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Things You Won't Say
In this timely and provocative novel, internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen takes us inside a family in crisis and a marriage on the brink after a tragic shooting.
How far would you go to save your family?
Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: There's been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isn't hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husband's insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shooting but this time Mike has pulled the trigger.
But the shooting does more than just alter Jamie's world. It's about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mike's flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamie's younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes.
In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novel her best yet.
How far would you go to save your family?
Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: There's been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isn't hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husband's insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shooting but this time Mike has pulled the trigger.
But the shooting does more than just alter Jamie's world. It's about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mike's flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamie's younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes.
In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novel her best yet.
352 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2015
290 people are currently reading
12030 people want to read
About the author
Sarah Pekkanen
29 books7,273 followersI'm a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 15 solo and coauthored books, including HOUSE OF GLASS, which is a Goodreads Choice award nominee and Amazon best book of the year.
My upcoming thriller, THE LOCKED WARD, is being hailed by Lee Child as "psychological suspense at its very best."
I'm also the coauthor of four bestselling thrillers: THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I've also written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."
When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I'm the founder of the nonprofit charity IndiaStreetPaws.com.
I also serve on the board of the International Thriller Writers. Readers and writers - come join us at Thrillerfest in NYC every spring!
Please find me on Insta and Facebook for more!
My website is www.sarahpekkanen.com
(Here on Goodreads, my policy is to only review books I really like. If I don't enjoy the book, I won't write about it - it's just my personal policy.)
My upcoming thriller, THE LOCKED WARD, is being hailed by Lee Child as "psychological suspense at its very best."
I'm also the coauthor of four bestselling thrillers: THE GOLDEN COUPLE, THE WIFE BETWEEN US, AN ANONYMOUS GIRL, and YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
I've also written eight novels that are contemporary fiction, not thrillers: THE EVER AFTER, THE PERFECT NEIGHBORS, THINGS YOU WON'T SAY, CATCHING AIR, THE BEST OF US, THE OPPOSITE OF ME, SKIPPING A BEAT, and THESE GIRLS. My linked free short estories, published by Simon&Schuster exclusively for ereaders, are titled "All is Bright," and "Love, Accidentally."
When I'm not writing or spending time with my three kids, I'm a passionate advocate for rescue animals. I serve as Ambassador of RRSA India, a shelter and sanctuary for abused and injured street dogs and other animals in Anand, India. And I'm the founder of the nonprofit charity IndiaStreetPaws.com.
I also serve on the board of the International Thriller Writers. Readers and writers - come join us at Thrillerfest in NYC every spring!
Please find me on Insta and Facebook for more!
My website is www.sarahpekkanen.com
(Here on Goodreads, my policy is to only review books I really like. If I don't enjoy the book, I won't write about it - it's just my personal policy.)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 450 reviews
July 2, 2015
The Hook - The publisher’s blurb drew me in.
The Line – ”Just last year they’d gone three days without speaking after a ridiculous fight…”
There’s more to that sentence but this is telling quote and has much to do with the theme of the story.
The Sinker – Things You Won’t Say is just that, a story of a marriage without honest conversation, one where what is not said or discussed causes damage to the union.
It is also a story ripped out of recent headlines. Mike Anderson, a policeman is involved in a shooting. He’s not injured but his partner and good friend takes the bullet and is badly hurt. Jamie, his wife, breathes a sigh of relief that Mike is all right, but then realizes he’s a victim just the same. And then it happens again. Jamie gets the dreaded call. There’s been a fatal shooting. Once again, Mike is safe but he shot a teenager who he thinks pulled a gun on him. But then the gun can’t be found and the teen is a boy of color. The boy’s mother holds an unsparing press conference and the preliminary investigation leads to Mike’s indictment. The consequences of all this would rock a solid marriage but Mike and Jamie’s is on edgy ground.
There are other characters with an indirect role in the Anderson’s undoing. They are used possibly to lend support or other viewpoint to the story. I honestly never could get interested in the side stories the author presents. They added little to the whole.
What I took away from this is how important trust, respect and the need for honesty is in any marriage that is going to work.
My sincere thanks to Edelweiss and Washington Square Press for providing this e-galley for my review. Things You Won’t Say by Sarah Pekkanen is now available for purchase and your reading pleasure.
The Line – ”Just last year they’d gone three days without speaking after a ridiculous fight…”
There’s more to that sentence but this is telling quote and has much to do with the theme of the story.
The Sinker – Things You Won’t Say is just that, a story of a marriage without honest conversation, one where what is not said or discussed causes damage to the union.
It is also a story ripped out of recent headlines. Mike Anderson, a policeman is involved in a shooting. He’s not injured but his partner and good friend takes the bullet and is badly hurt. Jamie, his wife, breathes a sigh of relief that Mike is all right, but then realizes he’s a victim just the same. And then it happens again. Jamie gets the dreaded call. There’s been a fatal shooting. Once again, Mike is safe but he shot a teenager who he thinks pulled a gun on him. But then the gun can’t be found and the teen is a boy of color. The boy’s mother holds an unsparing press conference and the preliminary investigation leads to Mike’s indictment. The consequences of all this would rock a solid marriage but Mike and Jamie’s is on edgy ground.
There are other characters with an indirect role in the Anderson’s undoing. They are used possibly to lend support or other viewpoint to the story. I honestly never could get interested in the side stories the author presents. They added little to the whole.
What I took away from this is how important trust, respect and the need for honesty is in any marriage that is going to work.
My sincere thanks to Edelweiss and Washington Square Press for providing this e-galley for my review. Things You Won’t Say by Sarah Pekkanen is now available for purchase and your reading pleasure.
November 7, 2015
I liked Things You Won’t Say. It was a nice story.
Mike is a police officer who is suffering from PTSD following a shooting where his partner was almost killed. Now there is another shooting, but Mike was the one holding the gun. And now he is in a lot of trouble. Can his marriage stay together? Will he go to jail? Relationships, marriage and family are the main focus of this novel. It is all about the characters and their interactions with each other. Mike and his wife Jamie, whose marriage has been strained ever since the original shooting, and their struggle to stay a family unit for their children during times of severe stress… Mike’s ex Christine whom they have a son with, and her constant need for attention, and Jamie’s sister Lou who troubled in her own right, while trying to help her sister hold her family together.
