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The Stories We Tell
Eve and Teddy Morrison are Savannah’s power couple. They’re on every artistic board and involved deeply in the community. And they have the wealth and name that comes from being part of an old Savannah family. But things aren’t as good as they look. Eve and Teddy are fighting about her work, their marriage, and their daughter most of all. Teenaged Gwen is rebelling and Teddy is blaming this on Eve’s preoccupation with work. The Morrison marriage is taut with tension, but when Teddy is involved in a car accident with Eve’s sister, Willa, the questions surrounding the event bring the family close to breaking point. Sifting between the stories, Eve has to find out what really happened—and just who she believes—in The Stories We Tell by Patti Callahan Henry.
272 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 24, 2014
377 people are currently reading
5846 people want to read
About the author
Patti Callahan Henry
38 books6,566 followersPatti Callahan Henry is a New York Times, Globe and Mail, and USA Today bestselling author of sixteen novels, including her newest, The Secret Book of Flora Lea. She’s also a podcast host of original content for her novels, Surviving Savannah and Becoming Mrs. Lewis.
She is the recipient of The Christy Award “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti also was a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. She’s published in numerous anthologies, articles, and short story collections, including an Audible Original about Florence Nightingale, titled Wild Swan narrated by the Tony Award winner, Cynthia Erivo.
A full-time author, mother of three, and grandmother of two, she lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama with her husband, Pat Henry.
She is the recipient of The Christy Award “Book of the Year”; The Harper Lee Distinguished Writer of the Year and the Alabama Library Association Book of the Year for Becoming Mrs. Lewis. She is the co-host and co-creator of the popular weekly online Friends and Fiction live web show and podcast. Patti also was a contributor to the monthly life lesson essay column for Parade Magazine. She’s published in numerous anthologies, articles, and short story collections, including an Audible Original about Florence Nightingale, titled Wild Swan narrated by the Tony Award winner, Cynthia Erivo.
A full-time author, mother of three, and grandmother of two, she lives in Mountain Brook, Alabama with her husband, Pat Henry.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 405 reviews
February 9, 2020
“I know this about imagination: It needs a place to go. If I don't work at my cards and images and letterpress, if I don't touch the cut metal and carved wood fonts and imagine different patterns as I place letters next to others in a new way, my ideas will turn inward.”
― Patti Callahan Henry, The Stories We Tell
The Stories we tell is a sweet and well written story that I'd classify as Women's Fiction as well as Southern Fiction" and it certainly does tell a story. I liked this book.
Eve and Cooper are married and Eve runs a Letterpress studio. There is strain in the relationship and not helping matters is the arrival of Eve's sister, Willa who is staying with them temporarily.
I will not say this is my favorite book in the world but it is an interesting story. The title "The stories we tell" is all about the little (or big) lies we tell ourselves to deal with reality when the truth may simply cause to much pain. Who would not relate to that?
I did read some reviews and in the negative ones, the common complaint is that the book does not go far enough. That it plays it safe. I agree to an extent. This is NOT the book to pick if you are looking for something long, dark, complex and morose. (I do tend to read those types of books and LOVE THEM!).
But it IS the type of book to read if you want a sweet book with a bittersweet quality involving a jerk or two (sorry guys). This book has some sad aspects to it but it is not that bad and is good summer reading. Plus I dug the Southern flavor throughout.
What I also really liked reading about was the printing industry. In fact I may have enjoyed that the most. I find that industry interesting as I worked in it myself at one time.
I was worried this might go into "out there thriller territory". Thankfully it did not. I would recommend this to people who just want an uncomplicated and fun short summer read. 3.5 stars from me.
― Patti Callahan Henry, The Stories We Tell
The Stories we tell is a sweet and well written story that I'd classify as Women's Fiction as well as Southern Fiction" and it certainly does tell a story. I liked this book.
Eve and Cooper are married and Eve runs a Letterpress studio. There is strain in the relationship and not helping matters is the arrival of Eve's sister, Willa who is staying with them temporarily.
I will not say this is my favorite book in the world but it is an interesting story. The title "The stories we tell" is all about the little (or big) lies we tell ourselves to deal with reality when the truth may simply cause to much pain. Who would not relate to that?
I did read some reviews and in the negative ones, the common complaint is that the book does not go far enough. That it plays it safe. I agree to an extent. This is NOT the book to pick if you are looking for something long, dark, complex and morose. (I do tend to read those types of books and LOVE THEM!).
