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IF YOU MUST KNOW – Jamie Beck
A Potomac Point Novel
Montlake Romance
ISBN: 978-1542008716
June 2020
Contemporary Fiction

Potomac Point, Maryland – Present Day

Even though Amanda Foster and Erin Turner are sisters, they are not particularly close despite still living in the same town. Amanda is married and several months pregnant. Erin is single and living with Max, her boyfriend of two years. As IF YOU MUST KNOW opens, Amanda is wondering why her husband, Lyle, hasn’t returned her calls while he’s on a business trip to Florida. For Amanda, everything in her life is perfect, even if she misses her father who died several months ago. Erin and Amanda’s mother still lives in the family home. Erin is dealing with her lazy boyfriend and finally decides to ask him to move out while she’s away on a yoga retreat. Amanda still hasn’t heard from Lyle, but then her world comes crashing down when she receives a letter from him telling her that he’s no longer in love with her—and wants a separation.

In IF YOU MUST KNOW, Amanda discovers that Lyle isn’t the man she thought she married. He’s been carrying on an affair with one of his former co-workers and secretly planning a life that doesn’t include Amanda or their child. He recently borrowed a large sum of money from Amanda and Erin’s mother—money that was part of the estate and expected to support their mother. It soon becomes clear that getting the money back won’t be easy. They are a proud and respectable family, but that could all change if people in town learn that they’ve been duped.

Erin returns from her yoga retreat to learn that Max did move out, but he also took a prized album collection that she received from her father’s estate. With the help of a cop friend, she tracks it down to a new man in town, Leo, who agrees to return it to her even though he’s out the money that he paid. Sparks fly between Leo and Erin, but he’s a man haunted by the death of his wife and unborn child. Could it be that he’s not yet ready for a romantic relationship?

Things seem to go from bad to worse for Amanda and Erin in IF YOU MUST KNOW. Amid everything going on, they have to deal with their mother’s failing mental health. Is it just stress or something else that is causing it? For financial reasons, Erin moves in with their mother. Quite a change when you’ve been on your own for years. Their relationship is rocky at first, but soon they’re getting along. Will things work out for their mother? For Amanda, her first priority is her unborn child, but every day turns out to be a new challenge for her as she learns even more bad news about Lyle. He has apparently taken off to the Caribbean with his mistress. Will Amanda find him and be able to right the things he did?

All through IF YOU MUST KNOW, Amanda and Erin not only learn a lot about themselves, but more about each other. They were never close before, but it takes these challenging times to finally bring them together. Will Amanda and Erin get closure on all their problems and find happiness? An engaging and uplifting tale, don’t miss IF YOU MUST KNOW.

Patti Fischer

I very much reading enjoyed If You Must Know. This novel is a unique story with a cast of relatable and genuine characters. If You Must Know is an engaging story of how a woman and her three grown children go through changes and deal with life's obstacles after the husband/father passes away.

I love the authenticity of the family relationships. Author, Jamie Beck brings us a fictional story about a fictional family. Yet, I am total engrossed in reading If You Must Know. It's all here: love, marriage, loss, betrayal, money, and more.

Jamie Beck has created a compelling, page-turning story full of complicated sibling rivalries, love, respect, lies, and secrets. Yet, the characters and the story have a genuineness that rings true throughout.

If You Must Know is a great novel that follows the story of sisters Amanda and Erin, along with their mother as they navigate life in their hometown of Potomac Point.

Amanda and Erin have never been close, as they are very different people. They are the middle and youngest respectively out of the three kids, with Kevin their older brother. While they both still live in Potomac Point, they don't spend much time together and there isn't a whole lot of trust between them. Amanda is a rule follower who is married and expecting her first child. Erin is much more of a free spirit who wants to do what makes her happy versus being so black and white.

Loss, betrayals and family secrets may just be the thing that brings these two very different sisters together. While they have so many differences, there are things that show them that they are more similar than either one ever guessed. They realize that now is the time to come together versus continuing to stay apart.

This book was emotional, had plenty of angst and really showcased how family can either come together or be split apart. While I'm more of a romance reader, this was a good change for me and one that I would recommend.

