggles of PTSD, a topic that is near and dear to her heart. Kate lives on the North Shore of Boston with her husband, two daughters and golden retriever pup.

Reviews

[Maureen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Unlikeable characters spending their lives raising children in the worst way. Husbands are cardboard figures who just sit around nodding their approval of their crazy wives.

Another story dealing with “the big secret.”. Frankly, who cares?

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

There were so many things I enjoyed in this book but the ending??? Last page: “what?” No conclusion! No resolution.
Yes I saw it has another in the series but still , it needed an ending!!

[Stacy B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the story of two families and their children. One family comes from great privilege, and the other has worked their way to get to where they are.

Their children are the same ages and have grown up together.

This story is full of secrets, lies, and friendship.

[Kim K · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good. I enjoyed the characters and the mystery of the secrets kept me engaged. The ending seemed a bit rushed, but I guess that is better than dragging on and on.

[Melissa McGuinnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

The quick chapters made it hard to put down as I had to keep reading to find out what would happen next. I enjoyed the characters and how it all ties together in the end! Fun read!

[Emily Phelps · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

The two main characters weren't very likeable. Lauren was often hypocritical. The story was ok. It had a bit of a strange, kind of rushed, ending. I listened to the audiobook, which used AI narration. It was awful! This may have contributed to some of my dislikes in the book.

[Maggie T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finely crafted sory

Kate Anslinger skillfully links the past to the present by telling the story of how two women build relationship within and between their families. The time period and person are clearly labelled. Most importantly the story continues seamlessly between the characters and timelines. The reader does not get lost. The story gets inside how internal dilemmas and past experiences shape how they create their present. This was an insightful time well spent reading. How has my past shaped how I relate to others and make decisions with my life?

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

free ebook
it goes back and forth in time

she had 2 boys, the neighbor had 2 girls
they became best friends
but the friend with the daughters had a secret, someone died and she blamed herself

then one night her daughter was in a car accident. they went to the hospital and she was in a coma from brain injury. then she finds out her friend was driving and she is in the hospital too with a broken arm

they are so worried and the grandfather wants to sue her saying it was her fault for being in the intersection, not the girl who was driving and hit them , it really was her fault

then the girl wakes up. they moms find out the daughter is in love with the neighbor boy, the son of the moms best friend. the mom confesses to her best friend she was driving drunk when she had a accident that killed a woman and her dad got it all covered up

the grandparents moved out of town, the girl and boy went to college in calif and the women were friends still

[Alison · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picture this: you move to a more affluent town, find your next door neighbours are the perfect match for your family. Your sons are the same age as their daughters, your husbands click and you find your soul sister in the wife. An added bonus is that she comes from old-town-stock and you find yourselves moving in circles you never thought you would which benefits your own business.
Years go by and on the surface things appear perfect, until one day, one small choice blows the lid off a secret you didn't even know the existence of.
Welcome to Flagport, Massachusetts and meet the Rivers and the Sullivans and dive into Lauren and Evie's lives and discover if their friendship is stronger than the secret one carries.
A brilliant read that keeps you captivated and longing for more. Happily I have read that this is the start of a new series, so that is rather exciting.

[Bellamina Court · Rating 5 out of 5]

When life dictated that I needed to put the book down, I couldn't wait to get back to it. The author weaves an engaging and believable heart-felt story.
This is a must read if you enjoy:
Family drama
long-held secrets
small town/community
strong female leads
lasting friendship
I look forward to reading book two!

[Marla Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love everything Kate Anslinger writes! I felt all the emotions of each character because of her detailed writing. The way she describes feelings is relatable and caused me to completely get carried away with the characters. I loved this book. 5 star 🌟 🩷

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book by this author and will definitely read more.

[Lisa Ahlstedt · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don't know why, but I was expecting this book to be a mystery. Maybe that expectation set me up to be disappointed. The story revolved around two friends, Lauren and Evie. Lauren is from a prominent family in Flagport, MA. Evie has had a life of moving around the country as part of a military family. Now that she has a family of her own, she's eager to put down roots. When she moves in next door to Lauren, the two women become fast friends. They even have children the same age, with Lauren having two girls while Evie has sons. The events in the story move between "before" and "after" an event which put one of the (now adult) children in the hospital. The main part of the book moves quite slowly as the two women become friends, we're told of Lauren's extravagant lifestyle, and the children experience problems (Lauren is an extreme helicopter parent to one daughter, while Evie's youngest son has behavioral problems). There is also a dark secret in Lauren's past that she's haunted by and desperate to keep secret.