But it IS the type of book to read if you want a sweet book with a bittersweet quality involving a jerk or two (sorry guys). This book has some sad aspects to it but it is not that bad and is good summer reading. Plus I dug the Southern flavor throughout.
What I also really liked reading about was the printing industry. In fact I may have enjoyed that the most. I find that industry interesting as I worked in it myself at one time.
I was worried this might go into "out there thriller territory". Thankfully it did not. I would recommend this to people who just want an uncomplicated and fun short summer read. 3.5 stars from me.
December 12, 2019
Eve and Cooper Morrison live in Savannah in his parent’s old Georgia house. Cooper runs a digital magazine for Southern men, while Eve operates a letterpress studio with Francie and Max. It seems Eve and Cooper have an enviable lifestyle. Except everything is not always as it seems. This becomes more evident when Cooper and Eve’s sister Willa are in a car accident. Since they don’t usually get along, this seems strange to Eve that they are together. Willa has troubled remembering what happened and having bad dreams. Cooper tells Eve what happened but for reasons she can’t really explain, Eve is not convinced his story is the truth. She determines to find out what really happened. But perhaps in the process she will uncover things she would rather not have known.
This is an easy read. I liked all the information about the letterpress studio and the range of card they produce and all that is involved. Eve is quite likeable if a bit ineffective at times. As parents Eve and Cooper seem to have produced one spoiled brat of a daughter in Gwen. Later in the book issues with her end up resolved too easily. The mystery that is revealed after the two conflicting stories of the accident night finally come to light, it did not seem as momentous as it should for all the build-up. It felt like there should have been a lot more going on and a lot more depth to the characters. They seemed a bit bland.
However, long as you don’t want some in depth read it is pleasant enough though not the riveting story the blurb promises. Still, a pleasant enough way to spend some time, although I admit to feeling somewhat emotionally detached from them all. A bit like watching life through a glass partition.
This is an easy read. I liked all the information about the letterpress studio and the range of card they produce and all that is involved. Eve is quite likeable if a bit ineffective at times. As parents Eve and Cooper seem to have produced one spoiled brat of a daughter in Gwen. Later in the book issues with her end up resolved too easily. The mystery that is revealed after the two conflicting stories of the accident night finally come to light, it did not seem as momentous as it should for all the build-up. It felt like there should have been a lot more going on and a lot more depth to the characters. They seemed a bit bland.
However, long as you don’t want some in depth read it is pleasant enough though not the riveting story the blurb promises. Still, a pleasant enough way to spend some time, although I admit to feeling somewhat emotionally detached from them all. A bit like watching life through a glass partition.
August 22, 2014
I don't know who is dumber. Me, for finishing this book or the characters in this book! This was the most anti-climatic book I've ever read. It kept building and building and building and THEN NOTHING. Big whoop he didn't want to fail as a son so he took money from the wife's account. I felt nothing for any of the characters. Very disappointed in this book.
September 2, 2014
Eve and Cooper Morrison both own their own businesses. She, a letterpress studio; he, a digital magazine. While they are not necessarily unhappily married, the toll of running two businesses has dimmed the once happier years. Not to mention the fact that the couple's teen daughter Gwen is in a state of rebellion and Eve's sister, Willa is staying with them after finally giving up the alcohol and random wandering lifestyle. Still, the marriage is solid.
Things begin to get a little shaky, though, when Willa and Cooper are involved in a car accident that leaves Cooper's face mangled and scarred and Willa with only fleeting memories of what may or may not have happened that night. At any rate, the stories do not match and Eve must decide who is telling the truth.
I always feel bad when I am one of the very few who doesn't like a book, but I have to be honest; and I just didn't like this one at all. I kept reading hoping that it would pull me in and engage me in some way but that didn't happen.
Eve had no dimension, was as limp as a dishrag, and had no emotion in her actions or her dialogue. Her daughter was totally out of control, her husband was manipulating her, her sister was begging to be heard and she couldn't decide what to do.
The "mystery" was fairly transparent and predictable and was not the riveting story I had expected.
Cooper was neither likeable nor unlikeable. He had no personality and his only purpose in the story, it seemed, was to be the needed "bad guy".
Willa was too marshmallowy, but I could excuse her since she had a head injury.
