All the Things We Never Knew

by Sophie Ranald

A marriage built on secrets. A family torn apart. A love that could heal them all.

When Anna Graham finds diamond earrings in her husband’s drawer the day before Valentine’s Day, she knows they’re not for her – her ears aren’t even pierced. Gray is having an affair – but before she can confront him about his betrayal, he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis that shatters their family.

As Gray lies dying in their Damask Square home, Anna meets Laurel – the nurse who stole her husband’s heart. Despite her rage, Anna finds herself sharing Gray’s final days with this other woman, both desperate to ease his suffering while drowning in their own grief.

But hidden in their loft, Anna discovers traces of a stranger – a boy who played piano, who had a different life before he became her husband. As she struggles to hold herself together for her teenage children, Anna realises everything she believed about Gray was built on carefully constructed lies.

Can two women who loved the same man find a way to heal – and help each other discover who Gray really was?

A heart-wrenching story about love, loss and the secrets that shape us. Perfect for fans of Jojo Moyes, Beth O’Leary and David Nicholls.

Readers love All the Things We Never Knew:

‘Five cathartic, exhausted, heart-shredded stars.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh this was a beautiful read.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘A beautifully written, powerful story… an emotional story of love, family secrets, childhood trauma, mental health struggles, tragedy, betrayal, complex relationships and forgiveness.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Sophie Ranald has such a heartfelt and relatable way of writing, and this story was no exception. The characters felt real and layered, the secrets kept me turning the pages, and the emotional depth really stayed with me.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘So powerful about love, family, secrets, forgiveness and ultimately moving forward on so many levels.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘I didn’t expect was to be emotionally steamrolled by a story that’s as devastating as it is razor-sharp… If you’ve ever had your heart broken by someone you thought you knew—or if you’ve ever rebuilt your life while still standing in the wreckage—this book is for you.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Both moving and thought-provoking… The characters feel real, their joys and pain resonate, and the story lingers long after the final page.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Will resonate with me for a very long time. Be advised, have an entire box of tissues on hand! This was such a powerful story on so many levels. The emotions are real and relatable. The characters are so well depicted that you feel their pain, their joy… I loved this book.’ Reader review, ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

‘Oh my what a story… very moving and I read it in a night... Read it. You will not be able to put it down.

345 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 3, 2025

About the author

Sophie Ranald is the youngest of five sisters. She was born in Zimbabwe and lived in South Africa until an acute case of itchy feet brought her to London in her mid-20s.

As an editor for a customer publishing agency, Sophie developed her fiction-writing skills describing holidays to places she’d never visited. In 2011, she decided to disregard all the good advice given to aspiring novelists and attempt to write full-time. After one false start, It Would Be Wrong to Steal My Sister’s Boyfriend (Wouldn’t It?) seemed to write itself.

Sophie also writes for magazines and online about food, fashion and running. She lives in south-east London with her amazing partner Hopi and Purrs, their adorable little cat.

Reviews

[Cindy Spear · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been thinking what to say about All The Things We Never Knew by Sophie Ranald. It is difficult to know what to address as it is such a comprehensive story filled with emotional experiences that tear at your heart and make you wonder: what would I do in this situation? I am happy to declare that the author has handled some very tough topics with the utmost grace and respect. I was pulled into the plot from the start and became completely enveloped in the world of Anna and her husband, and the woman who stole his heart.

We are given three perspectives, Anna, Laurel and a kind neighbour who zero in on one man. Gray is seriously damaged by his mother. His infidelity is upsetting, of course, but his love for his family is real. Yet his actions are confusing and he harbours some heavy secrets. A nurse named Laurel falls for him and his happiness with her seems authentic. But her journey reveals many hidden truths: the feelings she has for Gray are lasting but she has concerns for his wife and family. These ‘good’ emotions carry her through some trying and controversial times. I liked how she realised many important things that freed her to begin a new chapter that better suited her.

There is a theme of redemption in this novel, for many of the main characters. Even for Gray and his once disturbed mother. Anna, also, makes peace with herself and her relationship with her husband. Her journey leads her to make many discoveries about Gray’s past life that give her another perspective on him. Her responses are realistic, too, in such difficult circumstances and at times she has to dig deep but her actions are admirable: given what she has to endure. Yes, her anger and self-pity have their moments but who would not also react the same?

The ending was exceptional as all the issues merge into a solid note of hope and phoenix resurrection. I was deeply moved by this novel on so many levels. It is expertly delivered and would have been a difficult story to write. Many cheers to the author for having the courage to explore such challenging circumstances and offering an intriguing variety of outcomes and possibilities. The characters are memorable, appear real and are multi-dimensional. We see the good and the bad in them so their virtues and foibles are believable. One message that rings clear is that even the best person can make mistakes. But the story does not leave us wondering how to work out solutions for it offers some positive answers. That includes the ingredients of forgiveness and understanding. Which lead to healing and new directions. Lots of growth and self-discovery happen in the characters which left me uplifted and inspired. 5 Stars definitely for this one…and I am motivated to check out the author’s earlier works now! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Storm Publishing and Netgalley for a Review copy.

