Reviews with content warning for Grief - Truths I Never Told You

Read for a book club, and since the subject matter isn't something I'd pick up myself I won't rate it. The depictions of postpartum depression, self-harm, and suicide ideation are very, very raw and I'd caution anyone sensitive to those topics to mind the content warnings.

I will say that I found the use of flashback letters/diaries really impactful and the siblings' relationship very real (as in equal parts sweet and mischievous and frustrating in that special way of siblings). I thought each of the narrator's voices were strong, though I loved some more than others. I thought all of the characters went through their own arcs and growth, and no one felt unimportant which is no small feat when a big family side cast is involved.

I found the depiction of dementia a little stereotypical and sterilized, like a checklist of 'unusual' symptoms, though granted it wasn't the main part of the story. It seemed like the depictions of postpartum depression were much more fleshed out, but it felt like the healing from it was a bit sterilized as well. I'm a bit tired of seeings characters trying one (1) anti-depressant and suddenly being totally fine. What about having to try different meds? What about co-morbidities (like anxiety, in Beth's case)? What about therapy? Especially since Beth, as a mental health professional, was so against getting diagnosed at all it seems odd that there wasn't even a mention of therapy to help her work through that obvious block. I know the stigma of mental health professionals getting mental health support themselves has changed so much since the 90s, but it seemed out of step with the rest of the forward-facing tone of the ending.

I found the ending rushed as well. I really enjoyed the twist

with Maryanne's existence and the kids' memories being of her instead of Grace

. But the

romantic aspect between their dad and Maryanne seemed forced. A platonic coparenting situation would've had the same stakes for Maryanne while actually recognizing her progressive characterization.

I loved

Maryanne

, and I wish we could've spent more time with her character without her falling into to the

"childfree woman fell in love with the kids and therefore MUST fall in love with a man and become a wife" trope. Her relationship with Beth was one of my favourite parts of the book, but I wish it had been celebrated in a way that hadn't forced her character into a very nuclear box.

Overall, I loved most of the characters and the growth that everyone went through, but there were some unexplored biases towards mental health diagnoses and childfree women from the narrators that went untapped.

Content Warnings

lou_ka's review against another edition

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emotional informative inspiring sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

joey1914's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Content Warnings

kelly_e's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Title: Truths I Never Told You
Author: Kelly Rimmer
Genre: Fiction
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: April 14, 2020

T H R E E • W O R D S

Dynamic • Absorbing • Vulnerable

📖 S Y N O P S I S

The four Walsh siblings are know their father's ailing health means his death is imminent. When he moves to a care facility, they must decide what to do with their childhood home. Beth, the youngest of the siblings is a new mother who has been struggling to adapt to her new role. Although she feels she's hiding her struggles from her family adequately, the rest of the family can see she just isn't herself. When Beth offers to take on the daunting task of clearing out the house, she is shocked to discover a deadbolt on the door to the attic. Once she finally gains access, she is shocked to discovers a chaotic mess, especially given her father's otherwise orderly home. As she rummages through the clutter, she discovers long hidden letters written by their mother. These letters will uncover a long kept family secret, and maybe ever offer Beth some much needed guidance.

💭 T H O U G H T S

For me, Truths I Never Told You gripped my attention from the very start, and I just could not put it down. Told through three POVs, two past and one present, the format worked because it allowed for mystery to build and for a slow unravelling of the story.

Kelly Rimmer has done a good job at presenting a genuine portrayal of postpartum depression in a compassionate manner. One key aspect that made this book so scucessful was the use of faulty memories. This part of the story really shone a light on how we make our memories what they want them to be, not necessarily what actually occurred. The authenticity of the Walsh family' felt relatable. My heart broke for Grace, some of her thoughts and intentions were so hard to get through. Yet it definitely made me appreciate how far women's reproductive rights have come and how progress has been made when it comes to postpartum depression.

After reading Truths I Never Told You I am definitely looking forward to exploring more of Kelly Rimmer's titles off my shelf. While they don't have the same emotional punch as some of my favourites, each one I have read so far has been an enjoyable read.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• readers who enjoy family dramas
• mothers/daughters

🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S

"Loneliness is so much worse than sadness, because loneliness, by definition, cannot be shared."

"But life has no rhyme or reason sometimes, and when it all boils down, we really are at the mercy of fate."

Content Warnings

jennastopreading's review

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challenging dark sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

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