I did enjoy this book, but I must say I didn’t feel a lot of love for all of the characters. I did warm to all of them in some way, however things they did annoyed me a lot of the time. I just couldn’t let myself completely get carried away with their story. I found myself willing the book to get to something good.
I found that the story started off strongly but quickly slowed down and I felt it dragged on. However it still had some very good moments, especially with Christine and her attempt to steal Mike back, and her antics at her new job. However the dull far outweighed the exciting for me unfortunately. Although – I still wanted to see what happened with all the characters and how it all concluded, the conclusion and the twist was ultimately satisfying. But unfortunately my frustration with the characters, and the slow pace, kept this at 3 stars for me.
I have to mention how well it was written. I found the writing extremely good. It was my first Pekkanen novel and I would be interested in looking at her other work to see if I enjoy any others a bit more.
Would I recommend it?
If you are a women’s fiction fan you may enjoy this.
Thanks to the author via NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
Mike is a police officer who is suffering from PTSD following a shooting where his partner was almost killed. Now there is another shooting, but Mike was the one holding the gun. And now he is in a lot of trouble. Can his marriage stay together? Will he go to jail? Relationships, marriage and family are the main focus of this novel. It is all about the characters and their interactions with each other. Mike and his wife Jamie, whose marriage has been strained ever since the original shooting, and their struggle to stay a family unit for their children during times of severe stress… Mike’s ex Christine whom they have a son with, and her constant need for attention, and Jamie’s sister Lou who troubled in her own right, while trying to help her sister hold her family together.
I did enjoy this book, but I must say I didn’t feel a lot of love for all of the characters. I did warm to all of them in some way, however things they did annoyed me a lot of the time. I just couldn’t let myself completely get carried away with their story. I found myself willing the book to get to something good.
I found that the story started off strongly but quickly slowed down and I felt it dragged on. However it still had some very good moments, especially with Christine and her attempt to steal Mike back, and her antics at her new job. However the dull far outweighed the exciting for me unfortunately. Although – I still wanted to see what happened with all the characters and how it all concluded, the conclusion and the twist was ultimately satisfying. But unfortunately my frustration with the characters, and the slow pace, kept this at 3 stars for me.
I have to mention how well it was written. I found the writing extremely good. It was my first Pekkanen novel and I would be interested in looking at her other work to see if I enjoy any others a bit more.
Would I recommend it?
If you are a women’s fiction fan you may enjoy this.
Thanks to the author via NetGalley for a copy of this in exchange for my honest review.
May 14, 2015
I received this book as an ARC from Bookbrowse.
Sarah Pekkanen has written a ripped from the headlines tale aabout an officer-involved police shooting. Cop Mike Anderson, who has seen his partner critically injured in a recent shooting, takes down a 15-year-old Latino boy in a gang fight, and it seems the boy was unarmed. The real focus of the book is on the consequences of Mike's act for his family - wife Jamie, three small kids and a son by a previous girl-friend, Christie, who also figure in the story. The story-telling is heavy on family dynamics and light on the police procedural side, so there's not a lot of action and the tale moves slowly, Additionally Pekkanen involves herself in two side-stories - one about Christie, who tries to establish a career as an assistant to a private eye by seducing men whose wives believe them to be cheating, and one involving Lou,Jamie's younger sister, who loves animals, works for the Washington zoo, and is involved win caring for a pregnant elephant about to give birth (really!). These side stories are horribly distracting. Although Christie and Lou are both involved in the main storyline, these subplots do not contribute to that main story in any significant way, and slow things down even more. So while the story has potential and the author does a really good job describing the family dynamics and developing Jamie's character, I found the book frustrating and poorly focused.
Sarah Pekkanen has written a ripped from the headlines tale aabout an officer-involved police shooting. Cop Mike Anderson, who has seen his partner critically injured in a recent shooting, takes down a 15-year-old Latino boy in a gang fight, and it seems the boy was unarmed. The real focus of the book is on the consequences of Mike's act for his family - wife Jamie, three small kids and a son by a previous girl-friend, Christie, who also figure in the story. The story-telling is heavy on family dynamics and light on the police procedural side, so there's not a lot of action and the tale moves slowly, Additionally Pekkanen involves herself in two side-stories - one about Christie, who tries to establish a career as an assistant to a private eye by seducing men whose wives believe them to be cheating, and one involving Lou,Jamie's younger sister, who loves animals, works for the Washington zoo, and is involved win caring for a pregnant elephant about to give birth (really!). These side stories are horribly distracting. Although Christie and Lou are both involved in the main storyline, these subplots do not contribute to that main story in any significant way, and slow things down even more. So while the story has potential and the author does a really good job describing the family dynamics and developing Jamie's character, I found the book frustrating and poorly focused.
February 12, 2015
This is a story that could be ripped out of our current headlines. Mike, a white patrol cop, happens to shoot a young black boy because he thought the teenager had a gun. Mike is put on administrative leave while they investigate the shooting. His wife, Jamie, and their children have to endure media camped out in front of the house, and kids talking at school, as the fissures in their marriage begin to open like an earthquake fault line. I really enjoyed this book; however, I didn't really like some of the characters. I wanted to slap Jamie and tell her "Snap out of it" a la Cher in Moonstruck. I felt like shaking Mike and telling him to wake up before he lost his family. Even the smallest member of their family, Eloise, drove me crazy with her bratty behavior. I guess that goes to show that these characters are "real". Love Sarah Pekkanen's books, and I would recommend this one to my friends. Thank you to Goodreads for the ARC!
August 11, 2015
I thought this book was excellent. Her best book yet.
June 24, 2016
A special thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
THINGS YOU WON'T SAY is Sarah Pekkanen's "best work" thus far; she keeps getting better and better--if this is even possible!
An avid fan for many years, having read all of Sarah's books--she has always had a "thumb" on modern day relationships and parenting, and interjects plenty of wit and humor, wisdom, and inspiration; tackling single life, marriage, extended family, ex-wives, careers, divorce, and other contemporary issues, like no other, appealing to a wide audience of women.
In her latest compelling novel, the ongoing theme is parenting and communication, with three very different women: Jamie, Lou, and Christie; however, as an added bonus, Pekkanen tackles some highly-charged emotional topics, crossing genres with racial, police procedural, a shooting, mystery/crime, firearms, motherhood, teens, family bonds, and emotional human dynamics--making THINGS YOU WON'T SAY a gripping, and thought-provoking suspenseful read, with well-developed characters, keeping you glued to the pages for hours.