[Trina Dixon · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Anna's husband Gray tells her he's been diagnosed with Terminal Cancer she thinks life can't get worse. Then he informs her he's been having an affair with Laurel for the last year and wants her to be involved at this late stage in his life. Does Anna even know her husband of only 20 years?
I had differing thoughts whilst reading this novel, whilst I was sympathetic to Gray"s position i couldn't believe his audacity and selfishness. Laurel's character came across as though she was the grieving widow and Anna was just going through the motions for the sake of their 2 children.
Despite the storyline I found it an easy read, it showcases how people grieving differently and covers some difficult subjects. A firm 4 stars from me

[Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about the exploration of family, identity, and the ties that hold us together even in heartbreak.

Thank you to Sophie, one of my favorite publishing teams at Storm and NetGalley for the eARC in return for an honest review!

What to Expect:
⭐ Multiple POVs
⭐ Love Triangle
⭐ Infidelity and Affair
⭐ A spouse with secrets
⭐ Found family
⭐ Lost Family
⭐ Healing during, through and after the loss of a spouse
⭐ Rediscovery of Self

TW: Cancer, hospice care, caregiver stress, death of a spouse, death due to cancer, broken family, mental health, cheating spouse, divorce, and a young family mourning the death of a parent.

My Thoughts:
This book is heavy... I didn't honestly love it. I really struggle with stories of infidelity or affairs but also hate a DNF. I had so many mixed feelings with this. Not because of the story line itself I will remain unbiased on that front as I know I could have selected better. My mixed feelings of the like/dislike of this comes more from the internal battle. The wife in the middle of all of this giving up power to the mistress. Her willingness to allow (not welcome) her in to her familys lives. It just didn't seem honest to me. The intertwining of all the characters involved also just seemed pushed together when it didn't seem necessary. It's one thing to know about and acknowledge the affair and the death but then to intertwine her further in the story felt unnecessary. Not to mention how is it the mistress seems to be the one with the happy ending?!

What I did see though was a story that hits hard but can be viewed beautiful. A story of found family, building bridges, self discovery, emotional, messy and human at the core because we all are. It is a story of secrets. It really also leaves you questioning what we all leave behind when it is our time to go. What questions we will leave unanswered to our family. Clarity of the true person we are and not who we pretend to be.

Synopsis:
When Anna Graham finds diamond earrings in her husband’s drawer the day before Valentine’s Day, she knows they’re not for her – her ears aren’t even pierced. Gray is having an affair – but before she can confront him about his betrayal, he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis that shatters their family.

As Gray lies dying in their Damask Square home, Anna meets Laurel – the nurse who stole her husband’s heart. Despite her rage, Anna finds herself sharing Gray’s final days with this other woman, both desperate to ease his suffering while drowning in their own grief.

But hidden in their loft, Anna discovers traces of a stranger – a boy who was a gifted pianist, who had a different life before he became her husband. As she struggles to hold herself together for her teenage children, Anna realises everything she believed about Gray was built on carefully constructed lies.

Can two women who loved the same man find a way to heal – and help each other discover who Gray really was?

[Kristen Cook - A Book Ninja · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was not familiar with Sophie Ranald's previous works so I wasn't sure what to expect with All the Things We Never Knew but when the book summary's first paragraph is:

"When Anna Graham finds diamond earrings in her husband’s drawer the day before Valentine’s Day, she knows they’re not for her – her ears aren’t even pierced. Gray is having an affair – but before she can confront him about his betrayal, he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis that shatters their family."

I knew I wanted to read this book. Wow. What a ride. This book had well developed characters that showed their flaws and humanity.

There was a point when I was torn on my rating for this book. It started to feel like giving this story a high rating was condoning the affair which I never could do. But after much reflection, I give this book a solid 4 stars. The story was well developed. My heart broke for Anna and her children. Get your tissues ready because you will need it.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Danielle Silver · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got a copy of this audiobook on NetGalley and went in blind, all I knew was that it had been classified as a romance. While I enjoyed the book, I don’t think that genre fits. This book starts with Anna finding out that her husband, Gray, has terminal cancer and that he has been having an affair with a woman named Laurel. Then all 3 of them move forward with trying to put their differences aside and come to terms with things as he gets sicker and after he is gone. The story switches between the perspective of Anna and Laurel, and we also get the perspective of a neighbor woman.

Overall I liked this book, but it was definitely not a romance. It was a touching story about grief and coming to terms with the terrible things that life sometimes throws at you. The second half of the book felt like it dragged on and I was getting a little bored at times. I think the story could have been a little more cohesive, it wandered aimlessly at times for the second half of the book.

In the end I liked this book, but it needed a little more direction. At times the story felt a little incohesive and wandering, and the first half and second half felt like two different books.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anna's world falls apart when her husband, Gray tells her not only is he is dying from an aggressive cancer, he has been having an affair for over a year with Laurel and he wants Laurel to be a part of his life up until the end.
I don’t think I've disliked two characters more than I disliked Laurel and Gray in this book. I wonder if Sophie Ranald gave Gray that name specifically because he is such a morally grey person 🤔
The situation that Anna finds herself in is heartbreaking to say the least, although i don't quite see how realistic it is that the two women become friends in the end.
This story is told from both Anna and Laurel's pov as well as Anna's neighbour via her diary entries.
The narrator did a great job in getting Anna's frustration and despair across to the listener.
Thank you to Netgalley and Dreamscape Select for the audiobook arc for review.

