What do you think?
Win a free print copy of this book!
11 days and 23:03:08
20 copies available
U.S. only
The Things You'll Never Know
Not yet published
Expected 12 Jan 27Win a free print copy of this book!
11 days and 23:03:08
20 copies available
U.S. only
“Nobody delves as deep into the guts of motherhood as Ashley Audrain; she really is in a league of her own.” —Lisa Jewell
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Push, a bold, unputdownable story of motherhood, desire, betrayal, and loss told by a mother after her own death.
“All those moments in life that mark a before, and an after. Before the death of me, and after. Before they knew the truth of what happened, and after.”
Fiona stares up at the faces of her husband, Adam, and their children. They’ve found her on the hallway floor. The double doors slam on the ambulance, and Fiona watches it take her body away—but how can that be, if she’s still here in her home, with her family? That’s when she realizes her worst fear has come Fiona is dead.
In the days that follow, Fiona moves quietly among them, as they become increasingly suspicious about her death. Everyone seems to be hiding something—her depressive husband, her devoted best friend, her estranged younger sister, her precocious six-year-old son, and most of all, Fiona herself. That is, until her teenage daughter discovers Fiona’s diary—and the stunning betrayal she had been hiding.
Exploring the performative identities of womanhood, the cost of being good, and what we owe ourselves and each other in the face of desire, Ashley Audrain's daring, thought-provoking novel will you find who you really are, before you die?
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Push, a bold, unputdownable story of motherhood, desire, betrayal, and loss told by a mother after her own death.
“All those moments in life that mark a before, and an after. Before the death of me, and after. Before they knew the truth of what happened, and after.”
Fiona stares up at the faces of her husband, Adam, and their children. They’ve found her on the hallway floor. The double doors slam on the ambulance, and Fiona watches it take her body away—but how can that be, if she’s still here in her home, with her family? That’s when she realizes her worst fear has come Fiona is dead.
In the days that follow, Fiona moves quietly among them, as they become increasingly suspicious about her death. Everyone seems to be hiding something—her depressive husband, her devoted best friend, her estranged younger sister, her precocious six-year-old son, and most of all, Fiona herself. That is, until her teenage daughter discovers Fiona’s diary—and the stunning betrayal she had been hiding.
Exploring the performative identities of womanhood, the cost of being good, and what we owe ourselves and each other in the face of desire, Ashley Audrain's daring, thought-provoking novel will you find who you really are, before you die?
400 pages, Hardcover
Expected publication January 12, 2027
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
—3/5 stars
Okay, let me start by saying this: the premise? Absolute fucking gold.
You're telling me this story is narrated by a dead mother who's watching her family unravel after her death while slowly realizing that the house she built with nothing but love, warmth, and safety has been hiding ugly little secrets all along? Yeah how was I not supposed to be obsessed with that? The second I read the synopsis, I was hooked. And when I got approved for the ARC, I was genuinely over the moon. I was so excited to dive into it because it sounded like exactly the kind of psychological thriller I live for.
And to be fair, the author deserves credit for one thing: this book grabs you by the fucking throat from page one and refuses to let go. I genuinely could not stop reading. Those ridiculously short chapters, three to five pages each kept tricking me into saying, "Okay, just one more." Suddenly I'd read another fifty pages without realizing it. The pacing is addictive, and the atmosphere keeps whispering that something huge is about to happen.
The problem? That "something huge" never really happened.
The entire book felt like one giant build-up with barely any payoff. It keeps stacking mystery upon mystery, making you think you're about to get a jaw-dropping reveal that'll leave you staring at your ceiling at 3 a.m. Instead, the twists felt painfully obvious. Honestly, I had narrowed everything down to two possibilities almost immediately, and from there it was just a matter of waiting to see which one the author would pick. That's not exactly what I want from a thriller. If I'm solving your mystery before your detectives are, we've got a problem.
And don't even get me started on the ending. Yes, there was one final reveal that was supposed to shock me, but instead I just sat there thinking really? That's what we're doing? It felt so far-fetched that instead of gasping, I was questioning how we even got there. I kept guessing who the killer was throughout the book, and when the reveal finally came, it wasn't satisfying, it just felt random for the sake of being unexpected. I wanted clever. I wanted devastating. I wanted to have my brain rewired. Instead, I just shrugged.
That's what frustrated me the most. This book had everything it needed to be incredible. The premise? Amazing. The atmosphere? Creepy. The pacing? Addictive. The short chapters? Chef's kiss. It had all the ingredients for a five-star thriller, but somehow the execution just never matched the potential. It built up so much tension that I was convinced the payoff would absolutely destroy me and then it simply didn't.
Maybe I've just read way too many thrillers, and maybe that's why I saw everything coming. I don't know. But when I pick up a thriller, I want to be manipulated. I want the author to make me question every single character, only to slap me across the face with a twist I never saw coming. That's literally the fun of the genre. Instead, this one felt like I was constantly waiting for the real twist only to realize that was the twist.
