The Things You'll Never Know

by Ashley Audrain

"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?

Genres: Thriller, Mystery, Mystery Thriller, Fiction, Contemporary, Suspense, Adult

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication January 12, 2027

Reviews

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Have you ever stopped and wondered what your life is all about? You have a family, a home and everything you thought would make you happy, but sometimes you can still feel as though something is missing. As mothers, we worry about our children, our families and what will happen to the people we love when we’re no longer here. We spend so much of our lives worrying about everyone else, but how often do we stop and think about the things we might never truly know about the people closest to us?

The story opens with Fiona lying dead on the hallway floor, with her six-year-old son, Pepper, left unharmed. When her husband, Adam, and daughter, Astrid, arrive home, they discover the heartbreaking scene before them.

But Fiona hasn’t quite gone. She’s still there, watching as life carries on around her and her family tries to come to terms with what has happened. Through Fiona’s eyes, we begin to uncover the life she lived, the relationships she had and the things that perhaps weren’t quite as they seemed. Moving between the past and the present, Ashley Audrain gradually reveals more of Fiona’s story, leaving us to piece together what really happened.

I thought I had a good idea of where this story was going, but clearly, Ashley Audrain had other plans! I honestly did not see that ending coming. I love it when an author manages to catch me completely off guard, and this one certainly did.

I was drawn into this story from the beginning. The writing had me transfixed, and I found myself caught up in Fiona’s life and everything unfolding around her. There is so much here to make you think, particularly about motherhood, family and how well we really know the people we love. We all have parts of ourselves that we keep hidden, but what happens when the things left unsaid are the very things that change everything?

This book stirred up all sorts of emotions in me, and there were moments when I found myself quite teary. I think it’s the way Ashley Audrain explores the complicated side of family life that really got to me. Life isn’t always as straightforward as we might like to believe, and sometimes the people we think we know best can still surprise us.

I absolutely loved this one. The writing pulled me in, the story kept me thinking, and that ending completely caught me out. It’s one of those books where you reach the end and find yourself looking back at everything you’ve read in a different light. I finished it feeling emotional, surprised and so glad I’d picked it up.

Thank you, NetGalley, Michael Joseph, Penguin Random House, and Ashley Audrain for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Publishing date: January 14th, 2027

[shanayaa · Rating 3 out of 5]

—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.

[Emily May · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Jayme C (Brunetteslikebookstoo) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 ⭐️

What happened “THE WEEKEND FIONA DIED?”

Well, that is what we are reading to find out, but when I see the tag THRILLER, I expect a fast pace, excitement, sustained tension and unexpected plot twists-and I didn’t get much of that here. I was curious enough to want find out, but I found this to be a VERY SLOW BURN.

And, I can’t say that I was surprised by much.

Fiona’s husband Adam, has just returned home from a camping trip with their 15 year old daughter Astrid, on a weekend where Fiona had stayed behind with their youngest child, Pepper.

As the book opens, they have just found her on the hallway floor, with Pepper saying that Mommy has been asleep for awhile.

We hear directly from Fiona as she watches her family from beyond, as they discover the many things that she has been hiding-including a diary.

You can expect the UNVARNISHED TRUTH about how Fiona feels about MARRIAGE, BREASTFEEDING MOTHERHOOD and SEX-especially SEX as she seems to use intimacy as a way to feel accepted and worthy as she navigates marriage to a man who suffers from DEPRESSION and doesn’t often make her feel SEEN.

And, her relationships with her best friend, Leah and her estranged sister Nell, are complicated too.

We move between the PAST and the WEEKEND SHE DIED throughout the book, until we learn the TRUTH about what actually happened-one of only two things that DID end up surprising me.

The characters that Ashley Audrain writes feel authentic, and imperfect, the strengths of the book. Just don’t expect a fast pace. This is more of a character study of a woman, and a marriage-and neither one is always pretty.

A buddy read with DeAnn? Did she feel differently about this one? DO check out her review!

Expected Publication Date: January 12, 2027

Thank You to Pamela Dorman Books for the gifted copy provided through NetGalley. As always, these are my candid thoughts.

[Nilufer Ozmekik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness! I don't think I even have enough words in my vocabulary to properly express how much I loved this book. It begins with a shocking event and somehow manages to end with an even bigger shock. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I read something this gripping, emotionally devastating, and brilliantly crafted.

I've enjoyed Ashley Audrain's previous novels, but this one is on an entirely different level. It is absolutely phenomenal.

