I hate to be so blunt in my reviews but this book was pretty much terrible. Everything about it was pedestrian, over simplified. The relationships, the "mystery" the social issues. It completely lacked depth and heart. I didn't care at all about any of the characters and it seems like the author didn't either. I honesty can't believe I even finished the book. I'm sorry I wish I had better things to say.

Another good book that’s been sitting in my kindle for a while. The best thing about being quarantined is that I get to read all the book I haven’t yet! I believe that this is my first book from the author and a pretty good one for introductions!
The story is really enjoyable. There were times that I laughed and others where I felt the tension between them. These two are both so wrong and right for each other. The ending may be predictable, however the overall plot until then is very good!

An emotional story about family bonds and hidden conflicts. Author Jamie Beck explores what happens when a marriage implodes and how the fallout impacts a mother, daughter, the ex , and his new wife in this tale of love and family. Throw in a home renovation and a mysterious box hidden in the walls, and you just can't put it down

Well drawn characters and a deft hand for real life drama are interwoven with a family mystery in this family drama. Another winner from one of my favorite writers.

Ugh.

Reading this book was like getting a punch in the stomach (but, like, not a really hard one) over and over again.

I love Jamie Beck’s stories - which are always filled with complicated relationships. But this was a tough book to get through. I can’t remember when I last read a book more relatable to mothers everywhere. Even though the heroine in Truth of the Matter had no financial concerns, all the money in the world didn’t save her from having problems…

Hoping to start a new life for herself and her 16 year old daughter, Anne Sullivan Chase buys her grandparents’s old Victorian home and moves to the small town of Potomac Point, where all her best childhood memories took place. But once there, she discovers the new home and new location aren’t quite the balm for the broken hearts her husband’s infidelity caused. When faced with the heartbreaking effect of her daughter’s anxiety, Anne is forced to evaluate all her life choices.

Despite being a kick in the gut, this book is SO relatable to mothers. How many of us give up hopes and dreams for the sake of our children? How many of us feel like we fail no matter how hard we try? Over and over again my heart ached for Anne - her husband’s betrayal, her insecurities as a mother that are intensified by her daughter’s pain, her sadness at losing herself for the sake of giving her daughter the best life possible. There was so much to unpack in this story and I would imagine it wouldn’t be hard for any mother to put themselves in the heroine’s shoes - regardless of whether or not you’ve had a marriage implode.

Even though Ms. Beck generally writes in the contemporary romance genre, this one sits firmly in women’s fiction territory. There is a potential love interest for Anne, but that storyline was understated and left me disappointed - I almost wish it had been left out. As much as I love love stories, this one was a cruel tease and so unfulfilling! The family secret storyline of the book was unexpected and added another heaping layer of complexity to the relationships. At first I wasn’t sure it added anything to the book, but of course it does because compelling and complex relationships are Ms. Beck’s specialty.

I need to readjust my expectations for the rest of this series and remember these books are more about women fighting to find themselves when the men in their lives do them wrong. They are good stories, but I’m not gonna lie...I miss the romance!

* thank you to NetGalley and Montlake Romance for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review

The Truth of the Matter, deals with real life issues. I was happy to see both the issue of anxiety in teenagers as well as starting over as an adult in the same book. Annie's character was dealing with many thing in life. Real issues that would have many in a state of not dealing with anything else, however she still put her daughters needs first. They got through things together. I loved this story and the back and forth through history. To me it gave the book a different dynamic. In closing this book is an emotional roller coaster, and it was with the ride.


** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review**

Truth of the Matter is a multi generational story that centers on Anne Sullivan whose life is once again changing due to divorce. Her daughter, Katy, is acting out so she moves them to Potomac Point where she spent summers as a child. There were things I enjoyed about this story, but there were so many flashbacks and quite a bit of drama. I just felt like I never got fully invested in the many storylines and there was little resolution to any of them. It just felt unfinished.
I’ve read Ms. Beck before and enjoyed her work, but Truth of the Matter had a different feel that just didn’t resonate with me. However, I’m sure there will be many readers who will enjoy the multi-faceted and overly emotional storylines.

A heartwarming and heartbreaking story. It will take you through emotional ride. It will take you through a journey of hope and healing. It’s well written story that will captivate you.

This tale of a mother finding herself after devoting herself to her family was so relatable! I completely related to the mom and how she put her family first. Now that her daughter is older and her world has been rocked by a painful divorce, it’s HER time to shine. I loved this and found myself rooting for her and her daughter through their battles. The romance was authentic and believable. The writing was witty and fresh, making me laugh out loud many times. I loved this heartwarming story! My thanks to the publisher for the advance reader in exchange for my honest review.

An amazing emotional journey of starting over and reinventing yourself. This story touched on many topics that we see day in and day out, divorce, teenage anxiety, depression and family secrets.