And that's honestly what hurts the most. I wanted to love this book. I really, really did. I went into it excited, hopeful, and convinced it was going to become one of my favourite reads of the year. I wasn't looking for reasons to dislike it, I was desperately searching for reasons to love it. But apart from the addictive pacing, the short chapters, and the constant feeling of "just one more chapter," there wasn't much else that truly stood out for me.
— Overall, I don't think it's a terrible thriller by any means. I can absolutely see why some readers might fly through it in one sitting and have a great time. It is entertaining, it's fast-paced, and it's incredibly bingeable. But if you're someone like me who's constantly chasing mind-blowing twists and endings that leave you questioning your own sanity this one probably won't hit that sweet spot. It had all the potential in the world, it just never reached it. And honestly? That's somehow even more disappointing than reading a bad book. 💌
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 12 July , 2026
the premise has me SAT. now i'm just praying the book actually delivers 😭🤞🏻
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Okay, let me start by saying this: the premise? Absolute fucking gold.
You're telling me this story is narrated by a dead mother who's watching her family unravel after her death while slowly realizing that the house she built with nothing but love, warmth, and safety has been hiding ugly little secrets all along? Yeah how was I not supposed to be obsessed with that? The second I read the synopsis, I was hooked. And when I got approved for the ARC, I was genuinely over the moon. I was so excited to dive into it because it sounded like exactly the kind of psychological thriller I live for.
And to be fair, the author deserves credit for one thing: this book grabs you by the fucking throat from page one and refuses to let go. I genuinely could not stop reading. Those ridiculously short chapters, three to five pages each kept tricking me into saying, "Okay, just one more." Suddenly I'd read another fifty pages without realizing it. The pacing is addictive, and the atmosphere keeps whispering that something huge is about to happen.
The problem? That "something huge" never really happened.
The entire book felt like one giant build-up with barely any payoff. It keeps stacking mystery upon mystery, making you think you're about to get a jaw-dropping reveal that'll leave you staring at your ceiling at 3 a.m. Instead, the twists felt painfully obvious. Honestly, I had narrowed everything down to two possibilities almost immediately, and from there it was just a matter of waiting to see which one the author would pick. That's not exactly what I want from a thriller. If I'm solving your mystery before your detectives are, we've got a problem.
And don't even get me started on the ending. Yes, there was one final reveal that was supposed to shock me, but instead I just sat there thinking really? That's what we're doing? It felt so far-fetched that instead of gasping, I was questioning how we even got there. I kept guessing who the killer was throughout the book, and when the reveal finally came, it wasn't satisfying, it just felt random for the sake of being unexpected. I wanted clever. I wanted devastating. I wanted to have my brain rewired. Instead, I just shrugged.
That's what frustrated me the most. This book had everything it needed to be incredible. The premise? Amazing. The atmosphere? Creepy. The pacing? Addictive. The short chapters? Chef's kiss. It had all the ingredients for a five-star thriller, but somehow the execution just never matched the potential. It built up so much tension that I was convinced the payoff would absolutely destroy me and then it simply didn't.
Maybe I've just read way too many thrillers, and maybe that's why I saw everything coming. I don't know. But when I pick up a thriller, I want to be manipulated. I want the author to make me question every single character, only to slap me across the face with a twist I never saw coming. That's literally the fun of the genre. Instead, this one felt like I was constantly waiting for the real twist only to realize that was the twist.
And that's honestly what hurts the most. I wanted to love this book. I really, really did. I went into it excited, hopeful, and convinced it was going to become one of my favourite reads of the year. I wasn't looking for reasons to dislike it, I was desperately searching for reasons to love it. But apart from the addictive pacing, the short chapters, and the constant feeling of "just one more chapter," there wasn't much else that truly stood out for me.
— Overall, I don't think it's a terrible thriller by any means. I can absolutely see why some readers might fly through it in one sitting and have a great time. It is entertaining, it's fast-paced, and it's incredibly bingeable. But if you're someone like me who's constantly chasing mind-blowing twists and endings that leave you questioning your own sanity this one probably won't hit that sweet spot. It had all the potential in the world, it just never reached it. And honestly? That's somehow even more disappointing than reading a bad book. 💌
-ˋˏ✄┈┈┈┈
౨ৎ pre-read:
⤿ started - 12 July , 2026
the premise has me SAT. now i'm just praying the book actually delivers 😭🤞🏻
— Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Do you ever play that movie in your head? Of who they'd become without you, other people's influence like a stain?
Do you ever imagine how it would feel if you became terminally ill?
Of how you'd spend your time with them, of what you'd leave, of how you'd say goodbye?
Of course you do.
Audrain never disappoints.
I think most mums have wondered at some point: “Oh god, what if something happened to me? Who would do this, who would do that? Who would step into the role I fill?” Even those with very capable, modern husbands. But when that mum is carrying a disproportionate load— as so many are —literally holding her family up at every step, and she dies, what happens without her?