**I voluntarily read an early copy of this title courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher**

This was such a heartfelt book. This story about two very different sisters was extremely relatable to me in many aspects. I could see myself in both sisters at different times and I felt for them both. Amanda is that one who has to have everything perfect and the ultimate people pleaser. You have Erin who is the black sheep and does what she wants and doesn't conform to what her sister does and what her mother wants. I definitely saw myself in both characters.

This book made me cry as much as it made me smile. You have family intrigue, a marriage on the rocks, new friendships, and new sisterly / motherly relationships going on in If You Must Know. You will get the title of the book once you finish this book as well.

This was an all around good feel book once it's all said and done. You will want to hug your family members closer once you finish the last page of this beautiful book.

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Erin and Amanda are extremely different personalities. They are sisters that grew up together but don't have much in common. Amanda is all of a sudden facing a crisis and has to rely on her sister in ways she never has. The story was a good one reminding us all that we shouldn't judge others for being different than ourselves. Everyone is different and it should be valued instead. It is also a good story of family coming together even when it isn't easy. I did like the story and the characters. It had a very satisfying ending and left me with a positive message. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving a review.

A realistic story of an average family.

This story is about the relationship between two sisters Amanda and Erin. Amanda has the perfect life with the perfect house, the perfect husband and the soon to be perfect daughter. While Erin bounces from job to job and man to man and living in the rough area of town. When Erin kicks her boyfriend out, she moves home to help her mother and save some cash. But when Erin’s husband disappears with his mistress, none of their lives will be the same again.

I really enjoyed this book. It’s a very realistic view of the dynamics of an average family and how everything can change when one of them dies. I felt so sorry for Amanda ... her husband was a scoundrel and just walked all over her. And Erin was just lost after her father’s death because she felt that he was the only one that truly understood her. A great start to this dramatic series

I received an early copy courtesy of Montlake Romance through NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

I usually only read romance books so this was a very different read for me. All in all it is a great story about two sisters that are at different points in their lives. The story was very well written with lots of drama and suspense. I was turning page after page not being able to put it down. I look forward to seeing what comes next. Thanks NetGalley. I voluntarily reviewed this book in exchange for an honest review.

If You Must Know by Jamie Beck is a book about sisters who seem to have nothing in common. Amanda and Erin are opposites who really do not get along. But as things occur, they find common ground and unite to fix family "problems". The book starts very slowly......a lot of back-tracking into the past through the character's thoughts rather than flashbacks. This is distracting to say the least. About two thirds into the story, I became interested in the characters and the pace sped up and was anxious to find out the outcome of the story. Not sure, if I will be reading the sequel. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

Amanda and Erin are sisters but as different as can be. Whilst Amanda is her mother's pride and joy and lives a picture perfect life with her husband and a baby on the way, baking, cleaning and generally the perfect mother Erin is the wild child and much closer to their father. She has a very bohemian lifestyle, teaching yoga and making soaps to sell. The sisters are not very close to eachother, or close to their older brother, but when their lives come crashing down they realise there is only family they can count on.

The chapters are voiced alternatively by Amanda and Erin so you see the story from both their perspectives. It's a wonderful story that draws you in and has something for everyone - love, excitement, adventure, and a beautifully crafted story of a family living in a small town.

I really enjoyed it - especially the final third. Well worth reading.

Pregnant, in love with her handsome husband and owner of her dream home, Amanda Foster believes she has the world by the tail- that is until he disappears on a so-called business trip, taking her mother’s life savings with him. And then she learns of his affair.

Erin Foster puts out a confident, take-no-crap attitude, but in reality she deeply mourns the loss of her father and the emotional distance between herself and the rest of her family. A messy breakup convinces her it’s time to make some changes in her life.

When Erin and Amanda’s mother has a series of accidents caused by stress, the sisters pull together to watch over her, get back the stolen money, and see that justice is served.


This is a well written story on family dynamics. Sometimes, life knocks us down, as Amanda learned, and the family we take for granted are the only ones we can truly count on to have our backs.

The characters are multi-dimensional and though the plotline went a little over the top, it was believable because of their reactions.

