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The Things We Left Unsaid
A LIFETIME OF SECRETS. A SUMMER OF NEW BEGINNINGS.
_____________________ "So tender and thoughtful. I loved it" MARIAN KEYES
"A gorgeous, rich treat" JANE FALLON
"Warm, intriguing, brimming with tenderness... A joyous book" RUTH JONES
________________________ ONLY THE TRUTH WILL SET HER FREE . . . After her wedding in cancelled hours before she is due to walk down the aisle, Rachel is newly single and must move back in with her mother, Eleanor. But their relationship is far from perfect, and their family home is filled with secrets. It will take a devastating turn of events for Rachel to finally unravel a powerful truth. One that Eleanor has kept close to her heart for decades. Will unlocking the past help Rachel find the key to her future? "This book is incredibly special… I cared so deeply for all of the characters" GABY ROSLIN "Involving and emotional" JANET ELLIS "Warm and compelling" WOMAN
________________________
Early readers absolutely love The Things We Left ‘A really enjoyable book.’
‘ Truly beautiful. I adored this book. I cried and know that when I read this again and again I’ll cry each time.’
‘A real and full story that was completely relatable .’
‘An excellent read and I would certainly recommend it.’
‘The sense of time and place was very authentic .’
‘I loved the characters and both them and London felt so alive. The story unfolded at a good pace with lots of treasured moments and the story felt new.’
‘The little details portraying the different time periods really make this book special . This is definitely one I’ll be recommending.’
‘ A beautiful story of relationships and their complications.’
‘ Would recommend without hesitation.’
‘I absolutely loved it.’
‘Set in two time periods, present day and the sixties, this is a compelling tale of two women coming of age and coming to terms with themselves. I loved this book .’
‘ I loved this book , from start to finish it had me wanting to keep reading!’
‘It is funny, sad and intriguing, a must read. I honestly was sad to get to the end .’
‘A funny, touching story.’
‘This novel is an absolute gem . I loved everything about it.’
‘I loved the way the characters were developed in the story. They worked their way into my heart .’
‘This author has insight and compassion and is an excellent storyteller, wise and full of empathy. ’
_____________________ "So tender and thoughtful. I loved it" MARIAN KEYES
"A gorgeous, rich treat" JANE FALLON
"Warm, intriguing, brimming with tenderness... A joyous book" RUTH JONES
________________________ ONLY THE TRUTH WILL SET HER FREE . . . After her wedding in cancelled hours before she is due to walk down the aisle, Rachel is newly single and must move back in with her mother, Eleanor. But their relationship is far from perfect, and their family home is filled with secrets. It will take a devastating turn of events for Rachel to finally unravel a powerful truth. One that Eleanor has kept close to her heart for decades. Will unlocking the past help Rachel find the key to her future? "This book is incredibly special… I cared so deeply for all of the characters" GABY ROSLIN "Involving and emotional" JANET ELLIS "Warm and compelling" WOMAN
________________________
Early readers absolutely love The Things We Left ‘A really enjoyable book.’
‘ Truly beautiful. I adored this book. I cried and know that when I read this again and again I’ll cry each time.’
‘A real and full story that was completely relatable .’
‘An excellent read and I would certainly recommend it.’
‘The sense of time and place was very authentic .’
‘I loved the characters and both them and London felt so alive. The story unfolded at a good pace with lots of treasured moments and the story felt new.’
‘The little details portraying the different time periods really make this book special . This is definitely one I’ll be recommending.’
‘ A beautiful story of relationships and their complications.’
‘ Would recommend without hesitation.’
‘I absolutely loved it.’
‘Set in two time periods, present day and the sixties, this is a compelling tale of two women coming of age and coming to terms with themselves. I loved this book .’
‘ I loved this book , from start to finish it had me wanting to keep reading!’
‘It is funny, sad and intriguing, a must read. I honestly was sad to get to the end .’
‘A funny, touching story.’
‘This novel is an absolute gem . I loved everything about it.’
‘I loved the way the characters were developed in the story. They worked their way into my heart .’
‘This author has insight and compassion and is an excellent storyteller, wise and full of empathy. ’
416 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2019
322 people are currently reading
3790 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
August 29, 2020
Emily Kennedy's family drama focuses on a mother and daughter relationship and secrets that turn out to have tumultuous effects. Rachel gets hit by events that leave her reeling and griefstricken, six weeks ago her father Charlie died and to compound this emotional stress, her fiance, Claude, jilts her at the altar, and she cannot get in touch with him. Having no other options, Rachel returns to the family home, and her famous artist mother, Eleanor, despite the fact the two have had a tense and troubled relationship that has never been addressed. Both women are in such pain and grief, that they are unable to offer any sense of comfort to each other. When Eleanor tries to tell her some critical information, Rachel is not in any frame of mind to want to listen to her.
Tragedy strikes, and Rachel is at long last left curious about Eleanor and wondering what it was that her mother needed to tell her. In a narrative set in two different eras, we learn of Eleanor's time in the 1960s at a London Art College, her relationship with Jake and the life he introduces her, its the swinging 60s and she finds herself amidst the bohemian artistic circles that is to have a life long impact on her future. Eleanor and Charlie struggle to conceive a child, and when Rachel is born, they pour out all their love and care on her. Rachel has always got on better with her Aunt Agnes, and is shocked at what her mother had kept from her.
Kennedy's storytelling is compassionate and human, exploring the nature of family dynamics, grief, loss, love, and a mother and daughter relationship that had Rachel feeling that her artistic talent is overshadowed by Eleanor's, with little understanding of the challenges that Eleanor had faced in her life. Many thanks to Random House Cornerstone.
