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Things We Never Said #1
Things We Never Said
“One day, we’ll be dead, and we still won’t have known each other. Not properly. Because no one ever does.”
When Catherine learns that she is dying, she remembers the words her husband once jokingly uttered and decides to leave him the ultimate, posthumous gift: a time capsule containing photographs of their life together along with tape recordings in which she recounts every secret she ever kept, every unspoken thought whether loving or treacherous; the things they never said.
Catherine’s recordings shake up many of Sean’s beliefs, sometimes enraging him and other times soothing with memories of the many joys that make up a life together.
But even as the tapes provide an emotional roller coaster of surprises, Sean prays that they’ll confirm the one thing he always secretly believed but never dared say out loud: that destiny exists; that their life together was not the result of mere chance.
When Catherine learns that she is dying, she remembers the words her husband once jokingly uttered and decides to leave him the ultimate, posthumous gift: a time capsule containing photographs of their life together along with tape recordings in which she recounts every secret she ever kept, every unspoken thought whether loving or treacherous; the things they never said.
Catherine’s recordings shake up many of Sean’s beliefs, sometimes enraging him and other times soothing with memories of the many joys that make up a life together.
But even as the tapes provide an emotional roller coaster of surprises, Sean prays that they’ll confirm the one thing he always secretly believed but never dared say out loud: that destiny exists; that their life together was not the result of mere chance.
291 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 21, 2017
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About the author
Nick Alexander
32 books665 followersMy novels:
A Little Bit of Sunshine (2026)
Where Do We Go From Here (2025)
The Imperfection of Us (2023)
Perfectly Ordinary People (2022)
From Something Old (2021)
The Road to Zoe (2020)
You Then, Me Now (2019)
Things We Never Said (2017)
The Bottle of Tears (2016) (also published as Let the Light Shine).
The Other Son (2015)
The Photographer's Wife (2014)
Two novels featuring Hannah:
- The Half-Life of Hannah.
- Other Halves (Dec 2013)
Two novels featuring CC:
- The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend
- The French House (May 2013)
The Fifty Reasons Series, following the life of lovelorn Mark
- 50 Reasons to Say Goodbye
- Sottopassaggio
- Good Thing, Bad Thing
- Better Than Easy
- Sleight Of Hand
And the standalone novel
- 13:55 Eastern Standard Time
The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend, The French House, and The Half-Life of Hannah have all been huge kindle hits, reaching number #1 in Amazon's kindle chart.
I live in the southern French Alps with three mogs (Mangui, Pastel & Pedro) and a very special ferret.
A Little Bit of Sunshine (2026)
Where Do We Go From Here (2025)
The Imperfection of Us (2023)
Perfectly Ordinary People (2022)
From Something Old (2021)
The Road to Zoe (2020)
You Then, Me Now (2019)
Things We Never Said (2017)
The Bottle of Tears (2016) (also published as Let the Light Shine).
The Other Son (2015)
The Photographer's Wife (2014)
Two novels featuring Hannah:
- The Half-Life of Hannah.
- Other Halves (Dec 2013)
Two novels featuring CC:
- The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend
- The French House (May 2013)
The Fifty Reasons Series, following the life of lovelorn Mark
- 50 Reasons to Say Goodbye
- Sottopassaggio
- Good Thing, Bad Thing
- Better Than Easy
- Sleight Of Hand
And the standalone novel
- 13:55 Eastern Standard Time
The Case Of The Missing Boyfriend, The French House, and The Half-Life of Hannah have all been huge kindle hits, reaching number #1 in Amazon's kindle chart.
I live in the southern French Alps with three mogs (Mangui, Pastel & Pedro) and a very special ferret.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 560 reviews
June 18, 2020
After a promising start, this book fell away quickly and after around halfway I just completely ran out of puff.
Things We Never Said by Nick Alexander is a story about a wife who leaves her husband a box of voice recordings and photos for him to experience after her death - from cancer. A post-humous story of their marriage, from her perspective with some secrets thrown in.
The concept sounded half-interesting to me, so I enjoyed the first 3 or 4 chapters, after that, it became a very, very tedious read. The characters were totally underdeveloped. I had no affinity for them at all, not even with the cancer patient!! That topic usually piques my interest.
The swapping from the recording to the photo description to the husband's life after his wife's death was very disjointed. I just couldn't get into a rhythm.
I usually like Nick Alexander's work - not this one.
1 Star
Things We Never Said by Nick Alexander is a story about a wife who leaves her husband a box of voice recordings and photos for him to experience after her death - from cancer. A post-humous story of their marriage, from her perspective with some secrets thrown in.
The concept sounded half-interesting to me, so I enjoyed the first 3 or 4 chapters, after that, it became a very, very tedious read. The characters were totally underdeveloped. I had no affinity for them at all, not even with the cancer patient!! That topic usually piques my interest.
The swapping from the recording to the photo description to the husband's life after his wife's death was very disjointed. I just couldn't get into a rhythm.
I usually like Nick Alexander's work - not this one.
1 Star
December 12, 2019
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Things We Never Said by Nick Alexander. (2017).