An enjoyable read!

“I voluntarily read an ARC of this book which was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.”

A warm and complicated look at family, love and expectations. Things are not as they seem and sisters become closer.
This story is "meaty" with a lot of pieces in the complete composition. I was drawn in and really got to know these women. A wonderful piece of women's fiction.

IF YOU MUST KNOW is the absolute best book I have read this year!

Jamie Beck has a way of writing a book that speaks to a reader's heart, mind and soul. Her characters are strong, believable and real to life.

In this book, the trials and tribulations the two sisters and their mother endure, in my opinion, are the same as what many woman encounter in their own daily lives. The way the women in this book meet their problems head on is a testament to their strength and belief in their abilities to overcome their challenges. Learning each can rely on the other, strengthens their family bond and unites them in a way they never thought possible.

I especially like the way Ms Beck does not sugar coat life in this book. Nor does she paint a tidy picture of the future, but the reader finishes the book, feeling good knowing these three women will rise up to meet whatever problems life throws their way, and with the help of each other life will be good. I love the hopefulness with which the author leaves the reader.

IF YOU MUST KNOW is just a flat out, all around great read!

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

They grew up as sisters distanced by their own style of seeing and acting out life. Amanda followed the rules, lived for the rewards of being the perfect daughter, wife and mother-to-be. Then her life took a shocking and painful spin out of control. Erin lives a Bohemian lifestyle, more colorful, more visionary than her black and white sister. Their differences caused tension in their family, but now as adults, deceit, loss and betrayal may be what brings them to a new understanding and acceptance.

Family secrets, petty jealousies and selfishness mark this tale of two sisters who may find they have more in common than DNA. IF YOU MUST KNOW by Jamie Beck has all of the makings of a truly deep and soul-level read, one that readers could say, that’s me or I know someone like that, but for me, it fell short.

I’m not sure if it was the portrayal of the mother, as being feeble at a young age, even before she did seem to have problems or perhaps the whining of Amanda, who quite frankly, put me off really enjoying the powerful message of this tale. Instead, I felt her own insular ideals of the perfect life made her less real to me.

Erin had her share of ups and downs, too, but her break up with her boyfriend seemed almost too contrived, too convenient, other than that, she made this story for me.

Not a fast-paced read, filled with heavy angst and surface resolutions, but not a lot of growth for all of the characters. This just missed the mark for me in the family saga department.

I received a complimentary ARC edition from Montlake Romance! This is my honest and voluntary review.

I received If You Must Know by Jamie Beck as an ARC from NetGalley. Amanda and Erin are sisters who are complete opposites. Amanda discovers that her husband is not who she thought he was and Erin and her mother help her to save their family. I wanted to like this book but found the character of Amanda so annoying. She let her husband walk all over her and she didn't stand up for herself. I enjoyed the character of Erin because at least she was interesting and I enjoyed her storyline more than Amanda's. This is the first book in the Potomac Point series and it's marketed as a romance but I didn't find it very romantic.

Beck provides an absorbing read. I was on tenterhooks for the first half with all the bad news. Amanda's slimeball husband not only skips out on her, but also bilked money from her mother and from their accounts. She discovers his duplicity goes deep. Erin kicks her boyfriend out and discovers he stole from her. I liked Erin the best. She had temerity and tenacity. The two best scenes are when Erin first meets Eli and the scene on the yacht. It's a great story and the ending is good.

3.5 stars

I love a good Jamie Beck book, and while this story didn't draw me in as some of her others. I appreciated the work and research that went into writing a story like this one.

Two sisters, two very different lives, assumptions on both sides that are both right and wrong!

I did love watching the process of Amanda and Erin righting the wrongs/assumptions that they have both had about each other. It was beautiful to watch them come together, to help and support each other, whilst learning to navigate a friendship that they have never experienced before, and now couldn't imagine being without!

While I would have loved more romance (as that is what I am used to from Ms Beck), this is a throughly enjoyable novel and I will for sure be reading the next one!