Tragedy strikes, and Rachel is at long last left curious about Eleanor and wondering what it was that her mother needed to tell her. In a narrative set in two different eras, we learn of Eleanor's time in the 1960s at a London Art College, her relationship with Jake and the life he introduces her, its the swinging 60s and she finds herself amidst the bohemian artistic circles that is to have a life long impact on her future. Eleanor and Charlie struggle to conceive a child, and when Rachel is born, they pour out all their love and care on her. Rachel has always got on better with her Aunt Agnes, and is shocked at what her mother had kept from her.
Kennedy's storytelling is compassionate and human, exploring the nature of family dynamics, grief, loss, love, and a mother and daughter relationship that had Rachel feeling that her artistic talent is overshadowed by Eleanor's, with little understanding of the challenges that Eleanor had faced in her life. Many thanks to Random House Cornerstone.
August 9, 2019
Eleanor and her daughter, Rachel have a difficult relationship. They are mourning the loss of their husband/father. Six weeks after her fathers death, Rachel gets jilted at the alter. There is nothing else she can do but move back into her family home. She has always lived under her mother's shadow. Eleanor is a famous artist.
This story is told in a dual timeline. I liked the way the characters developed throughout the story. It's well written and emotionally charged. The parts that are told in the past are of Eleanor when she was a naive young girl. This is an emotional read that deals with the pain of loss. The characters are true to life and well rounded. A beautifully told story. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House Uk, Cornerstone and the author Emma Kennedy for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This story is told in a dual timeline. I liked the way the characters developed throughout the story. It's well written and emotionally charged. The parts that are told in the past are of Eleanor when she was a naive young girl. This is an emotional read that deals with the pain of loss. The characters are true to life and well rounded. A beautifully told story. I do recommend this book.
I would like to thank NetGalley, Random House Uk, Cornerstone and the author Emma Kennedy for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
December 23, 2021
The Things We Left Unsaid is an easy read, despite the fact that it tackles emotive issues around grief, loss and heartbreak. The ease with which I was able to read it and Emma Kennedy's clear and conscise writing style is why I've rated it 2.5 stars. Everything else about this book is mediocre.
The story follows Rachel, a young woman who recently lost her father and was jilted at the altar by her husband-to-be. Due to these recent events Rachel is in a dark place emotionally and is living back at home with her mother, Eleanor, who she has a strained relationship with. Early on in the book, Rachel's mother dies and in the wake of this tragedy, Rachel realises she knows very little about her mother. Consumed with grief and having lost everything that she felt made her who she was, Rachel goes on a mission to uncover the secrets of her mother's past and makes a discovery that turns her life upside down.
Despite how simple it is, I liked the premise and felt that there was a great oppourtunity to explore complex topics of identity, relationships, grief, family and love, and also craft a great character arc for Rachel filled with development. Unfortunately, Kennedy falls short on delivering any of this and I was left feeling underwhelmed and bitterly disappointed.
The plot itself is rather predictable and pretty nonsensical. The big secret is that Rachel's father (Charlie) is not actually her biological father, instead it's Jake, Eleanor's gay best friend from university. I personally loved the depiction of a woman being in love with a gay man, because it's a a more common occurrence than people realise and is an entirely different kind of heartbreak than any other unreciprocated love. However, the rest of this plot was ridiculous and left me with SO MANY questions.
Eleanor's motivations are all over the place and her actions are impossible to empathise with, because she's quite frankly, a BAD person. After struggling to concieve with her husband, she decides the best course of action is to have sex with her gay best friend who she used to be in love with and to pass the child off as being her husbands...WHO DOES THIS?!? And WHY? Does Eleanor do this because she's in love with Jake and desparate to have his child? Does she do it because she genuinely wants a child with Charlie but can't be bothered to go through the process of IVF or adoption? It's never made clear WHY Eleanor does this. What's worse is that neither Eleanor or Jake realise the implications of their actions. This is a decision that they make after a two minute discussion with no acknowledgement or understanding of the consequences or impact it could have on everyone around them. Jake's actions are as stupid as Eleanor's. He sleeps with her, knowing that she's been in love with him and probably still is, because he wants a child of his own. Yet he knows that if their one-night-stand does lead to a pregnancy that Eleanor will raise the child with Charlie. So what does Jake actually gain from it? He's essentially just a sperm donor. And do either of them think about the impact this could have on the child that they so desperately want? To be brought up in a lie and one day find out the truth? It's so selfish and silly. Maybe I could've sympathised with this more, if their desire for a child was more developed, but it's just a haphazard thing that's thrown in and then BAM, the decision is made.
As for Eleanor's feelings and attitude towards Charlie, it was ALL OVER THE PLACE. She enters into a relationship with Charlie shortly after finding out Jake is gay (rebound much?) and repeatedly talks about how much she loves him and respects him, but the whole relationship feels stagnant. It's completely lacking in passion and intimacy. The only reason Eleanor seems to be with Charlie is because he's her safety blanket. She praises him for being a good, loyal, hard-working and reliable man, yet the second she's presented with the opportunity to cheat she does - TWICE. What's worse is that she doesn't even feel guilty or ashamed for cheating on him. She goes back to him like nothing ever happened and continues to lie to him until the day he dies. What sort of woman does this? I guess the sort of woman that purposefully gets pregnant by another man and pretends that the child is her husband's.