That's essentially the premise of The Things You'll Never Know, wrapped up in a mystery/thriller about what actually happened to Fiona. Audrain has written some great books about the experience of motherhood, mental health, and women who are carrying suffocating burdens at home, and Fiona's story is no exception. The difference is that we begin Fiona's story after she has been found dead.
I suppose there's a touch of magical realism to this tale, as much of it is from the perspective of Fiona after her death, as she observes her family trying to cope without her and watches them compile the pieces of her final hours, days, weeks and months. But it feels surprisingly natural. We move between timelines, gradually being fed the full picture of what happened to Fiona— not just the story of her death, but decades of marriage, friendship and familial struggles.
It is very emotionally compelling, and the short chapters certainly don't hurt. Like all Audrain's characters, Fiona is complex and certainly not blameless. She makes some terrible choices, yet the author is always able to articulate why, so even as I judged her I also had a lot of sympathy for her.
The mystery of how Fiona came to be lying dead in her home was well done. Audrain does that technique where, rather than trying to keep you from guessing at the truth, she deliberately makes you suspect everyone and every possibility. But, in the end, the mystery is secondary to the powerful character drama and detailed interior portrait of a woman, wife and mother.
I can't wait for whatever she writes next.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
You have to be f**king kidding me. What in the Silent Patient Colleen Hoover did I just read?
Now that I have time to really digest what I just read after having a little bit of FOMO and being approved for an advanced copy from Viking/Pamela Dorman:
The book starts out with Fiona, who has just died. From here, the entire book is told from her perspective, what could have happened and how? It interweaves past and present with her husband Adam, who suffers from depression; her two kids, Astrid & Pepper (why he is named Pepper is the biggest mystery of all); best friend, Leah; and sister, Nell. We see them when they first meet, have kids, all the things!
The entire premise of this book is to see if we can guess how Fiona died and to watch how these relationships intermingle with each other. Throughout the book, we are given generic quotes such as:
"My heart fell with the weighted rhythm of sinking in water, back and forth. Floating down, and then down, and then down."
"I’ve been a fool, I thought. I couldn’t breathe. He was never really mine."
"He’s spread like an infection in my mind. I think of him while driving the kids around, while I read stories to Pepper at night, while I work, my hands on other people, imagining my hands on him. I think of him while I stare at the screen of the self-checkout at the grocery store. I think of him as I fall asleep."
And this happens for about 300 pages in a book that could have been 75 pages shorter, with zero depth. By about 50% of this book, as I kept reading, there was nothing but longing and characters who are sad and typical of what is supposed to be a "mystery," but is really be about a woman dealing with an unhappy marriage and kids who are kinda annoying.
Regardless, and I know I've said this before, these mystery genres are horrible, to say the least. Prove me wrong, as I've read quite a few.
I'M OVER IT.
Now that I have time to really digest what I just read after having a little bit of FOMO and being approved for an advanced copy from Viking/Pamela Dorman:
The book starts out with Fiona, who has just died. From here, the entire book is told from her perspective, what could have happened and how? It interweaves past and present with her husband Adam, who suffers from depression; her two kids, Astrid & Pepper (why he is named Pepper is the biggest mystery of all); best friend, Leah; and sister, Nell. We see them when they first meet, have kids, all the things!
The entire premise of this book is to see if we can guess how Fiona died and to watch how these relationships intermingle with each other. Throughout the book, we are given generic quotes such as:
"My heart fell with the weighted rhythm of sinking in water, back and forth. Floating down, and then down, and then down."
"I’ve been a fool, I thought. I couldn’t breathe. He was never really mine."
"He’s spread like an infection in my mind. I think of him while driving the kids around, while I read stories to Pepper at night, while I work, my hands on other people, imagining my hands on him. I think of him while I stare at the screen of the self-checkout at the grocery store. I think of him as I fall asleep."
And this happens for about 300 pages in a book that could have been 75 pages shorter, with zero depth. By about 50% of this book, as I kept reading, there was nothing but longing and characters who are sad and typical of what is supposed to be a "mystery," but is really be about a woman dealing with an unhappy marriage and kids who are kinda annoying.
Regardless, and I know I've said this before, these mystery genres are horrible, to say the least. Prove me wrong, as I've read quite a few.
I'M OVER IT.
Want to Read
August 13, 2026A story narrated by a dead mother? I'm sold. My expectations are high. I love stories that are written in death or the narrator is death/ghosts/memories.
Many thanks to NetGalley, Viking Penguin and the author, Ashley Audrain for an early copy.
Publication date: January 12, 2027
Many thanks to NetGalley, Viking Penguin and the author, Ashley Audrain for an early copy.
Publication date: January 12, 2027
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I love her book THE PUSH, and this one sounded so good so I was excited to get to it. This was pretty good, but not as good as The Push. The main character, Fiona, is a mom who has died. This is from her POV as she watches her family after her death. Her family is suspicious of how she died, and each one seems to have secrets. When Fiona's teen daughter finds her diary, you will be surprised to find out what Fiona herself has been hiding.