Catherine was the love of Sean's life but now she is gone. She left behind a box of envelopes, each containing a picture and a cassette tape. Through a series of recordings, Catherine shares their long love story but is it the same story Sean knows? Catherine speaks with love but also reveals unspoken thoughts and secrets she kept from her husband; secrets that will rock Sean to the core. As disconcerting as the tapes are, Sean is hoping that they will confirm that destiny exists and that he and Catherine were meant to share their love and lives...
So I've come to the party for this book a little late but that's ok haha. What a bittersweet story. I was in genuine tears by a couple chapters in, just the thought of losing your beloved spouse/parent is horrific. It's amazing that the cassette tapes were such a gift from the grave and yet also heartbreaking because Catherine reveals thoughts that were hurtful to both her and Sean and yet it's not like Sean has the opportunity to discuss it with her now that she's dead. I think the narrative cleverly demonstrated that even in a long term relationship, partners experience the same things differently and we often don't know what's going on in our partner's mind. The story was fairly slow paced but I think it worked in this book for the circumstances. I quite enjoyed this one and would happily recommend.
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Things We Never Said by Nick Alexander. (2017).
Catherine was the love of Sean's life but now she is gone. She left behind a box of envelopes, each containing a picture and a cassette tape. Through a series of recordings, Catherine shares their long love story but is it the same story Sean knows? Catherine speaks with love but also reveals unspoken thoughts and secrets she kept from her husband; secrets that will rock Sean to the core. As disconcerting as the tapes are, Sean is hoping that they will confirm that destiny exists and that he and Catherine were meant to share their love and lives...
So I've come to the party for this book a little late but that's ok haha. What a bittersweet story. I was in genuine tears by a couple chapters in, just the thought of losing your beloved spouse/parent is horrific. It's amazing that the cassette tapes were such a gift from the grave and yet also heartbreaking because Catherine reveals thoughts that were hurtful to both her and Sean and yet it's not like Sean has the opportunity to discuss it with her now that she's dead. I think the narrative cleverly demonstrated that even in a long term relationship, partners experience the same things differently and we often don't know what's going on in our partner's mind. The story was fairly slow paced but I think it worked in this book for the circumstances. I quite enjoyed this one and would happily recommend.
November 26, 2018
***Note: I received a copy curtesy of Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK in exchange for an honest review.
This is the story of Catherine and Sean, told from two PoVs: one is Catherine's, who recently died of cancer and left pictures and recordings for her husband, revealing some of her silent thoughts and feelings, the other is Sean's memories and impressions regarding this one-sided communication and how he comes to terms with his wife's death.
This is the story of Catherine and Sean, told from two PoVs: one is Catherine's, who recently died of cancer and left pictures and recordings for her husband, revealing some of her silent thoughts and feelings, the other is Sean's memories and impressions regarding this one-sided communication and how he comes to terms with his wife's death.
I told my daughter I want my headstone to offer free Wi-Fi, so they’ll come and visit me more often.’It's clearly not an action packed novel, the twists are somehow expected, but it's heartful and emotional. As a conclusion, it reads easy and fast, it has lots of funny moments and is quite enjoyable.
‘So Ronan’s going to work and look after a newborn baby?’ Sean asks, once they have placed the armchair next to the sofa. ‘I know. Don’t you think we’re terribly modern?’ Sean laughs. ‘Modern wasn’t the word that came to mind,’ he says. ‘I was thinking more along the lines of optimistic.’
And don’t even get me started on how many times you did it. I can count those on two fingers.’ He joins finger and thumb to form a zero.
He’s big for his age. He’s going to be an American basketball player, I think.’ ‘You mean he’s going to be black?’ Sean asks facetiously.
April 26, 2019
I found this book to be a bit pointless.
Written similarly to 13 reasons why, and p.s. I love you, I was expecting something more;whether it was more excitement and drama, heartbreak and tragedy or a more heartfelt, beautiful love story and unfortunately I got neither.
Apart from the underlying theme of "talk about your concerns, problems, thoughts and feelings" with your partner, I found it a bit rude and cowardly what the wife did. Why would you wait to tell horrible secrets about your past when you cant be there to take the brunt of anger and pain from the person you supposedly love most in the world. Also, why would you want to hurt them like that while they are also dealing with the pain of losing you. It's very selfish, very cruel and very very cowardly, especially when she would make a statement that changes the husbands entire life,only to back track on it a month or so later. Why put him through that if it went nowhere.
I feel like the author chucked in every dramatic secret he thinks a marriage could have in order to give the tapes meaning and the story drama, but unfortunately it didnt work.
Written similarly to 13 reasons why, and p.s. I love you, I was expecting something more;whether it was more excitement and drama, heartbreak and tragedy or a more heartfelt, beautiful love story and unfortunately I got neither.
Apart from the underlying theme of "talk about your concerns, problems, thoughts and feelings" with your partner, I found it a bit rude and cowardly what the wife did. Why would you wait to tell horrible secrets about your past when you cant be there to take the brunt of anger and pain from the person you supposedly love most in the world. Also, why would you want to hurt them like that while they are also dealing with the pain of losing you. It's very selfish, very cruel and very very cowardly, especially when she would make a statement that changes the husbands entire life,only to back track on it a month or so later. Why put him through that if it went nowhere.
I feel like the author chucked in every dramatic secret he thinks a marriage could have in order to give the tapes meaning and the story drama, but unfortunately it didnt work.
