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, Mystery Thriller, Contemporary, Thriller, Audiobook

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

[Melissa Chandler · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this family drama on audio🎧! The back-and-forth between Lauren and Evie made it engaging. I kept telling myself “just one more chapter” because I couldn’t put it down. The characters are messy and emotional, making it realistic. If you enjoy family dramas with plenty of tension and emotion, I’d definitely recommend this one!

[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!

[Tracy Bookish · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4 stars)

This one leans more into suspense than psychological mind games, and I actually loved that. The tension builds steadily as the story follows two families—one wealthy, one not—whose lives become deeply intertwined by a long-buried secret that refuses to stay hidden.

At its core, this book is all about the weight of secrets and how far people will go to protect them. As the layers start to peel back, you realize just how connected everyone is… and how dangerous the truth can be once it finally comes to light.

I wouldn’t say this is packed with shocking twists on every page, but the slow unraveling and the steady sense of unease really worked for me. It’s one of those stories where you know something is off—you just don’t know how it’s all going to explode.

Overall, a strong, suspenseful read with great pacing and an intriguing premise. Definitely worth picking up if you enjoy family secrets, layered connections, and a tension-filled buildup.

[Kim McFall · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took me a few days to fully process this one after reading it & to come up with a review that really describes how I felt while reading it.

The Things We Carry by Kate Anslinger felt incredibly raw and emotional. It was like stepping into the lives of real people rather than fictional characters.

The writing doesn’t shy away from flaws or messy, complicated reactions. It leans into them, capturing the highs and lows of friendship, parenting and the unsettling truth that you never fully know someone or their past.

While the characters themselves weren’t always relatable, their emotions absolutely were. Their responses to trauma, the way they process pain, and the ripple effects of their experiences all felt deeply authentic and human.

This was another ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ read by this author. She has definitely become an author that’s a must read for me now!

[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?

[Chellsvibes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes, I read it and loved it. But, I had to listen to this book as the audio was just released. I loved hearing the voices and as it played as a movie in my head I truly loved it again.

This book took me on an emotional journey I wasn’t quite prepared for, but I am so glad I experienced it. The Things We Carry beautifully captures the quiet, complicated ways we try to protect our children, even while carrying the weight of our own pasts. It reminded me how, no matter how grown we become, parts of us will always be shaped by how we were raised.
Kate Anslinger’s writing is tender, honest, and deeply moving. The storyline was heartbreaking at times, yet it was filled with revelations about love, sacrifice, and the things we quietly pass down through generations. I felt so many emotions while reading this book — sadness, hope, frustration, and ultimately, peace.
It’s a reminder that while we strive to give our children a better life, we’re also still learning, still healing, and still carrying pieces of ourselves we sometimes forget are there. I truly enjoyed this story and look forward to reading more of Kate Anslinger’s work.

[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.

[Kelly Figg · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured The Things We Carry in less than 24 hours, which honestly says everything about how gripping this story is. This is the first book in a three part series, and I am looking forward to seeing where the next two books take us.

This was such a satisfying domestic thriller—fast-paced, engaging, and full of that underlying tension that keeps you turning pages.. There’s a mystery woven through the story that builds just enough intrigue to keep you hooked without overwhelming the character driven parts of the story.

The characters in this book are layered and complex, with just enough moral grayness to make them feel real and unpredictable. This is something I always look for in this genre. I agree with other reviewers that many of the main characters were not likeable but I think that is sometimes necessary to tell a story and elicit specific reactions.

One thing I especially appreciated is that this delivers a Desperate Housewives style vibe without any spice or graphic content. If you’re someone who enjoys domestic drama and suspense but prefers to avoid explicit scenes or heavy violence, this is a great pick.

The only reason this wasn’t a full five stars for me is that a few moments felt slightly rushed or underdeveloped. That said, since this is the start of a trilogy, I have a feeling those elements will be expanded on in future installments.

Overall, a strong 4.5-star (rounded up to 5) read and a great reminder of why I love a good domestic thriller. I’ll definitely be continuing the series.

[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.

[Caitlin Nanos · Rating 3 out of 5]

“The Things We Carry” by Kate Anslinger was one of those books that completely pulled me in at first, but didn’t fully land for me by the end. The premise was emotional and intriguing, and I really enjoyed the way the story explored grief, secrets, and the emotional weight people carry through life. There were definitely moments that hit hard and made me stop to think.

That being said, I found myself wanting a little more depth from some of the characters and plot points. At times, the pacing felt uneven, and there were moments where I felt disconnected from the story instead of fully invested. I kept waiting for a bigger emotional payoff that never quite came for me personally.

Even with my frustrations, I still flew through this book because the writing keeps you curious and wanting answers. It’s emotional, thoughtful, and layered, but just not one that completely wowed me in the end.

[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.