The characters feel astonishingly real—flawed, messy, frustrating, and completely human. Just when you think you've attached yourself to one character, a few chapters later they do something that makes you resent them, maybe even dislike them. Yet somehow you still understand them. Their emotions feel so authentic, like the way your spouse can drive you crazy, your sister can break your heart, or your best friend can say something that leaves you furious. These characters aren't simply written; they feel lived-in. They breathe on the page.

I actually waited longer than I wanted to start this book because my workload has been overwhelming lately, and I wanted to give it my full attention. But I kept thinking, "Maybe I'll just read a few pages." Well, that was a mistake—in the best possible way. Once I started, I couldn't put it down. This book was worth losing sleep over, worth the red eyes the next morning, worth functioning on far less rest than I should have. When you find a truly extraordinary book, you somehow create time to keep reading. Sleep becomes negotiable.

When I first read the blurb about Fiona—a massage therapist in her mid-forties who is found dead in her home after her husband returns from a camping trip while their young son Pepper sits nearby watching videos on his iPad—I assumed I was about to read a haunting story about a woman whose spirit lingers because of unfinished business. What I got instead was something far more powerful.

This is an emotionally rich work of women's fiction blended with a marriage drama and domestic mystery. It's a story about a family drowning in secrets.

Even as funeral preparations begin, Fiona's husband Adam receives a phone call revealing the truth about Fiona's death. Yet he keeps the information hidden from everyone. Why? Is he protecting the family? Protecting Fiona's memory? Protecting himself? The possibilities feel endless, and the mystery immediately sinks its hooks into you.

Every character carries their own burdens. Adam struggles with depression, professional setbacks, and the collapse of his marriage. Fiona's best friend Leah harbors a devastating secret dating back to their college years. Astrid, Fiona's teenage daughter, is secretly meeting someone and hiding truths of her own. And perhaps most heartbreaking of all, little Pepper knows far more about his mother's death than anyone realizes. Yet he remains silent because he promised his mother he would keep her secrets.

As Fiona's diary is discovered, a mysterious visitor appears at the family's door, and Fiona's estranged sister Nell begins digging deeper into the circumstances surrounding her death, layers of deception slowly peel away. The family members have been pretending for a very long time—not only to each other but also to themselves. As the truth emerges, so do the emotions they've buried: resentment, guilt, anger, heartbreak, regret, and grief. Watching these feelings explode onto the page is both painful and deeply satisfying.

Fiona is an exceptionally layered character. At different moments, you'll feel angry with her, heartbroken for her, and desperate to hug her. She's not always rational. She's deeply scarred by her past and often makes questionable choices. Yet she never stops feeling real.

The same can be said for every major character. Nell is trying to make up for being the sister she should have been. Adam is struggling to survive while carrying more pain than anyone realizes. Leah is consumed by guilt but continues doing everything she can to support the family. None of them are easy to love, yet all of them earn your empathy.

The structure is brilliantly executed. The timeline moves between the days surrounding Fiona's death, the past experiences of Fiona, Adam, Leah, and Nell, and the present-day aftermath. The shifting perspectives and timelines never feel confusing; instead, they gradually reveal the puzzle pieces exactly when you need them.

And that ending.

I genuinely screamed.

Ashley Audrain masterfully controls every reveal. The writing is impeccable. Every chapter deepens the mystery while simultaneously pulling at your heartstrings. The pacing is relentless, the emotional beats hit hard, and the revelations land with maximum impact.

I cannot adequately describe how much I enjoyed this book. The excitement I felt was the literary equivalent of screaming in a stadium packed with World Cup fans after a winning goal. That's how much I loved it.

Without hesitation, I wholeheartedly recommend this book. Clear your schedule, grab a copy, and prepare to lose sleep.

My deepest thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Viking / Pamela Dorman Books for providing me with an advance copy in exchange for my honest review. I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to read this remarkable novel.

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[Stephanie · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Rachel Hanes · Rating 4 out of 5]

After loving this author’s previous two novels, I could not wait to read this book! Once again, Ashley Audrain tackles motherhood, marriage, and what it takes to fully become yourself, to put yourself first and not have any regrets. Is living that way really possible, or does guilt consume a mother/wife/woman her whole life?

This story starts off with Fiona’s husband going away for the weekend on a camping trip. Her husband, Adam, is taking their teenage daughter, Astrid with him. Fiona is staying home with their six year old son, Pepper. However, when Adam and Astrid return home from their trip, Fiona is found dead on the floor. Pepper is unharmed, and doesn’t know what happened.