March 13, 2018
Unfortunately, this book just wasn't for me. I found most of the characters irritating - Sean was a wet blanket whilst Catherine came across as cowardly and intensely dislikeable. I found their depicted relationship odd - they seemingly never trusted one another or spoke about anything, which just didn't feel believable to me. I agree with some previous reviews - who discloses some of these things after passing? And the way she spoke in these recordings just didn't feel real. Though I do disagree with some other reviews - I didn't mind the references to Brexit and did not think it was over referenced.
Overall, I just found this book quite stilted and slow to read - slightly redeemed nearer end, but this only motivated me to rate as a 2 rather than 1. The actual ending with April having her baby was more moving, but the very end was twee and far too convenient.
Overall, I just found this book quite stilted and slow to read - slightly redeemed nearer end, but this only motivated me to rate as a 2 rather than 1. The actual ending with April having her baby was more moving, but the very end was twee and far too convenient.
November 13, 2017
The book opens with the prologue at the aftermath of Catherine's funeral. It is a little bit sad but it is a good opportunity for the reader to be introduced to the main characters – Sean, April and Maggie. After everyone has left the wake, Sean, now a widower, is visited by his neighbour and friend, Maggie, just to check on him and also leave him a simply wrapped cardboard box. Sean later opens the box to find that Catherine has left him twenty-nine numbered envelopes, each containing a photograph and a cassette recording of her memories of the time the photograph was taken. The first instructs him to open the envelopes at weekly intervals.
The chapters of the book start with a short description of each photograph of the weekly opened envelopes, and then the verbal contents of the cassette which Catherine recorded during her final weeks in hospital. We go back to the beginning of Catherine and Sean's relationship when they first met at a fairground and hear from Catherine her first hand impression of meeting Sean. The following chapters give milestone markers of their marriage, the birth of their daughter, April, and various parties and workplace memories – some of which even Sean had forgotten about.
I thought this was a very clever, if not quite unique, way of telling the story of an, at times, troubled marriage through snapshots of memory. Although the premise sounds depressing, it has very uplifting and amusing moments. It is written with emotion and sensitivity and also shows how father and daughter come to terms with the loss of wife and mother in different ways. I am ashamed to say that this is the first book by Nick Alexander I have read, but it won't be the last.
The chapters of the book start with a short description of each photograph of the weekly opened envelopes, and then the verbal contents of the cassette which Catherine recorded during her final weeks in hospital. We go back to the beginning of Catherine and Sean's relationship when they first met at a fairground and hear from Catherine her first hand impression of meeting Sean. The following chapters give milestone markers of their marriage, the birth of their daughter, April, and various parties and workplace memories – some of which even Sean had forgotten about.
I thought this was a very clever, if not quite unique, way of telling the story of an, at times, troubled marriage through snapshots of memory. Although the premise sounds depressing, it has very uplifting and amusing moments. It is written with emotion and sensitivity and also shows how father and daughter come to terms with the loss of wife and mother in different ways. I am ashamed to say that this is the first book by Nick Alexander I have read, but it won't be the last.
September 16, 2018
I really expected to like this book; however, it was such a disappointment. Catherine and Sean apparently never spoke with each other. Catherine leaves behind 29 cassettes for Sean to read once a week after she's dead. Instead, she comes off as mean, exposing painful secrets that appear cruel to me. I guess this book wasn't for me.
September 26, 2019
Me ha encantado. Conocí a este autor con su novela «El otro hijo», que me gustó muchísimo a pesar de ser un poco amarga en su trama. Y eso mismo me he encontrado en esta historia, la de un hombre que acaba de quedarse viudo poco después de cumplir los cincuenta, y que recibe de su mujer 29 cintas y 29 fotos que cuentan la historia de sus vidas. No todo lo que hablan es bonito (son esas cosas que, como dice el título, en vida no se dijeron), pero sí es real, muy real.
January 18, 2018
I’ve really lost my reading mojo lately (mainly thanks to noisy building work in the house). I needed something which hooked me from the start to get me back into it. This did the job nicely. Given the subject manner it wasn’t actually depressing at all, though the end of ‘the tapes’ was certainly thought provoking **
Parts were predictable but on the whole, a well written good read.
** ‘Live every minute of your life as if the minutes were in limited supply. Because one day, like me, you’ll find out that they really were’
Parts were predictable but on the whole, a well written good read.
** ‘Live every minute of your life as if the minutes were in limited supply. Because one day, like me, you’ll find out that they really were’
August 10, 2018
3.5 stars to Nick Alexander’s ‘Things We Never Said’
🌟🌟🌟.5
A nice, easy read. Set just after the death of Sean’s wife, Catherine, he discovers that she has made a series of tapes for him to play after her death. Taking you up to 8 months later, he plays each tape every week and Catherine talks through the major events in their relationship from her perspective.
It’s a very similar format to ‘PS, I Love You’ and ‘13 Reasons Why’, in fact it’s pretty much exactly the same. There are a few revelations, nothing hugely shocking, but it’s still fun to read along. The characters are very believable and well rounded and it’s fairly fun to find out more about them.
🌟🌟🌟.5
A nice, easy read. Set just after the death of Sean’s wife, Catherine, he discovers that she has made a series of tapes for him to play after her death. Taking you up to 8 months later, he plays each tape every week and Catherine talks through the major events in their relationship from her perspective.
It’s a very similar format to ‘PS, I Love You’ and ‘13 Reasons Why’, in fact it’s pretty much exactly the same. There are a few revelations, nothing hugely shocking, but it’s still fun to read along. The characters are very believable and well rounded and it’s fairly fun to find out more about them.
September 6, 2022
okay so the thing with this book is the idea was there it was captivating, creative and intriguing yet little things made it hard to overlook and disregard on my behalf. I don't know what the author means by them or if he was just giving a character opinions and his/her own personality but it felt like the authors own morals, ideologies, religion and thoughts about this world were seeping through every character in the book which was very annoying. Don't get me wrong I respect every ones view on life but I would prefer it if he did it in a non-fiction separate book, just not in a "supposed fun light fiction read". I would also not mind if his views weren't so "Trendy" and he had actual views of his own.
These are examples of things in the book which were just blandly rude in my humble opinion:
- When Sean (main character) suggests to Maggie (his friend) to travel to Dubai or Saudi Arabia she responds with: "Oh wait let me get my burrqa out"
- I don't know how but every worker in the book wasn't living up to the expectations of the characters the Apple Store worker "acted like a genius" and seemed smug to Sean and Maggie, the Pakistani worker at the gas station sexually harassed Catherine (Sean's wife), and The French worker who yelled at Sean and Catherine for not drinking wine correctly. While I do understand these things happen they weren't written in a way that felt subtle and real, it felt more like the author just doesn't resonate with low-paid workers.
These are examples of things in the book which were just blandly rude in my humble opinion:
- When Sean (main character) suggests to Maggie (his friend) to travel to Dubai or Saudi Arabia she responds with: "Oh wait let me get my burrqa out"
- I don't know how but every worker in the book wasn't living up to the expectations of the characters the Apple Store worker "acted like a genius" and seemed smug to Sean and Maggie, the Pakistani worker at the gas station sexually harassed Catherine (Sean's wife), and The French worker who yelled at Sean and Catherine for not drinking wine correctly. While I do understand these things happen they weren't written in a way that felt subtle and real, it felt more like the author just doesn't resonate with low-paid workers.
August 24, 2018
There is something about this author's writing style that just feels so comfortable to me. It also helps that he does tell a good tale too. Oh and he writes some of the best characters that are really easy for me to connect with emotionally.
In this book, we start with a funeral. Wife, mother and friend Catherine has died leaving Sean, April and Maggie mourning for her. In the day that follow, as everyone is slowly coming to terms with their loss, Maggie visits Sean and hands him a package. On opening it, Sean discovers 29 numbered envelopes with instructions in the first to open the rest one a week. In the first there's also a photograph and a cassette, recorded last, practically on her deathbed, Catherine explains what she is doing. And so begins a trip down memory lane and voyage of discovery for Sean as the subsequent tapes charter their lives together, some he knows and some he has yet to find out.
Oh my days, I devoured this book in just a few sittings. It tugged at my emotions, all of them, happy and sad. I followed Sean as he found things out and how some of these revelations spilled over into his present day life. At the same time, Maggie and April, oblivious to what Sean was doing, were also trying to come to terms with their loss. Yes, of course some of the things that happened in the book were a little predictable but there was definitely enough along the way to keep my interest completely, making it very hard to put down.
As already mentioned, this book hit me emotionally. But I was a willing participant, gladly investing those emotions and indeed my time in these characters. I wanted to read more, I wanted to get to know them better, I wanted them to... well, you'll just have to read the book for that to be revealed.
I sniggered, I laughed, I cried, happy tears and big, ugly ones. I felt for them every step of the way and, by the time I had finished, I was a bit of a wreck. But I was satisfied and that's what matters to me at the end of the day. I'm already a bit of a fan of this author having read everything he has published to date and with every book he never ceases to amaze me with his storytelling. Roll on the next one, hope it's not too long in coming.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
In this book, we start with a funeral. Wife, mother and friend Catherine has died leaving Sean, April and Maggie mourning for her. In the day that follow, as everyone is slowly coming to terms with their loss, Maggie visits Sean and hands him a package. On opening it, Sean discovers 29 numbered envelopes with instructions in the first to open the rest one a week. In the first there's also a photograph and a cassette, recorded last, practically on her deathbed, Catherine explains what she is doing. And so begins a trip down memory lane and voyage of discovery for Sean as the subsequent tapes charter their lives together, some he knows and some he has yet to find out.
Oh my days, I devoured this book in just a few sittings. It tugged at my emotions, all of them, happy and sad. I followed Sean as he found things out and how some of these revelations spilled over into his present day life. At the same time, Maggie and April, oblivious to what Sean was doing, were also trying to come to terms with their loss. Yes, of course some of the things that happened in the book were a little predictable but there was definitely enough along the way to keep my interest completely, making it very hard to put down.
As already mentioned, this book hit me emotionally. But I was a willing participant, gladly investing those emotions and indeed my time in these characters. I wanted to read more, I wanted to get to know them better, I wanted them to... well, you'll just have to read the book for that to be revealed.
I sniggered, I laughed, I cried, happy tears and big, ugly ones. I felt for them every step of the way and, by the time I had finished, I was a bit of a wreck. But I was satisfied and that's what matters to me at the end of the day. I'm already a bit of a fan of this author having read everything he has published to date and with every book he never ceases to amaze me with his storytelling. Roll on the next one, hope it's not too long in coming.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
September 25, 2017
I am a huge fan of Nick Alexander's books and had to move this one to the top of my tbr pile on publication day! I absolutely loved this one, as I have loved all his books. He has the knack of writing so eloquently about families and relationships that makes you lose yourself in the story.
Sean has lost his wife Catherine to cancer, and she has left him a box containing voice messages and photographs for him to open, one a week, over 29 weeks. These reveal her thoughts and experiences of their life together, beginning when they met as teenagers until she was aware her life was ebbing away as her illness took over. The description of her sensing the shadows drawing her into them, and away from the path of pain she was in, was so evocative and absolutely heartbreaking.
I could so identify with life in the early 80s when Catherine and Sean met, the music, the smoking, the styles, and the fiery sense of injustice and eagerness to protest was so familiar! As the story progresses, the title of the book becomes clearer, if only Sean and Catherine had actually voiced their worries and feelings during the course of the marriage, perhaps they would have had an easier time.
This is a wonderful book, I absolutely loved it.
Sean has lost his wife Catherine to cancer, and she has left him a box containing voice messages and photographs for him to open, one a week, over 29 weeks. These reveal her thoughts and experiences of their life together, beginning when they met as teenagers until she was aware her life was ebbing away as her illness took over. The description of her sensing the shadows drawing her into them, and away from the path of pain she was in, was so evocative and absolutely heartbreaking.
I could so identify with life in the early 80s when Catherine and Sean met, the music, the smoking, the styles, and the fiery sense of injustice and eagerness to protest was so familiar! As the story progresses, the title of the book becomes clearer, if only Sean and Catherine had actually voiced their worries and feelings during the course of the marriage, perhaps they would have had an easier time.
This is a wonderful book, I absolutely loved it.
April 4, 2018
I have yet to read a book by Nick Alexander that I haven’t loved – and this is another one to add to that list.
The loss of his wife is obviously a terrible time for Sean and he clings onto the series of photographs and recorded messages Catherine left for him, recalling their life together from the very day the met. We also get to see how Sean slowly begins to pick up the pieces and rebuild his life, and how he feels about the wonderful memories and sometimes shocking or surprising revelations that Catherine shares.
I found this a wonderful, gentle read, with characters who really speak to you and a situation that pulls at the heart.
I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too! So why not grab yourself a copy now:
The loss of his wife is obviously a terrible time for Sean and he clings onto the series of photographs and recorded messages Catherine left for him, recalling their life together from the very day the met. We also get to see how Sean slowly begins to pick up the pieces and rebuild his life, and how he feels about the wonderful memories and sometimes shocking or surprising revelations that Catherine shares.
I found this a wonderful, gentle read, with characters who really speak to you and a situation that pulls at the heart.
I really enjoyed this book and I think you will too! So why not grab yourself a copy now:
May 3, 2018
This is a 3 to 4 star for me. Sean Patrick’s wife has sadly died and has left him a tape a week for 29 weeks accompanied by a picture. I thought this book was conceptually good but its execution was somewhat laboured. There are some dull and unnecessary conversations with his daughter or his friend Maggie which I didn’t think added anything to the story. However, I did like the sections where Sean’s wife (Cathy) tells her story and that helped to overcome the negatives.
June 26, 2018
This book is written in the form of voice recordings from the main character's late wife. It is this that propels you forward - what's in the next tape? But overall, it turns out that the answer is "meh, not much."
July 14, 2019
3,5 🌟
Quando saiu fiquei super empolgada com este livro mas não atingiu as minhas expectativas. É um livro soft de leitura fácil mas não me cativou muito.
Este livro baseia-se na história de Catherine ,Sean e da sua filha April . Tudo começa quando Catherine morre de cancro e deixa ao marido uma caixa com uma série de envelopes , cada um com uma foto e uma cassete gravada por si a contar o que pensava na altura quanto às situações.
E depois tem a opinião do que o Sean pensava na altura da foto e o que interpreta no presente. Ao longo do livro vamos descobrir algumas coisas e até o próprio Sean já não vai recordar a mulher da mesma forma.
A grande lição deste livro é que nunca conhecemos ninguém verdadeiramente e que todos nós omitimos muita coisa até aos que amamos.
Quando saiu fiquei super empolgada com este livro mas não atingiu as minhas expectativas. É um livro soft de leitura fácil mas não me cativou muito.
Este livro baseia-se na história de Catherine ,Sean e da sua filha April . Tudo começa quando Catherine morre de cancro e deixa ao marido uma caixa com uma série de envelopes , cada um com uma foto e uma cassete gravada por si a contar o que pensava na altura quanto às situações.
E depois tem a opinião do que o Sean pensava na altura da foto e o que interpreta no presente. Ao longo do livro vamos descobrir algumas coisas e até o próprio Sean já não vai recordar a mulher da mesma forma.
A grande lição deste livro é que nunca conhecemos ninguém verdadeiramente e que todos nós omitimos muita coisa até aos que amamos.
August 8, 2018
Thanks to Amazon Publishing UK for the ARC!
Wow! This was sad, beautiful and romantic at the same time. I wasn't so sure at first if I would enjoy it, because I didn't know the author before. I also try to avoid stories of people dying from cancer but, for some reason, I just really felt that I needed to read this one. After the first cassette, I knew it would be one of my favorite books. Catherine and Sean made me cry so many times. I simply couldn't put it down. Everything sounded so real to me that I actually had to check if it was indeed just fiction. Loved it!
Wow! This was sad, beautiful and romantic at the same time. I wasn't so sure at first if I would enjoy it, because I didn't know the author before. I also try to avoid stories of people dying from cancer but, for some reason, I just really felt that I needed to read this one. After the first cassette, I knew it would be one of my favorite books. Catherine and Sean made me cry so many times. I simply couldn't put it down. Everything sounded so real to me that I actually had to check if it was indeed just fiction. Loved it!
November 11, 2021
I found this quite heartbreaking and emotional.
The concept of what Catherine was trying to achieve was both brave and shocking. To spill your secrets after you have died to stop loved ones from putting you on the theoretical pedestal has merit. The intention seems to be to allow the ones left behind to move on with their lives. However it also means they have to live with never being able to comment on the secrets and revelations, never being able to have their say. I can't help but feel that would add to the regrets we carry, not lighten them.
This it however very thought provoking, how many secrets do we really keep, how much do we really know the people around us, our loved ones. How many internal conversations do we never voice. Certainly a lot to think on.
The concept of what Catherine was trying to achieve was both brave and shocking. To spill your secrets after you have died to stop loved ones from putting you on the theoretical pedestal has merit. The intention seems to be to allow the ones left behind to move on with their lives. However it also means they have to live with never being able to comment on the secrets and revelations, never being able to have their say. I can't help but feel that would add to the regrets we carry, not lighten them.
This it however very thought provoking, how many secrets do we really keep, how much do we really know the people around us, our loved ones. How many internal conversations do we never voice. Certainly a lot to think on.
December 28, 2018
This is the story of Sean and Catherine, and the life they lived through pictures and a tape recording of all the things Catherine wished she could have told Sean. But when Catherine's life is cut short, she has just enough time to tell Sean all the things she never said.
It is a wonderful story of a look at life through pictures, and everything that Catherine was thinking at those times, but just could say. From fun vacations, to the birth of their child, to friends they have had, to affairs both real and unreal. It is a story to show Sean that she had a good life, a loving life, and one she wished she could continue, but knows she cannot. It is a story of loosing a partner to illness, and having to survive those following months after her death, but to have that one time a week to hear her voice. To be happy, mad, angry, sad, and joyful with her. To hear her say she had a good life and that she regrets nothing.
This was a take on how to tell someone a story more than the pictures say, to tell that person how they really felt at that moment the picture was taken and what was happen at that time. And in the end, to think that they really were destined to be together was the greatest gift he could get. But that she wished him to keep living and be happy even though she was not. I would recommend if you just need a quick read, a good little cry at the end, and to see and feel the love between these two characters.
It is a wonderful story of a look at life through pictures, and everything that Catherine was thinking at those times, but just could say. From fun vacations, to the birth of their child, to friends they have had, to affairs both real and unreal. It is a story to show Sean that she had a good life, a loving life, and one she wished she could continue, but knows she cannot. It is a story of loosing a partner to illness, and having to survive those following months after her death, but to have that one time a week to hear her voice. To be happy, mad, angry, sad, and joyful with her. To hear her say she had a good life and that she regrets nothing.
This was a take on how to tell someone a story more than the pictures say, to tell that person how they really felt at that moment the picture was taken and what was happen at that time. And in the end, to think that they really were destined to be together was the greatest gift he could get. But that she wished him to keep living and be happy even though she was not. I would recommend if you just need a quick read, a good little cry at the end, and to see and feel the love between these two characters.
January 29, 2019
Empecé a leer este libro a finales de año. Un montón de sentimientos se despertaron en mí. La mezcla entre el cierre de 2018 y las sensaciones que el libro despertaba en mi interior, hicieron de mi tránsito a 2019 un viaje interno, especial.
El libro, en apariencia simple porque muchas de las cosas que en él aparecen son previsibles, es una bomba de emociones. No porque trata un tema peliagudo como la muerte, sino porque su eje central es sencillamente el amor. Y el amor no necesita artificios, ni grandes reflexiones filosóficas. El amor solo necesita la crónica de la vida diaria. Y así lo expone el escritor. No adorna nada, solo narra la vida de dos seres humanos que se quisieron con sus errores y sus aciertos. Sobrecogedor, sencillo, directo.
Aunque de contenido simple, de forma hermosa. La estructura, dividida en descripción de fotografías, cintas de audio del pasado y escenas del presente, me parece acertada y original.
Este libro os reúne con algo más que una historia. Os reúne con vuestro corazón. ¡Gracias!
El libro, en apariencia simple porque muchas de las cosas que en él aparecen son previsibles, es una bomba de emociones. No porque trata un tema peliagudo como la muerte, sino porque su eje central es sencillamente el amor. Y el amor no necesita artificios, ni grandes reflexiones filosóficas. El amor solo necesita la crónica de la vida diaria. Y así lo expone el escritor. No adorna nada, solo narra la vida de dos seres humanos que se quisieron con sus errores y sus aciertos. Sobrecogedor, sencillo, directo.
Aunque de contenido simple, de forma hermosa. La estructura, dividida en descripción de fotografías, cintas de audio del pasado y escenas del presente, me parece acertada y original.
