Things We Never Said

Product Information

In the present day, Jonathan is grieving after the loss of his father. A cold, distant man, he was not easy to love, but at least while he lived there was hope for reconciliation. Then a detective turns up on Jonathan’s doorstep to question him about crimes he believes Jonathan’s father may have committed long ago… Stránky mi ubíhaly pod rukama, měla jsem přečteno za dva dny #ctemesyoli . Jen v půlce se to zadrhlo, měla jsem pocit, že se chvíli plácáme na místě. Pak se vše ale zase dalo do pohybu a byla to (emocionální) jízda až do konce💛 . A soft, gentle read. You are let into Sean's grief process and watch how each tape shapes him and allows him to move past the crippling grief into a new journey. This is a great read and a reminder to say the things that need to be said while you can and enjoy life now because the future is promised to no one. On one of Catherine's tapes, she tells Sean "...like the Buddhists apparently say, there is no future and there is no past. They're both just things that happen in your mind. In reality, there is only ever the present moment." The plot of this story was absolutely amazing and full of twists and turns. The plot was never boring and was extremely fast pace which is what I love. Like I already said, I love that this was told in multiple points of view so we got to see the story through three completely different yet so similar people.

The chapters of one character (Olivia) are written in verse and the author does an incredible job with it - even though these chapters are probably shorter than the others, I found I read them more slowly because I had to pause every few seconds to marvel at Rahman's genius (and simmer with a tad bit of jealousy, OK I admit it). Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing me with an advance reading copy in exchange for an honest review!

Last on

But as disconcerting as the tapes turn out to be, Sean prays that they will ultimately confirm the one thing he never dared question. Does destiny exist? And were his and Catherine’s love and life together always meant to be?

To lose someone you really love/ is hard beyond belief/ Your heart comes close to breaking point/ and no one knows the grief/ Many times I’ve thought of you / and many times I’ve cried/ If my love could have saved you/ you never would have died.” All The Things We Never Said is another mental health awareness book that is important to be read by everyone to understand the issues and someone we can help, or to know we are not going through it alone. okay so the thing with this book is the idea was there it was captivating, creative and intriguing yet little things made it hard to overlook and disregard on my behalf. I don't know what the author means by them or if he was just giving a character opinions and his/her own personality but it felt like the authors own morals, ideologies, religion and thoughts about this world were seeping through every character in the book which was very annoying. Don't get me wrong I respect every ones view on life but I would prefer it if he did it in a non-fiction separate book, just not in a "supposed fun light fiction read". I would also not mind if his views weren't so "Trendy" and he had actual views of his own. I found this to be a very enjoyable book. Yes, there was a lot of reminiscing of this couple over their past vacations, raising their child, etc. but there was also hurts identified and secrets revealed. Anxiety and depression are illnesses, right? Not everyone accepts that, but it's scientifically correct. So anxiety is making you feel like this and depression is making you want to do this. The thing with mental illness is that it dominates your mind, pushes out everything that was originally there. So you could argue that it's not you making this decision, it's the anxiety and depression. Or your 'Chaos'."All The Things We Never Said is freaking fantastic - do yourselves a favour and add it to your tbr NOWWWW! Some of Catherine’s revelations are very painful for Sean and I thought it very unfair for him to be finding these things out when she had passed, maybe it was easier for her to reveal them that way, but it caused him lots of different emotions and he was still trying to deal with the grief of losing her. Sean spends the week feeling jealous. He’s fully aware that it’s absurd to be feeling jealous of one’s late wife’s ex-boyfriend from thirty-five years ago, but he can’t help himself.” The friendship in this book was also a really strong aspect. It wasn’t a perfect friendship, but when it mattered most, they were there for each other and they helped each other and I really loved that. I loved their friendship but I also loved each character individually. Mehreen was kind and gentle, but struggled with her ‘chaos’, Cara was blunt and angry and struggled to cope with her father’s death, and Olivia, whose life seemed so perfect but was far from it. I also really enjoyed how each POV was written, I liked how when Mehreen’s chaos was present, the font turned aggressive and bold and I really loved how Olivia’s POV was written in verse (I really love verse).

It is a wonderful story of a look at life through pictures, and everything that Catherine was thinking at those times, but just could say. From fun vacations, to the birth of their child, to friends they have had, to affairs both real and unreal. It is a story to show Sean that she had a good life, a loving life, and one she wished she could continue, but knows she cannot. It is a story of loosing a partner to illness, and having to survive those following months after her death, but to have that one time a week to hear her voice. To be happy, mad, angry, sad, and joyful with her. To hear her say she had a good life and that she regrets nothing.

Catherine was the love of Sean’s life. But now she is gone. All that’s left is a box full of envelopes, each containing a snapshot and a cassette tape. Two intertwined stories explore a past filled with terror and grief, and a heart-breaking present, in writing as smooth and bittersweet as fine dark chocolate’ This book begins at the funeral of Catherine Campbell, wife to Sean and mother to April. Sean and Catherine are both in their early 50’s, living in Cambridge, when Catherine is diagnosed with cancer. Their daughter, April, is in her 30’s and is living in London. Catherine’s decline is rapid and two years after diagnosis she has passed away. The very important thing I learned about this book is don’t be scared to voice out. Just find your voice. Be brave and do what you gotta do. Olivia appears to have the perfect life. She's from a wealthy family, she's sociable, she's kind... but that's all she lets on. Underneath the faultless costume her mother has constructed, Olivia is a victim of sexual abuse. And her abuser is moving in next week.