This is an emotional, and deep read. I think book clubs would like this one because there would be a lot to discuss. It wasn't necessarily a fast paced read, but It did grab me at the beginning. The ending definitely was unexpected, but I wanted more. It just ENDED. There's definitely some twists that I wasn't expecting. It's a worthwhile read.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
This is an emotional, and deep read. I think book clubs would like this one because there would be a lot to discuss. It wasn't necessarily a fast paced read, but It did grab me at the beginning. The ending definitely was unexpected, but I wanted more. It just ENDED. There's definitely some twists that I wasn't expecting. It's a worthwhile read.
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
August 29, 2026
4.5 stars
This book was so beautifully written. There were bits of thriller, bits of poetry, bits of a love story, all woven together incredibly well. I really enjoyed this read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
This book was so beautifully written. There were bits of thriller, bits of poetry, bits of a love story, all woven together incredibly well. I really enjoyed this read!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.
April 19, 2026
I have been waiting for another book from Ashley Audrain! After reading “The Push” and “The Whispers” I was thrilled to read this new one. This was so heavy just like the other books.
She does such a good job at exploring the dark places inside of her characters and bringing it to life in a way that is so disturbing yet you can’t look away from. The pacing of her book was spot on. Every chapter I had to know more!!
This is definitely a book binge. I couldn’t put it down as I had to know what happened. The characters were in now way likable but that didn’t take away from
The book at all.
She does such a good job at exploring the dark places inside of her characters and bringing it to life in a way that is so disturbing yet you can’t look away from. The pacing of her book was spot on. Every chapter I had to know more!!
This is definitely a book binge. I couldn’t put it down as I had to know what happened. The characters were in now way likable but that didn’t take away from
The book at all.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
**Thank you to Viking Penguin for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.**
Unfortunately this book was not my cup of tea.
This one simply had too much going on. Too many timelines. Too many (unlikable) characters. And too many instances of switching between first and third person.
This mystery shrouding our main character is fundamentally very interesting, and will draw in the average mystery reader. However, it lost me in its execution. The whole book felt like it was building up to a huge payoff, and then the final end twist/reveal fell flat.
The writing style favored this story. The short chapters worked really well and left me speeding through the first half, but unfortunately, barely trudging through the last.
My biggest gripe, however, is the way the differing POVs were handled. If you’re going to rely on flashbacks, you have got to tell me when and how far back we’re going. There were several times I was heavily confused about what time frame exactly I was reading in.
In the end, this book was the kind I usually turn away from, (a run of the mill mystery out of the same vein of the likes of Colleen Hoover and Freida McFadden).
However, if you like the works of the aforementioned authors you may just find what you’re looking for here. To each their own!
Unfortunately this book was not my cup of tea.
This one simply had too much going on. Too many timelines. Too many (unlikable) characters. And too many instances of switching between first and third person.
This mystery shrouding our main character is fundamentally very interesting, and will draw in the average mystery reader. However, it lost me in its execution. The whole book felt like it was building up to a huge payoff, and then the final end twist/reveal fell flat.
The writing style favored this story. The short chapters worked really well and left me speeding through the first half, but unfortunately, barely trudging through the last.
My biggest gripe, however, is the way the differing POVs were handled. If you’re going to rely on flashbacks, you have got to tell me when and how far back we’re going. There were several times I was heavily confused about what time frame exactly I was reading in.
In the end, this book was the kind I usually turn away from, (a run of the mill mystery out of the same vein of the likes of Colleen Hoover and Freida McFadden).
However, if you like the works of the aforementioned authors you may just find what you’re looking for here. To each their own!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I have a bone to pick.
Have you read the synopsis of this book? If not, go read it and come back. Sounds like a great thriller, right? That’s what I thought too. And I will say, the way it’s written with the short chapters and the past and present perspectives it does move along quickly. You keep wanting to read just to make sense of what happened to Fiona, the mother who was found dead in her house.
Throughout the book, you slowly uncover secrets about Fiona, her children, her husband, her best friend, and her sister. This book kept reeling me in, and I was expecting a shocking ending with a big reveal…I didn’t get one.
I think the biggest loss for me was how unlikeable every single character is. I was really fond of Fiona in the beginning, but by the end I was just shrugging my shoulders like, mmmk. I didn’t enjoy the way this story went, and the twist at the end was not only something I saw coming, but realistically, it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
This was more of a mystery than a thriller, and it was full of horrible characters who all desperately needed to go to therapy and figure out a better way to cope.
I wish I could have liked this more, but too many aspects of the story gave me the ick, especially with how certain things were written. Definitely not the thriller I was hoping for. Not to mention I was left with so many questions that never got answered.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy.
Have you read the synopsis of this book? If not, go read it and come back. Sounds like a great thriller, right? That’s what I thought too. And I will say, the way it’s written with the short chapters and the past and present perspectives it does move along quickly. You keep wanting to read just to make sense of what happened to Fiona, the mother who was found dead in her house.
