Member Reviews
This is a sweet story with good characters you will root for. It's well translated and a good read.
First contact with the author and all I can say is that I really enoyed the book, couldn't stop 'till finish it and strongly recommends.
This book started off a little slow and I didn’t always like Julia, the main character so much, but I really did like this book overall. There were so many moments with her “father” that made me appreciate the relationship I have with my own parents while also reminding me not to take those moments for granted. The journey they went on together was at times frustrating and heartwarming. There were definitely moments that made me cry! It is the kind of book that showcases all of the different kinds of love you can have in your life - family, freinds, and romantic. The ending was just as I had hoped for one of Julia’s relationships and a surprising twist from another one. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys contemporaries.
I received an eARC from Netgalley and the publisher. All opinions are my own.
This book was odd..... but I didn’t hate it. I understood where she was going with it, but I didn’t love it. The characters were interesting enough, but I didn’t feel as if the plot did it for me.
This is my first read by this author and it won't be my last.
Julia is engaged to be married to Adam but her estranged father's timely death throws that off course. The arrival of large life-size package further throws things off course as Julia revisits the past through chats and memories and thus creating a more informed future.
"Too late only happens when things become definitive."
Second chances from the "beyond".
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC for my Kindle.
This a book about relationships. Julia's relationship with her BFF Stanley who's gay, her finance Adam who she's having doubts about, and her first love Thomas who she has never forgotten are dealt with in this book even though the relationship between Julia and her father Anthony is the main concern. "Things We Never Said" is about making sure the relationships with the people you truly care about are settled before it's too late.
Julia Walsh is about to get married. If she can manage to take a few hours off work, that is. She is young, ferociously passionate about her work, and in love. But when her father suddenly dies and the funeral is planned for her wedding day, all her wedding plans are set aside.
She didn't have a great relationship with her father, and when he die so close to her wedding, her feelings exploded with resentment and anger. His coldness to her as she grew up, especially after her mother died, is something she'd never forgiven him for. But his death brings into her life a whole new chance to revisit that relationship and make her peace with her past.
All Those Things We Never Said has a huge twist to it that I certainly didn't see coming, and I'm not going to give away what that is. I encourage you to check the story out yourself and see what you think.
Author Marc Levy is a bestselling author in France, and this is not his first book to make it to America, where his popularity has continued to grow. I can understand why. His writing is engrossing, his characters strong and interesting, and his story inventive. This was my first chance to read anything by Levy, but I will make sure to read more of his books in the future. All Those Things We Never Said is an engaging look at family relationships, at how secrets can divide, and how the truth can heal.
Galleys for All Those Things We Never Said were provided by AmazonCrossing through Netgalley.com, with many thanks.
I honestly could tell by the writing of the first 2 chapters that it wouldn't be a good fit for our box and had to put it down. I may read it again in the future!
Book 57 of my 2017 Reading Challenge
read from September 6 - 13
**I received an electronic copy of this book via NetGalley and would like to thank the author and/or publisher for the opportunity to read and honestly review it**
All Those Things We Never Said by Marc Levy
Summary (via Goodreads)
As far back as Julia Walsh could remember, she always had a difficult relationship with her father. They hardly ever saw each other. Hardly ever spoke, and on the rare occasions they did, they never seemed to agree on anything.
Three days before her wedding, Julia receives a phone call from her father's personal secretary. Just as Julia had predicted, Anthony Walsh will not be able to attend his daughter's wedding.
However, for once, Julia has to admit that her father's excuse is irreproachable.
He's dead.
Julia cannot help seeing the tragic-comical side of the situation. From one second to the next, her nuptial dreams transform into funeral plans. Even beyond the grave, it seems, Anthony Walsh has his own particularly effective way of disrupting his daughter's life.
But the day after his funeral, Julia discovers that her father has one last surprise in store for her. Without a doubt, the journey of a life-time, and an opportunity to say, at last, all those things they had never said.
My Opinion
It was a really interesting concept. It's weird because it's not like the writing is spectacular but something about it grabbed me and I couldn't stop reading.
I was super annoyed with some of the lying but don't see how the story could've progressed without it either.
I can't really say anything else without giving away plot points but would be interested in discussing with anyone that has read this.
What a fun and witty read! I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and I thought that the premise was unique. I liked reading about the father-daughter relationship.
The plot moved a bit slowly at the start, but it picked up part way through.
Not enjoying this as much as I wanted to. I wanted to love this one so much.
I really enjoyed "All Those Things We Never Said", a Novel by Marc Levy. Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Crossing for the copy of this book. An unexpected twist of events, creatively set up, with depth and humor all at once. A father-daughter getting re-acquainted after many years of distance, in a most unusual way. Right before the main character's wedding, a journey changes everything she thought was true. A fun read.
I have the chance to get the French copy in the past. This is one of the classic bestsellers story of Marc Levy.
I had read a previous book of Marc Levy and saw this one and thought it sounded good as well. I found this book a easy read and without a complex plot. It was a fun book with lots of humor to keep you entertained. It has a love story of a fathers love and a first love so it has the romance aspect to the story as well. I recommend this book if you are looking for a light enjoyable read.
Julia Walsh is about to get married but the death of her estranged father, with a funeral set for the same day she is getting married, spoils those plans. But, honestly, did she really want to get married? After all, she hadn't even gotten around to buying a wedding dress. After using the funeral as the reason to postpone the wedding, Julia further postpones things when her father mysteriously shows up on her doorstep a few days later. (This part is extremely unbelievable but to explain further would be to spoil a main part of the story. Just go with it. This is fiction.) Trying to improve his relationship with his daughter, Anthony tricks her into first a trip to Montreal and then Berlin. Along the way, he reveals things he kept from her previously. This brings Julia to a crossroad. However, character development felt one dimensional: Adam was the pathetically understanding fiancee, Stanley was the stereotypical gay best friend, etc. At some points this book felt like a father-daughter relationship book, at other times a romance, at some points historical fiction, and at others almost a Cinderella story. Though the book was interesting and unique, I just didn't feel like all these things coalesced very well.