Jamie, age thirty-two, is a mother of three children; Sam (age eight), Eloise (age three), and Emily (age six). She is a busy mom and married to a cop, Mike. Years ago, before meeting Jamie, Mike had a relationship with Christie and they have a teenage son, Henry, sharing joint custody. Jamie is a wonderful step mom to Henry, unfortunately, Christie is always in their life and most of the time, not a plus – now she is a character!
Recently things have been stressed as Mike’s best friend and partner, Ritchie was shot in the line of duty, and will never be the same. Mike has much guilt as his friend walked out the door a step ahead of his partner, and he was not hurt.
To further complicate matters, Mike goes back to work after the incident, with PTSD, and now in the middle of an investigation when he shoots a Hispanic teenager trying to protect another fellow cop partner, breaking up a gang fight. However, all fingers and blame at pointed at Mike, since they cannot prove the teen had a gun.
Jamie has always been the protector of the family – her husband, and children; however, now she cannot fix their life this time and her marriage is falling apart. Jamie, the narrator seeks desperately to save her family and her marriage. However, she has to deal with the ex- Christie, who is totally the opposite, dressing provocatively, not a very responsible parent, acts impulsively, and happens to be there to support Mike and believes in his innocence when Jamie has doubts. No one seems to be communicating.
Christie brings so much fun to the book, as you will laugh out loud. She never fits in, and always getting into trouble. She gets a new job working for a PI, and going undercover to help weed out cheating husbands. She is hilarious and at the same time she is the one who steps up to help Mike. Of course, she would like to have Mike for herself and uses Henry, her son sometimes to get close to him.
With much friction from the two different women, readers get to see two opposite women in a realistic situation. Personally, I have been the wife, mother, the ex-wife, step-mom, and had to deal with ex-wives; not fun, so had to laugh at some of the things which were right on—how a lack of communication can lead you to ponder, things are not always as they appear.
Lou, the single sister, of Jamie is another major part of the story. Poor Lou is not a girly girl, and works for a zoo, as a full time animal keeper, and loves her job-she is not cut out to work in an office. She also works a second job at a coffee shop, to pay the bills.
She would rather sleep with the animals if she could. The guy she lives with has dumped her for another girl and all the while she still lives in the same apartment with him. Awkward! You feel so bad for her as she is run out of her own house, and the roommate she hooks up with is horrible, and then she takes time off from her job to help her sister, and at the same time she is there with love, passion, and devotion with her beloved elephant, Tabitha when giving birth. All three women connect in some ways with a powerful motherhood bond, making each woman unique in their own way.
Pekkanen can write chick-lit, humor, and women's contemporary fiction, like a rock star, right up there with Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin; however, with her latest, she has moved up next to Jodi Picoult, delivering a complex portrayal and exploration of human emotions with much depth and sensitivity, appealing to fans of all three authors with her latest "must read!."
Fans of Picoult's Leaving Time will enjoy the elephant/human motherhood connection. I enjoyed reading about the inspiration behind the book, and Christie's character was SO MUCH FUN--keeping me laughing throughout the book!
An ideal choice for book clubs and group discussions, with a detailed readers club guide included. Well-done, Sarah, another winner-highly recommend all her books!
JDCMustReadBooks
THINGS YOU WON'T SAY is Sarah Pekkanen's "best work" thus far; she keeps getting better and better--if this is even possible!
An avid fan for many years, having read all of Sarah's books--she has always had a "thumb" on modern day relationships and parenting, and interjects plenty of wit and humor, wisdom, and inspiration; tackling single life, marriage, extended family, ex-wives, careers, divorce, and other contemporary issues, like no other, appealing to a wide audience of women.
In her latest compelling novel, the ongoing theme is parenting and communication, with three very different women: Jamie, Lou, and Christie; however, as an added bonus, Pekkanen tackles some highly-charged emotional topics, crossing genres with racial, police procedural, a shooting, mystery/crime, firearms, motherhood, teens, family bonds, and emotional human dynamics--making THINGS YOU WON'T SAY a gripping, and thought-provoking suspenseful read, with well-developed characters, keeping you glued to the pages for hours.
Jamie, age thirty-two, is a mother of three children; Sam (age eight), Eloise (age three), and Emily (age six). She is a busy mom and married to a cop, Mike. Years ago, before meeting Jamie, Mike had a relationship with Christie and they have a teenage son, Henry, sharing joint custody. Jamie is a wonderful step mom to Henry, unfortunately, Christie is always in their life and most of the time, not a plus – now she is a character!
Recently things have been stressed as Mike’s best friend and partner, Ritchie was shot in the line of duty, and will never be the same. Mike has much guilt as his friend walked out the door a step ahead of his partner, and he was not hurt.
To further complicate matters, Mike goes back to work after the incident, with PTSD, and now in the middle of an investigation when he shoots a Hispanic teenager trying to protect another fellow cop partner, breaking up a gang fight. However, all fingers and blame at pointed at Mike, since they cannot prove the teen had a gun.
Jamie has always been the protector of the family – her husband, and children; however, now she cannot fix their life this time and her marriage is falling apart. Jamie, the narrator seeks desperately to save her family and her marriage. However, she has to deal with the ex- Christie, who is totally the opposite, dressing provocatively, not a very responsible parent, acts impulsively, and happens to be there to support Mike and believes in his innocence when Jamie has doubts. No one seems to be communicating.
Christie brings so much fun to the book, as you will laugh out loud. She never fits in, and always getting into trouble. She gets a new job working for a PI, and going undercover to help weed out cheating husbands. She is hilarious and at the same time she is the one who steps up to help Mike. Of course, she would like to have Mike for herself and uses Henry, her son sometimes to get close to him.
With much friction from the two different women, readers get to see two opposite women in a realistic situation. Personally, I have been the wife, mother, the ex-wife, step-mom, and had to deal with ex-wives; not fun, so had to laugh at some of the things which were right on—how a lack of communication can lead you to ponder, things are not always as they appear.
Lou, the single sister, of Jamie is another major part of the story. Poor Lou is not a girly girl, and works for a zoo, as a full time animal keeper, and loves her job-she is not cut out to work in an office. She also works a second job at a coffee shop, to pay the bills.