[Hannah · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the Things We Never Knew is a story about betrayal, loss, and unexpected healing. When Gray Graham is diagnosed with terminal cancer, the secrets he has kept begin to come to light.

What I found most compelling was how betrayal set both women on a new and uncharted path. Even after his passing, Anna and Laurel are left with not only the weight of his betrayal but also the puzzle of his troubled childhood. Their reluctant alliance transforms into something surprisingly cordial, even wholesome at times, as they begin to piece together the truth he kept buried.

From Gray’s mistakes and the pain of loss, came strength, healing, and a deeper understanding between the women whose lives he forever altered.

I received an ARC copy of this book and am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Mamawattto4 Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you Dreamscape and NetGalley for the audio arc

🎧 AUDIOBOOK REVIEW 🎧

3 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

I listened to All the Things We Never Knew as an audiobook, and while the story itself had some sweet and emotional moments, it didn’t completely draw me in the way I’d hoped. The writing was thoughtful, and the themes of love, loss, and rediscovery were handled with care. However, I had a hard time connecting with the narration. The British accent of the narrator just didn’t work for me personally—it made it difficult to stay engaged with the story at times.

Overall, this was a decent listen with good potential, but the narration style took away from my enjoyment a bit. I think readers who enjoy British audiobooks or emotional contemporary fiction might appreciate it more.

[Ashley Scherbenske · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Anna and Gray have two kids and have been married for a number of years, when Anna discovers that Gray is having an affair. Soon after the affair is uncovered Gray starts having medical issues and receives a terminal diagnosis. I loved how the characters’ story lines weaved in and out with each other. Anna is such a strong wife and mother, as she deals with her husband’s illness, as well as allowing Gray’s mistress into her life. Loved this book! Thanks to NetGalley & Storm Publishing for the ARC. This book comes out mid October. #booksbyashleynicole

[Francisca Ashley · Rating 3 out of 5]

All the Things We Never Knew by Sophie Ranald pulled me in immediately. However, as the story went on, I found myself increasingly irritated and even outraged by Laurel and Gray’s behavior. What was being asked of Anna was beyond unreasonable, and I had zero sympathy or empathy for Laurel. I literally rolled my eyes whenever she started with the “woe is me” routine. Woman, you knowingly slept with a married man for a year!

I also kept wondering why this was classified as a romance. It feels far more like contemporary fiction with a focus on grief; the categorization of romance deeply puzzles me. Nothing romantic happens until the last 10%, and even that is a stretch.

Overall, this book felt like an ode to the other woman. Laurel is the one that eventually gets everything she wants in this book, which doesn't sit well with me. Not that she needed to be stoned or anything outlandish, but her being favored was weird.

Sarah Durham is a really good narrator who brings the book to life. I did wish each woman had her own narrator, as I sometimes had to rely on context clues to figure out whose perspective I was hearing. Thankfully, Sophie included enough details to make that manageable.

Thank you to Dreamscape Select for providing me with an ALC.

[Pamela M · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first chapters I was captivated but after half of the book I found it boring. I was curious about the love triangle which was connected to death. Thank you to Netgalley for this audiobook.

[☆Laura☆]

Al leer la sinopsis sabía que habría infidelidad, pero esperaba que el libro tratara sobre el camino de Anna hacia la sanación. Sin embargo, no fue así.

Grayson y Anna llevaban casi dos décadas juntos, pero el último año él la estuvo engañando con Laurel, una enfermera que conoció cerca de la casa familiar. El tipejo estaba tan metido en su aventura que incluso anteponía las reuniones con su amante a pasar tiempo con sus hijas.

Cuando se entera de que está muriendo, no le queda de otra que confesarle su aventura a Anna, y aún tiene la desfachatez de amenazarla para que Laurel pudiera visitarlo todos los días en su propia casa, donde vivían sus hijas. Como la amante iba por las mañanas, las niñas estaban en la escuela y nunca se enteraron de la falta de respeto de su padre a su madre. Mientras que Anna tuvo que aguantarse, darle la bienvenida, ofrecerle algo de tomar y llevarla a la habitación que compartió toda su vida con su esposo. Tuvo que soportar saber que esa mujer se acostaba en su cama, que pasaban horas platicando sobre cómo habría sido su vida si él no se hubiera enfermado, cómo estarían juntos y tendrían un hijo, o cómo sería todo si se hubieran conocido veinte años atrás y hubieran formado su propia familia. Mientras tanto, Anna debía soportar los desplantes de su esposo cuando se sentía mal, y simplemente aceptar todo lo que ese ser tan egoísta le arrojaba.

Mi enojo fue que Anna nunca pudo reclamarle nada: ni cómo la descuidó a ella y a sus hijas, ni su infidelidad, ni tantas otras cosas. No entiendo por qué no decirle sus verdades a esa basura. Algo que odio en los libros y en la vida real es que cuando alguien malo está muriendo, de pronto se le perdona todo el daño simplemente por el hecho de estar enfermo. Y la verdad, me parece una tontería, porque eso no borra el dolor que causaron.