Rachel was just as unsympathetic as her mother. She goes through a horrible ordeal - losing both her parents and the man she loves - but she's plain irritating. She spends the first quarter of the book fawning over how much she loves her fiance but hates what he did, then takes him back and instantly decides that she doesn't in fact love him and would rather get it on with the gardner that she knows little to nothing about. She holds a grudge against her mother which has NO LOGIC to it. Eleanor never does anything to warrant Rachel's resentment or dislike (at least until Rachel learns the truth about her paternity). And when Rachel discovers the truth and has every reason to hate her mother, she seems to forgive and forget in an instant. I understand what Kennedy is trying to portray with the relationship between Rachel and Eleanor, but it just didn't work for me, because there wasn't enough reasoning there to justify the tension and hostility between them. Overall, Rachel's character is very badly developed and comes across as a petty, whiny and mean person (I mean, how self-absorbed does a person have to be to not realise that they know NOTHING about their own mother?!). She doesn't progress much across the course of the book and the development she does undertake is shoved in the last few paragaphs of the epilogue.
Although the book was easy to read, the pacing was slow and the dialogue was awful. Most of the conversations that took place between the characters lacked flow and felt inauthentic. They weren't conversations that reflected the types of conversations real people would have in real life.
My main issue with this book is it all feels like a moot point. Rachel goes on a journey to discover the truth, but it doesn't actually ACHIEVE anything. Rachel's relationship with her mother wasn't negative because Charlie wasn't her biological father, it's because Rachel was insolent and cold. Discovering that Jake was her father and meeting him did nothing to change Rachel's perspective or feelings. And I don't really understand what the overall message of the book is supposed to be.
The story follows Rachel, a young woman who recently lost her father and was jilted at the altar by her husband-to-be. Due to these recent events Rachel is in a dark place emotionally and is living back at home with her mother, Eleanor, who she has a strained relationship with. Early on in the book, Rachel's mother dies and in the wake of this tragedy, Rachel realises she knows very little about her mother. Consumed with grief and having lost everything that she felt made her who she was, Rachel goes on a mission to uncover the secrets of her mother's past and makes a discovery that turns her life upside down.
Despite how simple it is, I liked the premise and felt that there was a great oppourtunity to explore complex topics of identity, relationships, grief, family and love, and also craft a great character arc for Rachel filled with development. Unfortunately, Kennedy falls short on delivering any of this and I was left feeling underwhelmed and bitterly disappointed.
The plot itself is rather predictable and pretty nonsensical. The big secret is that Rachel's father (Charlie) is not actually her biological father, instead it's Jake, Eleanor's gay best friend from university. I personally loved the depiction of a woman being in love with a gay man, because it's a a more common occurrence than people realise and is an entirely different kind of heartbreak than any other unreciprocated love. However, the rest of this plot was ridiculous and left me with SO MANY questions.
Eleanor's motivations are all over the place and her actions are impossible to empathise with, because she's quite frankly, a BAD person. After struggling to concieve with her husband, she decides the best course of action is to have sex with her gay best friend who she used to be in love with and to pass the child off as being her husbands...WHO DOES THIS?!? And WHY? Does Eleanor do this because she's in love with Jake and desparate to have his child? Does she do it because she genuinely wants a child with Charlie but can't be bothered to go through the process of IVF or adoption? It's never made clear WHY Eleanor does this. What's worse is that neither Eleanor or Jake realise the implications of their actions. This is a decision that they make after a two minute discussion with no acknowledgement or understanding of the consequences or impact it could have on everyone around them. Jake's actions are as stupid as Eleanor's. He sleeps with her, knowing that she's been in love with him and probably still is, because he wants a child of his own. Yet he knows that if their one-night-stand does lead to a pregnancy that Eleanor will raise the child with Charlie. So what does Jake actually gain from it? He's essentially just a sperm donor. And do either of them think about the impact this could have on the child that they so desperately want? To be brought up in a lie and one day find out the truth? It's so selfish and silly. Maybe I could've sympathised with this more, if their desire for a child was more developed, but it's just a haphazard thing that's thrown in and then BAM, the decision is made.
As for Eleanor's feelings and attitude towards Charlie, it was ALL OVER THE PLACE. She enters into a relationship with Charlie shortly after finding out Jake is gay (rebound much?) and repeatedly talks about how much she loves him and respects him, but the whole relationship feels stagnant. It's completely lacking in passion and intimacy. The only reason Eleanor seems to be with Charlie is because he's her safety blanket. She praises him for being a good, loyal, hard-working and reliable man, yet the second she's presented with the opportunity to cheat she does - TWICE. What's worse is that she doesn't even feel guilty or ashamed for cheating on him. She goes back to him like nothing ever happened and continues to lie to him until the day he dies. What sort of woman does this? I guess the sort of woman that purposefully gets pregnant by another man and pretends that the child is her husband's.
Rachel was just as unsympathetic as her mother. She goes through a horrible ordeal - losing both her parents and the man she loves - but she's plain irritating. She spends the first quarter of the book fawning over how much she loves her fiance but hates what he did, then takes him back and instantly decides that she doesn't in fact love him and would rather get it on with the gardner that she knows little to nothing about. She holds a grudge against her mother which has NO LOGIC to it. Eleanor never does anything to warrant Rachel's resentment or dislike (at least until Rachel learns the truth about her paternity). And when Rachel discovers the truth and has every reason to hate her mother, she seems to forgive and forget in an instant. I understand what Kennedy is trying to portray with the relationship between Rachel and Eleanor, but it just didn't work for me, because there wasn't enough reasoning there to justify the tension and hostility between them. Overall, Rachel's character is very badly developed and comes across as a petty, whiny and mean person (I mean, how self-absorbed does a person have to be to not realise that they know NOTHING about their own mother?!). She doesn't progress much across the course of the book and the development she does undertake is shoved in the last few paragaphs of the epilogue.
Although the book was easy to read, the pacing was slow and the dialogue was awful. Most of the conversations that took place between the characters lacked flow and felt inauthentic. They weren't conversations that reflected the types of conversations real people would have in real life.