After authorities are called, and arrangements are made, we then get to watch Fiona watch her family move about and live as Fiona is dead. We also get flashbacks to twenty years prior when Fiona was in college, and also when her and Adam first met. Her daughter finds her diary, and we get details of her life leading up to her death.

Fiona’s sister, Nell, comes to stay and help out for a short time with her family. Her best friend Leah, is also there to help out with the children. Everyone close to Fiona seems to be keeping secrets, and it doesn’t seem as if we will ever get to the truth of what really happened to Fiona.

All of the characters in this story were deeply flawed, but yet so real. I might add they weren’t very likable either. I felt very strongly for Fiona, as she had to figure life out for herself. She also never knew how to put herself first, until she did…

I will say that this book started off super strong for me. I then felt that the final reveal/conclusion was very underwhelming- and ruined what could have been a five star read for me. Either way, I still recommend reading this book, and I will jump at the chance to read whatever Ashley Audrain writes next!
(3.5 stars-rounded up)

Many thanks to NetGalley, Pamela DormanBooks/Viking, and the author for an advanced DRC of this book in which I had the pleasure of reading, in exchange for an honest review.
Publication date: January 12, 2027

[Liana Gold]

A 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

[Ceecee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fiona is the devoted mother of Astrid and Pepper and wife to Adam. She's lying on the floor of their hall, helplessly staring at them, unable to communicate as her body is taken away by ambulance for the coroner to decide a cause of death. In the following days, she moves amongst them as her family and friend Leah become increasingly suspicious about her death. everyone appears to be hiding something and a discovery by Astrid reveals the depths of Fiona's own betrayal. this unsettling new novel from Asley Audrain explores a number of issues not least how flawed human beings can be, the traumas and difficulties endured, family and family dynamics, as well as friendship.

First of all, the outstanding feature of the novel is the characterisation. They all feel so real as do their emotions which are often raw. The standout character for me is little Pepper, what a beautiful soul who can be very insecure but he's a delight. The interactions within the family, with Leah, are so authentic with layers and muddy waters. The dynamics fluctuate, issues bubble to the surface which can make things messy but that's often the reality of family life. I love the concept of Fiona's "soul" lingering on after death, there's some suspension of belief but as a concept within the novel, it works very well. All the characters are carrying something, not least guilt, perhaps they're keeping parts of themselves back or keeping secrets which can have serious ramifications. It's a heart aching, heartbreaking novel which is very well told. The ending comes as a real shock but on reflection makes so much sense, with everything slotting into place.

Overall, it's a good, character driven domestic drama. The pace is steady but what unfolds is a source of fascination. It's a very realistic novel. which is told with care and empathy towards the characters.

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Penguin Michael Joseph for the much appreciated early copy in return for an honest review.

[Lynn Peterson · Rating 3.75 out of 5]

I wanted to absolutely love this book - b/c the premise . . . perfect! Fast-paced short chapters that I was instantly into . . . yes. And then about midway through it just seemed to bog down and I don't really know why? It felt like the same things over and over and over and the mystery of how she died and by whom . . . well it just didn't wow me since I kind of figured it out before the rest of the family did. But that doesn't take away the super fast way I read this book just to see if I was right. One of the things I really liked about this book is getting into Fiona's head about living with a spouse who suffers from depression - I mean that is really hard - and I can see why she was guessing and second-guessing everything and trying so hard to control what she could control.

Thank you to NetGalley, Ashley Audrain and Pamela Dorman Books for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest opinions. This publishes on Jan. 12, 2027.

[DeAnn · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

3.5 Motherhood Stars

This is my second book by author Ashley Audrain, and she tackles the complexities of motherhood very well. This book was a slow-burn read for me with a few surprise twists at the end.

Our main character is Fiona. She has two children, Pepper and Astrid. She and her husband Adam have had a rocky road lately. Adam has bouts of depression, and it affects all of them.

We know early on that Fiona is dead, but somehow, she remains present with her family. Is she a ghost? Some remnant of her consciousness stays to witness all the conversations in the house.

We get viewpoints from multiple characters, painting a fuller picture of the life that Fiona has left behind. We meet her best friend Leah, who may still have feelings for her husband Adam. We get insight from both children and from Adam himself. Astrid finds her mother’s diary, and by reading it, she learns about her mother’s state of mind.

Fiona’s sister Nell also comes to town and must deal with the fact that she wasn’t entirely truthful with Fiona.