Al final, el tipo se muere y es Laurel quien se queda con él en su último respiro, no Anna, quien a pesar de todo lo seguía amando. Y claro, él quiso dar su último aliento con la amante… vaya descaro. Todo esto ocurre alrededor del 55% del libro, y lo que resta se centra en Anna y Laurel intentando encontrar a la persona a quien Grayson le donó un órgano. Lo “mejor” es que Laurel se vuelve amiga de una de las hijas, al punto que la niña crea un chat en el que están las cuatro. La pobre Anna tuvo que quedarse callada y aceptar, porque no podía decirle a su hija por qué necesitaba alejarse de esa mujer y manchar la memoria de Grayson. Pero casi al final resulta que la hija sí sabía de la aventura. Eso lo sentí como una traición, porque ¿cómo demonios, sabiendo todo, hizo que metieran a la amante en sus vidas?

Vemos a Anna intentando estar entera por sus hijas y siempre priorizando su bienestar, mientras que en los POVs de Laurel (porque lamentablemente es un dual POV) ella sufer y sufre y sufre, se queja de como no pudo pasar mas timepo con su amor, pero luego de unos meses conoce a alguien más y de pronto se sincera, admitiendo que sabía que Grayson no era una buena persona y que, siendo honesta no creía que su relación funcionaría si él se hubiera divorciado, porque no confiaría en que no le haría lo mismo que a Anna.

Ah, y dentro de la búsqueda de la persona que recibió el órgano, descubren que la infancia de Grayson fue difícil, y con eso Anna “justifica” la aventura. Sin sentido.

¿Por qué Anna no tiene un final feliz? ¿Por qué no le dieron un pizarrón en blanco para dejar ir a la basura de su esposo, alejarse de la amante y seguir con su vida? ¿Por qué solo la otra tuvo ese privilegio?


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[Michele Ardente · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book takes you through a full range of emotions with a little bit of a mystery, and the enigma called Gray. Told from 3 POVs the reader gets to know Gray Graham through the eyes of his wife, his mistress and aging neighbour. I felt anger on behalf of his wife Anna, the confusion of the children and the loneliness of his mistress, Laurel. It is only after his death that the family come to understand the path of Gray's life and the secrets he has hidden from them all. Very well done and I enjoyed the audio narration by Sarah Durham.

[Gloria Reyna-Rivera · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the opportunity to read an ARC of this book on NetGalley, and it was such a powerful, emotional read.

On the outside, Grey appears to have the perfect life: a family, stability, and success. But underneath it all, he is hiding two devastating secrets—his long-time mistress, Laurel, and a past he has never come to terms with. His wife, Anna, stumbles across a pair of diamond earrings in his drawer, but she doesn’t even have pierced ears. That discovery sets off a chain of events that completely unravels their marriage.

The turning point comes when Grey begins to feel ill during a visit with Laurel. She encourages him to see a doctor, and the diagnosis changes everything—Grey has cancer. Suddenly, he is forced to face his lies, confess the truth to Anna, and deal with the consequences of both betrayal and mortality.

What I appreciated most was how Sophie Ranald portrayed the aftermath—not just the pain and heartbreak, but also the strength that emerges in the people left behind. Anna’s journey is one of resilience and self-discovery, and Laurel, despite her role in the deception, also finds a form of closure she desperately needed.

By the end, Anna chooses forgiveness—not to excuse Grey’s actions, but to free herself from the weight of his betrayal. Her decision to create a new kind of connection with Laurel was unexpected but incredibly moving.

What stood out for me:
💔 The tension of long-buried secrets unraveling
🗝️ The theme of forgiveness and finding closure
👩‍👧 Anna’s quiet strength as she reclaims her life
💌 Laurel’s bittersweet journey toward peace

This story broke my heart in places, but it also left me hopeful. All the Things We Never Knew is about love, betrayal, grief, and ultimately, the healing power of honesty and forgiveness.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

All The Things We Never Knew by Sophie Ranald
Thank you to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for my gifted ARC.

Let’s begin with this: I sat down to read All The Things We Never Knew expecting a bit of melodrama, some tears, maybe a few eye rolls. What I didn’t expect was to be emotionally steamrolled by a story that’s as devastating as it is razor-sharp. This isn’t just a book about marriage and infidelity. It’s a masterclass in emotional damage control—and by “control,” I mean trying to hold your entire life together with nothing but willpower and sarcasm while it all goes up in flames.

We open on Anna, wife, mother, and all-around emotionally responsible adult, who finds diamond earrings in her husband Gray’s drawer. No note. No receipt. No justification. And no, her ears are not pierced. Suspicious? Extremely. This is the literary equivalent of finding lipstick on the collar. But before she can confront her husband about the apparent affair, the plot whiplashes into tragedy: Gray is diagnosed with terminal cancer. The affair, it turns out, isn’t a vague suspicion—it’s real, ongoing, and comes with a name: Laurel. A hospice nurse. Because apparently this man couldn’t just cheat—he had to do it with someone trained to handle his slow demise.

And here’s where Ranald’s writing absolutely sings (or maybe sobs quietly into a pillow): Laurel doesn’t waltz in as some cartoon villain or vampy homewrecker. She’s a fully realized human being with depth, guilt, compassion—and yes, questionable boundaries. Anna, meanwhile, becomes the most frustratingly generous protagonist I’ve read in a long time. She lets Laurel in. Into her home. Into Gray’s final days. Into her pain. And no, I don’t mean metaphorically. Laurel is in the damn living room.

