The Things We Knew
- Fiction
- Publisher: Thomas Nelson
- Published: 2016
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Publisher's Description
A can’t-miss story of family and lies, secrets and repressed memories, set against the stunning backdrop of Nantucket. “An exceptional and poignant escape to Nantucket.” —Kathi Macias Lynette Carlisle witnessed her mother’s death twelve years ago. But her memory only speaks through nightmares. Her four older siblings each left their Nantucket home as soon as they were able, never speaking of that tragic day. Lynette alone stays with their father on the island, and when it becomes clear they are losing him to Alzheimer’s, she calls her siblings home, each of them bringing along their own secrets. They aren’t the only ones returning to the island—their childhood neighbor, Nick, comes home to his own family drama, never expecting a Carlisle family reunion. As Lynette spends time with Nick, she suspects he knows more about their mother’s death than he lets on. With summer storms raging around them and their father speaking more and more of their mother’s death, the Carlisle siblings must face the truths threatening to surface. And these truths will either restore their shattered relationships or separate the siblings forever. “A poignant, multi-faceted novel that pulled me in deeper with every turned page, The Things We Knew so adeptly explores the power of truth and its ability to set us all free. I can’t wait for readers to fall as hopelessly in love with Nick and the Carlisle family as I did. Well done, Catherine West!”—Katie Ganshert, award-winning author “A beautiful exploration of the bonds that tie us together as family and the secrets that sometimes unravel those threads. Catherine West builds a world worth entering and characters that linger long after the last page is turned.” —Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author “Smartly written and highly engaging, Catherine West's The Things We Knew dazzles, piercing the shadows of a family's tragedy with the light of love.” —Billy Coffey
Endorsements (8)
“A beautiful exploration of the bonds that tie us together as family and the secrets that sometimes unravel those threads. Catherine West builds a world worth entering and characters that linger long after the last page is turned.”
“Smartly written and highly engaging, Catherine West’s The Things We Knew dazzles, piercing the shadows of a family’s tragedy with the light of love.”
“I began reading The Things We Knew with eager anticipation and reached the end with complete satisfaction. Displaying an understanding of the conflicting dynamics of family relationships, Cathy West deftly weaves together the tumultuous storylines of the Carlisle and Cooper families. In The Things We Knew, she wrestles with how secrets can hide the truth of the past and cloud the future, while asking the question: Does knowing the truth always set you free?”
“A poignant, multi-faceted novel that pulled me in deeper with every turned page, The Things We Knew so adeptly explores the power of truth and its ability to set us all free. I can’t wait for readers to fall as hopelessly in love with Nick and the Carlisle family as I did. Well done, Catherine West!”
“Catherine West’s debut, The Things We Knew, is a beautifully readable exploration of family secrets and their continuing effects on both those who know and don’t know them. But nothing is truly hidden from grace, and the offered redemption at novel’s end is both satisfying and real. A celebration of love, resiliency, and the promises of forgiveness.”
“Catherine West creates a well-drawn portrait of a family in crisis. I laughed and cried and cheered as I read this lovely novel. I can’t wait to see what’s up next!”
“The Things We Knew is a remarkable story, and author Catherine West is truly a wordsmith. Not only does West paint pictures that catch you up in their exquisite detail, but she also creates believable characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished the last page. I can’t encourage you enough to treat yourself to this exceptional and poignant escape to Nantucket and its varied inhabitants—and while you’re at it, consider getting a copy for someone else. They will thank you for it.”
“In The Things We Knew, author Catherine West captures the nuances of deeply rooted familial pain and its impact on those in its wake. Intriguing setting, realistic characters with all-too-familiar tensions, and a tangle worth tracing to its source make The Things We Knew as satisfying as a Nantucket sunrise.”
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