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Wszystko, co ukrywamy
Wszystko, co ukrywamy
384 pages, Paperback
First published April 14, 2020
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35295 people want to read
About the author
Kelly Rimmer
24 books8,578 followersKelly Rimmer is the author of historical and contemporary fiction, including The Warsaw Orphan, The Things We Cannot Say and The Secret Daughter, with 3 million books sold. Her books have been translated into dozens of languages and have appeared on bestseller lists around the world, including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today.
Since 2022, Kelly has owned and operated Collins Booksellers Orange, the last remaining bookstore in the small regional city she calls home. Her next novel, The Midnight Estate, will be released in Australia, New Zealand and the UK in July 2025.
Since 2022, Kelly has owned and operated Collins Booksellers Orange, the last remaining bookstore in the small regional city she calls home. Her next novel, The Midnight Estate, will be released in Australia, New Zealand and the UK in July 2025.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 2,686 reviews
April 2, 2020
2.5 disappointing stars.
I will start by saying, Kelly Rimmer is one of my most favourite authors and this was one of my highly anticipated reads this year. Two of her previous books are my absolute favourites - Before I Let You Go and The Things We Cannot Say. This book has plenty of excellent reviews, but unfortunately it did not work for me. The fact that I love this author so much makes my less than enjoyable reading experience even more disappointing.
The novel revolves around a family that is preparing for their aging father’s death. Beth is the youngest of her four adult siblings. She is struggling with adapting to her role as a new mother and feels the need to hide her struggles from her family. The siblings move their father to a care facility and during the process of clearing out his home, they discover long hidden letters from their deceased mother. Through these letters, they uncover long kept family secrets that leave many unanswered questions.
There are several heavy topics covered within this book, however, the author did not convey these topics in a connectable way for me. I didn’t truly feel for any of the characters. The storyline felt quite long, repetitive and drawn out which had me wanting to skim read. The novel was high on drama and convenient coincidences which also didn’t sit well with me. I really liked the idea behind this book, but it just didn’t come together for me.
Overall, this wasn’t an enjoyable read for me, but I remain a fan of this author and look forward to what she comes out with next.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy!
I will start by saying, Kelly Rimmer is one of my most favourite authors and this was one of my highly anticipated reads this year. Two of her previous books are my absolute favourites - Before I Let You Go and The Things We Cannot Say. This book has plenty of excellent reviews, but unfortunately it did not work for me. The fact that I love this author so much makes my less than enjoyable reading experience even more disappointing.
The novel revolves around a family that is preparing for their aging father’s death. Beth is the youngest of her four adult siblings. She is struggling with adapting to her role as a new mother and feels the need to hide her struggles from her family. The siblings move their father to a care facility and during the process of clearing out his home, they discover long hidden letters from their deceased mother. Through these letters, they uncover long kept family secrets that leave many unanswered questions.
There are several heavy topics covered within this book, however, the author did not convey these topics in a connectable way for me. I didn’t truly feel for any of the characters. The storyline felt quite long, repetitive and drawn out which had me wanting to skim read. The novel was high on drama and convenient coincidences which also didn’t sit well with me. I really liked the idea behind this book, but it just didn’t come together for me.
Overall, this wasn’t an enjoyable read for me, but I remain a fan of this author and look forward to what she comes out with next.
Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy!
February 1, 2022
"Truth's I Never Told You" by Kelly Rimmer is Domestic Suspense within a family story!
Beth Walsh is a new mother who doesn't feel the pull to her newborn son or motherhood and she doesn't understand why. She's fearful something is terribly wrong with her. Why doesn't she feel drawn to her baby?
As her father's dementia is rapidly progressing, Beth and her three older siblings agree it's time to move him from their large family home to a care facility. Beth, still on leave from her job, relegates herself as the one to begin clearing out their family home once her father is placed and settled.
When Beth attempts to enter the upstairs childhood playroom she finds the door padlocked. Once she gains entry, she finds what resembles a hoarder's nest. Why is this room such a mess when the remainder of the house is immaculate and why was the door padlocked?
Amongst the trash, she discovers her father's mysterious paintings she has never seen and hidden journal letters written by her mother. As Beth finds more and more letters, what she reads doesn't connect with what she has been told about when and how her mother died.
Beth is determined to find answers to what appears to be family secrets her father has held back from his children for years. Will the answers result in healing or will it tear this close knit family apart?
This story has two different timelines and holds two distinct perspectives of marriage and motherhood from mother-daughter protagonist's who lived generations apart. Beth leads the present-day story line set in the late 1990's. Her mother, Grace, narrates her story and her journal letters written in the late 1950's. Beth's sister, Maryanne, also gives a solo perspective which surfaces later in the story.
I love this heart-felt and heart-wrenching story about one family with similar experiences through the generations. It's a story that exhibits how holding back truths can harm those you hold most dear. It also shows how the domestic roles and taboos of previous generations have changed ever so slowly through the years.
This audiobook's three narrators, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Piper Goodeve, and Jean Ann Douglas, gives extra texture to the protagonists POV's. Their voicing is expertly and authentically delivered and I enjoyed the experience!
I love the suspense in this story and the unexpected way the author weaves the past with the present timeline. The depth of this family story and how it is connected to our American culture through the latter half of the 20th Century is quite remarkable. I recommend this book to readers who also enjoy reading a complicated family story with a generous amount of suspense!
Beth Walsh is a new mother who doesn't feel the pull to her newborn son or motherhood and she doesn't understand why. She's fearful something is terribly wrong with her. Why doesn't she feel drawn to her baby?
As her father's dementia is rapidly progressing, Beth and her three older siblings agree it's time to move him from their large family home to a care facility. Beth, still on leave from her job, relegates herself as the one to begin clearing out their family home once her father is placed and settled.
When Beth attempts to enter the upstairs childhood playroom she finds the door padlocked. Once she gains entry, she finds what resembles a hoarder's nest. Why is this room such a mess when the remainder of the house is immaculate and why was the door padlocked?
Amongst the trash, she discovers her father's mysterious paintings she has never seen and hidden journal letters written by her mother. As Beth finds more and more letters, what she reads doesn't connect with what she has been told about when and how her mother died.
Beth is determined to find answers to what appears to be family secrets her father has held back from his children for years. Will the answers result in healing or will it tear this close knit family apart?
This story has two different timelines and holds two distinct perspectives of marriage and motherhood from mother-daughter protagonist's who lived generations apart. Beth leads the present-day story line set in the late 1990's. Her mother, Grace, narrates her story and her journal letters written in the late 1950's. Beth's sister, Maryanne, also gives a solo perspective which surfaces later in the story.
I love this heart-felt and heart-wrenching story about one family with similar experiences through the generations. It's a story that exhibits how holding back truths can harm those you hold most dear. It also shows how the domestic roles and taboos of previous generations have changed ever so slowly through the years.
This audiobook's three narrators, Sarah Mollo-Christensen, Piper Goodeve, and Jean Ann Douglas, gives extra texture to the protagonists POV's. Their voicing is expertly and authentically delivered and I enjoyed the experience!
I love the suspense in this story and the unexpected way the author weaves the past with the present timeline. The depth of this family story and how it is connected to our American culture through the latter half of the 20th Century is quite remarkable. I recommend this book to readers who also enjoy reading a complicated family story with a generous amount of suspense!
April 14, 2020
2.5 stars. Told in two timelines, Grace struggles with postpartum depression in 1957 while Beth in 1996 reluctantly helps her father move into a nursing home since he is suffering from dementia. Beth then helps her siblings clean out her fathers house where she finds letters from her mother, Grace, revealing untold family truths.
The plot was very slow to build. The first half felt very repetitive and the characters were hard to connect with. It was surprising to feel such a disconnect from the characters since the subjects at hand were so solemn and emotional. The second half presented some unexpected twists after a different narrator surprisingly enters... which helped move the plot along. The ending was okay.
Gender roles and the feminist movement in the 1950's is explored and sufficiently represented. The issues brought up in the book regarding this are engaging topics.
Overall, the topics presented were interesting but the characters were flat and the plot was tedious.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. Opinions are my own.
The plot was very slow to build. The first half felt very repetitive and the characters were hard to connect with. It was surprising to feel such a disconnect from the characters since the subjects at hand were so solemn and emotional. The second half presented some unexpected twists after a different narrator surprisingly enters... which helped move the plot along. The ending was okay.
Gender roles and the feminist movement in the 1950's is explored and sufficiently represented. The issues brought up in the book regarding this are engaging topics.
Overall, the topics presented were interesting but the characters were flat and the plot was tedious.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy. Opinions are my own.
September 22, 2025
Why I chose to listen to this audiobook:
1. my sister gifted me a hardcopy a few years ago;
2. I found the audio version via Cloud Library; and,
3. September 2025 is my "Q and R Authors" Month.
Praises:
1. although I've had some disappointing experiences with dual timelines in the past, this one really worked for me! Both were essential to each other as they eventually revealed the answers to many of my questions;
2. I had so much empathy for the female characters - the dilemmas they faced and the choices they made. What would I have done if I was in their shoes?
3. the mental health issues, namely postpartum depression and dementia, played huge roles in this story. Author Kelly Rimmer handled them with dignity and grace; and,
4. the 3 narrators (Sarah Mollo-Christen, Piper Goodeve, and Jean Ann Douglas) believably voiced their respective roles.
Niggles: None!
