What do you think?
Rate this book
All the Things We Don't Talk About
A “big-hearted, lively, and expansive portrait of a family” that follows a neurodivergent father, his nonbinary teenager, and the sudden, catastrophic reappearance of the woman who abandoned them (Claire Lombardo, New York Times bestselling author).Morgan Flowers just wants to hide. Raised by their neurodivergent father, Morgan has grown up haunted by the absence of their mysterious mother Zoe, especially now, as they navigate their gender identity and the turmoil of first love. Their father Julian has raised Morgan with care, but he can’t quite fill the gap left by the dazzling and destructive Zoe, who fled to Europe on Morgan’s first birthday. And when Zoe is dumped by her girlfriend Brigid, she suddenly comes crashing back into Morgan and Julian’s lives, poised to disrupt the fragile peace they have so carefully cultivated.Through it all, Julian and Brigid have become unlikely pen-pals and friends, united by the knowledge of what it’s like to love and lose Zoe; they both know that she hasn’t changed. Despite the red flags, Morgan is swiftly drawn into Zoe’s glittering orbit and into a series of harmful missteps, and Brigid may be the only link that can pull them back from the edge. A story of betrayal and trauma alongside queer love and resilience, ALL THE THINGS WE DON’T TALK ABOUT is a celebration of and a reckoning with the power and unintentional pain of a thoroughly modern family.
286 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 24, 2022
73 people are currently reading
10368 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews
December 1, 2022
“A “big-hearted, lively, and expansive portrait of a family” that follows a neurodivergent father, his nonbinary teenager, and the sudden, catastrophic reappearance of the woman who abandoned them (Claire Lombardo, New York Times bestselling author).“
I really loved Amy Feltman’s debut. Her stories are smart, inclusive, and full of emotion. Morgan is a teenager and nonbinary. Their father, Julian, has autism, and their absent mother, Zoe, has alcoholism. Everything changes when Zoe shows back up, and Morgan and Julian have to deal with the aftermath.
The shifting dynamics in in All the Things always felt real. This family is grappling with layer upon layer of emotion, change, shifting relationships.
I think this is an important story with relatable emotions. Feltman’s gift with characterization truly sparkles here. I’d love to read a follow-up story because I was so invested in this journey.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
I really loved Amy Feltman’s debut. Her stories are smart, inclusive, and full of emotion. Morgan is a teenager and nonbinary. Their father, Julian, has autism, and their absent mother, Zoe, has alcoholism. Everything changes when Zoe shows back up, and Morgan and Julian have to deal with the aftermath.
The shifting dynamics in in All the Things always felt real. This family is grappling with layer upon layer of emotion, change, shifting relationships.
I think this is an important story with relatable emotions. Feltman’s gift with characterization truly sparkles here. I’d love to read a follow-up story because I was so invested in this journey.
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
April 3, 2022
REVIEW: Yall, I’ve been in a slump for about a month now. I’m thankful to say I think this book finally pulled me out of it.
I’ve got three letters to deliver - WOW. That’s it - just WOW. This book touches on so many hard hitting issues but treats them with SUCH care and does what is rare but what I appreciate in a book - it follows through on every single one.
Among the largest, we have a neurodivergent father, a non-binary daughter, and an absent mother dealing with alcoholism. It is so easy to throw in representation purely for the sake of representation without doing any research or handling the topics with respect. I feel like I see that so often and I get disappointed every time. That’s not what you have here, though. Feltman dove into what it truly means to be neurodivergent, the struggles of coming out as non-binary and how this shapes your identity and how others see you, and the alcoholic’s true battle with life and the goal of sobriety. It was so carefully and beautifully done, and I found myself constantly highlighting special moments where I felt the author did a fantastic job with all three topics.
Of course, there are more hard-hitting issues, but I don’t have enough space to mention them. I’ll just say the author did a wonderful job.
My only critique was that the book opened with a school shooting that you thought was going to be a major plot point and simply died off; it didn’t really matter.
It comes out on May 24. Just go read it.
💛VERDICT: 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎶Song Rec: “A Pearl” - Mitski (look out for this Easter egg ❤️)
I’ve got three letters to deliver - WOW. That’s it - just WOW. This book touches on so many hard hitting issues but treats them with SUCH care and does what is rare but what I appreciate in a book - it follows through on every single one.
Among the largest, we have a neurodivergent father, a non-binary daughter, and an absent mother dealing with alcoholism. It is so easy to throw in representation purely for the sake of representation without doing any research or handling the topics with respect. I feel like I see that so often and I get disappointed every time. That’s not what you have here, though. Feltman dove into what it truly means to be neurodivergent, the struggles of coming out as non-binary and how this shapes your identity and how others see you, and the alcoholic’s true battle with life and the goal of sobriety. It was so carefully and beautifully done, and I found myself constantly highlighting special moments where I felt the author did a fantastic job with all three topics.