She would rather sleep with the animals if she could. The guy she lives with has dumped her for another girl and all the while she still lives in the same apartment with him. Awkward! You feel so bad for her as she is run out of her own house, and the roommate she hooks up with is horrible, and then she takes time off from her job to help her sister, and at the same time she is there with love, passion, and devotion with her beloved elephant, Tabitha when giving birth. All three women connect in some ways with a powerful motherhood bond, making each woman unique in their own way.
Pekkanen can write chick-lit, humor, and women's contemporary fiction, like a rock star, right up there with Jennifer Weiner and Emily Giffin; however, with her latest, she has moved up next to Jodi Picoult, delivering a complex portrayal and exploration of human emotions with much depth and sensitivity, appealing to fans of all three authors with her latest "must read!."
Fans of Picoult's Leaving Time will enjoy the elephant/human motherhood connection. I enjoyed reading about the inspiration behind the book, and Christie's character was SO MUCH FUN--keeping me laughing throughout the book!
An ideal choice for book clubs and group discussions, with a detailed readers club guide included. Well-done, Sarah, another winner-highly recommend all her books!
JDCMustReadBooks
June 10, 2015
Blah
Eh to boring. I wouldn't recommend it and, if I had a time machine, I would not bother reading this book
Eh to boring. I wouldn't recommend it and, if I had a time machine, I would not bother reading this book
October 11, 2015
Ok, so this is my first Sarah Pekkanen novel. I said this to one of my girlfriends and she looked at as if I just said I have never heard of the Beatles!!! I actually ducked thinking she was so disgusted with me that the throw pillow she was holding was going to be thrown directly at my face. Hey! Everyone has to start somewhere.
If Sarah Pekkanen's body of work is as crisp, seamless, and written with such a deft knowledge of people and their inner thoughts than I will be scouring the book stores for every novel she has written. If you are one of the few who have yet to read a Pekkanen novel and want a comparison... think Jodi Picoult . I draw this comparison because of their obvious attention to detail when doing research and like Picoult writes about issues that are hot button topics and very very timely.
Things You Won't Say could literally be ripped from the headlines. We follow Mike who is a police officer and his wife Jamie who has the job of being the wife of a police officer. There are 3 storylines that all connect, as they are all family. Either by blood or by choice.
I won’t give away the whole premise but will say with all the police shootings in the news these days, this book could not be more relevant.
I read this book in a day and will miss these people. It is a beautiful book about loss, love, support, self-neglect, but ultimately hope and family.
Bravo Ms. Pekkanen.. Bravo.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.
If Sarah Pekkanen's body of work is as crisp, seamless, and written with such a deft knowledge of people and their inner thoughts than I will be scouring the book stores for every novel she has written. If you are one of the few who have yet to read a Pekkanen novel and want a comparison... think Jodi Picoult . I draw this comparison because of their obvious attention to detail when doing research and like Picoult writes about issues that are hot button topics and very very timely.
Things You Won't Say could literally be ripped from the headlines. We follow Mike who is a police officer and his wife Jamie who has the job of being the wife of a police officer. There are 3 storylines that all connect, as they are all family. Either by blood or by choice.
I won’t give away the whole premise but will say with all the police shootings in the news these days, this book could not be more relevant.
I read this book in a day and will miss these people. It is a beautiful book about loss, love, support, self-neglect, but ultimately hope and family.
Bravo Ms. Pekkanen.. Bravo.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the advanced copy in exchange for this review.
August 22, 2015
I think I've said it before: I really like the way Sarah Pekkanen tells the stories of quite ordinary people, ordinary lives, realistic problems!
In this one there is a little "extra" which I just loved: Lou working with a l ovely pregnant elephant!!(A little secret: I have a thing for elephants!)
In this one there is a little "extra" which I just loved: Lou working with a l ovely pregnant elephant!!(A little secret: I have a thing for elephants!)
October 25, 2018
For full review - The Limit of Books Does Not Exist
Things You Won’t Say follow 3 women – Jamie (Mike’s wife), Lou (Jamie’s sister) and Christie (Mike’s ex and his son’s mother). Jamie has just found out that Mike shot and killed a teenage boy during the line of duty, which then impacts Lou and Christie. I didn’t like Jamie, Lou was unnecessary and I really liked Christie, but she was also not needed.
It was interesting seeing how Mike’s actions impacted all 3 women in different ways and how they handled it in their own ways. I found it refreshing that Christie and Mike had such a good relationship and arrangement when it came to their son. They put him above everything else and you don’t see that with many novels or real life situations. It was an ideal custody arrangement!
There were some minor storylines that I found weren’t necessary. There were a lot of pages dedicated to Lou’s profession as a zookeeper as one of her elephants gives birth and Christie’s new career as a decoy for a private investigator. These storylines (as refreshing as they were) weren’t needed and it seemed like they were to add more pages to the novel.
I liked it because it was a quick read, but it’s not very memorable. Would be good for as a beach read!
Things You Won’t Say follow 3 women – Jamie (Mike’s wife), Lou (Jamie’s sister) and Christie (Mike’s ex and his son’s mother). Jamie has just found out that Mike shot and killed a teenage boy during the line of duty, which then impacts Lou and Christie. I didn’t like Jamie, Lou was unnecessary and I really liked Christie, but she was also not needed.
It was interesting seeing how Mike’s actions impacted all 3 women in different ways and how they handled it in their own ways. I found it refreshing that Christie and Mike had such a good relationship and arrangement when it came to their son. They put him above everything else and you don’t see that with many novels or real life situations. It was an ideal custody arrangement!
There were some minor storylines that I found weren’t necessary. There were a lot of pages dedicated to Lou’s profession as a zookeeper as one of her elephants gives birth and Christie’s new career as a decoy for a private investigator. These storylines (as refreshing as they were) weren’t needed and it seemed like they were to add more pages to the novel.
I liked it because it was a quick read, but it’s not very memorable. Would be good for as a beach read!
January 18, 2016
This was one tedious novel that dragged on.
It wasn't badly written, but it was very dull and monotonous.
While the characters are realistic and relatable, I didn't care much about them and honestly, I struggled to finish this novel.
In Things You Won't Say there are several stories that we're following: the main one is the story of Jamie and her husband, Mike Anderson, who's a policeman; then we have Jamie's sister, Lou, a zoo keeper, who's in her early thirties, single and feeling a bit adrift. Another protagonist is Mike's ex, Christie Simmon.