Este libro os reúne con algo más que una historia. Os reúne con vuestro corazón. ¡Gracias!
November 9, 2018
Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for sending me an ARC of this book to review.
This book felt like P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern but much more depressing and uninteresting. It was flat and dull and boring, just Catherine reminiscing things and Sean going through it... I don't even have an adverb for it, but like there were hardly any emotions for the reader to feel. I really did not understand the point of this story.
This book felt like P.S. I Love You by Cecelia Ahern but much more depressing and uninteresting. It was flat and dull and boring, just Catherine reminiscing things and Sean going through it... I don't even have an adverb for it, but like there were hardly any emotions for the reader to feel. I really did not understand the point of this story.
January 26, 2020
Emotional, funny and thought-provoking
I wasn't sure whether to read this because I cry so easily. Surprisingly I made it through but it really was a very emotional read. There were laugh-out-loud moments but also those where, if I'd let myself, I could have just sat and wept for a while. It's like a journey through time and several people's life journey, relationships with family and friends and strangers, just really enjoyed this.
I wasn't sure whether to read this because I cry so easily. Surprisingly I made it through but it really was a very emotional read. There were laugh-out-loud moments but also those where, if I'd let myself, I could have just sat and wept for a while. It's like a journey through time and several people's life journey, relationships with family and friends and strangers, just really enjoyed this.
March 3, 2018
This book should come with a warning! There is too much left wing preaching and not enough story.
I was also annoyed by his constant negative mentioning of Brexit which was completely unnecessary.
Political views should be written in a non-fiction context. Big turnoff!
I was also annoyed by his constant negative mentioning of Brexit which was completely unnecessary.
Political views should be written in a non-fiction context. Big turnoff!
July 31, 2018
I received a copy of this book compliments of NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. It is being published in paperback in September, 2018.
This book begins at the funeral of Catherine Campbell, wife to Sean and mother to April. Sean and Catherine are both in their early 50’s, living in Cambridge, when Catherine is diagnosed with cancer. Their daughter, April, is in her 30’s and is living in London. Catherine’s decline is rapid and two years after diagnosis she has passed away.
Shortly after the funeral, a mutual friend, Maggie, drops by Sean’s house to give him a package that Catherine had asked her to pass on to him after her death. Inside the package are 29 cassette tapes with corresponding photographs. Catherine provides a photograph and then on each cassette, talks about what was happening in the picture; what was happening in their lives at the time and/or going through their heads during the time the picture was taken. For example, one of the pictures is of a vacation that they took and Catherine talks about the fun they had on the vacation and other funny things that occurred while they were there.
Things We Never Said is reminiscent of another book “P.S. I Love You” by Cecelia Ahern, except that it is with audio cassettes rather than letters and the couple in this book are mature adults rather than the young couple in Ahern’s book. I think I like the idea of cassettes better simply because you would get to hear the person’s voice again.
I really enjoyed reading a book where the main characters are around the same age as me because although I have never been married, there were a lot of things that I could relate to having lived over five decades.
I found this to be a very enjoyable book. Yes, there was a lot of reminiscing of this couple over their past vacations, raising their child, etc. but there was also hurts identified and secrets revealed.
While Sean is devastated at the death of Catherine, we also get a chance to see him start healing and beginning to live again.
This book begins at the funeral of Catherine Campbell, wife to Sean and mother to April. Sean and Catherine are both in their early 50’s, living in Cambridge, when Catherine is diagnosed with cancer. Their daughter, April, is in her 30’s and is living in London. Catherine’s decline is rapid and two years after diagnosis she has passed away.
Shortly after the funeral, a mutual friend, Maggie, drops by Sean’s house to give him a package that Catherine had asked her to pass on to him after her death. Inside the package are 29 cassette tapes with corresponding photographs. Catherine provides a photograph and then on each cassette, talks about what was happening in the picture; what was happening in their lives at the time and/or going through their heads during the time the picture was taken. For example, one of the pictures is of a vacation that they took and Catherine talks about the fun they had on the vacation and other funny things that occurred while they were there.
Things We Never Said is reminiscent of another book “P.S. I Love You” by Cecelia Ahern, except that it is with audio cassettes rather than letters and the couple in this book are mature adults rather than the young couple in Ahern’s book. I think I like the idea of cassettes better simply because you would get to hear the person’s voice again.
I really enjoyed reading a book where the main characters are around the same age as me because although I have never been married, there were a lot of things that I could relate to having lived over five decades.
I found this to be a very enjoyable book. Yes, there was a lot of reminiscing of this couple over their past vacations, raising their child, etc. but there was also hurts identified and secrets revealed.
While Sean is devastated at the death of Catherine, we also get a chance to see him start healing and beginning to live again.
July 19, 2021
If I had to pick one word to sum up the plot of this book, it'd be Regret . Lots and lots of it.
The plot drew me in, and I knew I was in for a whole lot of tears before I even started. I'll admit, a lot of the messages Catherine left for Sean were so heartfelt and sweet, that they made my heart feel full. At the same time, as the novel progressed, I found myself liking Catherine less and less, and feeling either sorry or nothing at all towards Sean. He is pushed towards moving on and finding love again way too quickly (just 7 months) after his wife's death, and his daughter's personality is too bland to add much to the story.