This is my first time to read a Marc Levy. His name sounds so familiar. Probably, because he is an international best selling French author. Thank you, Netgalley, for the copy of this book. Finally, now I would know a book by Marc Levy.
Julia and his Dad had been in non-speaking terms for years. Julia left home and cut ties with his controlling Dad and made a life of her own. She is now a creative director, designing animated characters for children for movies and games. She is going to be married in a few days but then, as usual, her father found a way of ruining her wedding day. Classic Anthony Walsh!
How would you react if instead of celebrating a wedding, you instead will have to bury your father on the same day? A wedding and a funeral back-to-back is definitely not an option. So, Julia had no choice but to postpone her wedding to give way to his father's funeral. As usual, Anthony Walsh got his way. Even in death, he always got a way to interfere in Julia's life.
As it turned out, Anthony's death is sort of a blessing in disguise or more appropriately an intervention. Anthony's death brought on a surprise package for Julia which was the most bizarre of all. If I were Julia, I would definitely have a heart attack. The surprise package brought Julia a chance to spend a few days away from work, re-examine her life in New York and her relationships, travel back to Berlin and revisit wonderful and painful memories and learn a few things about her father. She also got the chance to say what she was not able to tell her father. All her disappointments and hurts. At the same time, his father got his chance to tell Julia just how much he loved and cared for her and admit that he was sorry for the years lost spent on business trips and poured over work than spending time with his daughter.
This is a very touching story. I was crying and this made me examine my relationship with my father which I could say could have been better. Somehow, this story touched a nerve. Some of Anthony's explanations to Julia were like a thorn to my heart. I found myself guilty for having the same thoughts as Julia. In ways, I could relate to Julia. Why is it that parents tend to have the mindset that their children will always remain kids in their eyes? Are we not allowed to grow up? Make our own decisions, make mistakes and learn from them? Why would they have to force on us some of their beliefs and opinions, are we not allowed to think for ourselves? Are we not allowed to correct them if they their perspective is not anymore what is applicable today?
I feel I may not be the only one asking all these questions about the complexity of a father-daughter relationship or a parent-child relationship. Every family has it own dysfunctional relationship or behavior. And each of us have learned our own way of navigating this complexities, or tolerate, if not avoid them. Yes, this book drive its point right to the core. Everyone, after reading this would definitely contemplate on their relationships, especially one with their parents. I think, Julia is lucky because his Dad realized his mistakes and was willing to make up for them, even if it was a bit too late. He knows that Julia, no matter what happens, still loves him and that in some way, his words still matter. It was admirable and unbelievable that Anthony took a very high-tech way of trying to reach out to Julia and remind her that in spite of everything that has happened to them, a parent's love never diminishes over the passage of time. Anthony's intervention, though unsolicited and at first, deemed unnecessary, somehow made Julia realize what matters most in her life.
I give this 5/5 stuffed otter. I think fathers and parents should read this book. I think they can learn a few things from Anthony Walsh. I, being a child of my parents and a future parent, have learned a lot from this book. No wonder, Mr. Levy is a best selling author. If his books are anywhere as great as this story, then he deserves all the fame and recognition afforded to him. This book is just what I needed for some clarity and answers to some questions. Anthony explained and expressed what most parents are unable to tell their children to make us understand what often causes the rift and distance in the relationship. And that the most effective way to bridge the ever-widening gap is to talk about them which is easier said than done. It works in theory but a bit harder to pull off in reality. Agree?
I've learned one of the great lessons a parent can learn over these last few days--the importance of taking the time to get to know the adult who stands where once stood a child, and to give that adult their rightful place.
- Marc Levy, All Those Things We Never Said -
I really enjoyed this book. As it went on, I had my suspicions about what might be going on, which the ending kind of confirmed. Still, it was a fun read about potential second chances.
3.75 stars
Thank you to NetGalley who provided me a free ebook copy for my honest review.
First, this book is more than just the relationship between a recently "deceased" father and daughter. One word, Thomas...swoon.
The story of Anthony Walsh being dead but brain and memory alive in a robot for 6 days is highly unbelievable in real life, but it makes for a very interesting story line.
I enjoyed the writing and hoping for that happy ending. It is a cute, quick read. My only gripe: I believe Anthony to actually be alive- why on earth would he want to have his daughter believe him to be dead? But, I do get that he will always be with her, just as he always had (without her ever realizing).
Everyone wishes for a second chance, more time, a do-over....just a few more days. What if you had the chance of a lifetime to have that wish come true?
Julia was just three days away from her wedding when she received a phone call that would change her life forever. However, nothing could prepare her for the greater surprise that came afterward! Thrusting her into a whirlwind of disbelief, travel around the world and ultimately on a quest to find a "ghost" from her past, whatever the final outcome, Julia's life never would be the same!
Marc Levy, the most widely read author in France and world wide best selling author, has created a charming romantic tale that, while it suspends belief, makes you believe in happy endings once again. The prose flows beautifully, the characters are witty, sometimes biting, but in the end you will be fully invested in their story.
This reads like a French Rom-Com because that is exactly what it is - and it is an enjoyable one! If you like romance, comedy, Nicholas Sparks, then this is a book for you. <b>4-Stars</b>
Thanks to Netgalley, Marc Levy and Amazon Crossing for my copy of this book.
This book missed the mark for me. I kept thinking that the characters reactions to everything was so odd. Also the dialogue seemed very off. I had trouble connecting because of this. Even when something very big happens at the beginning, I didn't really care.