The moved along at a snail's pace until the final chapter, which quickly wrapped up the events while leaving some big questions unresolved (did Lauren have any consequences when her secret came out? Did Evie's problematic son continue to act out?). I was hoping for a mystery or at least a resolution, but I was left feeling it didn't quite hit those marks.

I received a copy of this book from a GoodReads giveaway.

[Courtney-Louise✨ · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a short book, it took me a while to read but I think I just lost my reading motivation for a little bit. However, it has now returned and I've managed to finish the book.
The book revolves around the Rivers and Sullivan families, however, Lauren Rivers (the mother) is actually guarding a huge secret from when she was teenager as she is given strict orders to not say a word to anyone about anything at all, however, the secret clearly took its toll on her as she made a pact with herself every year on the anniversary.
The Sullivans soon move in across the road from the Rivers family, which both families soon realised that each other had 2 children around the same age as their own, thus starting new friendships for the children. We are taken on a journey as we learn about how Lauren is coping after what she went through all those years ago. However, she is weirdly attached to her eldest daughter and has to oversee everything she does. Although, her youngest daughter had picked up on this and had become jealous overtime due to her older sister receiving all the attention for everything.
Throughout the book, we do see a bit of character development as Lauren talks to Evie about what happened those years ago, but only due to a recent event which involved Evie and Lauren's oldest daughter, Lily. We learn towards the end that this was actually plotted by the younger of the 2 siblings in each family.
I would read it again if I ever needed a quick filler book.

[J.C. Wing · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Things We Carry is the first novel I read by author Kate Anslinger. I can guarantee you it won’t be the last.

This is a complex tale that takes the reader back and forth before and after a crucial event that takes place in the lives of a handful of residents of a coastal Massachusetts town called Flagport. We know from the beginning that we will eventually learn what this event is, but while Anslinger moves the current day story along, she takes us back to the past and drops pieces that slowly start to complete more and more of the puzzle. The book is built on the before and the after of this event, and the pull of the story is incredible. Kudos to the author, who did a remarkable job of holding such a taut storyline. I was pulled in immediately and finished this novel within a twenty-four-hour time period.

Anslinger is not only good at weaving an interesting and complex thriller, but she’s a descriptive writer who successfully brings her readers into her world. I could see the neighborhood in which these characters live, I took part in the Fourth of July celebration, and felt like I came to know these two families at the center of this novel. I’ve already purchased the second book in this series and look forward to falling back into the domestic drama that is Flagport, Massachusetts.

[Julie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This seemed too facile of a book. Two families meet when kids are young. One set of parents are the offspring of the beloved descendent of one of the town founders. The other is newly moved in. They become instant friends. Kids get along and the book journals their lives growing up and growing together over a roughly 15 year period. Interspersed are chapters in present day after a traffic accident that has the oldest daughter in a coma.

It just felt like the journal sections - they aren't actual journal entries but sort of felt like it - were too kumbya-ish. Life is great. Families are so together. No arguments. No fights detailed. Just too dreamlike almost with no ruptures. There are hints to something terrible that happened to the wife of one set of parents who is the daughter of the beloved man about town who gives to charity and helps everyone out. There are glimpses or more hints that he can also be stern and unforgiving.

But really, the whole book just felt too light and fluffy despite the accident and the ending too easy.

[Brittany Fox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the back and forth between not only Lauren and Evie but before, now, and after. With the banter it makes this an engaging and quick read. Lauren's life is displayed more than Evie which I would have enjoyed a bit more of Evie or the kids banter. Lauren was a very relatable character and growing up with the trauma she did and the fact that money really can be power makes it easier to understand why she is the helicopter mom and overall controlling person she became. My heart broke for Piper the second daughter but also cheered for her not being in the spotlight of chaos. Evie is a beautiful character in the story line. Her simple nature, love of her family and friends, along with the desire to protect makes her the perfect friend, neighbor, mother and wife. ❤️ 4 ⭐'s

[Sentinelle23 · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5


🏡ENTERTAINING

Lauren had set her alarm clock for half past twelve.
She waited with impatience and anguish for the return of her teenage daughter.

She should have been back by now...