My main issue with this book is it all feels like a moot point. Rachel goes on a journey to discover the truth, but it doesn't actually ACHIEVE anything. Rachel's relationship with her mother wasn't negative because Charlie wasn't her biological father, it's because Rachel was insolent and cold. Discovering that Jake was her father and meeting him did nothing to change Rachel's perspective or feelings. And I don't really understand what the overall message of the book is supposed to be.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 8, 2020
3.5 ★
This book delivered what it promised—a story of love and family.
We find Eleanor and Rachel grieving the loss of their husband / father and through a dual timeline NOW and THEN, we discover Eleanor's past and Rachel's present. There is a huge grief and loss component to this, letters and secrets, with a dark tone throughout. There is romance and heartbreak in this, and while there are moments and couplings I really enjoyed, many, most really, are skipped over or things just fade away.
Furthermore, Eleanor and Rachel's characters are private and aloof. You could definitely tell they are mother and daughter. Things between them never, truly feel resolved. I felt I never quite got to the bottom of them as people and in their relationship as we saw it. Even though the truth came out and things were mostly resolved, it still felt unfinished somehow. The supporting cast (almost all) were more open and brought life to the page.
I did enjoy this book, it wasn't a page turner, but it kept drawing me back in. I found the writing style impactful and impressive, I just feel underwhelmed by it, on reflection. The third person POV was a was a bit clunky at times, especially in the beginning.
(ARC KINDLY PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW)
This book delivered what it promised—a story of love and family.
We find Eleanor and Rachel grieving the loss of their husband / father and through a dual timeline NOW and THEN, we discover Eleanor's past and Rachel's present. There is a huge grief and loss component to this, letters and secrets, with a dark tone throughout. There is romance and heartbreak in this, and while there are moments and couplings I really enjoyed, many, most really, are skipped over or things just fade away.
Furthermore, Eleanor and Rachel's characters are private and aloof. You could definitely tell they are mother and daughter. Things between them never, truly feel resolved. I felt I never quite got to the bottom of them as people and in their relationship as we saw it. Even though the truth came out and things were mostly resolved, it still felt unfinished somehow. The supporting cast (almost all) were more open and brought life to the page.
I did enjoy this book, it wasn't a page turner, but it kept drawing me back in. I found the writing style impactful and impressive, I just feel underwhelmed by it, on reflection. The third person POV was a was a bit clunky at times, especially in the beginning.
(ARC KINDLY PROVIDED BY NETGALLEY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW)
February 7, 2021
Rachel is jilted at the alter, by a man she thought was her happy ending, and the start to family life. Moving back home with her mother, Eleanor is a hard transition for them both. The tension between them is clear, but what secrets are beneath the surface for Rachel to discover?
Kennedy wrote this story in a way that I LOVE - going back and forth between then and now, and as the reader you piece together the story as you go along. It meant I couldn’t put it down!
This is a story for heartbreak, love, family, and most of all the power of friendship and support. I adored how Rachel grew throughout the narrative 💖
January 12, 2024
Unfortunately, I couldn’t get into this book but I read it to the end simply because I don’t like giving up on a book unless it’s so bad, which this one wasn’t! There was nothing really exciting in the plot that spurred me to pickup the book and read continuously. Just not my cup of tea 🍵!
May 4, 2020
A nice easy read with a lovely story that leaves you feeling warm and smiling.
September 8, 2019
I’m a fan of Emma Kennedy’s writing so I couldn’t wait to read The Things We Left Unsaid.
Actually, the title sums the book up beautifully. It’s about taking nothing for granted and taking the time to connect with loved ones. I found this thought-provoking and it made me change the way I view my relationships.
The main characters are Eleanor, a renowned artist and her daughter Rachel. It is written in dual timelines of “then” and “now” and from both characters point of view. I didn’t find this confusing, in fact, I loved the flow of the story.
Both women are going through heartbreak, however, they don’t reach out to each other even though they are living under the same roof. Their relationship is strained, awkward and I felt that Rachel felt intimidated by her mother’s success. As an artist herself she feels that she could never live up to her mother’s huge talent. Rachel finds great comfort in her aunt Agnes, who brings terrific light to the story. She is everything her sister Eleanor isn’t and an absolute rock for Rachel. There’s a wonderful feeling of mystery, which really keeps the pages turning and kept me truly captivated.
It’s hard to say more without giving anything away and this story is far too good to spoil. It’s about love and loss, relationships, secrets, and revelations. I loved everything about it and highly recommend.
Actually, the title sums the book up beautifully. It’s about taking nothing for granted and taking the time to connect with loved ones. I found this thought-provoking and it made me change the way I view my relationships.
The main characters are Eleanor, a renowned artist and her daughter Rachel. It is written in dual timelines of “then” and “now” and from both characters point of view. I didn’t find this confusing, in fact, I loved the flow of the story.
Both women are going through heartbreak, however, they don’t reach out to each other even though they are living under the same roof. Their relationship is strained, awkward and I felt that Rachel felt intimidated by her mother’s success. As an artist herself she feels that she could never live up to her mother’s huge talent. Rachel finds great comfort in her aunt Agnes, who brings terrific light to the story. She is everything her sister Eleanor isn’t and an absolute rock for Rachel. There’s a wonderful feeling of mystery, which really keeps the pages turning and kept me truly captivated.
It’s hard to say more without giving anything away and this story is far too good to spoil. It’s about love and loss, relationships, secrets, and revelations. I loved everything about it and highly recommend.
April 30, 2020
This book is about family, and specifically the relationship between parents and children, and how well we really know each other - our inability to see our parents as people. In this is does a wonderful job, and is moving and yet still easy to read.