Anne is newly divorced from her college sweetheart and has taken her teenage daughter to her happy place, Potomac Point from many summer memories. Anne gave up her dream of being an artist to being the perfect mother to Katy and wife. Now Anne is in the midst of rediscovering her love of painting. Katy is going through a rough time, blaming herself for her parents divorce and starting over in a new town. Anne's grandma is in a nursing home battling dementia but has kept a big secret from her earlier years that comes out.

This is a book that I had a hard time putting down, read in one day. Well written and great character development. This book is the second in the series but completely a stand alone. I highly recommend this book!!!!

Truth of the Matter is a heartbreaking, emotional journey that held my attention throughout. I look forward to the next book in this series.

This book had so many elements that I liked that it touched my emotions. It was a very real story about families, parenting, and what happens when a divorce causes that foundation and life as we know it to break. It is also a story of depression and how differently it is handled today from the 50's.

The young sixteen year old child, whose parents are divorcing has turned to cutting herself. Her cry of pain has led the family to therapy which realistically focused on Katy's upbringing and how her parents, especially Anne had raised her. Katy's world was so fraught after the divorce, having to move away from her friends, and starting a new school. She also had to deal with her dad's new fiancee.

It also was a story of rebirth as Anne Chase discovered who she was when she was no longer a wife, or just a mother and has to deal with her ex-husband and his new fiancee. It was nice to see Anne find herself and her love for painting which she had given up after having Katy. I liked Gram's story that gets told while everyone deals with her dementia and learns of her past.

Jamie Beck really pulled me into her story . It was so well written and so focused on the details that brought the reader to better understand the characters. I loved it! I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

Told alternatively by Anne, her daughter, Katy, her grandmother Maries both in the past (1949) and present, which is an interesting perspective...Marie has Stage 6 (middle) dementia.

It must've been very difficult to write from Marie's perspective, to get into her mind and what she was thinking, feeling when she didn't recognize Anne or Katy.

Truth of the Matter is a story of mothers and daughters and how a divorce impacts the entire family. I felt like the author wrote Katy's anxieties very real and honestly.

This story is an excellent addition to the Potomac Point series. It tackles divorce, dementia, and many other subjects that a reader doesn't necessarily read about a lot in romance books. Well written and gripping.

Truth of the Matter by Jamie Beck brings us back to Potomac Point. This can absolutely be read as a standalone as it is in the same world but not connected other than the place and some supporting characters (at least that I could see). Jamie brings us another story about the connection between mothers and daughters as well as fathers and daughters, especially in some difficult flashbacks through the eyes of a woman floating in and out of dementia. Getting yourself through a divorce you never saw coming is difficult enough but seeing your daughter through it can be downright painful and all of our ladies are dealing with difficulties in their lives. As Anne and Katy learn to grow, seeing Gram's (Marie's) story unfold helps them in some ways to become their best selves. Jamie deals with teenage and adult issues with such grace.

After years of marriage Anne Sullivan finds herself at a crossroad. Her life changed the day the stick turned pink. She gave up everything that made her who she was to be what she thought she was supposed to be, the best wife and mother and yet by doing so she lost who she was at her very core and what made her happy. Then in an instant it is over. Her husband left her for the woman he was having an affair with and moved out and threw all the blame her way. She was less than, she wasn’t the woman he wanted or needed, she had grown stale and he, the self important ego maniac walked out with no thoughts about the mess he was leaving in his wake. He gave what he felt was fair and considered it all done and yet still expected her to meet his standards and stay put so he can continue to micromanage, bully and boss their daughter around. He had no clue as to the impact of his actions on his teenage daughter, who was constantly tried to please him and meet his amazingly difficult and tough standards. Anne, not wanting to bump into hm and his new life at every turn decided to return to her home town and find herself again and create a new home for her daughter. Richard cannot fathom why she wants to leave and at each and every turn does his best to belittle her and pretty much forget he has a child and takes on the parenting roll in his new family with no clue as to why his daughter is upset. His new fiancé is a horror show of a human being, so basically just like Richard. Intolerant, cold, judgmental, invasive and unfeeling. And so begins Annes journey with her daughter to rebuild their home and their lives in Potomac. So many topics are discussed with such grace and so beautifully crafted. You now that much research and probably some personal experience went into the writing about therapy, mental illness, cutting, dementia, growing old, family secrets, the dissolution of a marriage, rebuilding your life post divorce, finding what makes your soul happy, what makes you you, the affect of divorce on children, the importance of loving and accepting your children no matter what. NO MATTER WHAT. I had such admiration for Anne and Katy and how they dealt with and learned to start to love and like who they were becoming. Even though fiction there is much to be learned from this book. and even if you learn nothing it is a great read. I cant wait for the next in this terrific series.

Katy and Anne have had their lives turned upside down.

Learning to live in a new town and dealing with adult and teenage issues.

Katy is really struggling and feels alone and like no one understands. When does the hurt stop.

Anne is struggling with how to best help her child while navigating a new town and a divorce.

Through it all they remain strong in their bonds to each other and push through.

This book really resonated with me. You never know what someone is going through or been through!