Mike Anderson suffers from undiagnosed PTSD and depression, following an attempted murder, which left Mike's partner gravely injured and killed another policeman. Soon tragedy strikes again, as Mike shoots and kills an unarmed teenager. A media circus ensues and things start unraveling for the Andersons. Poor Jamie is trying hard to keep the family together, although she's been unable to reach Mike for a while.
The plot is not bad, it's such a shame that, for whatever reason, I just didn't care much and reading it felt like such a drudge.
So I'm going to give this 2.5 stars.
I've received this novel via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 10, 2015
Forced and very one dimentional. Author wanted audience to empathize w police involved in shootings. A disappointing attempt to humanize a white officer with tropes of 'he can't be a racist because his partner is black' tossed in like adding a whole carrot to a salad instead of bothering to cut is up and integrate into the salad/story. No finess or charactor development to actually address the depth of issues so available.The two side stories of the sister whose on the Aspergers scale and the ex girlfriend of the cop were just random details to give voice to the preconceived simplicity of the conjectured thesis that obviously cops are honest family loving shepherds all misunderstood. So rushed to get the book out and take advantage of the killings in the news came above the duty to write a deeper multifacited book. A shame the opportunity was missed. This author wanted to give a soft landing to a sharp painful reality and perhaps it is so far past time to pull the ostrich head up she trips in her ignorance?
June 30, 2015
Do not understand the hype with this book or this author. I was interested in the characters and the idea, but there was a lot of extraneous plot here. The sister and the elephant plot line was not germane to the topic. There were many references to very recent events, (Ferguson) and current pop culture, so the book must have been written VERY recently and printed VERY quickly. I just did not find the writing to be very good.
September 24, 2020
This book made me so mad I almost spit. An accidental police shooting that results in the death of a brown CHILD and the whole thing contextualizes the cop and his life and his intentions and gives only afterthought-level to the context of the CHILD, and then it turns out the cop was “right” and it was the child’s “fault” all along?????? This book is why everyone is mad at white ladies right now and RIGHTFULLY SO.
June 17, 2020
3.5 stars - good, easy read.
March 15, 2015
RELEASE DATE: May 26, 2015
RATING: 3 Stars Worth requesting at library or buying in paperback
GENRE: Women's Fiction
AUDIENCE: Fans of Kristin Hannah and Jodi Picoult may enjoy ” "Things You Won't Say” .
SERIES: Standalone
REVIEW: Jamie Anderson is busy running a household filled with her kids, her husband’s Mike’s son from a previous marriage. After hubs suffers through a shooting that leaves his longtime friend and partner seriously injured, hubs returns to duty and shortly thereafter shoots and kills a youth from the rougher side of town. With theories and false information flying around as facts, and as the media turns her life into a circus, Jamie must fight to keep her husband from being lost to her forever.
This book wasn’t awful, although it felt like the more dimensions the author tried to create with her characters, the more vapid they became. Quite frankly, I had a hard time liking Jamie or Mike. It didn’t seem to me like they grew through the arc of the novel. Quite frankly, the character that showed the most growth was the one readers are designed to dislike-ex-wife Christie.
With that as my initial takeaway, I do want to add that the author did a very good job showing the flip side of cop shootings which are garnering headlines these days. We hear about those who are killed, and the impact the death has on their family. Little thought is given towards the family of the police officers and what they experience. The author did a very good job in making readers think about how difficult it must be for everyone involved with a tragedy of this magnitude.
*Tremendous thanks to Edelweiss and Atria Books for an ARC.
FYI: Other books by Sarah Pekkanen include:
“These Girls” pub. date 2012
““Catching Air” pub. date 2014
““The Best of Us” pub. date 2013
RATING: 3 Stars Worth requesting at library or buying in paperback
GENRE: Women's Fiction
AUDIENCE: Fans of Kristin Hannah and Jodi Picoult may enjoy ” "Things You Won't Say” .
SERIES: Standalone
REVIEW: Jamie Anderson is busy running a household filled with her kids, her husband’s Mike’s son from a previous marriage. After hubs suffers through a shooting that leaves his longtime friend and partner seriously injured, hubs returns to duty and shortly thereafter shoots and kills a youth from the rougher side of town. With theories and false information flying around as facts, and as the media turns her life into a circus, Jamie must fight to keep her husband from being lost to her forever.
This book wasn’t awful, although it felt like the more dimensions the author tried to create with her characters, the more vapid they became. Quite frankly, I had a hard time liking Jamie or Mike. It didn’t seem to me like they grew through the arc of the novel. Quite frankly, the character that showed the most growth was the one readers are designed to dislike-ex-wife Christie.
With that as my initial takeaway, I do want to add that the author did a very good job showing the flip side of cop shootings which are garnering headlines these days. We hear about those who are killed, and the impact the death has on their family. Little thought is given towards the family of the police officers and what they experience. The author did a very good job in making readers think about how difficult it must be for everyone involved with a tragedy of this magnitude.
*Tremendous thanks to Edelweiss and Atria Books for an ARC.
FYI: Other books by Sarah Pekkanen include:
“These Girls” pub. date 2012
““Catching Air” pub. date 2014
““The Best of Us” pub. date 2013
February 8, 2016
I definitely enjoyed this novel by Pekkanen. It's the first of her books I've read and after I completed it, I looked back on Goodreads and saw I've had several of her earlier novels on my "to read" list for a while. I certainly liked what I read here enough to go back and explore some of her earlier works. Probably the only thing that prevented me from giving this a 4-star rating (I'd say this is about 3.5 star - still wish Goodreads let us give half star ratings) is that the novel wrapped up suddenly and a little too easily.
The novel follows the story of Jamie, a stay-at-home mom with three young kids. Her husband, Mike, is a cop. The story is very current -- not long after his partner is seriously wounded in a shooting, Mike finds himself in another dangerous situation. There's another shooting--at Mike's hands.
The story unfolds from the viewpoint of the women in Mike's life: Jamie; her sister, Lou - a slightly eccentric zookeeper and part-time barista; and Christie, Mike's ex-girlfriend, who is night to Jamie's day, but also mother to Mike's eldest son, Henry.
The characters are well-developed and complex. Jamie is a bit irritating at times, but I really liked Lou. The book is a rapid read and a very easy one, as well, even if it's rather stressful. It's certainly a worthwhile and enjoyable read. I'll be curious to see what some of Pekkanen's earlier books are like.