Of course, there are more hard-hitting issues, but I don’t have enough space to mention them. I’ll just say the author did a wonderful job.
My only critique was that the book opened with a school shooting that you thought was going to be a major plot point and simply died off; it didn’t really matter.
It comes out on May 24. Just go read it.
💛VERDICT: 5 STARS ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🎶Song Rec: “A Pearl” - Mitski (look out for this Easter egg ❤️)
May 27, 2022
Unfortunately this one fell pretty flat for me. I really loved the premise and I enjoyed some of the characters. Morgan is a wonderful protagonist- a non-binary teen trying to figure out who they are and where they fit in. Their father Julian is neurodivergent and struggling to raise Morgan alone and come to terms with Morgan’s mother Zoe’s absence then reappearance. Zoe is the character I had the most problems with. Yes she’s an addict which has led to her leaving her family and making a life in another country, but to me she just wasn’t believable. Her partner Brigid was hard to follow as well. No spoilers but her involvement with Zoe’s past seemed incredibly unbelievable and just didn’t make sense for me.
There were also numerous editing errors that threw things off for me and I kept looking for more and it didn’t help the reading experience. Loved the premise; the execution did not work on this one.
There were also numerous editing errors that threw things off for me and I kept looking for more and it didn’t help the reading experience. Loved the premise; the execution did not work on this one.
June 15, 2024
3.5 rounded up, full review to come!
June 28, 2022
Ugh just soooo mundane!! No thank you. Could not care for any character or any part of the story. The only reason I read and finished it was so I can complain about it at book club.
Read
August 16, 2022After an almost-school shooting, Morgan Flowers starts a relationship with their crush at the same time their absent alcoholic mother returns to their life. This novel explores the ways we hurt and harm one another—often unintentionally—in familial, romantic, and platonic relationships.
June 25, 2022
3.5
A moving family drama about Julian, a neurodiverse father and Morgan, his nonbinary teenager whose world gets thrown into chaos when Zoe, the mother who abandoned the family returns from out of the blue wanting to rekindle a relationship with Morgan.
This book had great representation and reminded me a lot of Kim Hooper's newest, Ways the world could end or Laurie Frankel's This is how it always is.
Recommended for fans of well written family stories that make you empathize with the characters and great on audio too.
A moving family drama about Julian, a neurodiverse father and Morgan, his nonbinary teenager whose world gets thrown into chaos when Zoe, the mother who abandoned the family returns from out of the blue wanting to rekindle a relationship with Morgan.
This book had great representation and reminded me a lot of Kim Hooper's newest, Ways the world could end or Laurie Frankel's This is how it always is.
Recommended for fans of well written family stories that make you empathize with the characters and great on audio too.
June 19, 2022
3.5, rounded up. Too tired for a proper review but the depiction of autism in this book rang much more true to me than whatever was going on in The Maid.
dnf
June 22, 2022DNF at 4%. I just can’t read a book that opens with an attempted school shooting. The whole thing has Big Sad Energy too and I’m struggling with the literary queerness these days. My queerness is under attack and I want joy in my fiction not trauma.
That said, I think Feltman is doing interesting character work here and I may try again when I’m in a different headspace.
That said, I think Feltman is doing interesting character work here and I may try again when I’m in a different headspace.
July 1, 2022
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for providing me a review copy of the book.
"and you should understand that her help isn't help. you should understand that trying only matters to a point."
This book is a treasure. It delivered on and exceeded every expectation I had for it: excellent nonbinary and neurodivergent rep, unpacking emotional abuse & toxic relationships, exploring and healing family bonds. I think the triumph of this novel are the characters. They feel so real and tangible and complicated in a way that isn't contrived. They are complicated the way every person is complicated and layered. 'Goodness' and 'badness' as it relates to the moral standing of the characters is nuanced in the same way it is in the real world.
The characters the audience should be rooting for, the heroes if you will, make mistakes too. Mistakes that feel natural and relatable. On the other hand, Zoe, the main antagonist and source of the majority of the book's conflict, feels equally as familiar. I know people like Zoe, who blaze through life and destroy everything around them. Feltman does an incredible job of writing a character like Zoe in a deeply authentic way. She never shies away from holding Zoe accountable for her actions, it is clear that she is the problem. At the same time, Feltman allows the reader room to feel sympathy for the character. Not in a way that would excuse Zoe for the harm she's done, but just in a baseline 'this is a person and people make mistakes- huge mistakes even- but that doesn't mean they don't deserve to be treated with humanity,' kind of way. Zoe's character made me positively apoplectic, I hated her and I wanted her as far away from Julian and Morgan and Natalie and Brigid as possible. But at the same time, by giving us a POV of Zoe, Feltman gives the character a depth you rarely see in antagonists of her caliber. She challenges the reader to have a nuanced understanding of Zoe.
