Reviewed by Martha Artyomenko
About the book:
A tragedy from the past resurfaces in this tale of family secrets and reignited love.
After her mother’s death twelve years ago, Lynette Carlisle watched her close-knit family unravel. One by one, her four older siblings left their Nantucket home and never returned. All seem to harbor animosity toward their father, silently blaming him for their mother’s death. Nobody will talk about that dreadful day, and Lynette can’t remember a bit of it.
But when next-door neighbor Nicholas Cooper returns to Nantucket, he brings the past with him. Once her brother’s best friend and Lynette’s first crush, Nick seems to hiding things from her. Lynette wonders what he knows about the day her mother died and hopes he might help her remember the things she can’t.
As their father’s failing health and financial concerns bring the Carlisle siblings home, secrets begin to surface—secrets that will either restore their shattered relationships or separate the siblings forever. But pulling up anchor on the past propels them into the perfect storm, powerful enough to make them question all they ever believed in.
My Review:
Ms. West’s books will have you digging deep within yourself as you relate to one of the characters or more, in this novel. I am trying to think of what I liked best about it. I loved Lynette. She was this fragile, strong, wonderful character that you just wanted to be friends with. She did what she had to do to help her family, being the strong one, even though they thought she was weak.
There are romantic threads in this story, but that is not the focus at all. Instead, you find yourself addressing the emotional turmoil of having a father with Alzheimers and other twists and turns.
I loved each page of this book! I wanted to savor it and just not let it end. Every book by Catherine West, gets better and better, but this one, I just wanted more. I wanted more stories about the other siblings. I just hope the author can write faster. =) Just look at the cover too. If you are looking for a book to take to the beach this summer, this is the book.
It releases July 12, 2016. You can preorder it here! “The Things We Knew” I highly recommend that you do!
This book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher for review. The opinions contained herein are my own.
I totally agree with you on this one. I have been a Catherine West fan since “Yesterday’s Tomorrow” and this book is evidence that she is the “real deal” when it comes to writing stories of significance.