Thank you to NetGalley and Montlake romance for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Former RWA Board Member Expands Horizons. Jamie Beck is so well known as a romance author that she actually served as a member of the Romance Writers of America - the major romance writer organization in the US, at least - Board of Directors for a bit. She has since left those duties and has now expanded her writing to boot. Her romances have always been solid, if solidly within RWA rules. Here, she leaves romance for the realm of women's fiction, focusing primarily on two sisters who could not be more opposite as they find themselves needing to learn to lean on the other. And she does her usual excellent work, despite the new genre. At times feeling like she might be trying to break into the mystery world, ultimately this has more of a feel of The Other Woman, the 2014 hit starring Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, and Mrs. Justin Verlander's pre-baby boobs. (Ok, so that last is a bit of a joke - I *am* a guy, and I largely went into the movie for the one seen with Ms. Upton on the beach. It turned out to be an awesome movie, and this book is very reminiscent of its best parts.) I can't really say that this is a "bold" departure for Ms. Beck, as long time fans will feel very comfortable here even in the new genre, but it is absolutely a refreshing departure and a strong showing that Beck is Beck, no matter the genre. Very much recommended.

Let me start off by saying that if you're a fan of Jamie Beck's romances... this isn't that. If You Must Know is very much women's fiction with little to no romance. Her writing always has a serious tone to it, so that wasn't unexpected here, but without the added elements of romance, this just had a sort of dry, slow feel for me. It's still well done and if you're a fan of women's fiction then it may work better for you, but definitely don't expect it to be like her past work.

Essentially, the story follows two sisters, Amanda and Erin, who are at different places in their lives. Amanda is married and pregnant, but her seemingly perfect life comes crashing down around her when her husband's affair is exposed. And Erin is disheartened by her own relationship, so neither one is in the best place. As Amanda and Erin navigate the changes, they're forced to reevaluate the lives they've been leading.

There were definitely things that I enjoyed, and Beck's writing is as solid as ever. It's got some poignant moments and characters you can relate to. Family plays a pivotal role, which was heartwarming. This one was just too heavy and serious for me - I needed a little bit of lightness to peek through (and maybe just a glimmer of romance). While there are moments of lightness, I just needed more to hold my interest.

If You Must Know is an endearing story about a family who lost a key person that held them all together, the man of the house, the husband, best friend, and father of three adult children. The story starts with a flashback on how each child was treated by their loving father and their reaction to his death. The Turner sisters have more dynamics going on with each other since there are some jealousy issues and unsettling between them and then their relationship with each of their parents. The sisters, Amanda and Erin are complete opposites in their personalities, reactions, and feelings which in turn complicate their current situation. Amanda is straight-laced prim and proper; while Erin is more Bohemian, a left-over hippie from the seventies, carefree, and loving music, yoga, and life. One sister gets dumped while the other dumps her relationship, secrets are shared, hearts are broken, memories are made, and relationships are mended after much ado.

William Turner was the glue that held his family together. When he died a year ago, everything seemed to fall apart. His widow was trapped in her grief, unable to move forward. Her only solace was a medium that she hired hoping to get in contact with her late husband. Her daughters, Amanda and Erin—never the best of friends during good times were on each other’s case even more.

Then in the course of one weekend, what was left fell apart. Erin broke up with her wastrel boyfriend, Max. When he moved out, he stole the valuable vinyl record collection that was Erin’s only connection to her father. Meanwhile Amanda, midway through her pregnancy with her first child, discovered that her husband, Lyle, had not gone to Florida to close a business deal, but had headed there with his new girlfriend, Ebba. His plan was to buy a yacht with money borrowed from his mother-in-law and was planning to sail to Venezuela. Could matters get any worse for the family of William Turner?

This excellently written book is about these three broken women finding a way out of the morass that engulfed them. They discover that the only way forward is to mend the fences that they had erected between them and work together toward a new future. The author did an excellent job of painting the slow, small steps each woman made toward change in their own life giving the book a believable, real-life quality. The “happy-ever-after” that they sought was won only through hard work and personal growth.

I highly recommend this book. It was given to me as a gift with the promise of an honest review, and I am extremely grateful for the chance to read it. I highly recommend the book.