There’s a bit of a mystery to unravel, but it's more a deep dive into motherhood, what women give up for their families, and what they gain. Fiona loved her children, perhaps at the expense of too much of herself. It’s all very complex, and I found her characters to be authentic. It also explores marriage and how that relationship can change over time.

We slowly learn the truth about the weekend Fiona died, and the book revisits it multiple times as it progresses. My guess about what happened was wrong!

This was a buddy read with Jayme, be sure to check out her review.

My thanks to Pamela Dorman Books for the opportunity to read and honestly review this one. Scheduled to release on 1.12.2027.

[Heather~ Nature.books.and.coffee · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[lily ♡ · Rating 1.5 out of 5]

**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!

[Kylee · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Mlpmom (Book Reviewer) · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

I'm not really sure where to begin with this. So many emotions. So heartbreaking, dark, sad, and yet, still filled with love. Love that a mother has for her children and for a mom that is anything but perfect. For the very real feeling, very real image that all of us are imperfect and make mistakes and have regrets.

So much happens. So much is said and so much is left unsaid.

I'm not sure this story has a villain, or better yet, maybe everything about it is villianous. Those lies we tell ourselves, the lies we tell each other and the facade we put on for others. The pressure we put on ourselves to be different. To be better, to be liked and loved by everyone.

This was wonderfully done and told in a very unique and refreshing way with a narrator that was as unreliable as she was human.

*ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

[Melissa Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[Mandy White (mandylovestoread) · Rating 4.25 out of 5]

A slow burning family drama more than thriller, but one that held my attention throughout. While ai did pick the ending, for the most part I enjoyed this book. I loved The Push by this author and the way she tells the story is great.

This story is told through the eyes of the mother and wife, Fiona. Only Fiona is dead. She stays in the house watching over her family as they come to terms with her sudden death. She was from the outside a doting mother, happy wife and loving her life. When her teenage daughter finds her diary, all of that changes and they learn things about Fiona that they could never have imagined.

It was a clever and unique way to tell this story. I didn’t particularly warm to any of the characters, except for maybe Pepper the son. They were all a little self centred and needy. I could have also done without the copious number of sex scenes, not my thing at all.

If you like messy families and secrets and drama then this book is for you

Thanks to Penguin Viking for the early copy of this book to read. Published on January 12th.

[Angela Staudt · Rating 2 out of 5]

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.

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ashley Audrain has done it again, but for me, The Things You’ll Never Know is her best novel yet.

The story follows Fiona, a woman whose sudden death leaves her family struggling to come to terms with what has happened. What makes the novel particularly intriguing, though, is that Fiona herself narrates much of the story after her death. I really enjoyed this unusual perspective. It gives the reader a fascinating insight into her thoughts, feelings and relationships, while also leaving us questioning just how much we can trust what we are being told.

On the surface, this is a psychological suspense novel, and there is certainly plenty here to keep you turning the pages and wondering where the story is heading. But, as with Audrain's previous novels, there is much more going on beneath the suspense. There is a strong literary fiction element that explores marriage, grief, love and the complicated relationships we have with the people closest to us.

I particularly liked the way Audrain explores the different forms these relationships can take — between parents and children, siblings and partners — and how grief can completely change the way we view those relationships. There are also some uncomfortable questions about marriage, motherhood, identity and the things people keep hidden from those they love.

What I think Audrain does particularly well is create characters who feel complicated and imperfect. Nobody is simply good or bad, and the further you get into the story, the more you find yourself questioning your assumptions about them.

This is a book that kept me intrigued throughout, not just because of the suspense, but because I genuinely wanted to understand Fiona and the people she had left behind. The combination of psychological suspense and thoughtful exploration of relationships worked brilliantly for me.

Having enjoyed Ashley Audrain's previous books, I was already expecting a lot from this one, but The Things You’ll Never Know exceeded those expectations. For me, this is her strongest novel yet.

[Michelle’s Library · Rating 5 out of 5]

Look, I don’t go into thrillers trying to figure out the ending so I really didn’t see the ending coming at all.

[Magen • Bone Chilling Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really don’t know how to form my thoughts around this book. It was SO raw, SO emotional, and SO captivating.

If you’re looking for a fast-paced book, you won’t find that in this book. Actually, you won’t find that in any of Ashley’s books. Instead, you’ll find an extremely tension-filled literary slow-burn thriller that keeps you on the edge of your seat. I don’t know how she does it, but she does in not only this book but all of her books.