This would have been a 5 star read if it wasn’t for the unnecessary love story that runs as a back drop to Rachel’s story. This just felt like an add in, as was completely predictable. I also felt that Rachel was not as interesting or as ‘real’ for much of the book as Eleanor, and I think it’s the love story that did this - it detracted from the main thrust of the story, and at the same time took an unconventional story and made it altogether too much of a traditional heteronormative narrative - something I did not expect from this author.
Having said this, the rest of the story is wonderful, and I want to know what happened after the end of the book.
This would have been a 5 star read if it wasn’t for the unnecessary love story that runs as a back drop to Rachel’s story. This just felt like an add in, as was completely predictable. I also felt that Rachel was not as interesting or as ‘real’ for much of the book as Eleanor, and I think it’s the love story that did this - it detracted from the main thrust of the story, and at the same time took an unconventional story and made it altogether too much of a traditional heteronormative narrative - something I did not expect from this author.
Having said this, the rest of the story is wonderful, and I want to know what happened after the end of the book.
January 30, 2021
It was enjoyable and I did get quite invested at times, especially in the scenes set in the past.
However it was also quite predictable and I guessed very early on what was going to happen. It didn’t necessarily happen in the way I thought originally, but the outcome was the same, which meant I spent most of the book just waiting for what I knew was going to happen, to happen. This meant that I did almost skim read the last 100 pages because I knew exactly where it was headed and just wanted to get to the conclusion!
However it was also quite predictable and I guessed very early on what was going to happen. It didn’t necessarily happen in the way I thought originally, but the outcome was the same, which meant I spent most of the book just waiting for what I knew was going to happen, to happen. This meant that I did almost skim read the last 100 pages because I knew exactly where it was headed and just wanted to get to the conclusion!
February 22, 2021
Only six weeks after the death of her father, Rachel is left standing at the altar by fiance, Claude, with no explanation. As she lived and worked with him, she has no choice but to return home to live with her mother, Eleanor, who is a well-known artist. Their relationship is strained and awkward, with neither of them able to comfort the other through their grief.
One day, when she just has to get out of the house, Rachel does not stop to listen when her mother wants to talk about something important, thinking there will be time later. On arriving home, she finds her mother lying dead in the garden. In her grief, she realises she knew little about her mother’s early life, and becomes obsessed with finding out what it was that Eleanor had been so desperate to tell her.
Emma Kennedy makes good use of dual timelines to tell this heartbreaking story. From Rachel’s reading of old letters and diaries, we get Eleanor’s story about when she went off to art school in London in the 1960s. I especially enjoyed these chapters that revealed how she embraced the freedom of being away from her parents for the first time and met lots of interesting people.
The characters are vividly portrayed; I particularly liked Jake, who Eleanor met on her first day at art school, and Eleanor’s sister, Agnes, who brought humour to both sections of the story. I’ll leave you to discover for yourself just how despicable and mercenary Claude turns out to be. The two separate strands of the narrative gradually coalesce until we discover the big secret Eleanor has been hiding from everyone.
This is a fascinating portrayal of bohemian London in the 1960s, and my only reservation is that the ending felt a bit rushed. Caspar was an interesting character, but could perhaps have played a bigger part in the story.
Thanks to Cornerstone Digital and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
One day, when she just has to get out of the house, Rachel does not stop to listen when her mother wants to talk about something important, thinking there will be time later. On arriving home, she finds her mother lying dead in the garden. In her grief, she realises she knew little about her mother’s early life, and becomes obsessed with finding out what it was that Eleanor had been so desperate to tell her.
Emma Kennedy makes good use of dual timelines to tell this heartbreaking story. From Rachel’s reading of old letters and diaries, we get Eleanor’s story about when she went off to art school in London in the 1960s. I especially enjoyed these chapters that revealed how she embraced the freedom of being away from her parents for the first time and met lots of interesting people.
The characters are vividly portrayed; I particularly liked Jake, who Eleanor met on her first day at art school, and Eleanor’s sister, Agnes, who brought humour to both sections of the story. I’ll leave you to discover for yourself just how despicable and mercenary Claude turns out to be. The two separate strands of the narrative gradually coalesce until we discover the big secret Eleanor has been hiding from everyone.
This is a fascinating portrayal of bohemian London in the 1960s, and my only reservation is that the ending felt a bit rushed. Caspar was an interesting character, but could perhaps have played a bigger part in the story.
Thanks to Cornerstone Digital and NetGalley for a digital copy to review.
April 2, 2020
Loved it.
If you're looking for a read that's relatively easy then add this one to your list.
Set in a dual narrative The Things We Left Unsaid tells us about the life of Rachel and her mother, Eleanor. After a terrible tragedy Rachel sets out to find out about her mother's past and who she really is. This book is warm, funny and heartbreaking at the same time. I absolutely loved it and you will too.
If you're looking for a read that's relatively easy then add this one to your list.
Set in a dual narrative The Things We Left Unsaid tells us about the life of Rachel and her mother, Eleanor. After a terrible tragedy Rachel sets out to find out about her mother's past and who she really is. This book is warm, funny and heartbreaking at the same time. I absolutely loved it and you will too.
February 20, 2023
This was another really emotional book that mixed the past with our lead character of Rachel’s mothers history and Rachel’s discovery of her mother’s past and what secrets she was holding back. As Rachel learns more about her mother she finds her own strength.
May 18, 2020
A beautiful read!!! emotional, moving story, left me thinking about the characters and ending for days!! xx
April 10, 2022
3.5⭐️
i feel like the plot line had so much potential but didn’t really live up to it?
i feel like the plot line had so much potential but didn’t really live up to it?
December 11, 2022
I enjoyed this- particularly the different characters in the book and the two different worlds of Soho and the old family home. The story spans across generations and personalities in a unique way.