Throughout the book, you slowly uncover secrets about Fiona, her children, her husband, her best friend, and her sister. This book kept reeling me in, and I was expecting a shocking ending with a big reveal…I didn’t get one.
I think the biggest loss for me was how unlikeable every single character is. I was really fond of Fiona in the beginning, but by the end I was just shrugging my shoulders like, mmmk. I didn’t enjoy the way this story went, and the twist at the end was not only something I saw coming, but realistically, it just didn’t make a whole lot of sense to me.
This was more of a mystery than a thriller, and it was full of horrible characters who all desperately needed to go to therapy and figure out a better way to cope.
I wish I could have liked this more, but too many aspects of the story gave me the ick, especially with how certain things were written. Definitely not the thriller I was hoping for. Not to mention I was left with so many questions that never got answered.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an Advanced Reader Copy.
September 9, 2026
Look, I don’t go into thrillers trying to figure out the ending so I really didn’t see the ending coming at all.
September 3, 2026
This book is about the transformation of a woman into motherhood. When a woman no longer thinks of herself, and everything revolves around her children. How mothers are the glue that holds the family together. And at some point they lose all of their autonomy. When Adam & Astrid come home from a weekend field trip to find Fiona dead and Pepper, their six year old son, playing on his iPad, they seek answers from Pepper who can’t provide them what they need. We discover a lot of secrets through Fiona’s diary, things that no one expected from Fiona who was always in total control. And a shocking conclusion will absolutely make your heart stop.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Viking Penguin for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
Many thanks to NetGalley & Viking Penguin for the opportunity to read an eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinions.
May 6, 2026
This story absolutely wrecked me in the best way.
This story resonated so deeply with me as both a mother and a wife. The portrayal of the husband’s depression was incredibly raw and honest, and it highlighted a side of relationships that isn’t talked about enough. As a wife, I really connected to that quiet, heavy feeling of being the one holding everything together; keeping the household functioning, showing up for everyone else while your own struggles go unseen and unacknowledged. It’s a lonely place to be, and this book captured that so well.
The writing is beautiful. It’s layered, emotional, and deeply human without ever feeling overdone. I loved the back and forth timeline; it added tension and depth, slowly peeling back the truth in a way that kept me completely invested.
And that ending… I was genuinely shocked. It’s the kind of twist that makes you pause and rethink everything you’ve just read.
This is one of those stories that lingers. It stays with you, settles into your thoughts, and doesn’t let go easily. A powerful, emotional read that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Huge thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story resonated so deeply with me as both a mother and a wife. The portrayal of the husband’s depression was incredibly raw and honest, and it highlighted a side of relationships that isn’t talked about enough. As a wife, I really connected to that quiet, heavy feeling of being the one holding everything together; keeping the household functioning, showing up for everyone else while your own struggles go unseen and unacknowledged. It’s a lonely place to be, and this book captured that so well.
The writing is beautiful. It’s layered, emotional, and deeply human without ever feeling overdone. I loved the back and forth timeline; it added tension and depth, slowly peeling back the truth in a way that kept me completely invested.
And that ending… I was genuinely shocked. It’s the kind of twist that makes you pause and rethink everything you’ve just read.
This is one of those stories that lingers. It stays with you, settles into your thoughts, and doesn’t let go easily. A powerful, emotional read that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.
Huge thanks to NetGalley for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 22, 2026
This book could’ve been a 50 page novella.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This story is crazy right out of the gate. It begins with Fiona and Adam, a married couple, preparing for Adam to chaperone their daughter, Astrid's camping trip. Fiona will be staying behind with their son, Pepper.
When Adam and Astrid return home, they find Fiona dead in the floor. Pepper tells them that he doesn't know what happens.
Fiona's best friend, Leah, jumps in to help Adam deal with everything that comes along with losing a spouse. Fiona's sister, Nell flies in to help as well. Of course, there is tension with so many people trying to help.
The story goes back and forth between multiple timelines and there are some chapters that are Leah's point of view. None of these characters are likeable. However, some of their feelings and experiences are relatable especially around motherhood and struggles with depression.
The story started off so strong, I could not put the book down. I did not love the ending. I had guessed it but that doesn't take away from the story for me. I just felt like there were several other ways this story could have went that would have made it 5 stars for me. The story is twisty and everyone seems to have secrets.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
When Adam and Astrid return home, they find Fiona dead in the floor. Pepper tells them that he doesn't know what happens.
Fiona's best friend, Leah, jumps in to help Adam deal with everything that comes along with losing a spouse. Fiona's sister, Nell flies in to help as well. Of course, there is tension with so many people trying to help.
The story goes back and forth between multiple timelines and there are some chapters that are Leah's point of view. None of these characters are likeable. However, some of their feelings and experiences are relatable especially around motherhood and struggles with depression.