There are also a few racist comments passed by some characters in the book which, of course, might not reflect the author's own thoughts but were unsettling either way. Once again, I am not a fan of infidelity treated as a light matter, or something that "strengthens a couple's bond".
However, I did enjoy the premise of leaving recordings and photographs for your partner to cherish after you've gone (and in this case, a whole lot of heartache too). I liked taking the journey of their love story through the decades, it was wonderful!
The plot drew me in, and I knew I was in for a whole lot of tears before I even started. I'll admit, a lot of the messages Catherine left for Sean were so heartfelt and sweet, that they made my heart feel full. At the same time, as the novel progressed, I found myself liking Catherine less and less, and feeling either sorry or nothing at all towards Sean. He is pushed towards moving on and finding love again way too quickly (just 7 months) after his wife's death, and his daughter's personality is too bland to add much to the story.
There are also a few racist comments passed by some characters in the book which, of course, might not reflect the author's own thoughts but were unsettling either way. Once again, I am not a fan of infidelity treated as a light matter, or something that "strengthens a couple's bond".
However, I did enjoy the premise of leaving recordings and photographs for your partner to cherish after you've gone (and in this case, a whole lot of heartache too). I liked taking the journey of their love story through the decades, it was wonderful!
January 30, 2021
2.5 stars:
Things We Never Said, could have been better, if many scenarios were not dragged. I never feel like giving up on a book but this book was the one, I gave up on so many times, then finished. Theresa’s part was so unnecessary. Likewise many more, the cassettes were to be listened over 7 months, yet she wanted him to snap out of the loss? Losing a loved one to cancer is sad, I understand. Furthermore, making a Pakistani (Paki as it says in the book-which is a derogatory term) guy look like a sexual predator& abuser, a guy who rubs his aroused/unaroused self against women while being at work and is maybe from stone age who may have never seen women his whole life, just to make Theresa look good, was so unnecessary. Catherine started to feel more like a liar than as the story grew. April’s complications. That did not sound like love but selfishness, to keep someone in the dark who actually loved you? Some chapters started like the photo would have some great significance but turned out there wasn’t anything new to it. The parts showing how little mistakes and ignorance makes two people drift apart while each one thinks everything is fine, do fall close to reality. It was hard for me to write a sad review myself. I am sorry.
Things We Never Said, could have been better, if many scenarios were not dragged. I never feel like giving up on a book but this book was the one, I gave up on so many times, then finished. Theresa’s part was so unnecessary. Likewise many more, the cassettes were to be listened over 7 months, yet she wanted him to snap out of the loss? Losing a loved one to cancer is sad, I understand. Furthermore, making a Pakistani (Paki as it says in the book-which is a derogatory term) guy look like a sexual predator& abuser, a guy who rubs his aroused/unaroused self against women while being at work and is maybe from stone age who may have never seen women his whole life, just to make Theresa look good, was so unnecessary. Catherine started to feel more like a liar than as the story grew. April’s complications. That did not sound like love but selfishness, to keep someone in the dark who actually loved you? Some chapters started like the photo would have some great significance but turned out there wasn’t anything new to it. The parts showing how little mistakes and ignorance makes two people drift apart while each one thinks everything is fine, do fall close to reality. It was hard for me to write a sad review myself. I am sorry.
October 9, 2018
Beautiful and heartfelt story! From the very start of this book, my heart goes out to Sean, who is in the grieving process after his wife, Catherine, died of cancer.
This is my first time reading a book written by Nick Alexander and I truly enjoyed his writing. It's delicate and emotional, without being overly done. Most of all, I loved how each chapter is uniquely started with a description of a picture, followed by Sean's thoughts and Catherine's narration of the picture, in a form of cassette recording that she made during her stays in the hospital.
THINGS WE NEVER SAID has a steady pace plot with an unexpected surprise in the middle. It's a great tale of love, marriage, and friendship. It will leave you to contemplate the life and relationship of your own.
** Thank you to Thomas & Mercer Publisher and #NetGalley for providing me this digital ARC of #ThingsWeNeverSaid**
This is my first time reading a book written by Nick Alexander and I truly enjoyed his writing. It's delicate and emotional, without being overly done. Most of all, I loved how each chapter is uniquely started with a description of a picture, followed by Sean's thoughts and Catherine's narration of the picture, in a form of cassette recording that she made during her stays in the hospital.
THINGS WE NEVER SAID has a steady pace plot with an unexpected surprise in the middle. It's a great tale of love, marriage, and friendship. It will leave you to contemplate the life and relationship of your own.
** Thank you to Thomas & Mercer Publisher and #NetGalley for providing me this digital ARC of #ThingsWeNeverSaid**
September 21, 2018
This is the story of a marriage, told through tapes made by the wife during the final few weeks of her life. She leaves the tapes, each accompanied by a photograph, to be listened to one per week by her widower after her death. There were a few shockers, and a few things she just got wrong, but overall it was the story of love. It could have been a tearjerker, but it really wasn't. 3.5 stars
November 27, 2022
Definitely not a typical read for me but I'm so glad that I did. This book is full of warmth and heart which manages to overcome a semi-predictable plot that doesn't really do anything too impressive. However, it's well written with likable characters and a very nice message at the core. If you want a simple read that will make you feel then give it a go.
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