The Things We Knew by Catherine West

★★★★★
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When their tragic past begins to resurface, can he help her remember the things she can’t?

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 blame their father for their mother’s death, but nobody will talk about that tragic day. And Lynette’s memory only speaks through nightmares.

Then Nicholas Cooper returns to Nantucket, bringing the past with him. Once Lynette’s adolescent crush, Nick knows more about her mother’s death than he lets on. The truth could tear apart his own family—and destroy his fragile friendship with Lynette, the woman he no longer thinks of as a kid sister.

As their father’s failing health and financial concerns bring the Carlisle siblings home, secrets surface 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 their faith, their willingness to forgive, and the very truth of all the things they thought they knew.

I couldn’t put The Things We Knew down! It’s a messy story of mystery and secrets and family dysfunction, and Catherine West tells it so well. Her characters have plenty of flaws and challenging relationships, but the plot allows for excellent, well-paced character development with a good dose of romance and grace and forgiveness. As each page reveals a little bit more, I absolutely loved The Things We Knew - it’s an emotionally captivating read and has me looking forward to reading more from Catherine West. I highly recommend it to readers of contemporary fiction.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of The Things We Knew and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)