Overall Thoughts:
I was so invested throughout this story! I wanted to know how things would progress, and I was pleasantly surprised how secrets/actions were unveiled.
1. my sister gifted me a hardcopy a few years ago;
2. I found the audio version via Cloud Library; and,
3. September 2025 is my "Q and R Authors" Month.
Praises:
1. although I've had some disappointing experiences with dual timelines in the past, this one really worked for me! Both were essential to each other as they eventually revealed the answers to many of my questions;
2. I had so much empathy for the female characters - the dilemmas they faced and the choices they made. What would I have done if I was in their shoes?
3. the mental health issues, namely postpartum depression and dementia, played huge roles in this story. Author Kelly Rimmer handled them with dignity and grace; and,
4. the 3 narrators (Sarah Mollo-Christen, Piper Goodeve, and Jean Ann Douglas) believably voiced their respective roles.
Niggles: None!
Overall Thoughts:
I was so invested throughout this story! I wanted to know how things would progress, and I was pleasantly surprised how secrets/actions were unveiled.
March 5, 2020
EXCERPT: I'm losing it. That's what this is. It's a panic attack, or maybe a good old fashioned nervous breakdown, and maybe I'm hallucinating those notes. I do feel a little disconnected from the world, and hallucinations are as good an explanation as any. I'm going to have to leave Noah with Hunter and go into a hospital before something unthinkable happens. Crazy. It's an awful word, one I'd never ever let myself use to describe another person, but I feel crazy right now, and I'm so ashamed that I start to cry.
The letter needs my attention, and the baby needs my attention, and the canvases must match notes from her, and all of this obviously means something, and the attic is a mess, and Dad's really going to die. It's all just too much.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: With her father recently moved to a care facility for his worsening dementia, Beth Walsh volunteers to clear out the family home and is surprised to discover the door to her childhood playroom padlocked. She’s even more shocked at what’s behind it—a hoarder’s mess of her father’s paintings, mounds of discarded papers and miscellaneous junk in the otherwise fastidiously tidy house.
As she picks through the clutter, she finds a loose journal entry in what appears to be her late mother’s handwriting. Beth and her siblings grew up believing their mother died in a car accident when they were little more than toddlers, but this note suggests something much darker. Beth soon pieces together a disturbing portrait of a woman suffering from postpartum depression and a husband who bears little resemblance to the loving father Beth and her siblings know. With a newborn of her own and struggling with motherhood, Beth finds there may be more tying her and her mother together than she ever suspected.
MY THOUGHTS: I really did not enjoy the first half of Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer. I skimmed passages and debated not finishing it. But I read on and just past the half way point my interest was piqued and I read the second half with a great deal of interest.
This is the first book by this author that I have read and I am still sitting on the fence as to whether I will read more from her. A little time and distance may give me a clearer perspective on that.
Things I didn't like included being 'lectured to' rather than feeling like a part of the story. This is particularly true in the first half. I didn't feel involved at all, or much sympathy for Beth, or anyone else for that matter. And I should have felt sympathy for Beth. It was obvious she was suffering from more than just 'baby blues'. But even so, I found the first half of the book rather overwrought. Personally, I like a little subtlety rather than having a point repeatedly rammed home.
The story is told through the eyes of three women; Grace in the 1950s, her sister Maryanne, and Grace's daughter Beth in the 1990s. The mystery is that surrounding Grace's disappearance, the uncovering of the truth surrounding it and Maryanne's role in the family unit. But we find out nothing about this mystery until the second half of the book. For me, it was introduced just in time and was the only thing that kept me reading.
Great cover!
😐😐😐
#TruthsINeverToldYou #NetGalley
'We have ceremonies like funerals - not for the departed but for the living, to remind one another that even in grief, we don't have to be alone.'
'Love doesn't just need compromise to survive - love, to its very essence, is compromise. It's genuinely wanting what's best for the other person, even when it trumps your own preferences.'
THE AUTHOR: Kelly Rimmer is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including The Secret Daughter and The Things We Cannot Say. She’s sold more than one million books, and her novels have been translated into more than 20 languages. Kelly lives in the Central West of New South Wales with her family and fantastically naughty dogs, Sully and Basil.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/2020/03/...
The letter needs my attention, and the baby needs my attention, and the canvases must match notes from her, and all of this obviously means something, and the attic is a mess, and Dad's really going to die. It's all just too much.
ABOUT THIS BOOK: With her father recently moved to a care facility for his worsening dementia, Beth Walsh volunteers to clear out the family home and is surprised to discover the door to her childhood playroom padlocked. She’s even more shocked at what’s behind it—a hoarder’s mess of her father’s paintings, mounds of discarded papers and miscellaneous junk in the otherwise fastidiously tidy house.
As she picks through the clutter, she finds a loose journal entry in what appears to be her late mother’s handwriting. Beth and her siblings grew up believing their mother died in a car accident when they were little more than toddlers, but this note suggests something much darker. Beth soon pieces together a disturbing portrait of a woman suffering from postpartum depression and a husband who bears little resemblance to the loving father Beth and her siblings know. With a newborn of her own and struggling with motherhood, Beth finds there may be more tying her and her mother together than she ever suspected.
MY THOUGHTS: I really did not enjoy the first half of Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer. I skimmed passages and debated not finishing it. But I read on and just past the half way point my interest was piqued and I read the second half with a great deal of interest.
This is the first book by this author that I have read and I am still sitting on the fence as to whether I will read more from her. A little time and distance may give me a clearer perspective on that.
Things I didn't like included being 'lectured to' rather than feeling like a part of the story. This is particularly true in the first half. I didn't feel involved at all, or much sympathy for Beth, or anyone else for that matter. And I should have felt sympathy for Beth. It was obvious she was suffering from more than just 'baby blues'. But even so, I found the first half of the book rather overwrought. Personally, I like a little subtlety rather than having a point repeatedly rammed home.
The story is told through the eyes of three women; Grace in the 1950s, her sister Maryanne, and Grace's daughter Beth in the 1990s. The mystery is that surrounding Grace's disappearance, the uncovering of the truth surrounding it and Maryanne's role in the family unit. But we find out nothing about this mystery until the second half of the book. For me, it was introduced just in time and was the only thing that kept me reading.
Great cover!
😐😐😐
#TruthsINeverToldYou #NetGalley
'We have ceremonies like funerals - not for the departed but for the living, to remind one another that even in grief, we don't have to be alone.'
'Love doesn't just need compromise to survive - love, to its very essence, is compromise. It's genuinely wanting what's best for the other person, even when it trumps your own preferences.'
THE AUTHOR: Kelly Rimmer is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of ten novels, including The Secret Daughter and The Things We Cannot Say. She’s sold more than one million books, and her novels have been translated into more than 20 languages. Kelly lives in the Central West of New South Wales with her family and fantastically naughty dogs, Sully and Basil.
DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Hachette Australia via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.
For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com
This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon and my webpage sandysbookaday.wordpress.com/2020/03/...
February 26, 2020
Truths I Never Told You is the first book by Kelly Rimmer that I have read and most certainly will not be the last. She is an author that I have read so many good things about, and after finishing this book today I completely agree with them all. What an emotional roller coaster I have been on with these characters in the last 24 hours. It was a book that I didn't want to put down, completely invested in the story of this family.
Truths I Told You is told in 2 different timelines. in 1996, Beth Walsh and her siblings have made the tough decision to put their father Patrick into a care home as his dementia is worsening and doctors say hi doesn't have much longer to live. While she is cleaning out the family home she comes across paintings her father has painted that she has never seen before. There are also some old letters that are in her mothers handwriting. Beth and her brothers and sisters have always believed that Grace died in a car accident but these letters tell another story, a much darker one.
In 1957 we learn about Grace and Patrick's life, leading up to Graces' death through her letters to herself.
There are some really difficult subjects that this story covers. I both time periods the women are suffering from post partum depression. In the 50's and 60's women didn't have the same rights and choices that we do these days. At times reading about Graces' struggles was hard. I feel that Kelly Rimmer really did her research and portrayed the illness really well. As somebody who suffers from mental illness it is not always easy to read about but I felt a strong connection to these women and felt their pain.
Thank you to Hachette Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. I am looking forward to listening to Kelly talk about this book at an author even in a few weeks.
Truths I Told You is told in 2 different timelines. in 1996, Beth Walsh and her siblings have made the tough decision to put their father Patrick into a care home as his dementia is worsening and doctors say hi doesn't have much longer to live. While she is cleaning out the family home she comes across paintings her father has painted that she has never seen before. There are also some old letters that are in her mothers handwriting. Beth and her brothers and sisters have always believed that Grace died in a car accident but these letters tell another story, a much darker one.
In 1957 we learn about Grace and Patrick's life, leading up to Graces' death through her letters to herself.
There are some really difficult subjects that this story covers. I both time periods the women are suffering from post partum depression. In the 50's and 60's women didn't have the same rights and choices that we do these days. At times reading about Graces' struggles was hard. I feel that Kelly Rimmer really did her research and portrayed the illness really well. As somebody who suffers from mental illness it is not always easy to read about but I felt a strong connection to these women and felt their pain.
Thank you to Hachette Books Australia for my advanced copy of this book to read. I am looking forward to listening to Kelly talk about this book at an author even in a few weeks.
April 3, 2020
Dang, it! I thought for sure I would love this one and have that emotional pull I love so much from a story. Instead, I couldn't connect with the way the story was written and I didn't find the characters all that convincing.
There are some very emotional topics explored here in two timelines and we can see how different things are from each other. I think what I struggled with the most was in one timeline we see the character's struggles through letter and we are told about them and how the character feels. Then it seems like the story itself took on a telling tone to it, creating an overload of drama for me. At times the story felt repetitive with the dialogue between the characters and I wanted the story to move forward faster. This one just didn't work for me.
Traveling Sister read
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley
There are some very emotional topics explored here in two timelines and we can see how different things are from each other. I think what I struggled with the most was in one timeline we see the character's struggles through letter and we are told about them and how the character feels. Then it seems like the story itself took on a telling tone to it, creating an overload of drama for me. At times the story felt repetitive with the dialogue between the characters and I wanted the story to move forward faster. This one just didn't work for me.
Traveling Sister read
I received a copy from the publisher on NetGalley
April 15, 2020
3.5 Stars! Powerful, heavy, and compelling!
TRUTHS I NEVER TOLD YOU by KELLY RIMMER was a story that really struck a chord with me even though I wouldn’t necessarily say that I enjoyed these characters or felt a strong connection to them. What I did feel was a strong personal connection to aspects of the storyline.
There is a lot going on in this book and lots of drama to deal with but with that being said I thought that the author excelled at her portrayal of postpartum depression here which was done extremely well. She made me remember the emotions and the hopelessness that I felt during that time. I wasn’t depressed while reading it or the subject matter didn’t wear on me, it just felt really real to me and I thought she did a great job with that part of the storyline.
I was entertained, engaged and glad that I read this one. I wouldn’t say that the story itself is memorable but the emotions and feelings that the storyline produced was.
I received a copy from the publisher on Edelweiss.
TRUTHS I NEVER TOLD YOU by KELLY RIMMER was a story that really struck a chord with me even though I wouldn’t necessarily say that I enjoyed these characters or felt a strong connection to them. What I did feel was a strong personal connection to aspects of the storyline.
There is a lot going on in this book and lots of drama to deal with but with that being said I thought that the author excelled at her portrayal of postpartum depression here which was done extremely well. She made me remember the emotions and the hopelessness that I felt during that time. I wasn’t depressed while reading it or the subject matter didn’t wear on me, it just felt really real to me and I thought she did a great job with that part of the storyline.
I was entertained, engaged and glad that I read this one. I wouldn’t say that the story itself is memorable but the emotions and feelings that the storyline produced was.
I received a copy from the publisher on Edelweiss.
May 22, 2020
Emotional and authentic. Kelly Rimmer’s stellar storytelling strikes again! This was a powerful story about family, secrets, forgiveness, mental illness, and letting go. Told from multiple perspectives and in dual timelines. 1996, Beth a new mother is struggling with all that motherhood implies. She is also dealing with her fathers progressing dementia. Late 1950s, Grace is also struggling with motherhood, made even tougher by the fact that she has four children under the age of four. It also does not help that her husband Patrick is not very helpful or supportive. Beth the youngest of four siblings has always been told that her mother Grace was killed in a car accident. But now that her father Patrick is in care she is cleaning and organizing the house when she discovers a locked room in the attic filled with secrets.
This was a well told and well researched story. I felt a definite connection with Beth especially because I had my first child in 1996 when her storyline took place. I also suffered from a mild case of postpartum depression after my second child was born and I could understand her plight. I found the dynamics between the siblings interesting. I also was compelled by Grace’s story and had a hard time just like Beth reconciling that her loving father was the same disconnected man that Grace was married to. There was a bit of a twist towards the end of the story with the introduction of a third narrator that I loved. This perhaps was not my favorite book by Kelly Rimmer, but it was definitely entertaining and worth the read.
This book in emojis 🏡 👶🏼 🎨 📓 🗝
*** Big thank you to Harlequin for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
This was a well told and well researched story. I felt a definite connection with Beth especially because I had my first child in 1996 when her storyline took place. I also suffered from a mild case of postpartum depression after my second child was born and I could understand her plight. I found the dynamics between the siblings interesting. I also was compelled by Grace’s story and had a hard time just like Beth reconciling that her loving father was the same disconnected man that Grace was married to. There was a bit of a twist towards the end of the story with the introduction of a third narrator that I loved. This perhaps was not my favorite book by Kelly Rimmer, but it was definitely entertaining and worth the read.
This book in emojis 🏡 👶🏼 🎨 📓 🗝
*** Big thank you to Harlequin for my gifted copy of this book. All opinions are my own. ***
February 20, 2020
Beth Walsh was the youngest of the four siblings; Tim the oldest by only three years, with twins Ruth and Jeremy in between. Their mother Grace had been dead since they were toddlers and their father, Patrick had cared for them since. As a single father, he was devoted to his four children and as a result they were all very close. With Patrick having recently been moved to a care facility, ill with dementia and heart failure, the siblings were trying to come to terms with his imminent death. Beth in particular wasn’t coping. Her baby, Noah was only five months old and she was struggling with motherhood, determined to carry on regardless.
When Beth found loose papers in the attic of her father’s home, yellowed with age, which appeared to have been written by her mother, she was confused. The dates were wrong – she could remember her mother reading to her at bedtime; cuddling her when she was sad. But how could she remember when – according to the dates – she was too young?
Beth’s husband and siblings were worried about her – she wasn’t behaving rationally; had withdrawn from everyone. Their love and concern didn’t penetrate through Beth’s wall of despair – something would have to give…
Truths I Never Told You is another dynamic novel by Aussie author Kelly Rimmer. Postpartum depression can strike anyone – the research Ms Rimmer has done on this subject is obvious. Through the generations women have suffered in silence, while men, for the most, have been unaware of their partner’s raging thoughts. Now things are different from back in the mid to late 50s and into the 60s thankfully, because although postpartum depression is still with us, treatment is much further advanced. Truths I Never Told You is a heartbreaking tale, touching, poignant as well as uplifting; the love that binds family members tight can sometimes break them apart. Told in the voices of Beth, Grace and Maryanne, Truths I Never Told You is one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
When Beth found loose papers in the attic of her father’s home, yellowed with age, which appeared to have been written by her mother, she was confused. The dates were wrong – she could remember her mother reading to her at bedtime; cuddling her when she was sad. But how could she remember when – according to the dates – she was too young?
Beth’s husband and siblings were worried about her – she wasn’t behaving rationally; had withdrawn from everyone. Their love and concern didn’t penetrate through Beth’s wall of despair – something would have to give…
Truths I Never Told You is another dynamic novel by Aussie author Kelly Rimmer. Postpartum depression can strike anyone – the research Ms Rimmer has done on this subject is obvious. Through the generations women have suffered in silence, while men, for the most, have been unaware of their partner’s raging thoughts. Now things are different from back in the mid to late 50s and into the 60s thankfully, because although postpartum depression is still with us, treatment is much further advanced. Truths I Never Told You is a heartbreaking tale, touching, poignant as well as uplifting; the love that binds family members tight can sometimes break them apart. Told in the voices of Beth, Grace and Maryanne, Truths I Never Told You is one I highly recommend.
With thanks to Hachette AU for my ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2020
Truths I Never Told is written in two different timelines and Aussie author Kelly Rimmer has done an outstanding job in bringing those two timelines together.
This is an unforgettable story of motherhood, marriage, family and so much more and one you will find very difficult to put down. I absolutely loved and thoroughly enjoyed this book and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone who is looking for their next read.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
This is an unforgettable story of motherhood, marriage, family and so much more and one you will find very difficult to put down. I absolutely loved and thoroughly enjoyed this book and have no hesitation in highly recommending it to anyone who is looking for their next read.
With thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for my digital copy to read and review.
June 1, 2024
This book was fantastic! Told in dual timelines, we see the four children in the Walsh family coming together as their father needs to be moved into a memory care facility. The relationships between the four adult children were fantastic, at times warm, at others troubled, and wonderfully real. Beth, the youngest, has recently had her first child, and is struggling, though she doesn’t initially recognize why. She agrees to take on the ask of cleaning out their father’s house and finds clues to what may have happened to their mother decades before—and it may not have been what they were always told.
In the second timeline, we hear from Grace and her sister. Sometimes I struggle with flashbacks in novels, particularly when they take up a huge chunk of the narrative, but this one was FANTASTIC and gave a detailed, bleak look at what life was like for women back in a time where they had little agency. When Grace finds herself with four children under the age of four, an alcoholic husband, no money, and crushing postpartum depression, she receives no support. Doctors tell her to buck up. Her family does nothing to help because they do not approve of the marriage. She finds herself pregnant for a fifth time and facing the prospect of a fifth child under the age of five, considers the terrible option of getting an illegal abortion by an unlicensed person claiming to be a doctor.
What struck me so hard was how the women in this story suffered so much. They had few resources, no way out. The author did a wonderful job of presenting the bleakness of their situation. All of the Walsh children revered their father and considered him a wonderful man and had only perfect memories of how he’d raised them. They were too young to remember the terrible neglect of their early years described in the flashbacks. It was just incredibly well written and devastating and made me grateful that the story in present day could turn out differently.
Trigger Warnings:
In the second timeline, we hear from Grace and her sister. Sometimes I struggle with flashbacks in novels, particularly when they take up a huge chunk of the narrative, but this one was FANTASTIC and gave a detailed, bleak look at what life was like for women back in a time where they had little agency. When Grace finds herself with four children under the age of four, an alcoholic husband, no money, and crushing postpartum depression, she receives no support. Doctors tell her to buck up. Her family does nothing to help because they do not approve of the marriage. She finds herself pregnant for a fifth time and facing the prospect of a fifth child under the age of five, considers the terrible option of getting an illegal abortion by an unlicensed person claiming to be a doctor.
What struck me so hard was how the women in this story suffered so much. They had few resources, no way out. The author did a wonderful job of presenting the bleakness of their situation. All of the Walsh children revered their father and considered him a wonderful man and had only perfect memories of how he’d raised them. They were too young to remember the terrible neglect of their early years described in the flashbacks. It was just incredibly well written and devastating and made me grateful that the story in present day could turn out differently.
Trigger Warnings:
December 23, 2019
3.5 stars
This is the type of story that I felt a personal connection to but that might not be the case for every reader. I thought by far the strength of the book was how the author dealt with the topic of depression, specifically postpartum depression. I maybe had other issues with the book but the realistic portrayal of women battling depression made this a worthwhile read for me.
Beth Walsh dreamt of becoming a mother but now that she has a newborn, she has found she is struggling to adjust. Her father has dementia and has moved into a care facility, so Beth takes up the task of sorting thru his house and belongings in case the home ends up being put up for sale. Beth is surprised to discover journal entries from her late mother who died when Beth was a small child. What initially seems like a wonderful opportunity to get to learn about the mother she barely remembers, soon indicates there are some dark family secrets that have been kept for decades.
The story alternates between Beth as a mother in the 1990s and the late 1950s when Beth's mother, Grace, is struggling to raise her 4 small children. I thought the story was greatly enhanced by the author's decision to show the two different time periods and how a subject like postpartum depression was handled in the 1950s vs. the more modern 1990s era. Without getting into spoilers, there's another issue that is tackled in the 1950s storyline that at the very least is thought provoking and again gets you comparing the two different eras.
Even though I did feel for what Beth was dealing with as a new mother, I can't say she is my favorite female lead character. But I don't think you necessarily have to like a person to be able to understand and relate to some of their problems and therefore feel somewhat of a connection. Again, I really don't know if this is the book for everyone. Even though I got something out of it, other readers might find there just isn't enough here to sustain their interest.
I received a free advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This is the type of story that I felt a personal connection to but that might not be the case for every reader. I thought by far the strength of the book was how the author dealt with the topic of depression, specifically postpartum depression. I maybe had other issues with the book but the realistic portrayal of women battling depression made this a worthwhile read for me.
Beth Walsh dreamt of becoming a mother but now that she has a newborn, she has found she is struggling to adjust. Her father has dementia and has moved into a care facility, so Beth takes up the task of sorting thru his house and belongings in case the home ends up being put up for sale. Beth is surprised to discover journal entries from her late mother who died when Beth was a small child. What initially seems like a wonderful opportunity to get to learn about the mother she barely remembers, soon indicates there are some dark family secrets that have been kept for decades.
The story alternates between Beth as a mother in the 1990s and the late 1950s when Beth's mother, Grace, is struggling to raise her 4 small children. I thought the story was greatly enhanced by the author's decision to show the two different time periods and how a subject like postpartum depression was handled in the 1950s vs. the more modern 1990s era. Without getting into spoilers, there's another issue that is tackled in the 1950s storyline that at the very least is thought provoking and again gets you comparing the two different eras.
Even though I did feel for what Beth was dealing with as a new mother, I can't say she is my favorite female lead character. But I don't think you necessarily have to like a person to be able to understand and relate to some of their problems and therefore feel somewhat of a connection. Again, I really don't know if this is the book for everyone. Even though I got something out of it, other readers might find there just isn't enough here to sustain their interest.
I received a free advance copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 22, 2020
Favorite Quotes:
Alicia came with him a few times, then suddenly stopped helping out. As far as I can tell, she’s very busy being a “media personality.” Given she hasn’t had an acting or modeling gig for at least a decade, “media personality” seems to mean she spends her mornings at the gym and her afternoons with her socialite friends, hoping she’ll make it into the frame of a paparazzi photo so she can complain about her lack of privacy.
Here, more than anywhere, I feel his absence. The room smells like Dad— his aftershave and deodorant linger in the air. This scent is warm hugs on sad days, and laughter over the breakfast bar, and suffering through the sheer boredom of the old black-and-white movie marathons he so loved to inflict upon us on rainy weekends.
Mrs. Hills and Aunt Nina insisted on taking me out for a bachelorette party the weekend before the wedding. I protested furiously at this, mostly because I wasn’t exactly excited by the idea of suffering through two octogenarians offering me sex advice.
“For your generation, these problems have names, and because they are defined, solutions can be found for them. But for my generation, we didn’t have access to those solutions and it made life endlessly complicated… and for women like your mother, endlessly cruel.” Two weeks ago I stuffed a script for Prozac into my tote bag, and it’s still there— resting between baby wipes and spare pacifiers and my purse. I clutch the strap tighter in my hand… Sometimes moments of change happen during quiet conversations like this, when a simple shift in perspective empowers you to make a choice you just haven’t been able to make before.
My Review:
I finished Kelly Rimmer's latest work with tears in my eyes and hot rocks in my throat, a condition I had experienced several times during my perusal of this poignant and keenly written piece. Poignant is the word that keeps circling in my gray matter, and while accurate, poignant falls short of doing justice to this thoughtful penned story. Let me add a few more adjectives and adverbs in my paltry attempt to express my scattered thoughts, including - profoundly insightful, real-world issues, extremely relevant, heart-squeezing, painfully honest, highly emotive, sensitively handled, cleverly nuanced, masterfully written, and brilliantly paced. Ms. Rimmer seems to have an adept and nimble skill at walking the line of both sides of a controversial subject and deftly and thoughtfully exposing the grim disparities, inequities, and nitty-gritty parts that neither side can ignore. I covet her mad skills and will ever remain her ardent fangirl for life.
Alicia came with him a few times, then suddenly stopped helping out. As far as I can tell, she’s very busy being a “media personality.” Given she hasn’t had an acting or modeling gig for at least a decade, “media personality” seems to mean she spends her mornings at the gym and her afternoons with her socialite friends, hoping she’ll make it into the frame of a paparazzi photo so she can complain about her lack of privacy.
Here, more than anywhere, I feel his absence. The room smells like Dad— his aftershave and deodorant linger in the air. This scent is warm hugs on sad days, and laughter over the breakfast bar, and suffering through the sheer boredom of the old black-and-white movie marathons he so loved to inflict upon us on rainy weekends.
Mrs. Hills and Aunt Nina insisted on taking me out for a bachelorette party the weekend before the wedding. I protested furiously at this, mostly because I wasn’t exactly excited by the idea of suffering through two octogenarians offering me sex advice.
“For your generation, these problems have names, and because they are defined, solutions can be found for them. But for my generation, we didn’t have access to those solutions and it made life endlessly complicated… and for women like your mother, endlessly cruel.” Two weeks ago I stuffed a script for Prozac into my tote bag, and it’s still there— resting between baby wipes and spare pacifiers and my purse. I clutch the strap tighter in my hand… Sometimes moments of change happen during quiet conversations like this, when a simple shift in perspective empowers you to make a choice you just haven’t been able to make before.
My Review:
I finished Kelly Rimmer's latest work with tears in my eyes and hot rocks in my throat, a condition I had experienced several times during my perusal of this poignant and keenly written piece. Poignant is the word that keeps circling in my gray matter, and while accurate, poignant falls short of doing justice to this thoughtful penned story. Let me add a few more adjectives and adverbs in my paltry attempt to express my scattered thoughts, including - profoundly insightful, real-world issues, extremely relevant, heart-squeezing, painfully honest, highly emotive, sensitively handled, cleverly nuanced, masterfully written, and brilliantly paced. Ms. Rimmer seems to have an adept and nimble skill at walking the line of both sides of a controversial subject and deftly and thoughtfully exposing the grim disparities, inequities, and nitty-gritty parts that neither side can ignore. I covet her mad skills and will ever remain her ardent fangirl for life.
March 11, 2020
Four and a half stars.
Back in 1959 Grace is a young mother with for children under four, two of them twins. But Grace is struggling to deal with the situation and cannot share what she is feeling with anyone. Though she loves her husband Patrick, who her well to do family never wanted her to marry, he is no help. In desperation she pours out her feelings and fears into the pages of a notebook. She hides the notebook in a safe place where she knows Patrick will never see it. Another pregnancy sends Grace into spin. Desperate, she turns to her unmarried sister Maryanne for help.
The second story takes place in 1996 when Beth’s father is diagnosed with dementia. He also has heart failure. Despite his wish to stay at home Beth and her siblings make the decision to put their beloved father into care. It is a painful decision for this close family, Tim, Ruth, Jeremy and Beth, who have been raised and cared for by their devoted single father. To pay for the care home they will need to clear out and sell the family home. Beth, who after waiting so long to become a mother is now struggling to cope with 5 month old Noah. Shouldn’t it be getting easier by now? But it doesn’t feel that way. While clearing out the house Beth uncovers a series of notes that seem to belie the story that Beth‘s mother died in a car accident. She is determined to uncover the truth. But will doing so do more harm than good? Or will it provide some significant and enlightening, answers?
The topic of postpartum depression has obviously been well researched. Every word comes across as authentic. The lack of birth control back in the day only added to the problems of families trying to deal with too many children that they could often not adequately afford to feed and clothe. Thankfully there is more known about the problem now than there was back in the times when this book is set and since then availability and attitudes towards contraception has changed a lot.
I found this a riveting read and could feel for Grace and Beth. Because the characters were so life like and well-drawn and conditions so constricting, it actually made me feel depressed. Which shows how well written it is. But I certainly couldn’t have stopped reading it either.
No matter what your views on certain subjects, this is a thought provoking novel that tugs at the emotions. Ii is certainly a worthwhile and engrossing read. I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book from Hachette Australia to read and review. Thanks so much. Glad I had the chance to read this much talked about book.
Not sure that the quote from Sally Hepworth comparing it to Jodi Picoult is helpful though. I get sick of these comparisons between authors which often don’t hold up. This is a poignant read, well executed with complex characters, interesting themes, and it doesn’t need such comparisons. It stands on its own merits. Definitely a book that will get readers in and would make an excellent book club choice as there is lots to ponder and discuss.
Back in 1959 Grace is a young mother with for children under four, two of them twins. But Grace is struggling to deal with the situation and cannot share what she is feeling with anyone. Though she loves her husband Patrick, who her well to do family never wanted her to marry, he is no help. In desperation she pours out her feelings and fears into the pages of a notebook. She hides the notebook in a safe place where she knows Patrick will never see it. Another pregnancy sends Grace into spin. Desperate, she turns to her unmarried sister Maryanne for help.
The second story takes place in 1996 when Beth’s father is diagnosed with dementia. He also has heart failure. Despite his wish to stay at home Beth and her siblings make the decision to put their beloved father into care. It is a painful decision for this close family, Tim, Ruth, Jeremy and Beth, who have been raised and cared for by their devoted single father. To pay for the care home they will need to clear out and sell the family home. Beth, who after waiting so long to become a mother is now struggling to cope with 5 month old Noah. Shouldn’t it be getting easier by now? But it doesn’t feel that way. While clearing out the house Beth uncovers a series of notes that seem to belie the story that Beth‘s mother died in a car accident. She is determined to uncover the truth. But will doing so do more harm than good? Or will it provide some significant and enlightening, answers?
The topic of postpartum depression has obviously been well researched. Every word comes across as authentic. The lack of birth control back in the day only added to the problems of families trying to deal with too many children that they could often not adequately afford to feed and clothe. Thankfully there is more known about the problem now than there was back in the times when this book is set and since then availability and attitudes towards contraception has changed a lot.
I found this a riveting read and could feel for Grace and Beth. Because the characters were so life like and well-drawn and conditions so constricting, it actually made me feel depressed. Which shows how well written it is. But I certainly couldn’t have stopped reading it either.
No matter what your views on certain subjects, this is a thought provoking novel that tugs at the emotions. Ii is certainly a worthwhile and engrossing read. I was thrilled to receive a copy of this book from Hachette Australia to read and review. Thanks so much. Glad I had the chance to read this much talked about book.
Not sure that the quote from Sally Hepworth comparing it to Jodi Picoult is helpful though. I get sick of these comparisons between authors which often don’t hold up. This is a poignant read, well executed with complex characters, interesting themes, and it doesn’t need such comparisons. It stands on its own merits. Definitely a book that will get readers in and would make an excellent book club choice as there is lots to ponder and discuss.
December 19, 2019
ANOTHER SURE FIRE HIT FROM KELLY RIMMER
June 30, 2020
*www.onewomansbbr.wordpress.com
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer. (2020).
1959. Grace is a young mother with 4 children under 4. It's all she's ever wanted but Grace struggles with her dark thoughts after childbirth. She pours her fears into a notebook, hiding them from her husband Patrick. When Grace falls pregnant again she turns to her sister Maryanne for help.
1996. Beth and her siblings have had to put their father Patrick into care after his dementia diagnosis. As she cleans his home, she finds a series of notes that indicate her mother may not have died in a car accident after all because the notes suggest something darker could have occurred...
I absolutely loved this author's last two books (Before I Let You Go and The Things We Cannot Say). Both of those stories left me in an absolute emotional wreck at the end so I went into this one knowing that it would likely pull at the heartstrings a bit. With postnatal depression, dementia, abortion and grief/loss all playing a main role in this book, yes you can absolutely expect it to have some kind of an effect on you. The book is told through three perspectives: Grace, Maryanne and Beth. I found Grace's truly heartbreaking, just imagining being in her circumstances made me extremely sad. However the descriptions of Patrick suffering dementia was equally heartbreaking and the thought of having my parents one day suffering like that bought tears to my eyes. I'd definitely recommend this novel for those looking for a heartfelt and sensitive book which you won't forget.
*www.facebook.com/onewomansbbr
**4.5 stars**
Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer. (2020).
1959. Grace is a young mother with 4 children under 4. It's all she's ever wanted but Grace struggles with her dark thoughts after childbirth. She pours her fears into a notebook, hiding them from her husband Patrick. When Grace falls pregnant again she turns to her sister Maryanne for help.
1996. Beth and her siblings have had to put their father Patrick into care after his dementia diagnosis. As she cleans his home, she finds a series of notes that indicate her mother may not have died in a car accident after all because the notes suggest something darker could have occurred...
I absolutely loved this author's last two books (Before I Let You Go and The Things We Cannot Say). Both of those stories left me in an absolute emotional wreck at the end so I went into this one knowing that it would likely pull at the heartstrings a bit. With postnatal depression, dementia, abortion and grief/loss all playing a main role in this book, yes you can absolutely expect it to have some kind of an effect on you. The book is told through three perspectives: Grace, Maryanne and Beth. I found Grace's truly heartbreaking, just imagining being in her circumstances made me extremely sad. However the descriptions of Patrick suffering dementia was equally heartbreaking and the thought of having my parents one day suffering like that bought tears to my eyes. I'd definitely recommend this novel for those looking for a heartfelt and sensitive book which you won't forget.
March 28, 2021
Beth Walsh is the youngest in her family, she has two brothers Tim and Jeremy and an older sister Ruth. Despite the loss of their mother Grace in a car accident when they were all toddlers, the siblings had a happy childhood, the family's very close and they all love their dad Patrick.
Patrick’s health has started to decline, he has heart problems and is now suffering from dementia. The siblings have to make the difficult choice of putting their father into an aged care home and decide what to do with his house? Beth offers to clean out her dad’s home, she’s on maternity leave, and she has a five month old baby boy Noah and has the time. Beth’s husband Hunter and her siblings have been worried about her, they ask her all the time if she is OK, and she tells them she’s fine, but she’s not herself and they’re not sure if her tackling the house is a good idea? Beth's a psychologist, seeking medical advice about her not coping with motherhood, she’s very worried how it might effect her career and she's sure she can deal with it by herself.
While cleaning out her dad’s house, Beth notices the attic door has a lock on it, it’s rather odd and she can’t understand why her dad suddenly had a lock installed? When she finally gains access to the room she's shocked to find it’s a total mess, her dad's turned into a hoarder and he's taken up painting? While wading through the mess in her father’s attic, she finds an old photo album, it contains her parents wedding photos, some old papers and she assumes they were written by her mother?
When she starts reading about her dad as a young husband she’s rather shocked, her mother complained about him staying out late after work, not helping her at all with her four children, he wasted money and he drank a lot? The dad Beth grew up with worked hard, he ran a successful building company, he was responsible, everyone liked him and he was a wonderful father. Beth knows nothing about her mother’s side of the family, as she delves deeper into the past she discovers she has an Aunt Maryanne, her mother’s sister and she’s still alive. With so many unanswered questions, she contacts her Aunt, she hopes she can shed some light on her parent’s marriage and her mother’s death?
Soon it’s very obvious that both Beth and her mother Grace struggled as new mothers, it’s not just sleep deprivation, being tired or not having any time to themselves, they both felt like they carried this huge weight of expectation on their shoulders and it’s a very heavy burden. Mother and daughter suffered from post-partum depression, but during the 1950’s when Patrick took Grace to the doctor, Grace received no help at all and she just had to accept that when women married, they had babies and sometimes more than you wanted to have or could cope with looking after.
I highly recommend reading The Truths I Never Told You it’s an emotional book to read, it’s heartbreaking, full of family secrets and a times it’s very confronting. It tackles very relevant subjects such as post-partum depression, motherhood, contraception, society’s expectation, infertility and family life. I enjoyed the book, all thoughts expressed in this review are my own and I gave the book fours stars.
I have shared my review on Goodreads, Amazon Australia, Barnes & Noble, Twitter, NetGalley, Edelweiss, Kobo and my blog. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
Patrick’s health has started to decline, he has heart problems and is now suffering from dementia. The siblings have to make the difficult choice of putting their father into an aged care home and decide what to do with his house? Beth offers to clean out her dad’s home, she’s on maternity leave, and she has a five month old baby boy Noah and has the time. Beth’s husband Hunter and her siblings have been worried about her, they ask her all the time if she is OK, and she tells them she’s fine, but she’s not herself and they’re not sure if her tackling the house is a good idea? Beth's a psychologist, seeking medical advice about her not coping with motherhood, she’s very worried how it might effect her career and she's sure she can deal with it by herself.
While cleaning out her dad’s house, Beth notices the attic door has a lock on it, it’s rather odd and she can’t understand why her dad suddenly had a lock installed? When she finally gains access to the room she's shocked to find it’s a total mess, her dad's turned into a hoarder and he's taken up painting? While wading through the mess in her father’s attic, she finds an old photo album, it contains her parents wedding photos, some old papers and she assumes they were written by her mother?
When she starts reading about her dad as a young husband she’s rather shocked, her mother complained about him staying out late after work, not helping her at all with her four children, he wasted money and he drank a lot? The dad Beth grew up with worked hard, he ran a successful building company, he was responsible, everyone liked him and he was a wonderful father. Beth knows nothing about her mother’s side of the family, as she delves deeper into the past she discovers she has an Aunt Maryanne, her mother’s sister and she’s still alive. With so many unanswered questions, she contacts her Aunt, she hopes she can shed some light on her parent’s marriage and her mother’s death?
Soon it’s very obvious that both Beth and her mother Grace struggled as new mothers, it’s not just sleep deprivation, being tired or not having any time to themselves, they both felt like they carried this huge weight of expectation on their shoulders and it’s a very heavy burden. Mother and daughter suffered from post-partum depression, but during the 1950’s when Patrick took Grace to the doctor, Grace received no help at all and she just had to accept that when women married, they had babies and sometimes more than you wanted to have or could cope with looking after.
I highly recommend reading The Truths I Never Told You it’s an emotional book to read, it’s heartbreaking, full of family secrets and a times it’s very confronting. It tackles very relevant subjects such as post-partum depression, motherhood, contraception, society’s expectation, infertility and family life. I enjoyed the book, all thoughts expressed in this review are my own and I gave the book fours stars.
I have shared my review on Goodreads, Amazon Australia, Barnes & Noble, Twitter, NetGalley, Edelweiss, Kobo and my blog. https://karrenreadsbooks.blogspot.com/
June 14, 2020
I liked this book to a point, but as it got closer to the end it became obvious to me that there was an agenda attached. Author bias is evident. When reading the summary to decide if this would be a good read for our book club, it did not mention what the book is truly about. I have major moral issues and differences with the agenda that was so prevalent by the end of the book. Very disappointed.
April 21, 2020
Check out all of my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
TRUTHS I NEVER TOLD YOU by Kelly Rimmer is an intense new women’s fiction/historical mystery/suspense novel. This story follows a mother in 1957 and her daughter in 1997 with two simultaneous intertwining plot lines.
Patrick has been a beloved single father for many years and now his four children are finding it difficult to come to terms with placing him in a care facility due to his dementia and heart disease. When the youngest, Beth begins to clear the family home, she finds a disaster of paintings, papers and garbage behind the locked attic door. The siblings discover a trail of personal papers which lead them to question what they were told of their mother’s death in a car accident when they were very young.
Grace fell in love with Patrick and married young. Their family started immediately as they were strict Catholics that did not believe in birth control and money was always a problem. The twins came next and then little Beth. Patrick always promised to help, but not being able to deal with his wife’s difficulties, he turns to drink. All the children were barely over a year apart and after each birth Grace lived in a state of despair and depression. When Grace discovers she is once again pregnant, she knows she cannot go through with it and asks for help from her older sister, Maryanne.
Beth Walsh and her husband finally have a baby after years of fertility treatments, but since Noah’s birth Beth has not been herself. Her husband and sister finally get her to see a doctor and even though she is a child psychologist by profession, she fails to realize her own severe post-partum depression.
As Beth pieces together the mystery in the attic, she discovers her mother may have had the same difficulty with post-partum depression, but they were different times for her mother in the 1950’s. She and her siblings also want to find out about the mysterious Maryanne. Will the loving family be able to withstand their family secrets?
Ms. Rimmer did an amazing job of researching post-partum depression in both the 1950’s and present day and her empathy is apparent as you progress through the story. She made the inner secrets and feelings of both mother and daughter intertwine in a realistic portrayal for both their generations. I felt completely immersed in both timelines as they alternated throughout the story. Even as you are reading the intense mother/daughter stories, the author also brought Maryanne, Patrick and her three siblings lives to life on the pages. I loved how Beth cherished the written pages from her mother in the attic as a way to understand and connect with her. It is hard to not get completely immersed in this book, but it is also an emotionally difficult book to read.
I can highly recommend this novel!
TRUTHS I NEVER TOLD YOU by Kelly Rimmer is an intense new women’s fiction/historical mystery/suspense novel. This story follows a mother in 1957 and her daughter in 1997 with two simultaneous intertwining plot lines.
Patrick has been a beloved single father for many years and now his four children are finding it difficult to come to terms with placing him in a care facility due to his dementia and heart disease. When the youngest, Beth begins to clear the family home, she finds a disaster of paintings, papers and garbage behind the locked attic door. The siblings discover a trail of personal papers which lead them to question what they were told of their mother’s death in a car accident when they were very young.
Grace fell in love with Patrick and married young. Their family started immediately as they were strict Catholics that did not believe in birth control and money was always a problem. The twins came next and then little Beth. Patrick always promised to help, but not being able to deal with his wife’s difficulties, he turns to drink. All the children were barely over a year apart and after each birth Grace lived in a state of despair and depression. When Grace discovers she is once again pregnant, she knows she cannot go through with it and asks for help from her older sister, Maryanne.
Beth Walsh and her husband finally have a baby after years of fertility treatments, but since Noah’s birth Beth has not been herself. Her husband and sister finally get her to see a doctor and even though she is a child psychologist by profession, she fails to realize her own severe post-partum depression.
As Beth pieces together the mystery in the attic, she discovers her mother may have had the same difficulty with post-partum depression, but they were different times for her mother in the 1950’s. She and her siblings also want to find out about the mysterious Maryanne. Will the loving family be able to withstand their family secrets?
Ms. Rimmer did an amazing job of researching post-partum depression in both the 1950’s and present day and her empathy is apparent as you progress through the story. She made the inner secrets and feelings of both mother and daughter intertwine in a realistic portrayal for both their generations. I felt completely immersed in both timelines as they alternated throughout the story. Even as you are reading the intense mother/daughter stories, the author also brought Maryanne, Patrick and her three siblings lives to life on the pages. I loved how Beth cherished the written pages from her mother in the attic as a way to understand and connect with her. It is hard to not get completely immersed in this book, but it is also an emotionally difficult book to read.
I can highly recommend this novel!
November 9, 2020
4.5 stars rounded up
Truths I Never Told You will surely tug at your heart. This poignant story, set in two time periods, is a raw and emotional read.
It’s 1957 and after giving birth to her fourth child, Grace is overcome with what we now know is postpartum depression, “there are four souls in this house, but I am unreachably far from any of them, even as I’m far too close to guarantee their safety.” In the 1950s, women suffering from this illness were told to “pull yourself together.” In 1996, Grace has long passed and her daughter Beth is also dealing with the same malady as well as trying to cope with the impending death of her beloved father. Beth’s family, which includes her husband and three siblings, can see she is not herself yet even being a trained therapist, she is not able to seek help for her growing depression.
While cleaning out her father’s attic, Beth discovers clues leading her to question how her mother died and the type of man her father might have been at an earlier time. A third narrator is introduced later in the book - Maryanne, Grace’s sister, an independent women atypical in the 1950s. We learn of Maryanne’s life choices and the impact she had on Grace’s family.
Ms. Rimmer sensitively deals with depression, honesty, the trials of parenthood and the decline of an aging parent.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Graydon House / HarperCollins and the immensely talented Kelly Rimmer for an advance copy of this wonderful book whose characters will surely stay with me for a long time. I loved the author’s The Things We Cannot Say and her latest was high on my 2020 must-read list. It certainly fulfilled my high expectations. This is a perfect book for a Book Club.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
Truths I Never Told You will surely tug at your heart. This poignant story, set in two time periods, is a raw and emotional read.
It’s 1957 and after giving birth to her fourth child, Grace is overcome with what we now know is postpartum depression, “there are four souls in this house, but I am unreachably far from any of them, even as I’m far too close to guarantee their safety.” In the 1950s, women suffering from this illness were told to “pull yourself together.” In 1996, Grace has long passed and her daughter Beth is also dealing with the same malady as well as trying to cope with the impending death of her beloved father. Beth’s family, which includes her husband and three siblings, can see she is not herself yet even being a trained therapist, she is not able to seek help for her growing depression.
While cleaning out her father’s attic, Beth discovers clues leading her to question how her mother died and the type of man her father might have been at an earlier time. A third narrator is introduced later in the book - Maryanne, Grace’s sister, an independent women atypical in the 1950s. We learn of Maryanne’s life choices and the impact she had on Grace’s family.
Ms. Rimmer sensitively deals with depression, honesty, the trials of parenthood and the decline of an aging parent.
Many thanks to Edelweiss, Graydon House / HarperCollins and the immensely talented Kelly Rimmer for an advance copy of this wonderful book whose characters will surely stay with me for a long time. I loved the author’s The Things We Cannot Say and her latest was high on my 2020 must-read list. It certainly fulfilled my high expectations. This is a perfect book for a Book Club.
Review posted on MicheleReader.com.
January 13, 2020
As I've said time and time again, Kelly Rimmer found her way into my heart when I first read Before I Let You Go and when I read The Things We Cannot Say, she permanently cemented her place on my favorite author list. I have always been in awe of Rimmer's talent to write across a variety of genres and excel in each genre. In Truths I Never Told You, we have a mix of contemporary and the 1960s as our dual timelines and the subject in question is postpartum depression.
Rimmer creates characters that jump off the page and the reader can truly empathize with. The dual timelines in her work always add an extra layer of complexity while we try to gauge how the two might come together. In Truths I Never Told You, each timeline stands out on it's own and the melding of the two just increases that. This story will give you a lot to think about in terms of how society has changed from the 60s but also in the ways change is still needed. As always, I can appreciate the dilemmas and questions Rimmer poses through her characters.
The worst part of this? Reading the last page and knowing I will have to wait months for a new book from this sharp voice!
Thank you to Harlequin Graydon House for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
Rimmer creates characters that jump off the page and the reader can truly empathize with. The dual timelines in her work always add an extra layer of complexity while we try to gauge how the two might come together. In Truths I Never Told You, each timeline stands out on it's own and the melding of the two just increases that. This story will give you a lot to think about in terms of how society has changed from the 60s but also in the ways change is still needed. As always, I can appreciate the dilemmas and questions Rimmer poses through her characters.
The worst part of this? Reading the last page and knowing I will have to wait months for a new book from this sharp voice!
Thank you to Harlequin Graydon House for an advance copy. All opinions are my own.
September 11, 2023
Dammmnnnnnn! Kelly Rimmer nails this one home!
Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer is a dual timeline book that takes place in the 1950s and 1990s. Family-Love-Acceptance-Loss-Death. The circle of life. The author took a hot social topic and compared the decades differences. In the recovery world we say “Secrets keep us Sick.” For this precious family it certainly kept a lot of people sick and even caused death. I don’t have to agree to feel everyone has rights to make decisions based on their own needs.
Truths I Never Told You by Kelly Rimmer is a dual timeline book that takes place in the 1950s and 1990s. Family-Love-Acceptance-Loss-Death. The circle of life. The author took a hot social topic and compared the decades differences. In the recovery world we say “Secrets keep us Sick.” For this precious family it certainly kept a lot of people sick and even caused death. I don’t have to agree to feel everyone has rights to make decisions based on their own needs.
January 2, 2021
My first read of 2021 and I was not disappointed. The book explained and highlighted the many aspects of postpartum depression that affects women and their families. This illness as many mental illnesses can be multigenerational, therefore it should be taken serious but can also be properly medically controlled.
Kudos to the author for such an inspiring story. I loved that the story was told in past and present tense. I felt like I was following a soap ophra that continued to take in my emotions. The characters went through many highs and lows and ups and downs, but at the end of the day, love, patience, and understanding got them to a good stable and loving place.
Kudos to the author for such an inspiring story. I loved that the story was told in past and present tense. I felt like I was following a soap ophra that continued to take in my emotions. The characters went through many highs and lows and ups and downs, but at the end of the day, love, patience, and understanding got them to a good stable and loving place.
September 20, 2020
Truths I Never Told You is the second book by Kelly Rimmer I have read this year. The first was The Things We Cannot Say. This second novel was a little bit of a letdown since I enjoyed the first one so much.
Truths I Never Told You is about the close-knit Walsh family. Beth Walsh Evans and her three siblings were raised by their single father, Patrick, after their mother, Grace, died in a car accident. The children, a son, a set of boy and girl twins, and then Beth, were all born within four years of each other. As adults, they have remained close and have weekly family dinners at Patrick’s house.
When Patrick suffers from a heart condition and dementia, he is moved from the family home to a care facility. Beth, who is suffering from post-partum depression that she has refused to acknowledge, agrees to be the primary sibling to clean out Patrick’s home. She is surprised when she discovers the door to the large attic has been locked. Once it is opened, she finds that her meticulous father has left a disaster area of trash and discarded paintings. Among the rubble, Beth finds notes that were left by her late mother. The dates on the notes correspond to the dates on the mysterious pictures Patrick has painted. From the notes, it is clear that her mother also suffered post-partum depression. The notes also reveal a father who was a very different man than the ones the children know.
What is the most confusing is the discovery of Grace’s death certificate which is dated in 1958, two years earlier than Beth and siblings believed she had died. Beth would have only been around 18 months old and the oldest child four years old. Who was the woman they remember caring for them and taking them to their first days of school if their mother was dead? When Beth tries to ask Patrick questions, he calls her Mary Ann and tries to apologize.
In addition to postpartum depression, the novel discusses women’s roles as homemakers and mothers, along with other struggles unique to females. It also looks at what makes a family, what is in the best interest of children, and whether a man can be a single parent.
The first part of the novel seemed very slow to me. The last half was more interesting. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. I would not recommend this to my book club. The audio runs 11 hours and 42 minutes.
Truths I Never Told You is about the close-knit Walsh family. Beth Walsh Evans and her three siblings were raised by their single father, Patrick, after their mother, Grace, died in a car accident. The children, a son, a set of boy and girl twins, and then Beth, were all born within four years of each other. As adults, they have remained close and have weekly family dinners at Patrick’s house.
When Patrick suffers from a heart condition and dementia, he is moved from the family home to a care facility. Beth, who is suffering from post-partum depression that she has refused to acknowledge, agrees to be the primary sibling to clean out Patrick’s home. She is surprised when she discovers the door to the large attic has been locked. Once it is opened, she finds that her meticulous father has left a disaster area of trash and discarded paintings. Among the rubble, Beth finds notes that were left by her late mother. The dates on the notes correspond to the dates on the mysterious pictures Patrick has painted. From the notes, it is clear that her mother also suffered post-partum depression. The notes also reveal a father who was a very different man than the ones the children know.
What is the most confusing is the discovery of Grace’s death certificate which is dated in 1958, two years earlier than Beth and siblings believed she had died. Beth would have only been around 18 months old and the oldest child four years old. Who was the woman they remember caring for them and taking them to their first days of school if their mother was dead? When Beth tries to ask Patrick questions, he calls her Mary Ann and tries to apologize.
In addition to postpartum depression, the novel discusses women’s roles as homemakers and mothers, along with other struggles unique to females. It also looks at what makes a family, what is in the best interest of children, and whether a man can be a single parent.
The first part of the novel seemed very slow to me. The last half was more interesting. 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4. I would not recommend this to my book club. The audio runs 11 hours and 42 minutes.
June 14, 2020
This is a beautiful well-written book showing how the women and family members in the novel deal with Postpartum Depression. The description of the debilitating suffering, emotionally and mentally, is truly heartbreaking, while the love and compassion of a supportive family is truly and equally uplifting.
The book spans three generations. First, we are introduced to Beth who is clearly suffering PPD, although she is initially unaware of why she does not feel love and connection with her newborn infant. She is sad, exhausted, and full of morose (and guilt) at the absence of natural motherly love for her child. She cannot bear to lift the infant and she is neglectful, eager to leave the baby with her mother-in-law. Her husband, siblings, and mother-in-law never stop trying to understand and be helpful. She has an amazing, supportive family.
At the extended family’s weekly Sunday dinner we are introduced to Beth’s three older siblings, their spouses, and the patriarch of the family who raised the children alone after his wife’s death, from when they were toddlers. The father now suffers from advanced dementia and is severely deteriorated – this will be the last dinner before admitting him to a full-care health facility.
A decision must be made about the family home which may have to be liquidated to cover their father’s health care. Beth volunteers to go through her father’s belongings and to pack up the house. While doing so she finds some confusing messages written by her mother before her death. The pages tell the story of a woman plagued by PPD, unable to cope, and with no one to turn to but her sister.
When Beth's mother discovered that she was pregnant with a fifth child in four years, she resolved to take desperate action – one that would cause a fateful chain of events. Sadly, her mother had no income, no family support, and no emotional tools to cope with her illness. Her husband was ill-prepared for the responsibilities of family life. To be frank, he was a lout, but a lout who managed to straighten himself out, after the death of his wife, with the help of an unexpected ally. There are several family secrets that need to be uncovered and Beth’s father clearly wants to tell all, but he is now too far gone to do so. Eventually Beth will reconnect with an Aunt who will be able to fill in the blanks with a missing note, an explanation of her grandparents’ less than stellar behavior before and after her mother’s death, and information regarding her grandmother’s own medical history.
This book deals with only recently historical issues and repercussions of (among other things) unwanted pregnancies, Catholic prohibition of birth control, PPD, gender discrimination, anti-abortion laws, and illegal abortions. Although the book is sad in that respect, the loving and supporting relationships between the siblings and with their father is beautiful while the journey to learn the truths that were never told is fascinating.
The book spans three generations. First, we are introduced to Beth who is clearly suffering PPD, although she is initially unaware of why she does not feel love and connection with her newborn infant. She is sad, exhausted, and full of morose (and guilt) at the absence of natural motherly love for her child. She cannot bear to lift the infant and she is neglectful, eager to leave the baby with her mother-in-law. Her husband, siblings, and mother-in-law never stop trying to understand and be helpful. She has an amazing, supportive family.
At the extended family’s weekly Sunday dinner we are introduced to Beth’s three older siblings, their spouses, and the patriarch of the family who raised the children alone after his wife’s death, from when they were toddlers. The father now suffers from advanced dementia and is severely deteriorated – this will be the last dinner before admitting him to a full-care health facility.
A decision must be made about the family home which may have to be liquidated to cover their father’s health care. Beth volunteers to go through her father’s belongings and to pack up the house. While doing so she finds some confusing messages written by her mother before her death. The pages tell the story of a woman plagued by PPD, unable to cope, and with no one to turn to but her sister.
When Beth's mother discovered that she was pregnant with a fifth child in four years, she resolved to take desperate action – one that would cause a fateful chain of events. Sadly, her mother had no income, no family support, and no emotional tools to cope with her illness. Her husband was ill-prepared for the responsibilities of family life. To be frank, he was a lout, but a lout who managed to straighten himself out, after the death of his wife, with the help of an unexpected ally. There are several family secrets that need to be uncovered and Beth’s father clearly wants to tell all, but he is now too far gone to do so. Eventually Beth will reconnect with an Aunt who will be able to fill in the blanks with a missing note, an explanation of her grandparents’ less than stellar behavior before and after her mother’s death, and information regarding her grandmother’s own medical history.
This book deals with only recently historical issues and repercussions of (among other things) unwanted pregnancies, Catholic prohibition of birth control, PPD, gender discrimination, anti-abortion laws, and illegal abortions. Although the book is sad in that respect, the loving and supporting relationships between the siblings and with their father is beautiful while the journey to learn the truths that were never told is fascinating.
April 19, 2020
3.75 tough issue stars (rounded up)
I am a big fan of Kelly Rimmer’s writing so I was really excited to win this one in a Goodreads giveaway. I find that this author does not shy away from writing about tough issues – WWII in “The Things We Cannot Say” and drug addiction/pregnancy in “Before I Let You Go.” This time she tackles Alzheimer’s/dementia, women’s reproductive rights, and post-partum depression and mental health.
There are two alternating storylines here – we have Beth in the present-day storyline. She’s struggled for years with infertility but finally has a young son. She’s struggling to connect with him though and she is acting very strange. She’s part of a big family – 3 siblings and a single Dad who raised them -- and they are close enough to have dinner every week. Unfortunately, their Dad is in failing health and has been moved to nursing home and Beth is tackling cleaning out his house rather than care for her infant son.
The other storyline tracks back to the late 1950s and features Grace, the mother of the four children who died in a car accident when the children were young. As Beth cleans up the house, she finds some notes and things that don’t match up to the picture they all have of what happened to their mother. Beth’s father can’t really help explain as his dementia is too advanced. Grace suffered from post-partum depression after each of her children were born, but it wasn’t as well understood in those days. Nor was there ready access to contraception.
This one takes a while to develop, but I am left with sadness for how women like Grace had to cope, especially with husbands that weren’t supportive or responsible. There’s also a message of hope that we’ve come much farther down the path to acceptance of treatment for mental health and recognizing post-partum much sooner. Access to birth control has made such a different too with the path that women can choose for their future in a safe way.
I do think there were too many big issues tackled in this one to make it a 5-star read for me. This one gave me some thoughts to ponder on women’s rights and I hope we keep moving forward on that front!
Thanks to Graydon House for my gifted copy through a giveaway.
I am a big fan of Kelly Rimmer’s writing so I was really excited to win this one in a Goodreads giveaway. I find that this author does not shy away from writing about tough issues – WWII in “The Things We Cannot Say” and drug addiction/pregnancy in “Before I Let You Go.” This time she tackles Alzheimer’s/dementia, women’s reproductive rights, and post-partum depression and mental health.
There are two alternating storylines here – we have Beth in the present-day storyline. She’s struggled for years with infertility but finally has a young son. She’s struggling to connect with him though and she is acting very strange. She’s part of a big family – 3 siblings and a single Dad who raised them -- and they are close enough to have dinner every week. Unfortunately, their Dad is in failing health and has been moved to nursing home and Beth is tackling cleaning out his house rather than care for her infant son.
The other storyline tracks back to the late 1950s and features Grace, the mother of the four children who died in a car accident when the children were young. As Beth cleans up the house, she finds some notes and things that don’t match up to the picture they all have of what happened to their mother. Beth’s father can’t really help explain as his dementia is too advanced. Grace suffered from post-partum depression after each of her children were born, but it wasn’t as well understood in those days. Nor was there ready access to contraception.
This one takes a while to develop, but I am left with sadness for how women like Grace had to cope, especially with husbands that weren’t supportive or responsible. There’s also a message of hope that we’ve come much farther down the path to acceptance of treatment for mental health and recognizing post-partum much sooner. Access to birth control has made such a different too with the path that women can choose for their future in a safe way.
I do think there were too many big issues tackled in this one to make it a 5-star read for me. This one gave me some thoughts to ponder on women’s rights and I hope we keep moving forward on that front!
Thanks to Graydon House for my gifted copy through a giveaway.
April 12, 2020
This was one of my most anticipated books for 2020 after absolutely loving The Things We Cannot Say. That book meant so much to me and it touched a part of my soul, it’s definitely one of my all time favorite books and I don’t say that lightly. All of that to say, I had incredibly high expectations for this one and I’m thrilled to say that once again, KR has written a gorgeous story that I won’t forget.
There’s two timelines here, one in the late 1950’s and the other in the 1990’s and both were equally compelling. The author has an uncanny knack for writing about women’s issues from the past that still have relevance today and she explores them with grace and sensitivity. Post partum depression is at the core of this book and seeing the difference between how it was handled in the past (or really not even discussed at all) and in more contemporary times was heartbreaking and thought provoking. This was not an easy read, but it’s an important one and while I myself was lucky enough not to experience PPD after the births of my children I was still able to very easily connect and sympathize with the women in the story. Highly recommended by me and if you’re looking for an author to read during quarantine KR is an amazing one!
There’s two timelines here, one in the late 1950’s and the other in the 1990’s and both were equally compelling. The author has an uncanny knack for writing about women’s issues from the past that still have relevance today and she explores them with grace and sensitivity. Post partum depression is at the core of this book and seeing the difference between how it was handled in the past (or really not even discussed at all) and in more contemporary times was heartbreaking and thought provoking. This was not an easy read, but it’s an important one and while I myself was lucky enough not to experience PPD after the births of my children I was still able to very easily connect and sympathize with the women in the story. Highly recommended by me and if you’re looking for an author to read during quarantine KR is an amazing one!
June 26, 2021
After having read Before I Let You Go by Kelly Rimmer (which is one of my favorite all time books), I couldn’t wait to read Truths I Never Told You. It appears that I loved this book just as much.
Truths I Never Told You is not a light, easy read- but it is flawlessly written and the story itself is very engrossing. Everything about the characters and the detailing descriptions of postpartum depression were well researched. There was so much factual information about the rights and progressions of women’s rights from the 1950’s to the present day, and although sad it was also informative.
I highly recommend reading this book and anything else that Kelly Rimmer writes as she is easily becoming one of my go-to authors.
Truths I Never Told You is not a light, easy read- but it is flawlessly written and the story itself is very engrossing. Everything about the characters and the detailing descriptions of postpartum depression were well researched. There was so much factual information about the rights and progressions of women’s rights from the 1950’s to the present day, and although sad it was also informative.
I highly recommend reading this book and anything else that Kelly Rimmer writes as she is easily becoming one of my go-to authors.
April 7, 2020
Truths I Never Told You is the eleventh novel by best-selling Australian author, Kelly Rimmer. Bethany Evans and her siblings have accepted that their father needs to go into care: living alone with heart failure and dementia is a recipe for disaster. Despite (or perhaps because of) having five-month-old Noah to care for, Beth volunteers to sort out Patrick Walsh’s house while they decide what to do with it.
When they get the attic unlocked, it’s quite the opposite of the scrupulously neat house their father kept. What intrigues Beth most, though, is a series of ever-darkening paintings that seem to be somehow related to yellowed, hand-written notes spread throughout the mess. Beth soon realises the notes are written by Grace, the mother she barely knew, the mother who died in a car accident when she was just a toddler. Or did she? The notes seem to indicate quite a different end for Grace Walsh.
The story is told by multiple narrators alternating between two clearly-marked time periods. Forty years apart, they illustrate the great divide over that time in social attitudes on certain issues like abortion, contraception and women’s rights, while also demonstrating that mindsets about others, like mental illness and the stigma attached to it, have changed very little.
It may seem that Rimmer initially rather labours the point on Post-Natal Depression, but it does allow her to paint a clear and vivid picture of how it affects those women afflicted by this debilitating condition. The feelings of shame and inadequacy, the disconnect with baby, the lack of insight into the condition are all graphically depicted. Rimmer also touches on the plasticity of early memories and the decisions faced by the family of those with dementia. A moving and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia.
When they get the attic unlocked, it’s quite the opposite of the scrupulously neat house their father kept. What intrigues Beth most, though, is a series of ever-darkening paintings that seem to be somehow related to yellowed, hand-written notes spread throughout the mess. Beth soon realises the notes are written by Grace, the mother she barely knew, the mother who died in a car accident when she was just a toddler. Or did she? The notes seem to indicate quite a different end for Grace Walsh.
The story is told by multiple narrators alternating between two clearly-marked time periods. Forty years apart, they illustrate the great divide over that time in social attitudes on certain issues like abortion, contraception and women’s rights, while also demonstrating that mindsets about others, like mental illness and the stigma attached to it, have changed very little.
It may seem that Rimmer initially rather labours the point on Post-Natal Depression, but it does allow her to paint a clear and vivid picture of how it affects those women afflicted by this debilitating condition. The feelings of shame and inadequacy, the disconnect with baby, the lack of insight into the condition are all graphically depicted. Rimmer also touches on the plasticity of early memories and the decisions faced by the family of those with dementia. A moving and thought-provoking read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette Australia.
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