Gwen, troubled teen, was on a rampage that was pretty much accepted as normal by Eve; but there was no background story to the teen at all. I would have liked to have understood her pain but I could not find it in me to be sympathetic to something I didn't understand.
All in all, the story, for me was flat and bland.
Things begin to get a little shaky, though, when Willa and Cooper are involved in a car accident that leaves Cooper's face mangled and scarred and Willa with only fleeting memories of what may or may not have happened that night. At any rate, the stories do not match and Eve must decide who is telling the truth.
I always feel bad when I am one of the very few who doesn't like a book, but I have to be honest; and I just didn't like this one at all. I kept reading hoping that it would pull me in and engage me in some way but that didn't happen.
Eve had no dimension, was as limp as a dishrag, and had no emotion in her actions or her dialogue. Her daughter was totally out of control, her husband was manipulating her, her sister was begging to be heard and she couldn't decide what to do.
The "mystery" was fairly transparent and predictable and was not the riveting story I had expected.
Cooper was neither likeable nor unlikeable. He had no personality and his only purpose in the story, it seemed, was to be the needed "bad guy".
Willa was too marshmallowy, but I could excuse her since she had a head injury.
Gwen, troubled teen, was on a rampage that was pretty much accepted as normal by Eve; but there was no background story to the teen at all. I would have liked to have understood her pain but I could not find it in me to be sympathetic to something I didn't understand.
All in all, the story, for me was flat and bland.
September 10, 2014
Another reviewer pointed out that this book contained "too much telling, not enough showing." I agree, from the larger plot developments right down to the syntax, Henry was spoon-feeding us. She used lots of adverbs and contrived figurative language throughout, but less meaningful dialogue than I would have liked.
Similarly, she had all the makings of an interesting plot but didn't push them far enough for it to be truly successful, instead settling for doling out predictable developments at evenly spaced moments during the story. The tension that was meant to drive the story seemed, to me, not tense at all---it was obvious early on that the main character's husband was hiding something and that they were destined for a split. Then, the author seemed to throw away any satisfying resolution of what little tension there was by skating over the details of Cooper's business problems and ultimately downplaying Mary Jo's role just when it was getting interesting. I would have given this book 3 stars, because it did keep me relatively engaged, but the end really fell flat for me.
One redeeming area of the book, for me, was Eve's relationship with her daughter, Gwen. Henry explored that dynamic more thoroughly than others in the book, and she followed through to show development by the end. The other relationships seemed too conveniently and predictably wrapped up---at one point, the new love interest literally says, "It's always been you." (Note, this was an ARC---not sure if that line appears in the final print version.) That said, Eve and Gwen did develop as mother and daughter which gave the book a little something real to stand on.
Similarly, she had all the makings of an interesting plot but didn't push them far enough for it to be truly successful, instead settling for doling out predictable developments at evenly spaced moments during the story. The tension that was meant to drive the story seemed, to me, not tense at all---it was obvious early on that the main character's husband was hiding something and that they were destined for a split. Then, the author seemed to throw away any satisfying resolution of what little tension there was by skating over the details of Cooper's business problems and ultimately downplaying Mary Jo's role just when it was getting interesting. I would have given this book 3 stars, because it did keep me relatively engaged, but the end really fell flat for me.
One redeeming area of the book, for me, was Eve's relationship with her daughter, Gwen. Henry explored that dynamic more thoroughly than others in the book, and she followed through to show development by the end. The other relationships seemed too conveniently and predictably wrapped up---at one point, the new love interest literally says, "It's always been you." (Note, this was an ARC---not sure if that line appears in the final print version.) That said, Eve and Gwen did develop as mother and daughter which gave the book a little something real to stand on.
April 2, 2020
I've read other books by this author, but I must admit this one was NOT my favorite. It started off okay and I was ready for a "twist" to come at any moment but with only 30 pages left, I realized I was waiting in vain.
From a distance you see a couple with a teenage daughter who appear to be living the good life -- nice house, good jobs, great social circle, etc. Of course, we all know that looks can be deceiving. Wife runs a print shop and hubby runs an e-magazine company. Husband is gone a lot entertaining prospective clients for stories, advertisements, etc. Wife's sisters, who has had some alcohol problems in years past, has come to live with the "happy" couple while trying her hand at song writing and singing. Husband is involved in a nasty car accident coming home from a so-called business trip. The only problem is that he wasn't the only passenger in the car and both passengers are taken to the hospital. Hubby awakes with his face in a mess - so much so that several plastic surgeries will be required to put him back to normal. The not-so-lucky passenger, who turns out to be his sister-in-law, is in a coma with brain injuries. When she finally awakes, she has no recollection of what happened.