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October 20, 2024Such a beautiful story
September 21, 2023
Not my usual type of book (mother and daughter relationship) but it was enjoyable just dragged out as I’m in a slump
October 19, 2020
I really loved this book, such a great story with really interesting plot points.
Touched some really good subjects which are not often discussed. Well worth a read.
Touched some really good subjects which are not often discussed. Well worth a read.
October 18, 2025
A bit predictable, but an easy going read.
February 5, 2023
I found this book, as I do with a lot of books recently, hard to get into at the beginning. But it didn’t take long to really get into it and then I really couldn’t stop.
I love that the chapters are short and that each one changes between Mum’s (Eleanor’s) youth and child’s (Rachel’s) youth.
It was very clever how Kennedy kept feeding us secrets and answers throughout the book in a very clever, yet exciting way.
Beautifully written and it really felt like you were there with the characters. I felt immersed in the story and often couldn’t put the book down. “Just another chapter”, I would tell myself!
A lovely read, with some twists and turns, I look forward to reading Kennedy’s other books in the future.
I love that the chapters are short and that each one changes between Mum’s (Eleanor’s) youth and child’s (Rachel’s) youth.
It was very clever how Kennedy kept feeding us secrets and answers throughout the book in a very clever, yet exciting way.
Beautifully written and it really felt like you were there with the characters. I felt immersed in the story and often couldn’t put the book down. “Just another chapter”, I would tell myself!
A lovely read, with some twists and turns, I look forward to reading Kennedy’s other books in the future.
October 25, 2020
What an incredible story to make you self reflect on your relationships with your parents. How much do you actually know them? The real them- not the parent them! Have you ever asked?
After a string of tragedies strike Rachel, she goes on a soul searching quest in an attempt to feel whole again. Except it is not just her own story she is piecing together.
Set as a dual time line we explore the exciting life, loves and friendships of Eleanor, Rachel's mother. Eleanor's timeline, set mostly in 60's London is all you ever wanted that time period to be- in a subtle, 'not detracting from the story' kind of way. Eleanor as a young woman before she becomes a wife and mother is gripping and you will Rachel to change her opinion of her misunderstood mother. But, it is evident how our discovery of Eleanor, whilst unravelling Rachel's "Now" issues is fundamental for Rachel's new story to build. It was funny, tear-jerking and truly lovely. Part of me would love a sequel but maybe this is one that my imagination can build a future for.
After a string of tragedies strike Rachel, she goes on a soul searching quest in an attempt to feel whole again. Except it is not just her own story she is piecing together.
Set as a dual time line we explore the exciting life, loves and friendships of Eleanor, Rachel's mother. Eleanor's timeline, set mostly in 60's London is all you ever wanted that time period to be- in a subtle, 'not detracting from the story' kind of way. Eleanor as a young woman before she becomes a wife and mother is gripping and you will Rachel to change her opinion of her misunderstood mother. But, it is evident how our discovery of Eleanor, whilst unravelling Rachel's "Now" issues is fundamental for Rachel's new story to build. It was funny, tear-jerking and truly lovely. Part of me would love a sequel but maybe this is one that my imagination can build a future for.
July 16, 2019
I really enjoyed this. I requested it purely on the recommendation of the wonderful Marian Keyes, when she likes a book I know it must be good!
I actually found it awfully sad in parts. I loved the story of Eleanor at art school in the 60s, the sense of time and place was very authentic. She seemed to have such a distant relationship with her daughter Rachel and when she didn't get to tell her the truth about their lives, it just seemed such a waste. I loved how the story moved back and forward from the 60s to the present day and when Rachel catches up with the characters from Eleanor's youth who don't really seem to have moved on very much! I loved Agnes, Eleanor's sister, she was very funny and brought a lot of humour to the sometimes tragic stories.
Very much a character driven family saga type novel, I found this to be an excellent read and I would certainly recommend it.
I actually found it awfully sad in parts. I loved the story of Eleanor at art school in the 60s, the sense of time and place was very authentic. She seemed to have such a distant relationship with her daughter Rachel and when she didn't get to tell her the truth about their lives, it just seemed such a waste. I loved how the story moved back and forward from the 60s to the present day and when Rachel catches up with the characters from Eleanor's youth who don't really seem to have moved on very much! I loved Agnes, Eleanor's sister, she was very funny and brought a lot of humour to the sometimes tragic stories.
Very much a character driven family saga type novel, I found this to be an excellent read and I would certainly recommend it.
August 11, 2019
This book was a wonderful journey with rich descriptions full of nostalgia, love and memories of what it means to be home.
I enjoyed the dual timeline descriptions of the characters that portrayed a rich depth to each character from the perspectives of past and present.
The vulnerability that was written was very touching and I felt a deep connection throughout the stories to Eleanor and Rachel. I absolutely adored Agnes who is just brilliant throughout and deserves her own novel I feel.
It was a heartbreaking, life-affirming, empowering read showing how grief and tension can carve our lives in to different pieces and taint our perspectives of people and memories. It explores what keeps friendships and families close throughout the years.
I enjoyed the dual timeline descriptions of the characters that portrayed a rich depth to each character from the perspectives of past and present.
The vulnerability that was written was very touching and I felt a deep connection throughout the stories to Eleanor and Rachel. I absolutely adored Agnes who is just brilliant throughout and deserves her own novel I feel.
It was a heartbreaking, life-affirming, empowering read showing how grief and tension can carve our lives in to different pieces and taint our perspectives of people and memories. It explores what keeps friendships and families close throughout the years.
August 11, 2020
I really like this author. I’ve read her other books and loved them. However, I didn’t care for this book.
I did not like the relationship between the mother and daughter. They were so hostile to each other. I didn’t like Eleanor’s daughter, Rachel. I liked reading about when Eleanor went off to college, and I liked the character Jake.
I did not like the relationship between the mother and daughter. They were so hostile to each other. I didn’t like Eleanor’s daughter, Rachel. I liked reading about when Eleanor went off to college, and I liked the character Jake.
October 26, 2019
I loved this book so much!!! I was gripped by Eleanor and Rachel's story.
P.S. I really don't know why it says the title is 'The Box of Dreams' but ok
P.S. I really don't know why it says the title is 'The Box of Dreams' but ok
October 19, 2024
I actually listened to the audiobook, read by the author, but couldn't find that as an option in the Editions list.
The story is told in two alternating timelines: Then is the story of Eleanor, elated to be leaving her boring suburban existence to go to a London art college; and Now, a generation later, is the story of Rachel, Eleanor's daughter, who is really not having a good year. When we open she is grieving the death of her father, has just been jilted at the altar, and forced to move back in with her mother, with whom she does not get on; and as Rachel is starting to get over this her mother dies suddenly - just before she was going to tell Rachel something Very Important. While going through papers, Rachel picks up clues to a big secret which, when discovered, causes her to run back to the arms of her appalling lover.
I enjoyed both story strands and characters, though for me the biggest problem was believing that Eleanor finds Jake, a boy at college, absolutely fascinating. He is one of a set of people who hang out to get drunk while talking nonsense. I remember people like that at university and found them exceedingly dull. I never see Jake say or do anything to inflame anyone's desire, but Eleanor is very sheltered and I have to remember that when you have a strong attraction for someone, everything they do or say seems fascinating. There is enough mystery and misunderstanding to keep you guessing.
Written after Emma Kennedy's mother's death, if you've listened to or read Letters from Brenda you'll see that a lot of elements of Emma's own life are here - Eleanor, Charlie and Agnes have obvious aspects of Emma's own parents and aunt, the house seems rather familiar and elements of the parents' deaths are taken from that of Brenda. However the characters are not carbon copies (you couldn't make Brenda up) and take on their own life. But it is funny hearing Emma (who is a great voice actor) give the same voices to Eleanor and Agnes as she does for her mother and aunt in Letters from Brenda!
The story is told in two alternating timelines: Then is the story of Eleanor, elated to be leaving her boring suburban existence to go to a London art college; and Now, a generation later, is the story of Rachel, Eleanor's daughter, who is really not having a good year. When we open she is grieving the death of her father, has just been jilted at the altar, and forced to move back in with her mother, with whom she does not get on; and as Rachel is starting to get over this her mother dies suddenly - just before she was going to tell Rachel something Very Important. While going through papers, Rachel picks up clues to a big secret which, when discovered, causes her to run back to the arms of her appalling lover.
I enjoyed both story strands and characters, though for me the biggest problem was believing that Eleanor finds Jake, a boy at college, absolutely fascinating. He is one of a set of people who hang out to get drunk while talking nonsense. I remember people like that at university and found them exceedingly dull. I never see Jake say or do anything to inflame anyone's desire, but Eleanor is very sheltered and I have to remember that when you have a strong attraction for someone, everything they do or say seems fascinating. There is enough mystery and misunderstanding to keep you guessing.
Written after Emma Kennedy's mother's death, if you've listened to or read Letters from Brenda you'll see that a lot of elements of Emma's own life are here - Eleanor, Charlie and Agnes have obvious aspects of Emma's own parents and aunt, the house seems rather familiar and elements of the parents' deaths are taken from that of Brenda. However the characters are not carbon copies (you couldn't make Brenda up) and take on their own life. But it is funny hearing Emma (who is a great voice actor) give the same voices to Eleanor and Agnes as she does for her mother and aunt in Letters from Brenda!
July 11, 2019
A beautiful story of relationships and their complications.
This book is told in the then and now.
The then is the story of Eleanor, who moves to London to study art in the swinging 60s. Eleanor meets Jake on her first day at college, and he introduces her to the 60s Soho lifestyle, so far removed from her upbringing in Brill. Eleanor embraces the life and the relationships that develop, which then influence the rest of her life.
The now is Rachel, Eleanor’s daughter's story, which begins with her back in her mother's house after begin jilted by Claude at the altar. Rachel and Eleanor have a problematic relationship, in the present Eleanor is a successful artist, who has recently lost her husband Charlie, Rachel's father. Both women are struggling to come to terms with the pain of death and betrayal. Unable to comfort each other.
Eleanor tries to tell Rachel something important, but Rachel is so consumed with her own pain she does not want to get into something profound, but Rachel recognises that whatever it is, it's having a significant impact on her mother and then Eleanor dies suddenly and Rachel becomes obsessed with finding out what was so important.
The then tells the story of Eleanor's life and slowly catches up with the now revealing secrets about love and passion along the way. The now reveals clues for Rachel that brings her back to Soho where it all started.
This was a great read, I really enjoyed how the then slowly revealed what you needed to know to answer what was happening in the now. Also, the perspective from Mother and Daughter on their relationship was so at odds and provided a great insight into people's interpretations of life. Would recommend without hesitation.
Taramindo.
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
This book is told in the then and now.
The then is the story of Eleanor, who moves to London to study art in the swinging 60s. Eleanor meets Jake on her first day at college, and he introduces her to the 60s Soho lifestyle, so far removed from her upbringing in Brill. Eleanor embraces the life and the relationships that develop, which then influence the rest of her life.
The now is Rachel, Eleanor’s daughter's story, which begins with her back in her mother's house after begin jilted by Claude at the altar. Rachel and Eleanor have a problematic relationship, in the present Eleanor is a successful artist, who has recently lost her husband Charlie, Rachel's father. Both women are struggling to come to terms with the pain of death and betrayal. Unable to comfort each other.
Eleanor tries to tell Rachel something important, but Rachel is so consumed with her own pain she does not want to get into something profound, but Rachel recognises that whatever it is, it's having a significant impact on her mother and then Eleanor dies suddenly and Rachel becomes obsessed with finding out what was so important.
The then tells the story of Eleanor's life and slowly catches up with the now revealing secrets about love and passion along the way. The now reveals clues for Rachel that brings her back to Soho where it all started.
This was a great read, I really enjoyed how the then slowly revealed what you needed to know to answer what was happening in the now. Also, the perspective from Mother and Daughter on their relationship was so at odds and provided a great insight into people's interpretations of life. Would recommend without hesitation.
Taramindo.
Breakaway Reviewers received a copy of the book to review
August 28, 2019
This one is written in dual time frame and it revolves around the mother, Eleanor ane her mother grown up daughter Rachel. They have always had a tricky relationship and despite the clear love and respect for each other , there is also clearly a few tensions and feelings of awkwardness that have never been addressed.
As you move through the story we learn that Eleanor is a very talented and famous artist whose career escalated after her first exhibition and from which she has always been very much in demand for portraiture. Born in the swinging sixties. We learn she is married to husband Charlie and together they had waited sixteen years for the birth of Rachel.
Rachel, is an odd character for me, one who has always felt that she lives her life in her mother’s shadow, never good enough to be alongside her famous mother, it comes across as being partly jealous and partly confused as to who her mother really is. However, Rachel clearly adores her father and every photograph her parents had ever taken featured her with her father; her mother obviously being the photographer.
As the story starts Rachel has been jilted by her fiancé Claude on the morning of their wedding and with nowhere else to go has been forced to return to her family home. At this point the distance between mother and daughter becomes evident. As the Summer progresses those tensions and feelings of awkwardness intensify until one night when her life changes forever, nothing will be the same again or as she has ever known it.
For me, this was quite the read. I loved how the story was told from two sides, the author not interfering in how you felt about either character, almost letting you decide before throwing a plot twist right into the mix.
I enjoyed the themes, the ending was brilliant and if you like a good story that captivates you for hours, then this will tick those boxes.
As you move through the story we learn that Eleanor is a very talented and famous artist whose career escalated after her first exhibition and from which she has always been very much in demand for portraiture. Born in the swinging sixties. We learn she is married to husband Charlie and together they had waited sixteen years for the birth of Rachel.
Rachel, is an odd character for me, one who has always felt that she lives her life in her mother’s shadow, never good enough to be alongside her famous mother, it comes across as being partly jealous and partly confused as to who her mother really is. However, Rachel clearly adores her father and every photograph her parents had ever taken featured her with her father; her mother obviously being the photographer.
As the story starts Rachel has been jilted by her fiancé Claude on the morning of their wedding and with nowhere else to go has been forced to return to her family home. At this point the distance between mother and daughter becomes evident. As the Summer progresses those tensions and feelings of awkwardness intensify until one night when her life changes forever, nothing will be the same again or as she has ever known it.
For me, this was quite the read. I loved how the story was told from two sides, the author not interfering in how you felt about either character, almost letting you decide before throwing a plot twist right into the mix.
I enjoyed the themes, the ending was brilliant and if you like a good story that captivates you for hours, then this will tick those boxes.
November 22, 2025
I mostly agree with the five star reviews: an interesting and heartfelt, genuine read with believable relationships - in particular the difficult relationship between highly successful artist mother Eleanor and her, creative under-confident, heartbroken daughter Rachel (she has of course just been left at the altar when the story opens). I do think relationships undergo huge strain in the aftermath of a painful loss: grief too often leads to blame, bitterness and a a failure to communicate, rather than the support and mutual understanding of each other's pain which might help. It is a terribly difficult time.
So the spikiness of their feelings after Charlie's death - compounded by the jilting - are entirely believable.
What is harder to swallow is Rachel's absolute gullibility and weakness when it comes to Claude. For goodness sake. He proves that he's a bastard and then comes swanning back into her life when she has a huge inheritance - his gallery's in financial trouble - sell your family home please - yes of course, I have no spine.
Rachel lets him in again because without him she has no future, she says - Mum dead, Dad dead, welcome back Claude. Really? A woman has no life unless she's attached even to a truly terrible man?
She does kind of get past this and grows in strength but for me it was rather too little too late. And the gardener guy Caspian (Caspian! Gardeners are fancy in Brill...) - he was fine but thematically it was more woman needs man or it a fail. Could have just been - I'm strong, I'm worth better, I'm getting out there and finding my voice (or my art in this case.) That bit's picky though. Didn't hate Caspian.
Dual timelines worked well, swinging sixties London was great, fatherhood plot line resolution highly satisfying. So overall would highly recommend.
So the spikiness of their feelings after Charlie's death - compounded by the jilting - are entirely believable.
What is harder to swallow is Rachel's absolute gullibility and weakness when it comes to Claude. For goodness sake. He proves that he's a bastard and then comes swanning back into her life when she has a huge inheritance - his gallery's in financial trouble - sell your family home please - yes of course, I have no spine.
Rachel lets him in again because without him she has no future, she says - Mum dead, Dad dead, welcome back Claude. Really? A woman has no life unless she's attached even to a truly terrible man?
She does kind of get past this and grows in strength but for me it was rather too little too late. And the gardener guy Caspian (Caspian! Gardeners are fancy in Brill...) - he was fine but thematically it was more woman needs man or it a fail. Could have just been - I'm strong, I'm worth better, I'm getting out there and finding my voice (or my art in this case.) That bit's picky though. Didn't hate Caspian.
Dual timelines worked well, swinging sixties London was great, fatherhood plot line resolution highly satisfying. So overall would highly recommend.
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