What could’ve been a Lifetime-level drama turns into a nuanced, slow-burn exploration of grief, betrayal, womanhood, and the unbearable awkwardness of sharing a dying man with another woman. The emotional landscape here is complex and painful and weirdly funny in that “If I don’t laugh, I’ll lose my mind” sort of way. Ranald captures that liminal space where your life is falling apart and yet the dishwasher still needs to be unloaded. That’s where All The Things We Never Knew lives—between the trauma and the mundanity, between heartbreak and the school run.

The twist comes in the attic. No, seriously. Anna finds traces of a boy—a musician, a whole other identity from Gray’s past—hidden in the loft like emotional asbestos. It’s then that Anna begins to realize that she didn’t just lose her husband. She never fully knew him to begin with. And that’s the real gut punch. Not just that he cheated. Not just that he’s dying. But that the life she thought they built together was assembled on half-truths and omissions.

The story unravels gently, almost cruelly, in alternating perspectives, giving us glimpses into Laurel’s motivations and Gray’s history. It’s messy and uncomfortable, especially when the children get involved and begin forging their own relationships with Laurel. You want to root for Anna to scream, to slam doors, to demand her narrative back. But she doesn’t. Because she’s a mother, and a wife, and a woman who has been conditioned to make space for everyone’s needs but her own.

Still, Anna’s quiet strength is not weakness. It’s grit. It’s dignity. It’s survival. And when she finally begins to dig into Gray’s past and uncover who he really was—a boy shaped by trauma, music, and abandonment—it’s not about justifying his betrayal. It’s about reclaiming the truth and reshaping her future from the rubble he left behind.

Is it romantic? No. This is not a love story. It’s a truth story. A survival story. A “please give this woman a vacation and a fully funded therapy session” story. There’s redemption, but it’s hard-won. There’s hope, but it comes with baggage. And the ending? It’s not fireworks and closure. It’s a quiet breath. A beginning. The kind of conclusion that trusts the reader to understand that healing doesn’t always look like happiness—it often looks like clarity.

Favorite quote: “Sometimes the truth doesn’t set you free. Sometimes it just wrecks the place.” Yes. That. A thousand times, that.

This is one of those novels that sneaks up on you. You pick it up thinking you know what you’re in for. You don’t. Sophie Ranald peels back the layers slowly, deliberately, until you’re exposed, raw, and feeling everything. Her writing is clean, perceptive, unflinching—and never overwrought. Even at its most emotional, it never turns maudlin or melodramatic.

If you’ve ever had your heart broken by someone you thought you knew—or if you’ve ever rebuilt your life while still standing in the wreckage—this book is for you. It will not hold your hand. But it will sit beside you in the dark and say, “Yeah. Me too.”

Five cathartic, exhausted, heart-shredded stars. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

#AllTheThingsWeNeverKnew #SophieRanald #NetGalley #StormPublishing #WomensFiction #BookReview #GriefFiction #MessyRelationships #EmotionalReads #ARCReview #MustRead2025 #MarriageAndSecrets #ContemporaryFiction #FictionWithHeart #ReadItNow #FiveStars

[Cahdii · Rating 4 out of 5]

*Audiobook Review*
Narrated by Sarah Durham
Story: 3.5 stars
Narration: 4 stars

* Before I start my review I need to clarify that this book is wrongly marked as Romance on Netgalley and some retail platforms. It most definitely is not. It’s Women’s Fiction. (I knew that going in because I read some Goodreads reviews beforehand, so it doesn’t affect my rating of the book.)

This was such a heavy, emotional, moving story.

Reading the blurb, I thought Gray would pass away early on and the story would be about what happens after, but that’s not what happens. Gray’s death occurs around 41 % and it’s a slow painful road to that point. I actually had to take a break of a few days before I picked the book up again. So, if terminal illness/hospice care is a trigger for you, you should probably skip this one.

This is a story that explores themes of betrayal and forgiveness, identity and family, loss and healing. It’s told from 3 points of view, Anna, the wife, Laurel, the mistress, and Orla, the older neighbour and family friend. I quite enjoyed seeing the story from different perspectives.

I really had to step outside of myself and be open-minded to appreciate this story. Like the blurb says, Anna finds out Gray is cheating, but soon after, they find out he has cancer, before she can call him out on his infidelity. Then his health rapidly declines and she has to take care of her dying husband, without neglecting her teenage children, while also tolerating the presence of her husband’s mistress in her home. At this point, I’m sure a lot of people would have DNF’d, but I really wanted to see where this story was going and I was also enjoying the narrator.

Honestly, I thought it was heartless of Gray to expect his wife to accommodate his mistress in their home, just because he was dying. I didn’t fault her for her choice to stay and allow it because what was she going to do? Her kids were about to lose their father, she wasn’t about to upset their life anymore than it already was by leaving and she felt bad denying a dying man’s wish.

The second half of the story was slightly disappointing for me because, based on the blurb, I expected Anna to uncover something more scandalous. Instead, the revelations centred on family dysfunction and a man hiding from a life he’d rather forget. I was anticipating a more mystery-driven second half, but what we get is ultimately character-driven. So readers who enjoy quieter, emotionally focused narratives may appreciate this more than I did.

I really enjoyed the narration. It was solo narrated, by Sarah Durham, and while the narrator’s male voice wasn’t particularly strong, she did a great job voicing the female characters, who were in the majority. Considering the story is told from 3 female points of view, it was important to give them distinct voices, which she did and she conveyed their emotions really well.

This is a challenging, emotionally layered story that requires an open mind and a willingness to sit with uncomfortable choices as you see the world through the characters’ eyes.

*I received an advance copy from the publisher, through Netgalley. These opinions are entirely my own.

[TheLisaD · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sophie Ranald’s All the Things We Never Knew is an emotional and twist-filled story that proves she’s a master at blending heart, humor, and heartbreak in just the right measure. What begins as a seemingly straightforward story quickly evolves into something much deeper and more surprising, with turns that keep you constantly rethinking what you know about the characters and their pasts.

From the first few chapters, Ranald draws you into a world that feels instantly familiar—real people, genuine emotions, and everyday moments that carry quiet significance. But just when you think you’ve figured out where the story is headed, Ranald throws in a twist that upends everything, followed by several more that keep the momentum going. These surprises never feel forced; instead, they deepen the emotional layers of the story and reveal new sides to the characters you thought you understood.

The novel also stands out for its thoughtful pacing and depth. Ranald doesn’t rush her revelations. She gives readers time to absorb the emotional weight of each discovery while gradually peeling back the layers of the characters’ lives. The background details and the subtle shifts in perspective add richness and context, allowing the story to unfold with authenticity and impact.

Beyond the twists, All the Things We Never Knew is ultimately a story about truth, connection, and the complexity of human relationships. It explores how misunderstandings, secrets, and time can change the way people see each other—and themselves. The emotional resonance builds steadily throughout, leaving readers reflecting on their own “things never known” and the hidden stories behind the people they love.

Sophie Ranald has written a beautifully structured, emotionally intelligent novel that keeps readers engaged not only through its surprises but also through its honesty. All the Things We Never Knew is a reminder that sometimes the biggest revelations aren’t the ones that shock us—they’re the ones that teach us who we really are.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a familiar story with an interesting twist. Anna is married to Gray for twenty years. They have a comfortable life with two children in their teens. Anna is a devoted wife and stay at home mother. Life is going well. One problem. Husband Gray has been having an affair for a year with a younger woman, Laurel, and he is in love with her.

At the time, Anna finds out he’s been unfaithful by finding a pair of diamond earrings for pierced ears which she does not have, Gray also gets tragic news. He has terminal pancreatic cancer.

These parts of the story ring true and are well told. Then, the story veers off into what I can only describe as the realm of magical thinking. Anna, still devoted to Gray is his primary nurse/caretaker in this last stage of their life together. She agrees to having Laurel come to the house and hang out with him in bed for games, conversation, and canoodling. For me, this was a bridge too far. How much more hurt can they foist on Anna? From there, the story on the one hand handles the grief and aftermath of Gray’s deceptive life well but as the story goes on, it seemed far-fetched to me.

Each. of the characters are well developed. Both Anna and Laurel are well drawn characters. The children are realistic as well. Orla, the all-knowing neighbor, supports each of the other characters with the same empathy and warmth. I would have given it a 4 star rating for the idea and these characters but as the story spiraled out to the ending, I found myself mumbling ‘come on’ and ‘what?????’ too many times.

I’d like to think that we are a forgiving, empathetic sisterhood with powerful capability toward forgiveness and generosity but with the major hits these characters took, less certainly would have been more.

Many thanks to both Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read this advanced copy in order to provide an honest review.

[B.S. Casey · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I imagined the earrings there, sparkling against my skin. I imagined telling people, smiling, Yes, they were a gift from Gray, and them thinking, Lucky woman - he must be mad about her, even after these years. But they weren't mine. I was not that lucky woman and it wasn't me that my husband was mad about. Apparently."

Sophie Ranald has been on my auto-read list for some time now, because I've always found her romcoms so much fun, full of exactly what I wanted from the stories and always a great experience. So I was so excited when she popped up with a second story exploring a brand new style for me to love with this adult fiction exploring family, grief and loss. But at it's heart, it's still about what all of Sophie's stories are about - love - just from a new perspective.

The star of the show was the characters, each with their own part to play, their own fears, damage and losses to navigate. They led us through the narrative thoughtfully, with lots of reflection and introspection that really let the reader get under their skin and experience every high and low with them.

It's slow moving, existing in the little moments that still happen between life-changing revelations and capturing the strange way time stills in the aftermath of trauma. I usually have fatigue about stories that use a terminal illness as a plot point in a storyline now, but I loved the way this story used it to explore the complicated emotions of grieving the loss of someone who has hurt you. Love and hatred, anger and sadness mixing together in a confusion way that leaves you unsure if you can be angry, or sad.

Anna and Laurel both showed us different sides of Grey, letting us bond with both of them so that it's hard to 'choose a side' or immediately hating Laurel for being the other woman. Then we get a third external perspective from a familiar neighbour, watching from the outside and piecing everything together with us.