The story started off so strong, I could not put the book down. I did not love the ending. I had guessed it but that doesn't take away from the story for me. I just felt like there were several other ways this story could have went that would have made it 5 stars for me. The story is twisty and everyone seems to have secrets.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 2, 2026
Fiona watches as her husband and teenage daughter pull out of the driveway--it's just her and Pepper, her precocious 6 year-old son, for the weekend. And she needs this time with him, she does. Being a mom to two children is so different than a mom to one; Fiona is spread paper-thin between her family these days, she just needs some time to feel like herself again. Yes, that's what she needs; just a little time, maybe a quick lie-down, and then she'll be good as new for Pepper: mom of the year.
But something is wrong; how much time has passed? Why won't she wake up? Why is her family so distraught? Surely they can see her standing right here, amongst them. Everything's fine, it wasn't supposed to be like this, Fiona was about to fix everything before anyone even knew.
They have to know the truth.
"The Things You'll Never Know," for better or worse, will be the most binge-worthy thing you read all year readers, trust me on that. With the same staccato-quick chapters that propelled Ashley Audrain's utter sensation "The Push" to stardom, "The Things You'll Never Know" brings the same, unputdownable quality to the table, albeit with a more mysterious lens. From the start, Audrain's "The Push" told you exactly what it was: a nightmarish car crash of a character study that could only end in one way. Refreshingly, "The Things You'll Never Know" isn't quite so obvious. It's every bit a true mystery as it is a domestic thriller, and while there's elements to it that--once they take center stage--may lose some readers, I was in this until the end and found the payoff well worth it.
Not a perfect novel but an undeniably well-crafted slump-buster of a novel, "The Things You'll Never Know" is one to put on your to-read lists now.
*Many thanks to Viking Penguin for my advanced review copy of this title*
But something is wrong; how much time has passed? Why won't she wake up? Why is her family so distraught? Surely they can see her standing right here, amongst them. Everything's fine, it wasn't supposed to be like this, Fiona was about to fix everything before anyone even knew.
They have to know the truth.
"The Things You'll Never Know," for better or worse, will be the most binge-worthy thing you read all year readers, trust me on that. With the same staccato-quick chapters that propelled Ashley Audrain's utter sensation "The Push" to stardom, "The Things You'll Never Know" brings the same, unputdownable quality to the table, albeit with a more mysterious lens. From the start, Audrain's "The Push" told you exactly what it was: a nightmarish car crash of a character study that could only end in one way. Refreshingly, "The Things You'll Never Know" isn't quite so obvious. It's every bit a true mystery as it is a domestic thriller, and while there's elements to it that--once they take center stage--may lose some readers, I was in this until the end and found the payoff well worth it.
Not a perfect novel but an undeniably well-crafted slump-buster of a novel, "The Things You'll Never Know" is one to put on your to-read lists now.
*Many thanks to Viking Penguin for my advanced review copy of this title*
May 6, 2026
Even though The Things You’ll Never Know by Ashley Audrain will not be released until 2027, I couldn't contain my excitement and had to jump in, and oh my, this book did not disappoint. Now I'm just sad that I'll never be able to read this book for th first time again. The Things You’ll Never Know is an amazing domestic thriller with family secrets, mental health rep, multiple POVs, a non-linear timeline, and unreliable narration.
I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Thank you, Ashley Audrain, Viking, and Penguin Random House LLC.
Publication date: January 12, 2027
I received an advanced copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my honest review. Thank you, Ashley Audrain, Viking, and Penguin Random House LLC.
Publication date: January 12, 2027
Want to Read
June 6, 2026I cannot wait to start this one! Ashely Audrain is one of my auto-buy authors and this book sounds fabulous!
A huge thank you to Pamela Dorman and Viking Books for my ebook via Netgalley.
A huge thank you to Pamela Dorman and Viking Books for my ebook via Netgalley.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
Wow. This was a VERY heavy book. I don’t believe there was a single light hearted moment in all the one hundred plus chapters. With that being said, I was completely blown away by how much I enjoyed the book. It’s very real and there’s nothing fake about what happens in this story. Life can be hard and the characters and the story definitely make that clear in this book. The plot was very well executed and all the details came together perfectly at the end. After reading the other books by this author I was prepared for the final chapter to be monumental, but wow- when I realized what was about to happen at the very end I found myself thinking to myself “no, no, no, no!!!” When I was finished I wasn’t able to stop thinking about the final ending, and what was revealed in the final 20% of the book. It was excellent. A heavy read, but so well written and just totally captivating. I loved it. 5 well deserved stars. Looking forward to discussing this one with other readers once they have the opportunity to read it!
Thank you to the publisher (Pamela Dorman/Viking) and also NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy.