And the plot twists aren’t these types of in-your-face-coming-out-of-nowhere twists. These are subtle yet shocking and disturbing enough for you to gasp audibly, reread the sentence another two times, look away eyes wide, return back to the book and shake your head in disbelief.

Holy cow, I LOVED this book. For sure one of my top favorites. THE PUSH is an all-time favorite and this one might even match that one. It’s one of those books where as soon as I closed it I was like damn, I wish I could erase this book from my memory just so I could turn around and read it again “for the first time.”

Brilliant and visceral!!! I cannot wait for more readers to discover this book!

BRAVO, ASHLEY! You did it again. Please, please don’t stop writing novels. PLEASE!

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a unique way of telling the story, from Fiona's perspective, who has just died but can still see her family in her home.
One day the family arrive home to find her on the floor in the hallway and realise she is dead. In the days following, we see the children and the husband, the friends and her sister and their responses. The suspicions around her death come to light, the diary, the mysterious visitor and the secrets that all of them seem to have buried. This explored motherhood, marriage and friendships and as promised, it was quite thought provoking. While the characters were not all likeable, it was so entertaining and another thoroughly enjoyable novel by the author.

Thank you to NetGalley and Viking Books for this gifted review copy.

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It centers on Fiona, a wife and mom who dies but can still see what is going on in the aftermath. The story is so much more than that, though, as it also delves into the lives of Fiona and her family and friends over the previous couple decades to demonstrate the current dynamic.

The storyline was interesting and jumped around enough in timeline to keep me reading one more chapter. I wouldn’t say any of the primary characters are particularly likable but I felt like I could empathize with where they were coming from even if I wouldn’t have responded in the same way. I thought the ending was absolutely heartbreaking and not at all what I expected to happen. I have a feeling it will stick with me for a while.

Overall, I enjoyed the read and felt that it stood out in the domestic suspense genre. Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Jenny (Readingwhilemynailsdry) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody writes complicated, messy, slightly unhinged characters quite like Ashley Audrain!!

To say I was excited to be approved for this one would be a gross understatement! She's one of those authors whose books I'll always want to read.

The Things You'll Never Know grabbed me within the first few pages and did not let go. The mystery surrounding Fiona's death had me wanting to piece together what really happened, and as secrets began to surface, I was never entirely sure where the story was heading.

The characters are unique and complicated. You never quite know what they're up to, and that's part of the appeal. She has a knack for getting inside people's heads and exploring the thoughts and feelings we'd rather not talk about.

It's the complicated nature of relationships that makes it so interesting. There's love above all, of course, but also resentment, doubts and frustrations. Audrain explores uncomfortable thoughts we might never admit to having and somehow makes them feel believable, even when you're sitting there thinking, How could they possibly think that? followed by a slightly uncomfortable …but maybe?

I did have my suspicions about what might have happened, but I wouldn't say it was predictable. There were several directions the story could have taken, so I was never entirely sure where it was heading, and I enjoyed that. It was a wild ride, and I was happy to go along for it.

Having read Audrain's previous two, The Push and The Whispers, I love how each book explores different aspects of human relationships. The Push delved into the darker side of motherhood, while The Whispers leaned more into drama and relationships. This one brings that same raw honesty to the complicated relationships we have with our children, our partners, our friends and, ultimately, ourselves. It's that willingness to explore the messy, uncomfortable truths that keeps me coming back for more!

If you enjoy a compelling mystery, complicated characters and messy relationships, I'd definitely recommend this one.

Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House Canada for the eARC!

[Jeanie ~ Fables.and.fur · Rating 5 out of 5]

When her daughter and husband return home after an evening away, they find Fiona dead. Fiona was a mother to a teen and a six year old. A wife to Adam. What happened to Fiona? Her family is left to piece that together, but Fiona’s spirit remains to tell the reader what actually occurred.

This is a slow burn mystery/thriller that takes its time to tell the story of these flawed people and their secrets. It’s told in timelines of before and after Fiona’s death. When her daughter finds her diary, there is a particularly well written portion devoted to the complicated relationships between mothers and daughters.

I’ve enjoyed every book by this author and this one is intense and suspenseful with an absolutely bone chilling conclusion. Expected publication date is January 12, 2027.

[Anusha · Rating 4.5 out of 5]

Ashley Audrain continues to write amazing books. The suspense and raw emotion in this book is so striking Everyone really does suck here but each revelation keeps you guessing. The ending was a bit unresolved and lackluster but doesn't take away from the impactful journey.