A striking, emotional story about starting again.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew what I was getting to when I opened this audiobook and was certain the spouse cancer storyline would be a trigger for me. It was not, but I found myself conflicted as I listened...yet I couldn't stop!! Basic premise: Anna finds earrings not meant for her, reader learns her hubby is indeed having an affair. It's not long before we all learn that Gray is having an affair AND he has terminal cancer. Well, despite reading the synopsis I wasn't expecting Anna to allow her husband's mistress to see him at their home. Oof. I mean right there all the questions were running through my head and Gray's cancer wasn't the forefront of my mind despite it being the reason these two women were in a different kind of forced proximity than I am used to reading. We also learn that Gray was full of secrets and neither his wife or his lover truly knew him.

This is absolutely a great, deeply emotional read, but it will be polarizing for readers. I liked the narrator (Sarah Durham) and thought she was a good choice. The first half and second half of the book are like a part 1 and part 2 as they felt like two different books. I know this was categorized as Romance, but I don't think that's completely accurate despite a central theme of the things we do for love. For me, it was more domestic fiction or women's fiction. At times I thought it might wander into thriller territory thanks to the fantastic narration. Sophie Ranald took on some TOUGH subject matter. Wow. This is one I will be thinking about for awhile.

[Meg Pearson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC.

Sophie Ranald’s All The Things We Never Knew is an emotional, heart-wrenching story about love, family, loss, and resilience. From the very first page, I was drawn into the lives of Anna and Gray, a couple who seemingly have it all—a beautiful home, two children, and a network of friends and family. But life throws them into unimaginable tragedy, forcing Anna to navigate heartbreak, betrayal, and grief while maintaining strength for her family.

The story is told through multiple perspectives, giving depth to the characters’ experiences and allowing readers to understand their motivations and emotions. Anna is relatable and admirable in her resilience, Gray is complex and flawed, and Laurel adds nuance to the tale, revealing the gray areas of love and morality. The emotional tension is palpable, and Ranald handles delicate subjects—infidelity, terminal illness, and family trauma—with grace and authenticity.

The narrative is both moving and thought-provoking. It explores forgiveness, understanding, and personal growth, leaving readers with a sense of hope despite the hardships. The characters feel real, their joys and pain resonate, and the story lingers long after the final page.

All The Things We Never Knew is a powerful, unforgettable read. I highly recommend it and will certainly be exploring more of Sophie Ranald’s works.

[Simply_Bibliotaphs · Rating 3 out of 5]

A story about family, heartbreak, identity and the consequences of secrets

when Anna Graham finds diamond earrings in her husband’s drawer, she knows they’re not for her seeing as her ears are not pierced. Gray is having an affair – but before she can confront him about his betrayal, he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis. Although Anna is willing to look after her husband in his dying days, Gray also wants Laurel involved, the woman he was having an affair with. Together the women have to navigate their grief and find themselves in the middle of more secrets that they together have to figure out.

What to Expect:
- Multiple POVs
- Love Triangle
- cheating
- secrets after death
- Found family
- grief and healing journey

While this book was beautifully written, I found it utterly heart-breaking too, all the characters found themselves in such a tough predicament where no one could openly communicate their emotions to one another due to what Gray was going through. The complexities of the characters and the plot made it hard to feel just one way and I felt so angry for them.

While I usually enjoy Sophie Ranald, this book was so sad that it pulled down the happy healing parts for me and I finished the book feeling empty rather than hopeful. While it's not my favourite of her stories I appreciate how well written the story is and the real emotion, humanity and characteristic flaws that was put into this book

[Sue Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I have read from this author but I enjoyed it so much I will be seeking out her other titles very soon!

'All The Things We Never Knew' is an emotional story of love, family secrets, childhood trauma, mental health struggles, tragedy, betrayal, complex relationships and forgiveness.

Anna and her husband Gray appear to have a comfortable life - a lovely home in an upmarket neighbourhood, Gray's successful business, a son and daughter and good friends and neighbours.
Things take a dark turn when Anna finds a pair of expensive diamond earrings in Gray's drawer that clearly aren't intended for her. Just as Gray admits his infidelity with Laurel he also discovers he is terminally ill with pancreatic cancer.

The book is told through multiple perspectives - Anna, Laurel and a neighbour who is a friend to the whole family.

As the main characters navigate their way through the complex and emotional process of Gray's final weeks and beyond we start to learn more about each of them and discover a part of Gray's life completely unknown to both Anna, Laurel and the children.

A beautifully written, powerful story on many different levels with very likeable and relateable characters
I am grateful to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced reader copy of this highly recommended book.

[A Lane · Rating 5 out of 5]

All The Things We Never Knew by Sophie Ranald is an emotional story of love, family, tragedy, and rising above. This story will resonate with me for a very long time. Be advised, have an entire box of tissues on hand! This was my first read by Sophie Ranald, but I quickly added some of her other titles to my TBR list. This book was THAT good!

Anna and Gray appear to have it all. A beautiful home in a nice neighborhood, two great kids, extended family and friends. When Anna discovers something she is not meant to see, she thinks this is the worst possible thing that could happen. Little does she know the worst is yet to come, and she must learn how to navigate through all the tragedy thrown at her and her family.