Thanks #netgalley ♡

The Truth of The Matter by Jamie Beck is the story about finding oneself and starting over. After Anne's marriage is over, she moves back to Potomac Point where she spent many summers.
Katy, her daughter, is not handling the divorce well and is acting out. Richard, her ex husband, has a new family, and moving on without Katy. Katy has a lot of trouble accepting the divorce, and has issues with drugs and cutting.
Anne is rebuilding her life among all the issues she is dealing with. She is rekindling her love of art, remodeling her grandmother's house and developing a friendship with her contractor Dan.
The book is told from three viewpoints - Anne, Katy and Marie, Anne's grandmother. Secrets are uncovered, families bonds are tested and emotions run high.
This story is beautifully written, slow moving novel and covers many serious, emotional topics. It is a women's fiction story about family through different generations.

WOW!!! This story definitely has all the feels!! From page one, Truth of the Matter by the talented Jamie Beck, book two in her Potomac Point series, grabbed me and held me hostage until I turned the last page, finishing the story, yet wanting more. We travel with Anne Sullivan and her daughter Katy on a journey of starting over, reinventing themselves, and re-discovering their artistic talents. Then there are the family secrets which unleash long forgotten memories by Anne’s mother, Marie. Marie’s dementia has her alternating between her past and present. Each woman shared a poignant view of their lives, past and present.

Finding herself pregnant, Anne abandoned her artistic goals, married her college sweetheart before graduation, and devoted herself to her family; like the mother she lost in childhood. She was caught unaware when her husband informed her he wanted a divorce. For her own sanity needing to get away from her ex and his lover, she moves with her troubled daughter to Potomac Point ; where she spent summers with her grandparents. While renovating her grandparents’ old house, the contractor finds a vintage recipe box containing mementos from a past her grandmother never shared. Fascinated, Anne explores these mysterious clues, learning about a woman who was caught living in the wrong times, wanting the freedom of choosing the direction of her life; not her parents. When Katy’s anxieties take a frightening turn, Anne and her ex must face their fears and re-approach the way they handle Katy and their divorce. Throughout this story, Ms. Beck has each woman confront their deepest fears in order to save themselves.

Ms. Beck writes to the soul; the soul of her characters as well the soul of her readers. This wonderful and amazing story was emotional, moving, tear inducing, filled with wonderful dialogue, and endearing characters that is must read. I highly recommend Truth of the Matter to other readers.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.

This book was super good. It was super original and I flew through it. It didn't feel like anything I've read in the past. Can't wait to read more from the author!!

Another heart wrenching story in this series. Jamie Beck really knows how to get you to care (deeply) about her characters. She puts them in extreme situations that could easily teeter into “over the top”, but never do. That being said, I would be remiss if I didn’t give some content warnings here. There are a lot of issues being dealt with in this story, one of them being cutting. Along with that goes depression, anxiety, and other emotional issues. While I think this book tells an important story, I know there are certain people that should skip this one.

Although this story is the second in a series, you absolutely do not need to read one in order to understand the other. The stories share a town and an overall feeling, but they are truly standalone books.

The author does a beautiful job capturing a mother’s worries when it comes to her teenage child. Anne has made some missteps in her life, but she has done her best to be the model mom and wife. Everything falls apart when her husband leaves her for another woman, so she decided to move to her grandmother’s house in Potomac Point, a place of fond memories and feelings of being loved. That’s where our story picks up. It’s very evident Anne does all she can to be a neutral spot for her daughter to land. Of course Katy is upset her parents split, not to mention the way her dad went about everything. But Anne is determined to take the high road. The more she bites her tongue, the more she bottles things inside, the more stressed she feels.

As for Katy, she has always tried so hard to live up to her dad’s expectations. He’s not a bad father, but he’s not great. (The cheating and leaving his family aside.) He really doesn’t see how much pressure he puts on Katy, he’s in his own bubble where his daughter earns top grades, is a top athlete, and doesn’t get into trouble. He doesn’t look outside that bubble to see how much of a toll keeping it all up takes on Katy. But Anne sees, and Anne worries…with good reason.

Watching this family navigate the roller coaster that is divorce broke my heart. Along the way Anne is also looking in on her grandmother who is not in a nursing home due to memory issues (dementia, possibly Alzheimer’s) and learning some family secrets. Things that could effect Katy and the way she’s handling the divorce.

Don’t worry, it’s not all doom and gloom. Anne reconnects with an old crush, Dan. He’s often the voice of reason and reassurance for Anne during the turmoil with Katy. They decide to be friends since she has so much going on her life and isn’t ready for more, but she can’t seem to stay away. He’s just too nice and too good of a person. Anne has spent all of her adult life taking care of everyone else. Having someone attempt to take care of her is almost irresistible for her.

I know one of the reasons this story hit me in the gut so hard is because the situations are so real. The oblivious dad, the “evil” stepmother, the first wife and mom that’s trying too hard to keep things “normal” while her world is falling apart around her. I have to remind myself, next time I’m going to pick a Jamie Beck book up, to be in the right emotional head space before beginning. She gets me every time.