(Note: I received an advance ebook version of this book from Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review.)
The novel follows the story of Jamie, a stay-at-home mom with three young kids. Her husband, Mike, is a cop. The story is very current -- not long after his partner is seriously wounded in a shooting, Mike finds himself in another dangerous situation. There's another shooting--at Mike's hands.
The story unfolds from the viewpoint of the women in Mike's life: Jamie; her sister, Lou - a slightly eccentric zookeeper and part-time barista; and Christie, Mike's ex-girlfriend, who is night to Jamie's day, but also mother to Mike's eldest son, Henry.
The characters are well-developed and complex. Jamie is a bit irritating at times, but I really liked Lou. The book is a rapid read and a very easy one, as well, even if it's rather stressful. It's certainly a worthwhile and enjoyable read. I'll be curious to see what some of Pekkanen's earlier books are like.
(Note: I received an advance ebook version of this book from Edelweiss in return for an unbiased review.)
July 17, 2016
This book was written 2 yrs ago & Trayvon Martin and Ferguson are mentioned as one of the undercurrents in the book is LE & race. Sadly, just today 3 LE officers were ambushed & this issue is still prevalent in our country. Pekkanen does a good job with a touchy subject.
February 25, 2021
3.5*
Rating this book isn't an easy job. Because honestly I hated the story and disliked most of the main characters. BUT...
This story did manage to grip me and made me feel disappointed, sad, devastated, touched to angry. It was also very sobering to realize how easy truths can be twisted to work for or used against you. How unspoken words can cause more damage than spoken ones. How they form a barrier that is difficult to overcome. How prejudices influence our perception and choices. This story shows what loyalty, love and trust means...
So even when I didn't like the story, I can admit it is a well written book that puts some very common issues in the spotlight and gives us something to think about.
Rating this book isn't an easy job. Because honestly I hated the story and disliked most of the main characters. BUT...
This story did manage to grip me and made me feel disappointed, sad, devastated, touched to angry. It was also very sobering to realize how easy truths can be twisted to work for or used against you. How unspoken words can cause more damage than spoken ones. How they form a barrier that is difficult to overcome. How prejudices influence our perception and choices. This story shows what loyalty, love and trust means...
So even when I didn't like the story, I can admit it is a well written book that puts some very common issues in the spotlight and gives us something to think about.
July 3, 2024
A bunch of characters you didn't like or didn't make much of an impression, can't decide if the elephants were the most extraneous or most interesting part of this one.
June 22, 2015
The brotherhood in, blue…stories about police brutality and corruption always made headlines, but overlooked were the quieter truths: the fierce loyalty and unexpected kindness members of the force shared.
Things You Won’t Say many times in the end will bite you until you can bring it all on the table. Mike a police officer in the DC area who loves his job and the people he serves, is in a crisis. His partner has taken a hit and Mike is left with the guilt. Mike who is married to Jamie with 3 kids and a son with a previous relationship to his girlfriend Christie is left to try to pick up the pieces as his family stands by him.
I loved that this was told by 3 women and the differences of these women as they stand by Mike and fight for their family.
Jamie who at a young age after her mother died, is one who brings upon herself to fix any situation that is broken. Her heart is big however; she is fixated on perfection for her family. When her husband in his despair goes back to work and is involved in an accident, she loses her connection to the husband that she loves as her marriage falls to pieces.
Lou is Jamie’s sister and becomes the support that Jamie needs as she starts to fall apart over her broken marriage. Lou is different than her sister. With the death of her mother at 12, she struggles to remember her mother and only recalls how Jamie always had her back. With the loss of her mother, Lou has never been able to have relationships and can’t begin to know how to start. Working with animals, she finds connection to life that she seems unable to grasp in other relationships. As she begins to help her sister and brother-in-law, she comes to understanding of what is important in relationships. She probably was one my favorite characters.
Christie the mother of Mike’s eldest son is a woman that has fought for her self-respect. She is the type of woman that men disregard without a thought and Christie is the type of woman that uses what she can to better her life. Her relationship with Jamie is tense, however, she loves her son and she appreciates that Jamie loves her son well. Her relationship with Mike changes as she becomes more of a friend that Mike needs as he starts to question himself and the man that deserves to be in the brotherhood of blue.
Taken from the headlines of racism, I liked how the prose looked at both sides. The difficult job of being a police officer, the tense terrifying moments a spouse has to go thru, and the victims of racism on both sides. That children of color are told that they are bad and expectations of them are not of great things but only of crime and gangs. The attitudes must change for change to happen and it will take all of us to see it happen.
A Special Thank You to Washington Square Press, Atria Books, and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
Things You Won’t Say many times in the end will bite you until you can bring it all on the table. Mike a police officer in the DC area who loves his job and the people he serves, is in a crisis. His partner has taken a hit and Mike is left with the guilt. Mike who is married to Jamie with 3 kids and a son with a previous relationship to his girlfriend Christie is left to try to pick up the pieces as his family stands by him.
I loved that this was told by 3 women and the differences of these women as they stand by Mike and fight for their family.
Jamie who at a young age after her mother died, is one who brings upon herself to fix any situation that is broken. Her heart is big however; she is fixated on perfection for her family. When her husband in his despair goes back to work and is involved in an accident, she loses her connection to the husband that she loves as her marriage falls to pieces.
Lou is Jamie’s sister and becomes the support that Jamie needs as she starts to fall apart over her broken marriage. Lou is different than her sister. With the death of her mother at 12, she struggles to remember her mother and only recalls how Jamie always had her back. With the loss of her mother, Lou has never been able to have relationships and can’t begin to know how to start. Working with animals, she finds connection to life that she seems unable to grasp in other relationships. As she begins to help her sister and brother-in-law, she comes to understanding of what is important in relationships. She probably was one my favorite characters.
Christie the mother of Mike’s eldest son is a woman that has fought for her self-respect. She is the type of woman that men disregard without a thought and Christie is the type of woman that uses what she can to better her life. Her relationship with Jamie is tense, however, she loves her son and she appreciates that Jamie loves her son well. Her relationship with Mike changes as she becomes more of a friend that Mike needs as he starts to question himself and the man that deserves to be in the brotherhood of blue.
Taken from the headlines of racism, I liked how the prose looked at both sides. The difficult job of being a police officer, the tense terrifying moments a spouse has to go thru, and the victims of racism on both sides. That children of color are told that they are bad and expectations of them are not of great things but only of crime and gangs. The attitudes must change for change to happen and it will take all of us to see it happen.