This book is perfect for literary fiction fans who love a character driven novel, who love complicated characters navigating complicated relationships. This book is perfect for fans of family sagas. One of my favorite moments in the book is towards the end when Julian and Morgan are discussing Morgan's gender identity. It made me tear up and it was such a heartwarming and tender moment. This book is about grief and love and resilience and the consequences of our actions and how making mistakes doesn't mean we're bad people. It's how we choose to respond that really reflects our character.
Also, I was pleasantly surprised (putting it mildly actually, I was very excited) to discover that the book's title is a reference to a pearl by mitski. 'you're growing tired of me and all the things I don't talk about.' In honor of that, here are some other songs that I associate with the novel:
-I want you by mitski
-fourth of july by sufjan stevens
-under the table by fiona apple
-home with you by fka twigs
-motion sickness by phoebe bridgers
-when the party’s over by billie eilish
please, please read over the TWs for this book. It is a heavy read and many of these TWs are discussed graphically and at length. Please take care of yourself when deciding whether to read it or not.
tws: child abandonment, parental death, grief, alcoholism, infertility, school shooting, gun violence, drug use, drug abuse, vomit, misgendering, gaslighting, references to sexual content, injury, suicidal ideation, emotional abuse, online stalking, doxxing, transphobia, car accident, cancer, toxic relationship, pregnancy, dysphoria, abortion
"and you should understand that her help isn't help. you should understand that trying only matters to a point."
This book is a treasure. It delivered on and exceeded every expectation I had for it: excellent nonbinary and neurodivergent rep, unpacking emotional abuse & toxic relationships, exploring and healing family bonds. I think the triumph of this novel are the characters. They feel so real and tangible and complicated in a way that isn't contrived. They are complicated the way every person is complicated and layered. 'Goodness' and 'badness' as it relates to the moral standing of the characters is nuanced in the same way it is in the real world.
The characters the audience should be rooting for, the heroes if you will, make mistakes too. Mistakes that feel natural and relatable. On the other hand, Zoe, the main antagonist and source of the majority of the book's conflict, feels equally as familiar. I know people like Zoe, who blaze through life and destroy everything around them. Feltman does an incredible job of writing a character like Zoe in a deeply authentic way. She never shies away from holding Zoe accountable for her actions, it is clear that she is the problem. At the same time, Feltman allows the reader room to feel sympathy for the character. Not in a way that would excuse Zoe for the harm she's done, but just in a baseline 'this is a person and people make mistakes- huge mistakes even- but that doesn't mean they don't deserve to be treated with humanity,' kind of way. Zoe's character made me positively apoplectic, I hated her and I wanted her as far away from Julian and Morgan and Natalie and Brigid as possible. But at the same time, by giving us a POV of Zoe, Feltman gives the character a depth you rarely see in antagonists of her caliber. She challenges the reader to have a nuanced understanding of Zoe.
This book is perfect for literary fiction fans who love a character driven novel, who love complicated characters navigating complicated relationships. This book is perfect for fans of family sagas. One of my favorite moments in the book is towards the end when Julian and Morgan are discussing Morgan's gender identity. It made me tear up and it was such a heartwarming and tender moment. This book is about grief and love and resilience and the consequences of our actions and how making mistakes doesn't mean we're bad people. It's how we choose to respond that really reflects our character.
Also, I was pleasantly surprised (putting it mildly actually, I was very excited) to discover that the book's title is a reference to a pearl by mitski. 'you're growing tired of me and all the things I don't talk about.' In honor of that, here are some other songs that I associate with the novel:
-I want you by mitski
-fourth of july by sufjan stevens
-under the table by fiona apple
-home with you by fka twigs
-motion sickness by phoebe bridgers
-when the party’s over by billie eilish
please, please read over the TWs for this book. It is a heavy read and many of these TWs are discussed graphically and at length. Please take care of yourself when deciding whether to read it or not.
tws: child abandonment, parental death, grief, alcoholism, infertility, school shooting, gun violence, drug use, drug abuse, vomit, misgendering, gaslighting, references to sexual content, injury, suicidal ideation, emotional abuse, online stalking, doxxing, transphobia, car accident, cancer, toxic relationship, pregnancy, dysphoria, abortion
August 6, 2022
I’ve just finished the book, so maybe I will change my review after some thought. I’ll start with the things I liked. The characters were really wonderful and described beautifully. There were small, beautiful sentences that made me want to dive into this world and witness what was unfolding. But by the time that Zoe ended up in the hospital for the SECOND time, I felt like I had seen enough.
I found myself rooting for an ending in which Morgan completely cut off Zoe. I ached for them to stand up to her and really let her have it. But as the book reached its end, I had to ask myself whether the resolution was that Morgan simply accepted they could be just as messy as their mother. Whether EVERYONE accepted they were just as messy. Why did Morgan go back to Zoe even after Sadie had set clear boundaries regarding that very thing? Why did Julian drop Morgan off in a train station with Zoe? Why did no one acknowledge that $8,000 was an insult after Zoe had caused so much damage and never paid child support? To me, Zoe didn’t prove herself at the end. There was nothing that told me she wasn’t just going to relapse the next day. Did she even have a job? Was falling face-first into mice really that much more traumatizing than breaking a few ribs? How long had it been since she had broken her ribs anyway?
What I loved about this book is that it wasn’t cheesy. It was real, but that realness seemed to unravel into a messy reality that I just didn’t enjoy watching. I’m still conflicted on how many stars to give this book, but hey, maybe that is a testament to how well it displays the messiness of addiction and narcissism.
I found myself rooting for an ending in which Morgan completely cut off Zoe. I ached for them to stand up to her and really let her have it. But as the book reached its end, I had to ask myself whether the resolution was that Morgan simply accepted they could be just as messy as their mother. Whether EVERYONE accepted they were just as messy. Why did Morgan go back to Zoe even after Sadie had set clear boundaries regarding that very thing? Why did Julian drop Morgan off in a train station with Zoe? Why did no one acknowledge that $8,000 was an insult after Zoe had caused so much damage and never paid child support? To me, Zoe didn’t prove herself at the end. There was nothing that told me she wasn’t just going to relapse the next day. Did she even have a job? Was falling face-first into mice really that much more traumatizing than breaking a few ribs? How long had it been since she had broken her ribs anyway?
What I loved about this book is that it wasn’t cheesy. It was real, but that realness seemed to unravel into a messy reality that I just didn’t enjoy watching. I’m still conflicted on how many stars to give this book, but hey, maybe that is a testament to how well it displays the messiness of addiction and narcissism.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2022
(3.75) This was told in four different perspectives. First we have Morgan, who is a non-binary teen. Then we have their father Julian, who is autistic. We also have their mother Zoe, who is an alcoholic and abandoned them. And lastly, Brigid, Zoe’s partner.
This is not a light-hearted book. It sheds light on so many important issues: trauma, addiction, identity. So many things happened in this book and I think I’m just a bit overwhelmed.
We see Morgan as they try to cope with a traumatic event at school, and also as they struggle with their identity and first relationship. We see Julian trying the best he can to be a great father for Morgan. And we see all the drama, chaos and pain when Zoe suddenly shows up. The characters are all very complex. And their struggles felt so raw and real. I felt sad for basically all of them. I also felt infuriated at times at their circumstances.
I cared about all the characters, but Julian was probably my favorite. But I feel like we didn’t get enough of him. I really wanted to learn more about him.
Regardless, this was a sad and emotional read that was beautifully written.
Thank you @grandcentralpub and @amyfeltmanwrites for this #gifted copy!
This is not a light-hearted book. It sheds light on so many important issues: trauma, addiction, identity. So many things happened in this book and I think I’m just a bit overwhelmed.
We see Morgan as they try to cope with a traumatic event at school, and also as they struggle with their identity and first relationship. We see Julian trying the best he can to be a great father for Morgan. And we see all the drama, chaos and pain when Zoe suddenly shows up. The characters are all very complex. And their struggles felt so raw and real. I felt sad for basically all of them. I also felt infuriated at times at their circumstances.
I cared about all the characters, but Julian was probably my favorite. But I feel like we didn’t get enough of him. I really wanted to learn more about him.
Regardless, this was a sad and emotional read that was beautifully written.
Thank you @grandcentralpub and @amyfeltmanwrites for this #gifted copy!
May 24, 2022
All the Things We Don’t Talk About is a moving, emotional family drama that focuses on Morgan, a non-binary teenager; Julian, their autistic father; Zoe, their alcoholic mother, and Brigid, Zoe’s on-and-off-again girlfriend. The novel is a glimpse into the complex connections between them that turn their world upside down when Zoe crashes into Julian and Morgan’s lives after years of absence.
I am a huge fan of family dramas. There’s something incredibly thrilling and escapist about being able to immerse yourself in the everyday lives of others. In this novel, Feltman creates a family so unique and so fascinating, that I read the better part of the book in one sitting. Even though it’s not exactly fast-paced, I simply devoured the story. The characters, even the side ones, are so human and flawed yet so understandable and easy to connect with, that it felt like reading about real, living people. I loved how layered both their personalities and relationships were, the way everything came together was extremely satisfying and despite the fact that there’s a lot of heartbreak and many bad choices, the overall message of hope and forgiveness was inspiring. I especially loved the way the relationship between Morgan and Sadie developed; their conversations and the tenderness with which Feltman wrote about them was just beautiful. I also appreciate how queer and neurodivergent the Flowers family was. It’s beyond exciting to live in times where families like this one can be put in the spotlight and given their right to shine.
TLDR: All the Things We Don’t Talk Aboutis a touching, character-driven story about what it means to be a family - both biological and found - and the longing to be understood. A truly multi-layered, stunning read.
I am a huge fan of family dramas. There’s something incredibly thrilling and escapist about being able to immerse yourself in the everyday lives of others. In this novel, Feltman creates a family so unique and so fascinating, that I read the better part of the book in one sitting. Even though it’s not exactly fast-paced, I simply devoured the story. The characters, even the side ones, are so human and flawed yet so understandable and easy to connect with, that it felt like reading about real, living people. I loved how layered both their personalities and relationships were, the way everything came together was extremely satisfying and despite the fact that there’s a lot of heartbreak and many bad choices, the overall message of hope and forgiveness was inspiring. I especially loved the way the relationship between Morgan and Sadie developed; their conversations and the tenderness with which Feltman wrote about them was just beautiful. I also appreciate how queer and neurodivergent the Flowers family was. It’s beyond exciting to live in times where families like this one can be put in the spotlight and given their right to shine.
TLDR: All the Things We Don’t Talk Aboutis a touching, character-driven story about what it means to be a family - both biological and found - and the longing to be understood. A truly multi-layered, stunning read.
Read
May 26, 20234.5☆
A mesmerizing, emotional, modern family saga!
All The Things We Dont Talk About was a book I was excited to read! It features a non-binary teen, Morgan, their neurodivergent father, Julian and their queer, alcoholic mother Zoe, and her partner Bridget. It deals with lonliness, addiction, gender identity, flawed love, trama, complicated family relationships, friendships, betrayal, queer love, and resilience. Morgan is navigating so much, gender identity, first love, complicated parents. Julian is just trying his best, Zoe is a rollercoaster, and Bridget just wants the best for everyone.
I really enjoyed reading this book! The way it explored the complexities of loving someone was so well done. Felton gives us great, heartfelt characters, yearning for love and connection. Wonderful storytelling. It was compelling and completely pulled me in! If you enjoy family sagas I highly reccomend this one.
Thank You to grandcentralpub for sending me this book opinions are my own.
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
A mesmerizing, emotional, modern family saga!
All The Things We Dont Talk About was a book I was excited to read! It features a non-binary teen, Morgan, their neurodivergent father, Julian and their queer, alcoholic mother Zoe, and her partner Bridget. It deals with lonliness, addiction, gender identity, flawed love, trama, complicated family relationships, friendships, betrayal, queer love, and resilience. Morgan is navigating so much, gender identity, first love, complicated parents. Julian is just trying his best, Zoe is a rollercoaster, and Bridget just wants the best for everyone.
I really enjoyed reading this book! The way it explored the complexities of loving someone was so well done. Felton gives us great, heartfelt characters, yearning for love and connection. Wonderful storytelling. It was compelling and completely pulled me in! If you enjoy family sagas I highly reccomend this one.
Thank You to grandcentralpub for sending me this book opinions are my own.
For more of my book content check out instagram.com/bookalong
February 2, 2022
Thank you to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC of All the Things We Don't Talk About!
This book was delightful in a ""I feel sad for just about everybody involved but the drama keeps it interesting" kind of way. I've read quite a few novels with NB characters of Morgan has been one of my favorites. Their struggle with their gender identity was profound and well explained in her interactions with Julian.
I deducted one star from my overall review mostly because I wanted more of a resolution for Julian. He was my favorite character and I felt like he never got the full story that he should have had as a single parent. I'd personally read a whole book centered around Julian.
This book was delightful in a ""I feel sad for just about everybody involved but the drama keeps it interesting" kind of way. I've read quite a few novels with NB characters of Morgan has been one of my favorites. Their struggle with their gender identity was profound and well explained in her interactions with Julian.
I deducted one star from my overall review mostly because I wanted more of a resolution for Julian. He was my favorite character and I felt like he never got the full story that he should have had as a single parent. I'd personally read a whole book centered around Julian.
April 25, 2022
Thank you to the publisher and netgalley for the gifted copy. All opinions are my own.
I really enjoyed this heartfelt and very real, family saga. I cared for the characters, and felt sad for the things they had to face. Morgan is the non-binary daughter of Julian, their autistic father. Morgan's mother Zoe, an alcoholic, had left them, and when she comes crashing back into their life, there is plenty of drama that follows.
I thought the author did a fantastic job here! Showing the struggles of these main characters, such being autistic, coming out as non-binary, and dealing with alcoholism. I loved reading this beautiful and emotional story. I think this would make a great book for book clubs, as there Is much to discuss.
I really enjoyed this heartfelt and very real, family saga. I cared for the characters, and felt sad for the things they had to face. Morgan is the non-binary daughter of Julian, their autistic father. Morgan's mother Zoe, an alcoholic, had left them, and when she comes crashing back into their life, there is plenty of drama that follows.
I thought the author did a fantastic job here! Showing the struggles of these main characters, such being autistic, coming out as non-binary, and dealing with alcoholism. I loved reading this beautiful and emotional story. I think this would make a great book for book clubs, as there Is much to discuss.
August 10, 2022
This novel alternates between the perspectives of Morgan, a gender non-binary high school student; Julian, Morgan’s dad who is neurodiverse; Zoe, Morgan’s mon who abandoned Morgan and Julian when Morgan was young and is an alcoholic; and occasionally Bridget, Zoe’s on again/off again partner.
There was a lot going on in this book, maybe a little too much - I think it maybe would have been stronger if it focused on just Morgan and Julian’s perspectives - especially because I thought their stories were more interesting. I enjoyed the representation of having a gender non-binary and neurodiverse father and child and thought both were thoughtfully and interestingly portrayed. The writing was also really good and I would definitely read another book by Amy Feltman.
Side note - the setting of this book felt odd as it was ostensibly set in NYC but I couldn’t tell at all where Julian and Morgan were supposed to live - was it far uptown Manhattan, another borough, a suburb? At times it seemed like any/all of these which confused me. Minor quibble but it really distracted me!
Anyway, overall while not perfect, it really kept me reading despite being a quiet book, and was a solid read which I would recommend to fans of dysfunctional family dramas.
3.75 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
There was a lot going on in this book, maybe a little too much - I think it maybe would have been stronger if it focused on just Morgan and Julian’s perspectives - especially because I thought their stories were more interesting. I enjoyed the representation of having a gender non-binary and neurodiverse father and child and thought both were thoughtfully and interestingly portrayed. The writing was also really good and I would definitely read another book by Amy Feltman.
Side note - the setting of this book felt odd as it was ostensibly set in NYC but I couldn’t tell at all where Julian and Morgan were supposed to live - was it far uptown Manhattan, another borough, a suburb? At times it seemed like any/all of these which confused me. Minor quibble but it really distracted me!
Anyway, overall while not perfect, it really kept me reading despite being a quiet book, and was a solid read which I would recommend to fans of dysfunctional family dramas.
3.75 stars
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
December 16, 2023
I'm so glad I continued reading this book! I was considering to stop half way because it was so intensely depressing. But I'm glad I read on, because there is a hopeful ending.
I won't go into details except that in the end of the book, Zoë is 8 months sober and attending AA meetings.
When looking for reviews with spoilers I read a lot of reviews saying they found this ending hard to believe. I find that very cynical and also unrealistic. There are loads of alcoholics attending AA meetings and trying to stay sober, and succeeding. Sometimes a long time. And yes, Zoë will probably relapse at some point. And then she needs help to get back on track again. That's life. But that doesn't mean that all is wasted. It's just that progress comes with ups and downs and is never a straight line.
Then there were reviews saying it was "too many issues at the same time". To those people I want to say: do you think only straight, cis and neurotypisch people live with addictive family members? It is so typical to think that deviation from the norm only comes one issue at the time. As a queer, chronically ill, disabled and neurodivergent person married to a neurodivergent trans person I actually thought this was a very realistic scenario, and it was refreshing to read about ND and queer characters with their identities just being there and not overly problematized.
I liked the book. Almost loved it, but it was a bit too harsh for that I think. I really liked how the characters actually grew and learned instead of just turning in circles again and again like in many other novels. Learning and growth are how stuff happens in real life.
I won't go into details except that in the end of the book, Zoë is 8 months sober and attending AA meetings.
When looking for reviews with spoilers I read a lot of reviews saying they found this ending hard to believe. I find that very cynical and also unrealistic. There are loads of alcoholics attending AA meetings and trying to stay sober, and succeeding. Sometimes a long time. And yes, Zoë will probably relapse at some point. And then she needs help to get back on track again. That's life. But that doesn't mean that all is wasted. It's just that progress comes with ups and downs and is never a straight line.
Then there were reviews saying it was "too many issues at the same time". To those people I want to say: do you think only straight, cis and neurotypisch people live with addictive family members? It is so typical to think that deviation from the norm only comes one issue at the time. As a queer, chronically ill, disabled and neurodivergent person married to a neurodivergent trans person I actually thought this was a very realistic scenario, and it was refreshing to read about ND and queer characters with their identities just being there and not overly problematized.
I liked the book. Almost loved it, but it was a bit too harsh for that I think. I really liked how the characters actually grew and learned instead of just turning in circles again and again like in many other novels. Learning and growth are how stuff happens in real life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2022
I appreciated that the MC was non- binary as that provided an interesting perspective. His father’s autism was also presented well. However, I was unable to connect to the characters and for that reason, the story just couldn’t hold my interest. I ended up DNF ing the book at the 50% mark, though I did skip ahead to read the final few pages (which didn’t offer much in the way of satisfactory resolution). Thank to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to review this unique book.
June 27, 2022
I guess I’m becoming a literary fiction person now because holy shit this was good
September 12, 2023
What was that ending?? I was genuinely confused on how the book concluded.. I wanted to love this book considering how it touched on so many important topics however it also felt like the author was trying to include so many things to make the book seem as relevant as possible and it kind of was a mess
June 30, 2022
I read All the Things We Don't Talk About as my book club's June pick, and I was very thankful to have a group to discuss this book with. The book dives into complex and at times heavy topics, so it made for a great discussion. This is the type of book we need more of, as it helps us reckon with the societal norms we have engrained and opens us up to changing how we view the world.
I loved Julian's character and felt he was wonderfully written. I think the author also did a great job fleshing out the other characters in this novel, making it an enjoyable read.
I loved Julian's character and felt he was wonderfully written. I think the author also did a great job fleshing out the other characters in this novel, making it an enjoyable read.
June 1, 2022
Seventeen year-old Morgan Flowers feels like something in missing in their life. Being raised by Julian, their neurodivergent father, they have always wondered what their mother, Zoe, is like and why she left when they were a baby. As Morgan explores their nonbinary identity and tries to find footing in their life, they meet Sadie and they fall for Sadie fast and hard. Morgan begins to feel the beginnings of bliss, only to have it come crashing down when their destructive mother shows up after being dumped by her long time girlfriend, Brigid.
This story was a real page turner for me. Told from four perspectives (Morgan, Julian, Zoe, and Brigid), I got a good sense of where each character was coming from. Each of them were complicated in their own way and each of them had reasons why they made the decisions they did. The story was deeply engrossing because I needed to know how it would play out. I had a sense of foreboding from the beginning and I knew that the mother was going to come in and cause some problems for Morgan and their father. I could never have imagined the level of destruction she would bring.
As a child of an alcoholic, I sometimes have a difficult time swallowing stories that hit too close to home, but I didn't feel that way with this book. I found myself getting angry at Zoe while also feeling heartbroken that she was so damaged. The dynamics between Zoe and the other characters were intricate and somewhat unhealthy but that's what it made feel real.
I really enjoyed Amy Feltman's writing style in this novel. It was the kind of writing that made me feel everything that was between the lines in the deepest sense. The dialogue in this story was honest, raw, and helped develop each character in my mind.
This is an absorbing coming-of-age story with lots of family drama that I really enjoyed. I'm going to be processing this one for a while, I know it.
⚠️: mention of cancer & fatal car accident, death of a loved one, abandonment, alcoholism, doxing
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
This story was a real page turner for me. Told from four perspectives (Morgan, Julian, Zoe, and Brigid), I got a good sense of where each character was coming from. Each of them were complicated in their own way and each of them had reasons why they made the decisions they did. The story was deeply engrossing because I needed to know how it would play out. I had a sense of foreboding from the beginning and I knew that the mother was going to come in and cause some problems for Morgan and their father. I could never have imagined the level of destruction she would bring.
As a child of an alcoholic, I sometimes have a difficult time swallowing stories that hit too close to home, but I didn't feel that way with this book. I found myself getting angry at Zoe while also feeling heartbroken that she was so damaged. The dynamics between Zoe and the other characters were intricate and somewhat unhealthy but that's what it made feel real.
I really enjoyed Amy Feltman's writing style in this novel. It was the kind of writing that made me feel everything that was between the lines in the deepest sense. The dialogue in this story was honest, raw, and helped develop each character in my mind.