[Corinne Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Mainlinebooker · Rating 3.5 out of 5]

Having been impressed by Ashley Audrain’s The Push, I approached her latest novel, The Things You’ll Never Know, with considerable anticipation. Audrain has demonstrated a remarkable ability to penetrate the darker recesses of domestic life, exposing the unsettling tensions that exist beneath the seemingly ordinary rhythms of marriage and motherhood. In this novel, however, she ventures into decidedly different territory, incorporating elements of the supernatural into a psychological exploration of familial dysfunction, buried secrets, and the elusive nature of truth. Unfortunately, while the premise is intriguing and the thematic possibilities considerable, I found the execution far less compelling than I had hoped.

The novel opens with a chilling discovery. A husband returns from an overnight camping trip with his daughter to find his wife dead and their young son alone in the house. Rather than allowing death to silence its central character, Audrain employs an unusual narrative device: the deceased wife remains a spectral presence, hovering over her family, observing their behavior, revisiting her own history, and offering commentary on the relationships and betrayals that shaped her life. Through this disembodied perspective, the reader is gradually introduced to a labyrinth of secrets involving her husband, her closest friend, and her sister. When her daughter discovers her mother's sexually explicit diary, yet another layer of concealed desires, emotional transgressions, and uncomfortable revelations emerges, further complicating an already tangled web of relationships.

There is undeniably fertile psychological ground here. Audrain raises provocative questions about the contradictions inherent in motherhood, the tension between maternal devotion and individual desire, and the extent to which intimacy depends upon carefully maintained illusions. How completely can we ever know the people with whom we share our lives? What remains hidden beneath the roles of wife, mother, sister, and friend? And how much of what we call love is sustained by selective disclosure, self-deception, or the deliberate suppression of inconvenient truths? These are questions worthy of serious literary examination, and one can readily imagine the spirited discussions they might generate in a book club.

Yet, for all its thematic ambition, the novel never achieved the emotional or psychological resonance I had anticipated. The supernatural framework, rather than deepening my understanding of the characters, created a distance between me and their experiences. I found myself unable to surrender to the central conceit of a dead woman functioning as both omnipresent observer and retrospective commentator. What might have been an inventive exploration of memory, guilt, and the unknowability of others instead became, for me, a narrative device that strained credibility without offering sufficient emotional compensation. The proliferation of secrets and revelations added complexity, but complexity alone does not necessarily confer depth. Too often, I felt I was being invited to unravel an elaborate construction rather than becoming genuinely invested in the people inhabiting it.

Perhaps my greatest disappointment was the absence of that visceral engagement which distinguishes an absorbing psychological novel from one that is merely intellectually provocative. I could appreciate what Audrain was attempting without feeling particularly moved by what she accomplished. The novel certainly has its moments of intrigue, and its unexpected conclusion delivers a genuinely surprising jolt, compelling the reader to reconsider aspects of the preceding narrative. Nevertheless, a clever ending cannot entirely redeem a story whose underlying structure has failed to persuade.

Ultimately, The Things You’ll Never Know struck me as a novel more compelling in conception than in execution. Its examination of motherhood, desire, betrayal, and the secrets that permeate even our most intimate relationships offers considerable material for reflection. But literary ambition must be matched by emotional authenticity, and for me, that essential connection was missing. I closed the book impressed by the audacity of its premise and surprised by its conclusion, but curiously unmoved by the journey between them. A disappointing 3.5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

[Jen W · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Elyrria · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Things You'll Never Know is a character deep-dive into a marriage that is falling apart and all the little things that have led up to a tragic accident. The book features slow-burn character development, flashbacks, and the lies and secrets that even the closest people to you can hide for years. The deep dread of not knowing who you are really married to makes this a solid domestic thriller, and the book takes it a little further by exploring the impacts of poor mental health.

To make this a full five stars, I would have wanted a twistier ending with a bigger conspiracy plot device to thread the long narrative together. It wasn't bad, but I guess I just wanted something with a little more motivation behind it. I also wanted more background on the therapist character, which would have added more to the "why" of it all. I know people sometimes do things just because, and it's about rote animal attraction, but it would have been fun to see more than that from that one character. The themes of motherhood and the hardships of navigating gendered expectations on one's own stood out as the most prevailing and meaningful underpinnings of the book.

Overall, if you like thrillers with a lot of time spent explaining how-we-got-here and look-how-things-always-end-in-messy-human-relationships, then you will love this book. Thank you to the publishers at NetGalley and Pamela Dorman Books for sending me an e-ARC for early review. I was thoroughly entertained, especially by Leah's character.