There are a thousand scenarios that could be envisioned from the above "accident" and of those (in my opinion) 999 of them would have been better than the one that surfaced. I closed the book and said, "Really? That's it?"
This was a quick read but just left me hoping for so much more than I received. I won't give up on this author as I know what she is capable of putting into words. In this reader's opinion, however, The Stories We Tell could have told a much better story.
From a distance you see a couple with a teenage daughter who appear to be living the good life -- nice house, good jobs, great social circle, etc. Of course, we all know that looks can be deceiving. Wife runs a print shop and hubby runs an e-magazine company. Husband is gone a lot entertaining prospective clients for stories, advertisements, etc. Wife's sisters, who has had some alcohol problems in years past, has come to live with the "happy" couple while trying her hand at song writing and singing. Husband is involved in a nasty car accident coming home from a so-called business trip. The only problem is that he wasn't the only passenger in the car and both passengers are taken to the hospital. Hubby awakes with his face in a mess - so much so that several plastic surgeries will be required to put him back to normal. The not-so-lucky passenger, who turns out to be his sister-in-law, is in a coma with brain injuries. When she finally awakes, she has no recollection of what happened.
There are a thousand scenarios that could be envisioned from the above "accident" and of those (in my opinion) 999 of them would have been better than the one that surfaced. I closed the book and said, "Really? That's it?"
This was a quick read but just left me hoping for so much more than I received. I won't give up on this author as I know what she is capable of putting into words. In this reader's opinion, however, The Stories We Tell could have told a much better story.
September 4, 2014
I liked the premise of this book, and I liked learning a lot about the letterpress printing business, but the storytelling was its main downfall. Too much telling, not enough showing. Eve and Cooper are supposedly Savannah's power couple, except that we don't see or hear anything that backs that up, except for Cooper's ridiculously snobby parents. There is a car accident involving Cooper and Eve's sister, Willa, who ends up with a brain injury which affects her memory of that night. There is also Gwen, Eve and Cooper's hard-to-handle adolescent daughter, whose one-note snottiness is completely uninteresting and unsympathetic. There are a few other tertiary characters who feel shoehorned in to make it a more complex story, and a few contrived twists and turns, but they seem shallowly written and flat also.
September 25, 2014
The plot to the story intrigued me and kept me turning from page to page. The author shows what is happening well. But the writing was choppy and the characters were flat. None of their actions made sense and after a while it just felt like I was reading a compilation of scenes instead of a novel. I kept reading the book because the tension was well managed throughout the book, but for some reason the story abruptly ends and I was left feeling dissatisfied.
January 20, 2019
I read third book in less than two days. Laundry was out on hold. Housework didn't get done. I didn't prep my food cornerstones i was supposed to.
The characters came to life before me and grabbed my attention from the first sentence. The book is a combination of love and hate and truth and lies, exactly what many lost lives and destroyed relationships are made of. I really like how Paati takes a life situation where a character faces a place in her life where she has decisions to make that result in a transformation of her life. The depth of her insight into human beings is incredible. And if you have never been to Savannah before you will feel like you are there with the Morrisons. Patti makes Savannah come to life in all of its aspects.
The characters came to life before me and grabbed my attention from the first sentence. The book is a combination of love and hate and truth and lies, exactly what many lost lives and destroyed relationships are made of. I really like how Paati takes a life situation where a character faces a place in her life where she has decisions to make that result in a transformation of her life. The depth of her insight into human beings is incredible. And if you have never been to Savannah before you will feel like you are there with the Morrisons. Patti makes Savannah come to life in all of its aspects.
May 17, 2021
No for me- at all.....
July 19, 2014
I anxiously awaited the day when the book was released. Patti callahan Henry has become one of my favourite authors and I was excited to read her new one. Well June 24th came and went and none of the bookstores in town had a copy. After weeks, I finally managed to get a copy from the library and read it mostly on a little over a day.