Thank you to the publisher (Pamela Dorman/Viking) and also NetGalley for the advanced electronic copy.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Spoiler-ish
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC of 'The Things You'll Never Know' by Ashley Audrain - expected release date of 01/12/2027
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited for another Audrain book that I didn't even read the synopsis when I requested this ARC, and I didn't after being approved either. I went in completely blind because I loved her other books so much I wanted to let this story unfold in real time and boy did it start out strong. With short chapters and atmospheric, compelling writing, I was immediately sucked into this domestic drama/mysterious thriller and wanting more with the turn of each page. Every adult character except Nell was extremely unlikeable, and even the kids were annoying (hate to say that). I think that just gives credit to Audrain's brilliant writing that I was so intrigued and flying through, desperate to find out "whodunit". It dragged on a bit in the middle with some repetitiveness, I think she could've touched on or alluded to more on Adam's secret then rather than drop it at the end, or gone deeper into Fiona's college trauma or mom trauma, those were kinda glossed over some. Overall I didn't see the big reveal about her death coming until she started to really hint at it towards the end so kudos to her!
Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC of 'The Things You'll Never Know' by Ashley Audrain - expected release date of 01/12/2027
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was so excited for another Audrain book that I didn't even read the synopsis when I requested this ARC, and I didn't after being approved either. I went in completely blind because I loved her other books so much I wanted to let this story unfold in real time and boy did it start out strong. With short chapters and atmospheric, compelling writing, I was immediately sucked into this domestic drama/mysterious thriller and wanting more with the turn of each page. Every adult character except Nell was extremely unlikeable, and even the kids were annoying (hate to say that). I think that just gives credit to Audrain's brilliant writing that I was so intrigued and flying through, desperate to find out "whodunit". It dragged on a bit in the middle with some repetitiveness, I think she could've touched on or alluded to more on Adam's secret then rather than drop it at the end, or gone deeper into Fiona's college trauma or mom trauma, those were kinda glossed over some. Overall I didn't see the big reveal about her death coming until she started to really hint at it towards the end so kudos to her!
August 26, 2026
I was thrilled to get this ARC by Ashley Audrain as I had really enjoyed her previous book, The Push. Ashley really has a way of getting to the truths of what it’s like to be a mother and to the human experience overall.
The book starts out with the death of one of the main characters and you read back and forth between the present and the path as you try and figure out what happened along with the characters in the book.
The story centers around a family. The wife and husband, Fiona and Adam and their two kids—a young teenage girl and a boy of about five. The daughter has typical teen issues and the boy is frankly kind of annoying and clingy. He really did get on my nerves. lol
The author explores Fiona’s relationships with her mother and sister and her best friend, Leah. You also get the point of view of Leah and Adam. The story is even told from the perspectives of the kids. I enjoyed each of their stories and like this style of writing.
The book explores the price of keeping secrets and denying yourself happiness to please others. I think this would make a terrific book club book
The book starts out with the death of one of the main characters and you read back and forth between the present and the path as you try and figure out what happened along with the characters in the book.
The story centers around a family. The wife and husband, Fiona and Adam and their two kids—a young teenage girl and a boy of about five. The daughter has typical teen issues and the boy is frankly kind of annoying and clingy. He really did get on my nerves. lol
The author explores Fiona’s relationships with her mother and sister and her best friend, Leah. You also get the point of view of Leah and Adam. The story is even told from the perspectives of the kids. I enjoyed each of their stories and like this style of writing.
The book explores the price of keeping secrets and denying yourself happiness to please others. I think this would make a terrific book club book
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I LOVED it.
Ashley Audrain is a master of hooking the reader. From the very first page, I just had to know what was going on and who did this. Fiona's relationship with her children is beautiful. As a mother myself, I found myself crying by the end of the book. Though the relationship was beautiful, it was also challenging, specifically with her daughter.
Fiona's husband, Adam, struggles from depression and Fiona has a complicated past, with trauma that she hasn't fully come to terms with. There are so many truths that Adam and Fiona have kept from each other and it was sad to come to terms with what that meant for not only both of them, but with the other characters in the story. Fiona's best friend, Leah and Adam's therapist, Gabe are fully engrained in the story of this family. On the outskirts, Fiona's sister, Nell, is there to try to pull everything together.
I felt very strongly for each of the characters in this story. The author did a great job building the plot and the reader's relationships with all of her characters.
Ashley Audrain is a master of hooking the reader. From the very first page, I just had to know what was going on and who did this. Fiona's relationship with her children is beautiful. As a mother myself, I found myself crying by the end of the book. Though the relationship was beautiful, it was also challenging, specifically with her daughter.
Fiona's husband, Adam, struggles from depression and Fiona has a complicated past, with trauma that she hasn't fully come to terms with. There are so many truths that Adam and Fiona have kept from each other and it was sad to come to terms with what that meant for not only both of them, but with the other characters in the story. Fiona's best friend, Leah and Adam's therapist, Gabe are fully engrained in the story of this family. On the outskirts, Fiona's sister, Nell, is there to try to pull everything together.
I felt very strongly for each of the characters in this story. The author did a great job building the plot and the reader's relationships with all of her characters.