A Special Thank You to Washington Square Press, Atria Books, and Netgalley for ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
January 14, 2016
As the wife of a police officer, Jamie Anderson uncomfortably lives with the risk that Mike may be hurt or killed while performing his duty and isn't sure how to best comfort her husband after his partner, and best friend, is shot and badly wounded. Just a few short weeks later Mike, stoic but still obviously distressed, is paired with a new hire, and finds himself in a situation that results in him shooting and killing a gun-wielding teenage boy. When the boy's weapon is not found at the scene, Mike's mental fitness given recent events is questioned, leading to an indictment for manslaughter, and sending Jamie into a panic as her cherished family unravels under the strain.
Pekkanen begins with a strong and provocative premise in The Things You Won't Say, exploring the personal consequences for Jamie and her family in the wake of the shootings. In particular she focuses on the breakdown of communication between Jamie and Mike, both of whom are under enormous stress, and afraid to open up to one another about their fears for the future.
I felt badly for both Jamie and Mike who are quickly overwhelmed by circumstances that can't control, and I was sympathetic to the issues that arose between them. I think the author captured the high emotions involved in the situation, however I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of nuanced characterisation, Jamie is hysterical much of the time, while Mike is withdrawn.
I also thought the core of the story was weakened by the addition of the perspectives of Christie, Mike's self absorbed ex girlfriend, and mother to their son Henry; and Lou, Jamie's younger sister, a zookeeper. While I liked both characters, who are very different, they are merely distractions, offering little support to the main plot.
Things You Can't Say isn't a bad read, but I felt it never really lived up to its potential. For me it lacked depth and focus.
August 8, 2015
My husband is a military cop.
In this book, the husband, Mike, is a cop. He winds up killing a teenager with his gun and then the drama occurs. People wonder if he did it because the kid was hispanic--would the teenager have been shot if he were white? You know. The same stuff cops have to deal with today. It's why I had to read the book.
However, there's more to Mike's story: he was involved in another shooting where his best friend was shot. His friend lived, but it's a slow recovery. No one knows if his brain will ever heal 100%. So there are people wondering if perhaps Mike is suffering from PTSD and perhaps that is why he shot the kid.
Mike isn't the only one going through the drama. He has a wife, Jamie, and three kids. His oldest is from a previous relationship. The book jumps from different character's perspectives. You learn how Jamie is dealing with the drama as well as her sister Lou and Christie, who is the mother of Mike's oldest child Henry.
I think everyone needs to read this book because I think others forget that when a cop is in trouble, it's not just them going through everything: it's their family members dealing with it too. My husband has never shot at anyone so far, and I hope he never has to.
Sarah Pekkanen has written another thought provoking novel. She writes in a way that makes you hate to say goodbye to characters. You can tell she did her research on police officers from the way she was able to weave her story. I recommend this to everyone--especially those with cops in their family. I imagine they'll be nodding along, understanding completely about all the drama cops have to deal with. Even though my husband is a military police officer, I found myself relating to this story a lot. I look forward to Sarah's next book.
In this book, the husband, Mike, is a cop. He winds up killing a teenager with his gun and then the drama occurs. People wonder if he did it because the kid was hispanic--would the teenager have been shot if he were white? You know. The same stuff cops have to deal with today. It's why I had to read the book.
However, there's more to Mike's story: he was involved in another shooting where his best friend was shot. His friend lived, but it's a slow recovery. No one knows if his brain will ever heal 100%. So there are people wondering if perhaps Mike is suffering from PTSD and perhaps that is why he shot the kid.
Mike isn't the only one going through the drama. He has a wife, Jamie, and three kids. His oldest is from a previous relationship. The book jumps from different character's perspectives. You learn how Jamie is dealing with the drama as well as her sister Lou and Christie, who is the mother of Mike's oldest child Henry.
I think everyone needs to read this book because I think others forget that when a cop is in trouble, it's not just them going through everything: it's their family members dealing with it too. My husband has never shot at anyone so far, and I hope he never has to.
Sarah Pekkanen has written another thought provoking novel. She writes in a way that makes you hate to say goodbye to characters. You can tell she did her research on police officers from the way she was able to weave her story. I recommend this to everyone--especially those with cops in their family. I imagine they'll be nodding along, understanding completely about all the drama cops have to deal with. Even though my husband is a military police officer, I found myself relating to this story a lot. I look forward to Sarah's next book.
May 28, 2015
In full disclosure, I've been a fan of Sarah Pekkanen's writing for several years so I feel like I approach her novels with a bit of bias; however, I feel pretty confident in saying that this is truly one of her best and the subject matter couldn't be timelier. Pekkanen, in a recent interview through her publisher, stated that the topic was actually unrelated to current events; she'd turned in the manuscript over a year ago, but did ask the editor to make reference to the recent events of Ferguson, Missouri so that readers would not think she'd ignored the obvious connection.
Underlying subject matter aside, this novel is really about relationships, as all of her novels are, and the ever-changing dynamics between those who are in relationship to one another. As Pekkanen mentions in this interview, Things You Won't Say refers to the feelings and thoughts we often hide from those we love, whether it be to protect them or to protect ourselves; as usual, she highlights the consequences of those omissions.
Don't get too caught up in the details behind the story, the shooting, etc., because that's not really what the book is about; if you're going to "nitpick" and look for holes, this is not the book for you. If you're interested in an emotional drama full of situations and circumstances, to which most should easily relate on some level, and beautifully-flawed characters, then definitely put this one on your summer reading list; you won't regret it. I think this would also make a great book club/discussion piece, for both women and men.
Underlying subject matter aside, this novel is really about relationships, as all of her novels are, and the ever-changing dynamics between those who are in relationship to one another. As Pekkanen mentions in this interview, Things You Won't Say refers to the feelings and thoughts we often hide from those we love, whether it be to protect them or to protect ourselves; as usual, she highlights the consequences of those omissions.
Don't get too caught up in the details behind the story, the shooting, etc., because that's not really what the book is about; if you're going to "nitpick" and look for holes, this is not the book for you. If you're interested in an emotional drama full of situations and circumstances, to which most should easily relate on some level, and beautifully-flawed characters, then definitely put this one on your summer reading list; you won't regret it. I think this would also make a great book club/discussion piece, for both women and men.