This is an absorbing coming-of-age story with lots of family drama that I really enjoyed. I'm going to be processing this one for a while, I know it.
⚠️: mention of cancer & fatal car accident, death of a loved one, abandonment, alcoholism, doxing
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher.
January 18, 2023
4.5! This story was fascinating, honest and felt so real compared to a lot that I’ve been reading lately
July 30, 2022
My last buddy read was ALL THE THINGS WE DON’T TALK ABOUT by Amy Feltman and I really enjoyed it! I really loved the representation in this novel! It’s about a non binary teenager, Morgan, and their family: a neurodivergent father, their mysterious mother who abandoned them and their mother’s girlfriend. The modern family dynamics were so interesting and the mother was quite a character! I really enjoyed how this novel centred around Morgan coming of age, figuring out their gender identity and interacting with their family. Once I got into this book I couldn’t put it down!
.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted review copy!
.
Thank you to Grand Central Publishing for my gifted review copy!
May 29, 2022
Thank you to Netgalley and Grand Central Publishing for the free ARC in exchange for my honest review!
*This review may contain slight spoilers*
I saw a fellow bookstagrammer raving about this one so I instantly went and requested it. Overall, it was a good story. However, I found it to be a little superficial. I wish we would have gotten more detail about the relationships between Morgan and Sadie and Morgan and Julian. I wish we saw more depth of the struggles that come with having an autistic father and being non-binary.
The book did pick up around the 80% mark but I just didn’t find the ending to be redeeming.
I enjoyed the premise of the book and the story was good but I just didn’t find it to go deep enough for my liking.
I would recommend this book to those looking for LGBTQIA+ representation and for fans of family drama
*This review may contain slight spoilers*
I saw a fellow bookstagrammer raving about this one so I instantly went and requested it. Overall, it was a good story. However, I found it to be a little superficial. I wish we would have gotten more detail about the relationships between Morgan and Sadie and Morgan and Julian. I wish we saw more depth of the struggles that come with having an autistic father and being non-binary.
The book did pick up around the 80% mark but I just didn’t find the ending to be redeeming.
I enjoyed the premise of the book and the story was good but I just didn’t find it to go deep enough for my liking.
I would recommend this book to those looking for LGBTQIA+ representation and for fans of family drama
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 24, 2022
A very character driven novel. My full review is on Instagram.com/chelseahudsonreads
July 26, 2024
overall cringe contemporary novel energy here. mitski mentioned. (not just once but in fact, many times, with lyrics there to represent the ~moment.~ I’ve seen fanfics do better treatment).
Julian was awkwardly written imo. authors be normal about autistic people challenge.
I hated Sadie. sorry! like why are you soooo weird about your partner having a difficult relationship w their mom? it’s not about you girl!!!
Zoe was my favorite perspective. she was the most interesting. but also I’m endeared by fucked up women.
fundamentally I think there were too many perspectives to connect w everyone properly. like, I wanted brigid’s parts to hit but they didn’t hit enuf.
and generally - it is GOOD that we don’t know what every character is thinking and feeling and rather only have a limited pov to move from. pov switches should have a distinct purpose. and if you are character-driven - ESP w pov switches - then please have compelling characters. xo <3
the doxxing subplot was too dramatic, AND not enough build. at all.
also. small gripe. but feels unrealistic that Zoe would conveniently find out that Morgan uses they/them pronouns BEFORE they reunite years post-abandonment. seemingly so the book can avoid writing Morgan w any other pronouns, even in another character’s head. lbffr, yeah?
if I had set this down, I would’ve not finished it. it is purely bc I was bored tonight that I didn’t dnf this.
Julian was awkwardly written imo. authors be normal about autistic people challenge.
I hated Sadie. sorry! like why are you soooo weird about your partner having a difficult relationship w their mom? it’s not about you girl!!!
Zoe was my favorite perspective. she was the most interesting. but also I’m endeared by fucked up women.
fundamentally I think there were too many perspectives to connect w everyone properly. like, I wanted brigid’s parts to hit but they didn’t hit enuf.
and generally - it is GOOD that we don’t know what every character is thinking and feeling and rather only have a limited pov to move from. pov switches should have a distinct purpose. and if you are character-driven - ESP w pov switches - then please have compelling characters. xo <3
the doxxing subplot was too dramatic, AND not enough build. at all.
also. small gripe. but feels unrealistic that Zoe would conveniently find out that Morgan uses they/them pronouns BEFORE they reunite years post-abandonment. seemingly so the book can avoid writing Morgan w any other pronouns, even in another character’s head. lbffr, yeah?
if I had set this down, I would’ve not finished it. it is purely bc I was bored tonight that I didn’t dnf this.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 209 reviews