What a emotional read. Heartbreak, growing, learning about yourself, self worth, family. So many emotions in this book. Amanda has been betrayed and Erin needs to find her path in life. When the unthinkable happens to Amanda , Erin really comes in to support her sister. The love they all have for each other but always have hid their true feelings. Their mom also has been handling grief very hard after losing her husband. Just the love and loyalty to each other alone makes this a amazing book.
I received a advanced copy for a voluntary honest review by the Author. Highly recommend this book and Author.

I feel this novel is a natural progression of Ms. Beck’s writing. Starting with her St. James series, her stories have mined emotional depths, deep character development, and integrating issues such as suicide, alcoholism, homelessness, disabilities, cancer, and PTSD, all within a romance format. This style, for me, is what sets her books apart from most authors. The book under review, If You Must Know, continues the deep character development and emotional depths of the focal two sisters, while backing away from the boundaries of the romance format. The romance is still there but is not the focus of the book.

As much as I dislike the “women’s fiction” characterization of novels written by romance novelists, this novel, with great heart and depth, is clearly women’s fiction and not romance. And as is typical of Ms. Beck’s other books, plenty of trivia enters this book. If you enjoy Ms. Beck’s writing style, or simply enjoy a narrative that explores the changing relationship between two very different sisters, then you should enjoy this book. I recommend this book to anyone who appreciates excellent fiction.

I received an Advanced Reader Copy of this book from the publisher and am voluntarily reviewing the book.

Amanda and Erin are sisters who couldn’t be more different. Grieving the loss of their father has made them drift further apart. Amanda’s husband, Lyle, has deceived her and left her alone at 7 months pregnant but more secrets are to be exposed. Family are more important than ever now.
I haven’t read this author before but I would again. This was a great read and kept my attention well. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for this arc in exchange for my honest review.

A great start to a new series! I liked that it was about two sisters and their new journey!

I voluntarily reviewed this book.

I always love whatever Jamie Beck writes I know she focuses on strong female main characters that have depth and also learn along the way throughout the story. This one is no different in the first of a new series. Sisters Amanda & Erin are different as night and day, having grown apart as adults. Yet, they find that they need each other when life takes unexpected turns in which they can only depend on their sister. Great story of drama and women, during this quarantine life of crazy we have now.

The characters were well developed. But that’s pretty much the best part of the book. I did enjoy the relationship between the sisters. The fact that they continued to work on their relationship was positive. It is always interesting to read about family dynamics and various character’s personalities.

This was an easy-to-read chick lit.

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

Could not get into this as I found the characters drawn out too much to the extreme - there was no balancing of any of them, and we'd plunge from one end of the spectrum to the other (indecisive and hesitant Amanda who always put herself down, to effusive and shallow-to-the-top Erin, and a mix of their passive-aggressive mother in between). Could not sympathize with any of them let alone empathize, so this was not an enjoyable read for me, sadly

Good book with good bones. I liked it overall and was intrigued by the family drama. Overall a good read for me.

I know Beck as a romance novelist. This story shows that Beck is able to bring her understanding of human relationship not just to developing romantic relationship but the end of them and to sibling relationships.

This story primarily focuses on two sisters relationship with each other and their mother and how they deal with the end of each of their current romantic relationships. It shows how the injuries of childhood last into the relationship of adult siblings.

I enjoyed the story, felt the characters were well developed and that the story motivation was understandable.

I would recommend this those that enjoy stories of personal development and sibling dynamics.

Jamie Beck has written a great read in women's fiction! It is about two adult sisters who live very different lives. As adults that have to learn how to depend on and accept each other, and remember that family ties are strong. I enjoyed this book and the character and story unfolded and drew me in.

In exchange for an ARC of this book, and the Netgalley link, this is my review of If You Must Know. I know I will read this book again - I enjoyed it that much!

This was my first book by Jamie Beck and I thought it was a great first book.

If You Must Know tells the story of two sisters, Amanda and Erin, who are total opposites. Tragedy strikes and forces them to become closer to deal with the aftermath. I enjoyed that the story was told from both sister's point of view and not just one.

I always enjoy a Jamie Beck novel, and this was no exception. Just a good, solid story with well-written characters and dialogue.

i was given this ARC by netgalley and publisher for an honest review and opinion

this is the first time i have read anything by this author
it was very enjoyable to me because i can relate, i have a sister that is nothing like me but tragedy and situations have brought us closer
in the book, we get to know two sisters that are completely opposite of each other. it is very realistic and good source of real life family dynamics because you see how betrayal in a family can either break it or make it stronger
i really look forward to reading more from this author and hoping for a second book

I decided to DNF If You Must Know at 20%. I wasn't feeling the connection with Amanda or Erin or the love lost between the two sisters. If You Must Know would be a great book for someone looking for more womens fiction that is light on the romance.

What a great book! The story was very interesting with all the intricate family relationships and of course Lyle and his issues. I really appreciated how relationships were being worked on and repaired, in a way. I also loved Erin and how she took the lead so to speak to help her sister with the Lyle situation, she stepped up, but Amanda took control of things in her own life as well. The ending with the sisters I thought was a fitting way to tie this story up.

A must read for all of the sisters out there. I could identify so much with the characters. Two sisters that are so different in their ways but will find away to connect when life throws you a few curve balls. A mother that loves her children but each in a different way, and might even have her favorite.

This is Ms Beck's first women's fiction and I loved it. I must admit I did shed a few tears throughout the story. I could identify with each of the complicated characters, as a mom and a sister. Great character depth. Loved the element of the missing husband too. I highly recommend this book!!

Although I honestly didn't like either sister, the depth of that dislike kept me captive and interested in how their story would play out.

2 very sad stars
Oh boy this book! From the first chapter I was on the fence about this book. What a story. So sad and heartbreaking. I struggled to even finish it.

Jamie Beck's books are amazing! New series to start off with and it's as engaging as her previous stories. Once you start reading, you cannot stop.

If You Must Know, by Jamie Beck, is an intriguing novel focusing on the relationship of two sisters, both young adults, whose very separate lives both implode, less than a year after their father died. Two aspects of this story combine to compel the reader’s interest. First, we are reminded of the vital impact of family dynamics on the sisters’ relationship with each other, their personalities and their view of the world and their place in it. By giving each sister a voice, we get to see the same event or dynamic interpreted very differently. In the absence of their father, the sisters join together and with their brother and mother, to resolve several devastating family issues.

Beck is never preachy or heavy-handed; her characters are unique and authentic. Although Beck is known for her romance novels, this novel is a transition into a different genre. Romance is a part of the story, but it is ancillary to the central focus on the family relationships. It was a good, satisfying read. This is the first entry in a planned series, and I am inclined to give the next book a try.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for the opportunity to read a digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

#IfYouMustKnow #NetGalley