This was such a powerful story on so many levels. The emotions are real and relatable. The characters are so well depicted that you feel their pain, their joy, and their growth by the end of the story. It is told through multiple perspectives, giving the readers an insight into the main characters. I loved this book and highly recommend it.

Thanks to Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the advanced copy

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The opening of this novel was not what I expected, the storyline progressed quickly. This story was definitely a roller coaster of happenings and emotions. Who really is Gray Graham?

When Anna Graham finds diamond earrings in her husband’s drawer the day before Valentine’s Day, she knows they’re not for her – her ears aren’t even pierced. Gray is having an affair – but before she can confront him about his betrayal, he receives a terminal cancer diagnosis that shatters their family.

As Gray lies dying in their Damask Square home, Anna meets Laurel – the nurse who stole her husband’s heart. Despite her rage, Anna finds herself sharing Gray’s final days with this other woman, both desperate to ease his suffering while drowning in their own grief.

But hidden in their loft, Anna discovers traces of a stranger – a boy who was a gifted pianist, who had a different life before he became her husband. As she struggles to hold herself together for her teenage children, Anna realises everything she believed about Gray was built on carefully constructed lies.

Can two women who loved the same man find a way to heal – and help each other discover who Gray really was?

[Rah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Anna finds earrings in her husbands drawer just before Valentine’s Day, but she doesn’t have her ears pierced. She knows he’s cheating. But before she can confront him he ends up terminally ill. Anna is supposed to be the liked character, her husband is cheating and she’s trying to navigate his impending death and her emotions, but something about her fell flat. She never gave me real depth to her emotions.

Gray is dying. Maybe we are supposed to feel bad for him, but also he’s an adulterer who was able to have a year long affair and not feel bad about doing that to his wife and children. So boo him.

Laurel is the other woman. And not in the sense of she found out she was a felt bad about it, but she knew from the moment she met Gray that he had a wife and children and she decided to date him for a year. I feel no sympathy or no love for this character. She’s trying to be sad and woe is me and dealing with Grays illness, but she’s also the other women fully knowing and again, feel no remorse.

I like what Ranald tried to do here, but it was a super hard topic and I feel like she missed the mark

[Teddy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you Netgalley for the arc!

I guess I am in the minority because I did not like this book. Maybe things flew over my head but I didn't like that the Laurel got her HEA even though she is a cheater?? Like hello, since when did cheating become an okay thing to do? I understand that Gray was the one who pursued her but we are told multiple times that Laurel saw his ring and was more than aware that he was married with a family but she still was like "I feel bad but eh, I love him"...excuse me. I just couldn't get over that. I was already fuming because of that but then she ends up meeting Joel and has a kid with him and she's all happy and she had no repercussions for her actions?? At the end of the book, Lulu even asked Anna if Gray and Laurel slept together and she says yes and Lulu is just like "oh okay" ummmmm okay?????? IDK the whole thing was just weird. I think maybe this type of book just isn't for me. The only time I "enjoyed" the book was when Anna wanted to tear Laurel to pieces tehe.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Each person finds closure and resolve in their own way once someone dies and as you unravel their life you learn you only knew a fraction of what they were living.This book starts with Anna finding out that her husband, Gray, has terminal cancer and that he has been having an affair with a woman named Laurel. Then all 3 of them move forward with trying to put their differences aside and come to terms with things as he gets sicker and then he is gone. The story switches between the perspective of Anna and Laurel, and we also get the perspective of a neighbor woman. Most compelling hearing how betrayal set both women on a new and uncharted path. Even after his passing, Anna and Laurel are left with not only the weight of his betrayal but also the puzzle of his troubled childhood. The reluctant alliance transforms into something surprisingly cordial, even wholesome at times, as they begin to piece together the truth he kept buried. Reminds me of the show brothers & sisters. Thank you NetGalley and Dreamscape Select for the opportunity.

[Lisa A. · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has all the emotions. The author tackles some very difficult subjects - infidelity and terminal illness - and she does so with great care. This story broke my heart, enraged me, gave me hope, made me laugh, and is a great example that we never know how we will react to situations that might arise in our lifetime. I don't think I've ever been so enraged by a character in a book, which means the author did her job well, creating very believable and relatable characters. There are multiple POVs and the narrator performs the story well, giving each character their own voice and portraying the emotions effectively. It's not a light read, but it's thought-provoking and insightful, and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys a story full of complex characters and relatable experiences. It was hard to hit pause on this one, and it will stay with me for a long time.

Thank you to NetGalley, Dreamscape Select and Sophie Ranald for a digital ARC for review. My review is voluntary, and all opinions are my own.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book of two halves, Gray is a married father of two but also having an affair with Laurel, a nurse. As the book starts, he is ill and is diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and he dies. The way he wanted to live his last months is described and involves both his wife and family and his lover. After his death, both women start looking into his life as a child / youth, which he was secretive about.
I was not too keen on the first part of the book and had difficulty with getting to grips with the love triangle , particularly when Gray was still at home. The writing was OK, maybe a little boring in places, but really picked up for me in part 2 . I did not get the role of the neighbour, Ora, until later in the book either. I really enjoyed the second part of the book, the relevations about Gray's live and the way that Anna and Laurel came to find out more about the boy Gray had been and the decisions he had made Quite an emotional read at times, the plot is well told.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC