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What We Thought We Knew
Four children, three marriages, two secrets, and one unfathomable tragedy: the families at numbers two, four and six Penwood Heights are connected by work, friendship, the loss of a child and a secret truth which has sat in the bedrock of their lives for years. In the centre of this tight-knit group is Faith, who believes her job is to act as a paperweight, keeping them all safe. And she does this until someone from her past reappears and threatens to sabotage everything. And, as the pieces fall, these families, these friends, realise that what they thought they knew about one another was nothing more than make-believe. They also discover that trust is illusory and for Faith, at least, that keeping other people's secrets can be more dangerous than keeping our own. ‘A beautifully observed novel about friendship and loss. I delighted in Dyer's prose, which evokes the nuance and depth of the human experience with a light, poetic touch. The thread of sadness running through the characters' stories broke my heart.' Clare Boyd
280 pages, Paperback
Published January 25, 2024
2 people are currently reading
20 people want to read
About the author
Claire Dyer
18 books33 followersAuthor and poet. My literary thriller 'The Significant Others of Odie May' is out July 2021.
Please be aware that messages on Goodreads are not checked regularly but I'm on Twitter as @ClaireDyer1 so please get in touch with me there and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you.
Please be aware that messages on Goodreads are not checked regularly but I'm on Twitter as @ClaireDyer1 so please get in touch with me there and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. Thank you.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
March 11, 2024
(3.5 rounded up to 4)
I was instantly intrigued by the cover of this book, I found it so eye catching and wanted to pick it up straight away and read it!
However, the book was definitely a bit of a slow burner for me but ultimately, it ended up being a really interesting and heart warming read. Therefore, if you find it a bit slow at the start… stick with it, it is definitely worth the read. It is told in multiple different POV and at times I found it quite difficult to distinguish whose POV I was reading, it sometimes took me a few paragraphs to figure out who it was. The pace definitely quickened up towards the end of the book and I felt I couldn’t put it down towards the end. The story follows three couples over a long period of time and the difficult circumstances they have been faced with, leaving them questioning who they can and cannot trust.
Some of topics were quite difficult to read so be sure to check out the trigger warning before picking up this book!
Overall, a good eye opening story about friendship, trust, love and loss.
I was instantly intrigued by the cover of this book, I found it so eye catching and wanted to pick it up straight away and read it!
However, the book was definitely a bit of a slow burner for me but ultimately, it ended up being a really interesting and heart warming read. Therefore, if you find it a bit slow at the start… stick with it, it is definitely worth the read. It is told in multiple different POV and at times I found it quite difficult to distinguish whose POV I was reading, it sometimes took me a few paragraphs to figure out who it was. The pace definitely quickened up towards the end of the book and I felt I couldn’t put it down towards the end. The story follows three couples over a long period of time and the difficult circumstances they have been faced with, leaving them questioning who they can and cannot trust.
Some of topics were quite difficult to read so be sure to check out the trigger warning before picking up this book!
Overall, a good eye opening story about friendship, trust, love and loss.
March 12, 2024
This was a beautifully written story about friendship and loyalty, loss and secrets, following three families and their relationships.
It actually took me quite some time to get into this book - even though the blurb had really intrigued me.
On finishing, I feel that this could have maybe grabbed me in much earlier if the timelines had been switched to start at the end and then go back over things - as is often the way in this genre.
I think it was good to try and do something a bit different, but I always love that pull, right at the start, rather than it being slow burn.
I also was quite confused at first but the switching of pov's - I usually love this as a device, but there were so many characters, so closely linked, that it was tricky keeping track of who was who and which family they were from.
Having said this - once we got to the reveal, the tension built up swiftly and had me totally immersed from then on.
The pace also ramped up then and had me racing through the remainder of the book.
Once I'd familiarised myself with the families, I did become quite invested in each of their storylines, the links between them all and the development of the relationships within the groups.
These developed well throughout the book and the story flowed nicely.
There are quite a few sensitive issues explored throughout the book, so pleased check these out before reading - but these were dealt with so sensitively and we're relevent to progress the plot.
Overall, this was a great read, just a little slow to start off, but I think it was worth it in the end.
It actually took me quite some time to get into this book - even though the blurb had really intrigued me.
On finishing, I feel that this could have maybe grabbed me in much earlier if the timelines had been switched to start at the end and then go back over things - as is often the way in this genre.
I think it was good to try and do something a bit different, but I always love that pull, right at the start, rather than it being slow burn.
I also was quite confused at first but the switching of pov's - I usually love this as a device, but there were so many characters, so closely linked, that it was tricky keeping track of who was who and which family they were from.
Having said this - once we got to the reveal, the tension built up swiftly and had me totally immersed from then on.
The pace also ramped up then and had me racing through the remainder of the book.
Once I'd familiarised myself with the families, I did become quite invested in each of their storylines, the links between them all and the development of the relationships within the groups.
These developed well throughout the book and the story flowed nicely.
There are quite a few sensitive issues explored throughout the book, so pleased check these out before reading - but these were dealt with so sensitively and we're relevent to progress the plot.
Overall, this was a great read, just a little slow to start off, but I think it was worth it in the end.
March 7, 2024
What we thought we knew
Review:
I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing this new novel by Claire Boyd. I was hesitant at first as it didn't seem to fall under the usual genre I would go for. But I was pleasantly surprised! Claire's writing style flowed really well throughout the book and each character was well defined and explained. I felt like I was part of the group.
The story involves tragedy, secrets, friendships, heartache and affairs. It kept me hooked all the way through, up until the big secret was revealed at the end.
It really makes you question just how well you know your friends.. and your lovers ❤️
Review:
I've had the pleasure of reading and reviewing this new novel by Claire Boyd. I was hesitant at first as it didn't seem to fall under the usual genre I would go for. But I was pleasantly surprised! Claire's writing style flowed really well throughout the book and each character was well defined and explained. I felt like I was part of the group.
The story involves tragedy, secrets, friendships, heartache and affairs. It kept me hooked all the way through, up until the big secret was revealed at the end.
It really makes you question just how well you know your friends.. and your lovers ❤️
March 15, 2024
If you’re in the mood for a twisty, emotional book, grab your tissues and get ready for a wild one.
It always amazes me, that I accidentally manage to read several books with similar qualities in a row. Frequently they’re for tours or someone has asked me to read them for some reason, so it’s through “no fault of my own” if you will, so it’s weird how it happens. Apparently I’m currently in an emotional binge right now, and I’m really going to have to take a break and get a nice cozy murder mystery or sweet romance in or something, cause whew these authors are really pulling the heartstrings!!
The moral of this story – which is one I’ve read before, but the point is how good the journey is – was definitely that secrets are toxic and can destroy you. And boy, was the journey twisting and surprising at every turn in “What We Thought We Knew.” The author makes you wait for the payoff there, and there are several red herrings for what they thought they knew. Or, rather, there are a LOT of things the crew thought they knew.
This is a multiple point of view book, and I will admit sometimes I was a little confused who was talking. I feel like this is the most POVs I’ve ever seen in one book. This could have been a formatting issue that is fixed in later copies, but in the one I had there was no real break or indication between speakers – so from one paragraph to the next in the same chapter it would change speakers abruptly, which was a little jarring. It wasn’t impossible, but there were six main characters, plus a few more, so it did make it a little difficult sometimes to figure out who was talking.
The characters were all interesting, and we learned more about them as the author peeled back the layers, revealing more and more. I had to know the answers to questions brought up immediately, and ones that kept popping up as the story continued. It was impossible to put down.
If you enjoy an emotional read with lots of drama, this is a read for you. It is full of twists and turns, and each one is more complicated and winding than the last. It does deal with some very difficult subjects, so please look at the content warnings.
Content Warning: Child Loss, Parent Loss, Eating Disorder, Dysfunctional Families, Marital Strife, Infidelity, Betrayal, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Allusions to SI
It always amazes me, that I accidentally manage to read several books with similar qualities in a row. Frequently they’re for tours or someone has asked me to read them for some reason, so it’s through “no fault of my own” if you will, so it’s weird how it happens. Apparently I’m currently in an emotional binge right now, and I’m really going to have to take a break and get a nice cozy murder mystery or sweet romance in or something, cause whew these authors are really pulling the heartstrings!!
The moral of this story – which is one I’ve read before, but the point is how good the journey is – was definitely that secrets are toxic and can destroy you. And boy, was the journey twisting and surprising at every turn in “What We Thought We Knew.” The author makes you wait for the payoff there, and there are several red herrings for what they thought they knew. Or, rather, there are a LOT of things the crew thought they knew.
This is a multiple point of view book, and I will admit sometimes I was a little confused who was talking. I feel like this is the most POVs I’ve ever seen in one book. This could have been a formatting issue that is fixed in later copies, but in the one I had there was no real break or indication between speakers – so from one paragraph to the next in the same chapter it would change speakers abruptly, which was a little jarring. It wasn’t impossible, but there were six main characters, plus a few more, so it did make it a little difficult sometimes to figure out who was talking.
The characters were all interesting, and we learned more about them as the author peeled back the layers, revealing more and more. I had to know the answers to questions brought up immediately, and ones that kept popping up as the story continued. It was impossible to put down.
If you enjoy an emotional read with lots of drama, this is a read for you. It is full of twists and turns, and each one is more complicated and winding than the last. It does deal with some very difficult subjects, so please look at the content warnings.
Content Warning: Child Loss, Parent Loss, Eating Disorder, Dysfunctional Families, Marital Strife, Infidelity, Betrayal, Adult Situations, Adult Language, Allusions to SI
March 4, 2024
What We Thought We Knew by Claire Dyer is a book full of emotion. People’s lives, their regrets, what if’s and if only. Running through the book is deep sadness through loss and secrets kept you wonder what they are, but I made a stab in the dark at the backdrop of the lives of the characters.
I did get slightly confused about the couples to start with, who was with whom, which children were with which couple, but it soon became clear.
Dyer’s prose opens up throughout the book as a revelation delicately unveiling the complexities of the friendships between the three couples and the tremendous weight of what is hidden and unsaid. The book moves back and forth between past and present, bringing the secrets to bare. Adding depth to the story. Her keen observation of human emotion is evident on every page as she masterfully navigates the depth of grief and betrayal, I wondered if there would be any way out for any of them, which shows my own connection to the characters. As Dyer unfolds the layers and the past comes crashing through the door of the present, What We Thought We Knew becomes a poignant reflection on trust and keeping the secrets of others, what would be the right decision – to tell or not to tell. I found myself enraptured by Dyers words on the pages as she captured the nuances of human experience. I felt the vulnerabilities of each person deeply. It made me feel sad and I cried at the time of healing out of relief and hope.
In conclusion, Claire Dyers novel is a testament reminding us of the shared experiences and bonds made that can define us. It is a tale of love, loss, secrets and forgiveness that will linger long after the last page has been read.
I did get slightly confused about the couples to start with, who was with whom, which children were with which couple, but it soon became clear.
Dyer’s prose opens up throughout the book as a revelation delicately unveiling the complexities of the friendships between the three couples and the tremendous weight of what is hidden and unsaid. The book moves back and forth between past and present, bringing the secrets to bare. Adding depth to the story. Her keen observation of human emotion is evident on every page as she masterfully navigates the depth of grief and betrayal, I wondered if there would be any way out for any of them, which shows my own connection to the characters. As Dyer unfolds the layers and the past comes crashing through the door of the present, What We Thought We Knew becomes a poignant reflection on trust and keeping the secrets of others, what would be the right decision – to tell or not to tell. I found myself enraptured by Dyers words on the pages as she captured the nuances of human experience. I felt the vulnerabilities of each person deeply. It made me feel sad and I cried at the time of healing out of relief and hope.
In conclusion, Claire Dyers novel is a testament reminding us of the shared experiences and bonds made that can define us. It is a tale of love, loss, secrets and forgiveness that will linger long after the last page has been read.
March 11, 2024
What We Thought We Knew is the compelling story of best friends Lizzie and Ben, Harvey and Faith and Anthony and Sara. They’re neighbours, best friends and business partners, raising their kids together and creating a larger family tribe. It seems the idyllic life, but everyone has their little secrets that they’re keeping. When a tragic accident results in the death of one of the children, the guilt that follows threatens to unravel the group and reveal secrets. This was an interesting read but at times I felt confused about which character’s POV was being shared, as each of the main characters told their own stories. Perhaps some kind of indication as to who it was would have made it better. I liked the story as a whole and how the families formed a larger unit and supported each other. There were, of course, many factors that played a role in the final ‘showdown’ when secrets are revealed by members of the group. I felt like the ending was fitting for the story. The characters were well thought out and written, completely flawed, average people. I did feel for the children as they never really got closure after Duggie’s death, which contributed to their insecurities late in life. All in all this was a good read and I enjoyed it.
March 13, 2024
This is an utterly compelling tale of a tragedy that brings a group of friends together, at the same time as their past secrets pull them apart. It was utterly heartbreaking in places, every parents worst nightmare played out in a book. But at other times, cheerfully uplifting as the friends loved and supported each other, even whilst battling their own grief.
This book is told as a multi pov, and at times I wasn't sure who was narrating, so I did get confused at times. But once I'd got all the characters cemented in my head, it was fine. The story takes place over 20+ years, so we can see how the tragedy affected everyone there, including the children as they grew up, and how the past played it's part in what happened next. Especially for Clemmie. I really felt for her and how she never seemed to come to terms with what had happened. And I can't even imagine how Sara coped with the death of her son. But I can absolutely understand her logic of never speaking to people so she never has to answer the inevitable "Do you have children?"
On a more personal level, I loved that it was set pretty locally to where I live. One of the pubs mentioned shares its name with the one at the end of my street. Possibly a coincidence!
This book is told as a multi pov, and at times I wasn't sure who was narrating, so I did get confused at times. But once I'd got all the characters cemented in my head, it was fine. The story takes place over 20+ years, so we can see how the tragedy affected everyone there, including the children as they grew up, and how the past played it's part in what happened next. Especially for Clemmie. I really felt for her and how she never seemed to come to terms with what had happened. And I can't even imagine how Sara coped with the death of her son. But I can absolutely understand her logic of never speaking to people so she never has to answer the inevitable "Do you have children?"
On a more personal level, I loved that it was set pretty locally to where I live. One of the pubs mentioned shares its name with the one at the end of my street. Possibly a coincidence!
March 8, 2024
What We Thought We Knew is a story about the complexities of relationships, as a family and as friends, that focuses on three families who are close friends and living next door to each other.
It starts with a tragedy and the effects this has on each of the members of these families but also their relationships. We get to learn about each of their own struggles, fears, and secrets.
The book can be a bit long running following the tragedy, jumping between the past and present throughout this story as well to connect certain past events with the present. This got me lost for quite a bit but then it was easier to follow by the time old secrets started to get spilled and got me curious about who is going to stay, and will they be able to move on together from these?
----- 📚📚📚 -----
"How many of us think we know our friends, I wonder? We see each other daily, we share our hopes, and our fears; we confide and console , we trust, and we forgive each other's missteps. Are there others who, like the six of us, sit around the dinner table on Saturday nights and eat and drink together, even during lockdown when we did it on screen, thinking they are safe with one another?"
It starts with a tragedy and the effects this has on each of the members of these families but also their relationships. We get to learn about each of their own struggles, fears, and secrets.
The book can be a bit long running following the tragedy, jumping between the past and present throughout this story as well to connect certain past events with the present. This got me lost for quite a bit but then it was easier to follow by the time old secrets started to get spilled and got me curious about who is going to stay, and will they be able to move on together from these?
----- 📚📚📚 -----
"How many of us think we know our friends, I wonder? We see each other daily, we share our hopes, and our fears; we confide and console , we trust, and we forgive each other's missteps. Are there others who, like the six of us, sit around the dinner table on Saturday nights and eat and drink together, even during lockdown when we did it on screen, thinking they are safe with one another?"
February 25, 2024
BOOK REVIEW: 📖 ⭐️ ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my! This book is a must read! I cannot emphasise enough how much of an emotional rollercoaster ride of a read this is.
The writing in the first part of this book was breathtaking! It was gut wrenching and friendship affirming in the extreme. So hard to read and so incredibly difficult to put this book down. Claire has created perfectly flawed but very likeable characters and each character was so deliciously different.
This is a story of hopes and dreams, love and friendship and indeed trust and mistrusts.
Do we know our friends and family as well as we think? Indeed do we know ourselves as well as we think? Maybe not. This book will definitely make you think - and feel!
This book left me emotionally drained but boy I’m so pleased to have been on that journey.
Claire’s writing has you rooting for every one in this tangled web of life, whilst knowing it can’t possibly end haappy for everyone.
I for one am very much looking forward to Claire’s next book.
⭐���⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Oh my! This book is a must read! I cannot emphasise enough how much of an emotional rollercoaster ride of a read this is.
The writing in the first part of this book was breathtaking! It was gut wrenching and friendship affirming in the extreme. So hard to read and so incredibly difficult to put this book down. Claire has created perfectly flawed but very likeable characters and each character was so deliciously different.
This is a story of hopes and dreams, love and friendship and indeed trust and mistrusts.
Do we know our friends and family as well as we think? Indeed do we know ourselves as well as we think? Maybe not. This book will definitely make you think - and feel!
This book left me emotionally drained but boy I’m so pleased to have been on that journey.
Claire’s writing has you rooting for every one in this tangled web of life, whilst knowing it can’t possibly end haappy for everyone.
I for one am very much looking forward to Claire’s next book.
⭐���⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
March 2, 2024
Just finished "What We Thought We Knew" by Claire Dyer and wow, what a contemplative journey! 📚 An incredibly interesting read that had me intrigued until the very end. 🤯 Wasn't sure what it was going to be about but ended up not being able to put it down! Took me a while to adjust to the style of switching between characters, but once I got the hang of it, the story flowed smoothly. Loved how all characters were in third person, except for one - such a clever touch that made sense by the end of the book! The detail was heavy, but it kept me hooked as I unraveled the secret. 😱 I figured out half of the secret, which kept me guessing.
The dynamics within their friendship group felt so real it was disturbing, almost like I was spying on their group, and them as couples. I spent a lot of the book thinking of lots of people I know and wondering 'is this what it's like for them? What sad lives.' The characters had depth, but I didn't really like any of them, except maybe Harvey. Took a bit to get into, but once I was in, I was hooked! Finished it in a day!
The dynamics within their friendship group felt so real it was disturbing, almost like I was spying on their group, and them as couples. I spent a lot of the book thinking of lots of people I know and wondering 'is this what it's like for them? What sad lives.' The characters had depth, but I didn't really like any of them, except maybe Harvey. Took a bit to get into, but once I was in, I was hooked! Finished it in a day!
March 7, 2024
Book Review
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Literary Fiction
A wonderfully crafted novel dealing with the complexities of family life in suburbia. The novel charts the story of three families and their intertwined journey as they navigate work, friendship, loss and betrayal. A secret binds the families, a secret that only a few people know, a secret that finally becomes manifest and the tenuous ties unravel.
From the moment I sat down to read I was hooked, Claire Dyer’s writing style drew me in with its delicate writing style that captured the intricacies of human emotion at every turn of the page. The characters were well written and each character was instantly likeable. They all played their part in the journey and no one was inconsequential to the development of the story. The story moved between the last and the present well and each journey to the past added another layer of detail to the present, allowing valuable insights into why there was a secret. The story left me questioning how well we actually know our friends and family?
All in all a wonderfully, engaging read that encourages reflection.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Contemporary Fiction / Literary Fiction
A wonderfully crafted novel dealing with the complexities of family life in suburbia. The novel charts the story of three families and their intertwined journey as they navigate work, friendship, loss and betrayal. A secret binds the families, a secret that only a few people know, a secret that finally becomes manifest and the tenuous ties unravel.
From the moment I sat down to read I was hooked, Claire Dyer’s writing style drew me in with its delicate writing style that captured the intricacies of human emotion at every turn of the page. The characters were well written and each character was instantly likeable. They all played their part in the journey and no one was inconsequential to the development of the story. The story moved between the last and the present well and each journey to the past added another layer of detail to the present, allowing valuable insights into why there was a secret. The story left me questioning how well we actually know our friends and family?
All in all a wonderfully, engaging read that encourages reflection.
March 14, 2024
Thank you to my partner, Love Books Tours, and the author. I appreciate the gifted eARC, and I am leaving this review voluntarily!
1. 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 - An event that led me to wonder if I’d ever be able to live a normal life after it. Everyone’s lives were forever altered and so many questions of “what if” are left.
2. 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 - Jam-packed full of secrets. When everything finally starts to unravel, I was genuinely shocked by what the big secret was. Again, a revelation that changes everything for everybody. The other big secret left me feeling disappointed in the character. While things do resolve themselves in the end, that letdown still lingered for me.
3. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞? - I was taken aback by the choice of the one to blame by many of the friends. The best part was when Lizzie tells Faith that it wasn’t her secret to tell - I felt like someone finally came to their senses
4. 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 - The three couples grew to be one big happy family…until the event. After this, they go on pretending and trying to keep their “family” together, but it is evident that things were never going to be the same.
5. 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 - While the revelation was painful for everyone, it did finally create a sense of freedom from the never-ending grief that hung over them. Most of the time, the truth is the best path.
1. 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐟𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 - An event that led me to wonder if I’d ever be able to live a normal life after it. Everyone’s lives were forever altered and so many questions of “what if” are left.
2. 𝐒𝐞𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐭𝐬 - Jam-packed full of secrets. When everything finally starts to unravel, I was genuinely shocked by what the big secret was. Again, a revelation that changes everything for everybody. The other big secret left me feeling disappointed in the character. While things do resolve themselves in the end, that letdown still lingered for me.
3. 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐓𝐨 𝐁𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞? - I was taken aback by the choice of the one to blame by many of the friends. The best part was when Lizzie tells Faith that it wasn’t her secret to tell - I felt like someone finally came to their senses
4. 𝐅𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 - The three couples grew to be one big happy family…until the event. After this, they go on pretending and trying to keep their “family” together, but it is evident that things were never going to be the same.
5. 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐨𝐦 - While the revelation was painful for everyone, it did finally create a sense of freedom from the never-ending grief that hung over them. Most of the time, the truth is the best path.
April 25, 2024
Three couples and their children, all living in the same cul de sac, sharing friendship, meals, trips to the pub or cinema, business partnerships, and one fatal.picnic, but not their darkest secrets. I did feel that the story, and the viewpoint, switched between them a little too quickly and too often at first, so it took a long while to get to know who was who. For a large chunk in the middle of the book it became very much Faith's story, upsetting the balance somewhat, but the others did weave their way back in again. There were heavy hints of a big secret from the past being kept and I did work out what it was. A lot of guilt and regret and what-ifs, mainly centred around the tragic death of a child. There was resolution of a sort, but a sad one. I never felt that any of them were ever truly happy. And, as the final pages make clear, it all could have been so different...
.
.
February 22, 2024
Raw and masterfully written, What We Thought We Knew tackles a parent’s worst nightmare in a poignant yet reverent manner. Even more than decade after tragedy, the overwhelming grief that hangs over this group of friends is like a dark ominous storm cloud ready to rip open. The lives of six individuals are tightly wound together with their proximity as neighbors, family friendships, and a shared grief that runs its course through their veins. While friendships seem to run deep, even deeper are the secrets held close to the heart. But can any secret stay hidden forever when so much is at stake? Claire Dyer creates an absolutely riveting story line that is bursting with suspense and every breath of human emotion imaginable. What a wild ride this book was!
March 6, 2024
This is a story of family and friendship. A story of the relationships, trust, and loyalty between the people you know best in the world. It is also a story of secrets, lies and tragedy and what it does to those involved. How can a relationship survive after a secret is revealed? Each character told their part of the story which in the beginning was difficult to follow because there were so many characters.Once I got used to the style and things started to be revealed it became easier to read and all the different viewpoints gave a complete picture of the situations. By the end I wanted to know the outcome and wondered which relationships would survive.
Thanks to Love Book Tours and the author for providing a copy for my honest review.
Thanks to Love Book Tours and the author for providing a copy for my honest review.
March 3, 2024
What We Thought We Knew by Claire Dyer is the story of 6 friends and their children, secrets and an completely unfathomable tragic event.
There are some trigger warnings to be mentioned. Childhood death, cheating, mental illness and eating disorders.
It's an emotional, gut wrenching read at times, full to the brim with feeling.
But it's also a story of family, friendship, love, loss and hopes and dreams.
The storyline flowed well and the pace was just right and it's a book that will have you questioning, just how well do we really know our family and friends?