March 4, 2015
In this timely and provocative novel, internationally bestselling author Sarah Pekkanen takes us inside a family in crisis and a marriage on the brink after a tragic shooting.
How far would you go to save your family?
Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: There's been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isn't hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husband's insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shooting but this time Mike has pulled the trigger.
But the shooting does more than just alter Jamie's world. It's about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mike's flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamie's younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes.
In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novel her best yet.
How far would you go to save your family?
Every morning, as her husband Mike straps on his SIG Sauer and pulls on his heavy Magnum boots, Jamie Anderson tenses up. Then comes the call she has always dreaded: There's been a shooting at police headquarters. Mike isn't hurt, but his long-time partner is grievously injured. As weeks pass and her husband's insomnia and disconnectedness mount, Jamie realizes he is an invisible casualty of the attack. Then the phone rings again. Another shooting but this time Mike has pulled the trigger.
But the shooting does more than just alter Jamie's world. It's about to change everything for two other women. Christie Simmons, Mike's flamboyant ex, sees the tragedy as an opportunity for a second chance with Mike. And Jamie's younger sister, Lou, must face her own losses to help the big sister who raised her. As the press descends and public cries of police brutality swell, Jamie tries desperately to hold together her family, no matter what it takes.
In her characteristic exploration of true-to-life relationships, Sarah Pekkanen has written a complex, compelling, and openhearted novel her best yet.
June 18, 2015
I have quite a bit of mixed emotions about this book, and I have found several other reviewers (which I have liked their review) to have expressed my same view. First, this story is not action packed. It is really about the dynamics of a family and the tale is at times very slow and tedious. The side stories of Lou and Christie detract from the main story; however, they are also the only interesting parts of the book. At first I found Christie to be unbelievably shallow; but in the end, she is the character with the most growth and the one that I ended up truly liking. Jamie is rather boring and whiny and there is quite a bit of repetition of her thoughts and actions; however, when thinking about her I can see her reasonings behind why she doubted her husband and her desperate way to turn things in his favor. I also really loved her relationship with Henry - that was a wonderful way to depict a step-mother/step-son relationship. Also, when she goes off on Christie about the Mercedes, I finally feel like Jamie is showing some of her personality. I do appreciate that the book focused on the police side of a shooting; and it is a timely novel. However, the ending was an easy way out - a little bit too neat and tidy, especially in today's times. (library copy)
March 5, 2016
As a story about the effects a tragic shooting has on a family, Things You Won't Say is pretty successful. Mike is a police officer, still reeling from witnessing the shooting of his partner and best friend. Back to work too soon, Mike is involved in another shooting, but this time is the one that picked up the gun. In the weeks that follow, his wife Jamie, their children, and the rest of their family and friends try to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives.
There were parts to Things You Won't Say that were completely realistic, especially the community reaction. The way that Lou was portrayed, not so much. As a full time animal keeper at a zoo, Lou seems to be able to provide proper care and nutrition to the elephants, but cannot figure out how to feed her nieces and nephews. It annoyed me that Jamie felt she had to apologize to Mike, although he was also culpable regarding their lack of communication. The book was well paced, but in the end, there was just not enough to make this a memorable novel for me.
There were parts to Things You Won't Say that were completely realistic, especially the community reaction. The way that Lou was portrayed, not so much. As a full time animal keeper at a zoo, Lou seems to be able to provide proper care and nutrition to the elephants, but cannot figure out how to feed her nieces and nephews. It annoyed me that Jamie felt she had to apologize to Mike, although he was also culpable regarding their lack of communication. The book was well paced, but in the end, there was just not enough to make this a memorable novel for me.
November 17, 2015
I chose this book to read because I enjoyed Pekkanen’s previous novel, SKIPPING A BEAT. I didn’t like THINGS YOU WON’T SAY as much, but it was a worthwhile read nonetheless. The author tackles the subject of police brutality and racial tension, and her novel at least covers part of the controversial situation in a sensitive way.
The novel starts off strong with Mike’s tragedies at work and the burden it puts on Jamie and their children. It seemed to lose focus though, with the introduction of Christie (Mike’s ex) and Lou (Jamie’s sister). Their side stories didn’t do anything to advance the plot, and Lou’s, unfortunately, was boring.
I liked how the book wraps up, though it was probably too neat and tidy to be realistic, especially with recent real life events similar to this one. What I liked most was watching how Jamie and Mike’s relationship changed over the course of the terrible ordeal, and what they learned from their mistakes.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher thorough NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The novel starts off strong with Mike’s tragedies at work and the burden it puts on Jamie and their children. It seemed to lose focus though, with the introduction of Christie (Mike’s ex) and Lou (Jamie’s sister). Their side stories didn’t do anything to advance the plot, and Lou’s, unfortunately, was boring.
I liked how the book wraps up, though it was probably too neat and tidy to be realistic, especially with recent real life events similar to this one. What I liked most was watching how Jamie and Mike’s relationship changed over the course of the terrible ordeal, and what they learned from their mistakes.
Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher thorough NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
August 5, 2016
This book was almost impossible for me to stop listening to. I was so into the characters and their story that I found myself sitting in my car after I had reached my destination or circling the block just to hear more.
Sarah Pekkanen has an amazing talent when it comes to writing relationships between her characters that are so honest and real that it's hard to remember that these people are not actual friends (yes I get that into her books).
Things You Won't Say also tackles some sensitive topics and situations with care. Beginning with a police officer who shoots a young teenager during a gang fight, adding a story of a sister who suffers from mild autism, and mixing in another storyline about an ex trying to figure out where she belongs and what her next step in life should be... Sarah delivers each of her characters' stories with the perfect finesse.
Sarah Pekkanen is a definite auto-buy author for me now, and I can't wait for my next read by her!
Sarah Pekkanen has an amazing talent when it comes to writing relationships between her characters that are so honest and real that it's hard to remember that these people are not actual friends (yes I get that into her books).
Things You Won't Say also tackles some sensitive topics and situations with care. Beginning with a police officer who shoots a young teenager during a gang fight, adding a story of a sister who suffers from mild autism, and mixing in another storyline about an ex trying to figure out where she belongs and what her next step in life should be... Sarah delivers each of her characters' stories with the perfect finesse.
Sarah Pekkanen is a definite auto-buy author for me now, and I can't wait for my next read by her!
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