July 30, 2026
I received an advanced digital copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ashley Audrain writes it= I read it!
Audrain writes another compelling contemporary suspense novel, focusing on the complexities of motherhood. From the outside, Fiona seems like the perfect mother and wife, but all of that starts to unravel when she is found dead.
The novel follows Fiona, as she watches her family from beyond and through a series of flashbacks.
As always, I have to say expect Audrain to focus heavily on the themes of motherhood and being a woman, and expect less from the thriller department. This book gripped me from the first page and didn’t let me go until the end. While a tad predictable, I enjoyed the ride as always.
Ashley Audrain writes it= I read it!
Audrain writes another compelling contemporary suspense novel, focusing on the complexities of motherhood. From the outside, Fiona seems like the perfect mother and wife, but all of that starts to unravel when she is found dead.
The novel follows Fiona, as she watches her family from beyond and through a series of flashbacks.
As always, I have to say expect Audrain to focus heavily on the themes of motherhood and being a woman, and expect less from the thriller department. This book gripped me from the first page and didn’t let me go until the end. While a tad predictable, I enjoyed the ride as always.
June 30, 2026
4.0 ⭐️
This was a fast-paced story that kept me guessing until (almost) the end. The characters were frustratingly real - I found myself loving and hating them for their flaws in equal measure. I felt like I had a new theory on what happened to Fiona after every few chapters, which of course made it impossible to put the book down. Some of the time jumps and POV changes were a little confusing since they weren’t always labeled, but I did love getting snippets from different parts of the characters’ lives. I absolutely loved The Push so I was truly honored to receive this as an ARC, thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity!
This was a fast-paced story that kept me guessing until (almost) the end. The characters were frustratingly real - I found myself loving and hating them for their flaws in equal measure. I felt like I had a new theory on what happened to Fiona after every few chapters, which of course made it impossible to put the book down. Some of the time jumps and POV changes were a little confusing since they weren’t always labeled, but I did love getting snippets from different parts of the characters’ lives. I absolutely loved The Push so I was truly honored to receive this as an ARC, thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for the opportunity!
September 16, 2026
“The Things You’ll Never Know” follows the ghost of a housewife as she watches her family deal with her sudden death. I loved Ashley Audrain’s last two novels — The Push was particularly impressive and handled really decliate topics like motherhood and child death with care and complexity. This book was super compelling and had me staying up far to late to finish it. I ended up reading it in one sitting. For 80% of the book I was rapt and so invested in the inevitable twist, but after I figured out exactly what happened it definitely lost its appeal. Still a fantastic read but I was hoping I would be on the edge of my seat until the very end. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for the arc in exchange for an honest review.
August 16, 2026
The Push made Ashley Audrain an auto buy author for me, so I was so excited to get an ARC of The Things You’ll Never Know.
This book took over my life for 24 hours. I had a day off and I used it well - the premise sucked me in immediately and I loved that style of POV, as well as the history of how each set of characters connections were formed and how they laid foundation for what was happening in the present.
Pacing was incredible. I was flying through the short chapters!
This was a solid 4.5 for me until the end. But honestly, I enjoyed the build up, the tension, and the back and forth so much, I feel like it was less about “who the killer was” and more about how we got there.
Thank you Net Galley for this ARC!
This book took over my life for 24 hours. I had a day off and I used it well - the premise sucked me in immediately and I loved that style of POV, as well as the history of how each set of characters connections were formed and how they laid foundation for what was happening in the present.
Pacing was incredible. I was flying through the short chapters!
This was a solid 4.5 for me until the end. But honestly, I enjoyed the build up, the tension, and the back and forth so much, I feel like it was less about “who the killer was” and more about how we got there.
Thank you Net Galley for this ARC!
August 8, 2026
Ashley Audrain has a freaking way with words, especially when it comes to storytelling about motherhood. While this was definitely depressing at times, I enjoyed it so much. To be fair, I did figure out the twist somewhat early on, but that didn't make me love it any less. I'm convinced nobody can tell the stories of mothers like Ashley Audrain can. 5 stars!
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for an ARC of this novel.
Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Penguin for an ARC of this novel.
July 25, 2026
This book was PHENOMENAL!! I read it in a little over 24 hours and I was hooked from the first chapter. It really kept me guessing until the very very end. So excited to receive this ARC from NetGalley, this book will definitely be popular!
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Compelling, emotional, and incredibly readable. This had the kind of tension that slowly gets under your skin, and I really enjoyed the way the story kept pulling me forward. A strong read that gave me plenty to think about afterward.
May 26, 2026
I think Ashley Audrain books should be read in the college freshman year. Being a woman is madness, and we do not get a realistic idea of how it will go beforehand. This book captures mid-life especially well, and I appreciate that the author gives Fiona some insight into her own life before she offs her. Thanks for that, Ashley!
eArc from NetGalkey
eArc from NetGalkey
August 11, 2026
No one does complicated motherhood like Ashley Audrain.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews