". . .you need to decide if you're going to fight for your life." (303)
Title: Things I Never Told YouAuthor: Beth K. Vogt
Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers
Release Date: May 8, 2018
Genre: Contemporary / Literary Fiction / Family
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It’s been ten years since Payton Thatcher’s twin sister died in an accident, leaving the entire family to cope in whatever ways they could. No longer half of a pair, Payton reinvents herself as a partner in a successful party-planning business and is doing just fine—as long as she manages to hold her memories and her family at arm’s length.
But with her middle sister Jillian’s engagement, Payton’s party-planning skills are called into action. Which means working alongside her opinionated oldest sister, Johanna, who always seems ready for a fight. They can only hope that a wedding might be just the occasion to heal the resentment and jealousy that divides them . . . until a frightening diagnosis threatens Jillian’s plans and her future.
As old wounds are reopened and the family faces the possibility of another tragedy, the Thatchers must decide if they will pull together or be driven further apart.
But with her middle sister Jillian’s engagement, Payton’s party-planning skills are called into action. Which means working alongside her opinionated oldest sister, Johanna, who always seems ready for a fight. They can only hope that a wedding might be just the occasion to heal the resentment and jealousy that divides them . . . until a frightening diagnosis threatens Jillian’s plans and her future.
As old wounds are reopened and the family faces the possibility of another tragedy, the Thatchers must decide if they will pull together or be driven further apart.
MY THOUGHTS
If anyone have ever dealt with grief, you'll be able to relate to Beth K. Vogt's latest release, Things I Never Told You. Then again, if you haven't, you'll be able to walk away grasping a bit more about life and the meaning of perseverance.
"Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after the other." (280)
There's just so much I want to say about Things I Never Told You. Being from a big family with lots a of siblings, including a few sisters, I understand the complicated "mess" in family dynamics. I understand how when things go bad, it can get worst. I get it, when secrets kept, guilt riding its tide, and the the bond once twisted together, now broken can eat away a person. Yet, through all that, the road to freedom from the fear, the guilt and the grief can redeem you and reinforce the bond of family. There's light and there's hope, but to get there, there's a bit of road ahead. And that's what Things I Never Told You said. It's a story, but it told so much more. Sometimes grief may take a while to manifest itself, and trusting God's with you all the way may just be the first step.
"Healing relationships take time - and it's not just up to you to make it happen." (354)
In all, Things I Never Told You is telling you a lot. Don't walk away without hearing it out.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and have not been compensated for this. This is my honest opinion.
ENTER THE GOODREADS GIVEAWAY (Ends May 15, 2018)
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
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| Image from Beth K. Vogt's website |
Beth K. Vogt is a non-fiction author and editor who said she’d never write fiction. She’s the wife of an Air Force family physician (now in solo practice) who said she’d never marry a doctor—or anyone in the military. She’s a mom of four who said she’d never have kids. Now Beth believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” A Christy Award winner, as well as an ACFW Carol Award winner, Beth’s first women’s fiction novel for Tyndale House Publishers, Things I Never Told You, releases May 2018.
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Sounds like a good, but hard read. I know that the families where siblings are all got each others' backs are hard to relate to for me. But this messy love/hate relationship sounds up my alley. I'm so grateful that in the past few years my siblings and I have been able to have some honest hard conversations and it's amazing the different perspectives of the same events in one family. But, I had to reach out and start those conversations. It was soooo nerve wracking, but totally worth it.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad for you. Thank you for sharing!
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