This book did not disappoint. While I found the style not to be what I expect from this author, it was enjoyable just the same. It's about family struggles and discovering what you had may not be real. Eve Morrison seems to have it all but underneath there's tarnish in that golden life. Eve and copper are that golden couple, have friends,family, good jobs, Cooper comes from a well respected wealthy family. When Cooper and Eve's sister Willa are in an accident, many questions come up. Willa can't remember the accident and Cooper's story just doesn't seem plausible. Does Eve want to know the truth, or is the unknown better to stay unknown. Add to that,their daughter Gwen is becoming a concern and their daily struggles with her have given Eve more to be concerned about.
This really is a great book, now I have to wait a long time again for another gem from this author Anybody who hadn't read this author, I strongly encourage you to do so. Her books are addictive, engrossing, emotional, all worth the read.
This book did not disappoint. While I found the style not to be what I expect from this author, it was enjoyable just the same. It's about family struggles and discovering what you had may not be real. Eve Morrison seems to have it all but underneath there's tarnish in that golden life. Eve and copper are that golden couple, have friends,family, good jobs, Cooper comes from a well respected wealthy family. When Cooper and Eve's sister Willa are in an accident, many questions come up. Willa can't remember the accident and Cooper's story just doesn't seem plausible. Does Eve want to know the truth, or is the unknown better to stay unknown. Add to that,their daughter Gwen is becoming a concern and their daily struggles with her have given Eve more to be concerned about.
This really is a great book, now I have to wait a long time again for another gem from this author Anybody who hadn't read this author, I strongly encourage you to do so. Her books are addictive, engrossing, emotional, all worth the read.
September 4, 2014
How to write a review of a friend's novel? I want to meet Gwen and see her fall in love and watch the face of the lucky guy who realizes he's won her heart. I want to hear Francie sing. I want to have a long conversation with Willa because we'd probably laugh all the way through it. I have a few things I'd like to say to Cooper. I want to hear Max tell one of his stories. I want to see Eve's studio and watch her create something beautiful out of paper and ink and metal. I want to have a glass of wine or three with these folks and sing and wander around Savannah with them at 3:00 AM.
"This is a happy story."
"This is a happy story."
June 27, 2014
I loved this book. I really connected with the characters, especially with Eve trying to connect with her teenage daughter. Very real, very true. I highly recommend this book. I don't give reviews that give away the storyline -- but I loved it and will certainly read it again! I am now interested in learning about printing and the letter press industry. I like reading a book that introduces me to something new! Good work Patti Callahan Henry.
February 27, 2024
Eve, the narrator in THE STORIES WE TELL by Patti Callahan Henry, does a lot of hand wringing without actually wringing her hands.
Long on angst and short on sympathetic characters, I continued looking at the time remaining on my audiobook. Willa and Max were the only characters I could tolerate.
If you like clueless MC’s and southern fiction, you might enjoy THE STORIES WE TELL more than me.
Long on angst and short on sympathetic characters, I continued looking at the time remaining on my audiobook. Willa and Max were the only characters I could tolerate.
If you like clueless MC’s and southern fiction, you might enjoy THE STORIES WE TELL more than me.
June 28, 2014
Patti Callahan Henry, one of my favorite southern authors—having read ALL her books, she once again produces a winner with THE STORIES WE TELL! 4.5 Stars
Henry creates an intriguing story of Eve Morrison, a preacher's kid who grew up to marry the handsome, smart, wealthy and charming Cooper Morrison. What more could a southern belle want, right?
Southern couples love to put on pretenses and sometimes lead double lives. It is what they do, they hide behind secrets in order to keep up appearances. Which is the case with this stunning couple. Cooper runs an exclusive magazine and Eve has her own printing company. Now that they have been married for some time, things start unraveling.
Eve's sister, Willa has returned to Savannah, and staying in their guest cottage. When she and Cooper are involved in a car accident, and Willa cannot speak for herself, Cooper puts the blame on her for being drunk. You see, Willa has no memory of the accident due to the brain injury, so Eve accepts her husband’s account of the accident.
However, things do not add up—Eve brushes her doubts to the back burner, not wanting to accept her husband is a liar and her life may not be as perfect as she wants to believe. How long will it take her to uncover the truth?
Henry dives into the complexities of this relationship, the raw feelings and emotions. Family and relationships are tested between Eve, Willa, Cooper and Max, her co-worker. Is anyone being honest about their true feelings?
As usual, Henry has developed rich characters, which readers will relate to on this journey from pretenses to reality. Loved Eve’s character, as she is a strong and successful woman and steps out of her comfort zone to face the realities of her life, even when it may be safer to hide behind the mask of what others see—she is a wife, mother, and sister.
A powerful story of marriage, secrets, lies, suspicion, trust; and those who crave family, friendship, and love, will enjoy Patti’s storytelling of this riveting and emotional THE STORIES WE TELL. We all tell a story; however, which story --the real or fake one? A story of the human heart with twists and turns keeping you turning into the wee hours of the morning.
Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Mary Alice Monroe, Joshilyn Jackson, Susan Rebecca White, Wendy Wax, Karen White, Emilie Richards, and Mary Kay Andrews (some of my favorites) will thoroughly enjoy this compelling tale.
Having lived in Atlanta most of my life, prior to moving to South Florida, always enjoy a compelling drama based in Georgia, and oh Savannah Henry definitely knows the ways of the south for a satisfying read!
Unfortunately, was out of town this week, as would have loved to join Patti Callahan Henry (THE STORIES WE TELL) and Mary Alice Monroe (THE SUMMER WIND), at the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta- for an evening with these two favorites Southern authors ---with their new summer releases (read them both)…highly recommend! http://judithdcollins.booklikes.com/p...
Love PCH's new Website! http://www2.patticallahanhenry.com/
Henry creates an intriguing story of Eve Morrison, a preacher's kid who grew up to marry the handsome, smart, wealthy and charming Cooper Morrison. What more could a southern belle want, right?
Southern couples love to put on pretenses and sometimes lead double lives. It is what they do, they hide behind secrets in order to keep up appearances. Which is the case with this stunning couple. Cooper runs an exclusive magazine and Eve has her own printing company. Now that they have been married for some time, things start unraveling.
Eve's sister, Willa has returned to Savannah, and staying in their guest cottage. When she and Cooper are involved in a car accident, and Willa cannot speak for herself, Cooper puts the blame on her for being drunk. You see, Willa has no memory of the accident due to the brain injury, so Eve accepts her husband’s account of the accident.
However, things do not add up—Eve brushes her doubts to the back burner, not wanting to accept her husband is a liar and her life may not be as perfect as she wants to believe. How long will it take her to uncover the truth?
Henry dives into the complexities of this relationship, the raw feelings and emotions. Family and relationships are tested between Eve, Willa, Cooper and Max, her co-worker. Is anyone being honest about their true feelings?
As usual, Henry has developed rich characters, which readers will relate to on this journey from pretenses to reality. Loved Eve’s character, as she is a strong and successful woman and steps out of her comfort zone to face the realities of her life, even when it may be safer to hide behind the mask of what others see—she is a wife, mother, and sister.
A powerful story of marriage, secrets, lies, suspicion, trust; and those who crave family, friendship, and love, will enjoy Patti’s storytelling of this riveting and emotional THE STORIES WE TELL. We all tell a story; however, which story --the real or fake one? A story of the human heart with twists and turns keeping you turning into the wee hours of the morning.
Fans of Diane Chamberlain, Mary Alice Monroe, Joshilyn Jackson, Susan Rebecca White, Wendy Wax, Karen White, Emilie Richards, and Mary Kay Andrews (some of my favorites) will thoroughly enjoy this compelling tale.
Having lived in Atlanta most of my life, prior to moving to South Florida, always enjoy a compelling drama based in Georgia, and oh Savannah Henry definitely knows the ways of the south for a satisfying read!
Unfortunately, was out of town this week, as would have loved to join Patti Callahan Henry (THE STORIES WE TELL) and Mary Alice Monroe (THE SUMMER WIND), at the Margaret Mitchell House in Atlanta- for an evening with these two favorites Southern authors ---with their new summer releases (read them both)…highly recommend! http://judithdcollins.booklikes.com/p...
Love PCH's new Website! http://www2.patticallahanhenry.com/
December 31, 2016
Another winner from Patti Callahan Henry, though this one moved at a slower pace than some of her other books. Sometimes, what looks like a really good life really isn't, but we creates stories and pretend otherwise. Such is the premise of this novel. I enjoyed it, but in thinking back over the 8 days since I finished it, I realize this won't be a book I long remember. Even now, having read another book in the last few days, the storyline has begun to fade. Suffice it to say that the novel was well written, with good character development and a satisfying ending. Those who enjoy a good, thought provoking southern tale will enjoy it for what it is---a lovely escape for a few hundred pages.
July 30, 2014
In THE STORIES WE TELL, Patti Callahan Henry peels back the layers of family life to show us a perfect Savannah family that is anything but perfect. I wanted to read slowly to enjoy the writing, the settings, the world of letterpress, the intricacies of the female relationships, but I had to keep turning pages to unravel the plot twists. Ultimately, this is a story about the desire to protect those you love--even if your motivation becomes distorted into a web of lies. I loved every page!
December 23, 2014
Extremely average, predictable women's fiction. I would have rather read a novel told from the POV of Eve's sister, Willa, and her struggle to regain her memory and self-respect after Eve's husband blames her for a horrific car accident. Instead we get a clueless, rich Eve who is oblivious to the fact that her husband is an a**hole and that her teenage daughter is crying out for help. A quick read that will just as quickly fade from my memory.
January 10, 2015
I enjoyed this novel and read it in one sitting. Pet peeve: there were a couple of textual mistakes (a dialogue misattribution and an extra pronoun), which I did not expect in a St. Martin's hardcover...
September 10, 2016
Thought provoking and a good read. A quote I liked: "Tears sting the back of my throat like bees released from a hive under my ribs."
March 14, 2018
What an evil web we weave and the lengths that we go to in order to try and keep it hidden. Cooper comes from an old Savannah family and when he marries Eve she is beneath his social status. Their marriage rocks along until they are married 21 years and the evil begins to rear it's ugly head. Cooper has a car accident with Eve's sister Willa and the evil begins to show. Eve goes to great lengths to find out the truth, even though the truth will set you free.
April 13, 2020
3.75 stars This was a nice easy ready, just what I needed.
A southern women's fiction. Eve owns & runs a printing company, with a small workforce. Her recovering alcoholic sister lives in a cottage on the family home property. Eve's teenage daughter is going through some issues. Eve's husband runs a southern male oriented magazine, think bourbon & guns on line.
An event happens & there's an accident, lies, confusion, a dead man & doubts.
I liked this just fine.
A southern women's fiction. Eve owns & runs a printing company, with a small workforce. Her recovering alcoholic sister lives in a cottage on the family home property. Eve's teenage daughter is going through some issues. Eve's husband runs a southern male oriented magazine, think bourbon & guns on line.
An event happens & there's an accident, lies, confusion, a dead man & doubts.
I liked this just fine.
October 24, 2020
The book is not bad, but it is just not my type of book. It's a chick lit type of book with way too much angst for my taste. I also did not find the daughter or sister at all believable. On the plus side it is a quick and easy read.
March 23, 2025
Family, Secrets, Betrayal and Love. All things promised but the delivery fell short! The story had so much potential I wish the explored the characters about deeper. It’s not a bad story just underwhelming 🙈🙈🙈
July 25, 2024
Beautiful story
Patti Callahan Henry tells the best stories and she leaves you wanting the story to continue on and on! Highly recommend it!
Patti Callahan Henry tells the best stories and she leaves you wanting the story to continue on and on! Highly recommend it!
July 29, 2025
Read ch1, 6%.
intrigued.
Skip read after this story turned sad. Unique.
intrigued.
Skip read after this story turned sad. Unique.
February 23, 2022
An interesting story that had more promise at the beginning than the end. I can’t quite decide why the last few chapters were disappointing, perhaps there seemed too many dangling wonderings.
But it left me thinking about being truthful in all aspects of life. So I ponder!
But it left me thinking about being truthful in all aspects of life. So I ponder!
June 13, 2014
They are Savannah's power couple. Cooper and Eve Morrison have a beautiful home on property handed down through the Morrison family for years: his e-publishing business is successful, just as her letterpress studio is, where she produces Fine Line, Ink...cards and logos, and other creations.
Cooper travels constantly to find customers and investors, and Eve's studio occupies the old barn on the property.
Living in the guest cottage is Eve's sister Willa; the two are best friends who have survived harsh childhoods filled with disapproval. One of the company's most successful card lines is based on their Ten Good Ideas from childhood: their answer to the Ten Commandments.
But one night a terrible accident happens. Cooper and Willa are both injured, and Willa has suffered a traumatic brain injury. Her memory is affected, and what she does put together about that night is in direct opposition to Cooper's story. And it isn't a story that makes sense to Eve, either.
But will they ever learn the truth? And if they do, what will happen to their carefully constructed world?
"The Stories We Tell: A Novel" is a wonderful tale of family, secrets, and how the truth can ultimately set you free, even if it seems as though your world is crashing down around you.
It was impossible not to engage with the characters and want to discover everything that has happened. I was rooting for Eve...and even Gwen, whose behavior was horrible at times. But she could only handle her pain by acting out.
In the end, I felt a great satisfaction with how the truth unfolded...and even if things played out in a slightly predictable fashion, I didn't see how the details would fit together until nearly the end. I liked the idea of how we each have our own stories, and how new beginnings come out of endings. 4.5 stars.
Cooper travels constantly to find customers and investors, and Eve's studio occupies the old barn on the property.
Living in the guest cottage is Eve's sister Willa; the two are best friends who have survived harsh childhoods filled with disapproval. One of the company's most successful card lines is based on their Ten Good Ideas from childhood: their answer to the Ten Commandments.
But one night a terrible accident happens. Cooper and Willa are both injured, and Willa has suffered a traumatic brain injury. Her memory is affected, and what she does put together about that night is in direct opposition to Cooper's story. And it isn't a story that makes sense to Eve, either.
But will they ever learn the truth? And if they do, what will happen to their carefully constructed world?
"The Stories We Tell: A Novel" is a wonderful tale of family, secrets, and how the truth can ultimately set you free, even if it seems as though your world is crashing down around you.
It was impossible not to engage with the characters and want to discover everything that has happened. I was rooting for Eve...and even Gwen, whose behavior was horrible at times. But she could only handle her pain by acting out.
In the end, I felt a great satisfaction with how the truth unfolded...and even if things played out in a slightly predictable fashion, I didn't see how the details would fit together until nearly the end. I liked the idea of how we each have our own stories, and how new beginnings come out of endings. 4.5 stars.
July 21, 2025
From its first pages, I was drawn into this story. I liked its title, premise, cover art, and the prologue, which was a terrific set-up for the story, hinting at oncoming conflict while introducing the main character. Nicely done.
It never fails to intrigue me how subjective the enjoyment of a book is. What works for me doesn’t for you, and vice versa. Similarly, the same writer can hit my mark once but the miss it the next time. Or the other way around, which is what happened for me here. As a She Reads reviewer, I recently read And Then I Found You and wasn’t delighted with it. I didn’t connect with the characters–as I recall, I had a hard time identifying with some of the main character’s life choices–and consequently, the rest of the story fell flat.
So not the case for me with this story. In that elusive way that is such a big part of bookish magic, the combination of conflict, characters and setting hit me in all the right places. This, even though Christianity is stereotypically portrayed in a very negative light (the sisters, Eve and Willa, endured childhoods damaged by all the wrong, hypocritical ways religion can manifest in human beings), and even though I wasn’t in total agreement with Eve’s choices, I could at least understand them. And–more importantly from a literary point of view–wanted to stick with her until she reached them.
I liked this book. I liked Henry’s prose, which is straightforward yet written from a place of understanding and empathy which translates to the page. I liked the way she strung out the mystery until the end, and how I was really guessing who to trust all along the way, just like Eve. All in all, it was a book I wanted to finish.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.
It never fails to intrigue me how subjective the enjoyment of a book is. What works for me doesn’t for you, and vice versa. Similarly, the same writer can hit my mark once but the miss it the next time. Or the other way around, which is what happened for me here. As a She Reads reviewer, I recently read And Then I Found You and wasn’t delighted with it. I didn’t connect with the characters–as I recall, I had a hard time identifying with some of the main character’s life choices–and consequently, the rest of the story fell flat.
So not the case for me with this story. In that elusive way that is such a big part of bookish magic, the combination of conflict, characters and setting hit me in all the right places. This, even though Christianity is stereotypically portrayed in a very negative light (the sisters, Eve and Willa, endured childhoods damaged by all the wrong, hypocritical ways religion can manifest in human beings), and even though I wasn’t in total agreement with Eve’s choices, I could at least understand them. And–more importantly from a literary point of view–wanted to stick with her until she reached them.
I liked this book. I liked Henry’s prose, which is straightforward yet written from a place of understanding and empathy which translates to the page. I liked the way she strung out the mystery until the end, and how I was really guessing who to trust all along the way, just like Eve. All in all, it was a book I wanted to finish.
Thanks to St. Martin’s Press for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.
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