--------------------------

Here is the intertwined story of two families in a small town in the United States, with many secrets and unsaid, after a sudden tragedy.

The narrative alternates between past and present.
I personally loved the story set in the present in 2021.
I less appreciate the various very detailed returns in certain distant years, but it brings a plus and ultimately contributes to the atmosphere of the novel.

A must read for fans of the genre.

[Kelley D · Rating 5 out of 5]

How well do you know your closest friend? The twists and turns that Kate has woven throughout this story have you believing you are a ‘fly on the wall’ of Evie and Lauren’s friendship. Evie worries about not fitting into this close-knit town, where everyone knows ‘everyone and everything’. Lauren did her homework on the new neighbors moving next door, but will she share?

This pager turner is just that, a page turner. You will be glued to the book from beginning to end wondering who has the secret….

Can’t get enough of this author!

[Dawn Byers · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won this book at goodreads for an honest review-
Evie and her family move across the street from Lauren. They are very different people - Evie is quiet and not a lot of money where Lauren comes from a rich family carrying secrets. They become good friends until the day Lauren’s daughter is in an accident with Evie. Why would she be in the car with her? Lauren is afraid as her perfect world begins to tumble. Can their relationship continue? Will her daughter survive? What happens when secrets are revealed?

[Mae · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this family drama! I loved the way it was written and often found myself in a position where I simply could not put the book down because I knew I had to read the next two chapters! I love a flawed character, and I feel like this book is riddled with people who make you feel conflicted but ultimately are relatable. We all have feelings of insecurity that lead us to do crazy things, and these characters are over-the-top examples of that sentiment. You won't want to miss a thing!

[Laurie Buchanan · Rating 5 out of 5]

When you mix one town—Flagport, Massachusetts, with two families—the Rivers and the Sullivans, and throw in a tragic car accident and a web of secrets, you get one heckuva terrific story! THE THINGS WE CARRY by Kate Anslinger is a gripping tale that follows the aftermath of a tragic car accident that intertwines the lives of the Rivers and the Sullivans. It's my first book by this author, and it won’t be my last. Highly recommended!

[C. Brian · Rating 1 out of 5]

If I could have given this "story" a negative rating, I would have done so. What a waste of my time. Sadly, I like to know if a book might improve, so I read to the end! Jumping backwards and forwards in time is, I find, confusing (especially on a Kindle!), and having all of the chapters but one from the perspective of one of the two main "characters", didn't enamour me one little bit. I did a great deal of "skimming and scanning".

Not an author I will be rushing to read again.

[Michele · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was good. I liked the author’s writing and the characters. I was intrigued by the mystery surrounding Lauren’s past. I would have liked to see more after the secret was revealed. It seemed to most past it pretty fast. It maybe we’ll get more of that in some of the other books in the series. Looking forward to reading those.

[Ginny Macaluso · Rating 2 out of 5]

This started out ok but the plot began to feel convoluted about 1/4 of the way in. I also have questions about some of the characters. Why were the parents ok with Jack and Lily going off together at 18? Why was Liam painted as being so troubled? I felt that overall the characters and their place in the story were weak

[Jenni Stein · Rating 3 out of 5]

good story about perceived images, the images we try to maintain in society and who we really are and the route it takes us to get there. confused by the people that say there isnt a complete resolution, yes there are somethings that the author could go into further in another book if they chose but you do get some idea of what happens after.

[Daniel H Tillirson · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the pieces of a life shape who we are

An interesting story that moves along in spite of itself. Eyes being the over used operative word. If half the use of eye descriptions were removed from the book, it would probably get four or five stars. All in all it ended okay.

[Kelly_reads_books22 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Lauren and Evie are neighbors who quickly become best friends when Evie and her family move across the street. But will their friendship sustain tragedy when Evie and Lauren's daughter, Lily, are in a car accident.

[Sheryn Partington · Rating 5 out of 5]

the scales of malfeasance

Every woman knows the weight of a shoulder bag dragging on her shoulder and this book emphasises how secrets can have the same impact as that weighty bag. Each disfunctional family is because of that weight albeit for its own malfeasance. Great read

[Rizello · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the story. Two families live next to each other and become fast friends. There are family secrets that cause generational dysfunction. It was a bit of whiplash going back and forth in time, but it worked OK.

Ending was not an ending at all. Quite abrupt.