Character development was top notch and I read this in two sittings.
Four 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
There are some trigger warnings to be mentioned. Childhood death, cheating, mental illness and eating disorders.
It's an emotional, gut wrenching read at times, full to the brim with feeling.
But it's also a story of family, friendship, love, loss and hopes and dreams.
The storyline flowed well and the pace was just right and it's a book that will have you questioning, just how well do we really know our family and friends?
Character development was top notch and I read this in two sittings.
Four 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 's from me.
March 5, 2024
Where do I start with this book, it's a book filled with emotions, regrets and secrets. Even though I liked how the book was set out, I did find it hard to get into at first but it soon became easier to read and what a read it was. The story does switch between characters, but the characters did feel real which did make you think about people you know. Do we really know are friends? Can a secret really stay a secret? There are some trigger warnings, Childhood death, mental illness, cheating, and eating disorders.
March 10, 2024
This is the story of a parents worst nightmare. Their child died while the family was on a picnic with friends. The parents remain friends with the others and the other children remain friends. They are constantly reminded of what happened and it drastically affects their lives. This is a very emotional book and it was interesting to read how each persons life changed that terrible day. The book has a lot of characters and can be confusing at times but once I got to know the characters it was much easier. A very good read.
March 7, 2024
This was an enjoyable read that was well written with a compelling, yet devastating story line and well developed characters that were all believable, and, all had something about them that made them unlikable, well to me anyway.
I thought the story was an interesting one, I have been in this scenario myself where my friends, their families, myself and my family all go for a day out so the kids can play and spend time together and the adults can chill and get together. So i knew this dynamic and could almost see all of us in that scenario, however, luckily nothing this tragic has ever happened, but it definitely made me think more about the characters and the questions they had, as I knew we would be thinking the same things possibly.
I did find the book very slow at first, however, as the tension in the plot picked up the pacing of the booked matched it perfectly.
Overall I really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more by this author
I thought the story was an interesting one, I have been in this scenario myself where my friends, their families, myself and my family all go for a day out so the kids can play and spend time together and the adults can chill and get together. So i knew this dynamic and could almost see all of us in that scenario, however, luckily nothing this tragic has ever happened, but it definitely made me think more about the characters and the questions they had, as I knew we would be thinking the same things possibly.
I did find the book very slow at first, however, as the tension in the plot picked up the pacing of the booked matched it perfectly.
Overall I really enjoyed it and will definitely be reading more by this author
March 5, 2024
This was one of those books which had me wondering at every turn, everyone is linked to everyone. Relationships are confusing and everyone is linked by the tragedy which happened many years ago. There is many types of all types - seen relationships, past relationships, hidden relationships, childhood relationships and wanted relationship. When the past came knocking it had me sitting waiting to see how this would play out in the life's of the 3 couples and their children. I loved the way this was written and can not wait to read more of her works.
February 26, 2024
I find this quite difficult to review as while I enjoyed the story, I found it quite long-winded, and it took some time to get used to the style and the view changes.
The story follows 3 couples over a period of almost 20 years through the worst experience any parent should ever face and asks the question, how well do you know your friends? The 3 couples have 4 children between them, and so we have sections from their viewpoints also.
There's trigger warnings for cheating, eating disorders, childhood death, and mental ill health. I felt that while difficult to read, these topics were handled sensitively.
Once the cat was out of the bag I thought the pace picked up a lot more, and I almost wish this had happened earlier and we had maybe started with the fall out and then gone back to what led them there.
It's well written that I can not deny. It just didn't grab me and totally enthral me, unfortunately, but I definitely believe there's an audience and that it will do well.
The story follows 3 couples over a period of almost 20 years through the worst experience any parent should ever face and asks the question, how well do you know your friends? The 3 couples have 4 children between them, and so we have sections from their viewpoints also.
There's trigger warnings for cheating, eating disorders, childhood death, and mental ill health. I felt that while difficult to read, these topics were handled sensitively.
Once the cat was out of the bag I thought the pace picked up a lot more, and I almost wish this had happened earlier and we had maybe started with the fall out and then gone back to what led them there.
It's well written that I can not deny. It just didn't grab me and totally enthral me, unfortunately, but I definitely believe there's an audience and that it will do well.
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