Hannah … I had to admire this journalist’s persistence and resilience. She found herself without a job, without a boyfriend, without a steady place to be. Off she goes to Senatobia to take care of her mamaw (grandmother). Along the way, she finds a new job, a few new friends, and a story she cannot let go.
Hannah was ‘banished’ to the basement to put all the old files into a computer system. In the boringness of doing this task, she ran across a letter from a woman named Evelyn. To say it piqued her interest is mild. This was it! This was her chance to redeem herself.
Senatobia is a town in Mississippi, and Evelyn’s story was from the 1930s. Way back then … well, let’s just say some folks haven’t changed their minds in today’s world about certain things, so when Hannah forms a friendship with Guy, the local schoolteacher, some folks didn’t approve. I, personally, was rooting for them! I enjoyed reading about the attraction these two had for each other, yet they didn’t know what to do about it. Their budding relationship was full of ups and downs.
Hannah also was dealing with a lot of self-doubt which would throw her mind into a bunch of chaos.
But, chasing Evelyn’s story gave her purpose, gave her something to cling to, gave her someone she could relate to (granted Evelyn was long-since gone).
I had no idea that this story was actually based on a true story from the author’s own family tree until I read the Acknowledgements. That made it, to me at least, more interesting. What happened to Evelyn way back then, or to anyone, should not have happened. I was actually shocked when the big reveal of what happened to her was revealed.
In this story, you’ll find politics, broken relationships, healing relationships, major family dynamics, an attraction between two people who didn’t know what to do with that attraction, healing for Hannah, personal growth for Hannah, the closing of the newspaper the Record which was kind of healing in a sense, and a perseverance to find a truth that no one wanted exposed.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

While I was excited for this one, I don't think it was right for me. The main character is relatable but I found the book a bit slow paced and couldn't find myself reading it continuously!

Absolutely love Emily Bleeker's books and jump to read anything new she publishes. Her character development and plots are captivating and keep me guessing. Wholesome read!

What's Left Unsaid by Emily Bleeker is a novel that delves into complex themes and relationships, offering readers a thought-provoking experience. While the book has its strengths, there are also areas where it falls short, resulting in a mixed reading experience.

Bleeker's exploration of family dynamics and the impact of secrets is compelling and insightful. The characters are well-developed, each grappling with their own struggles and secrets that shape their interactions with one another. The emotional depth of the story is palpable, drawing readers in and prompting reflection on the nature of forgiveness and redemption.

However, the pacing of the novel can be uneven at times, with certain sections dragging while others feel rushed. This inconsistency in pacing detracts from the overall flow of the narrative, making it difficult to fully immerse oneself in the story.

Additionally, some aspects of the plot feel predictable, lacking the element of surprise or suspense that could have elevated the reading experience. While the themes explored are compelling, the execution falls short in terms of delivering genuine twists or revelations that would keep readers engaged.

Despite its shortcomings, What's Left Unsaid still offers moments of insight and emotional resonance that make it worth reading. Fans of character-driven dramas may find enjoyment in Bleeker's exploration of family secrets and the complexities of human relationships, but those seeking a more tightly paced and unpredictable plot may be left wanting more.

After suffering losses in Chicago and making bad decisions in her life, Hannah looks forward to starting over in small town Mississippi, caring for her sick grandmother and taking a job at their newspaper. When she gets tasked with cleaning out files in the basement, she finds a series of letters by a woman named Evelyn detailing the events of her life. Hannah is fascinated by her story and determined to share it.
I was fascinated by Evelyn's story as well, but not so much Hannah's. She is full of self pityand it got old quick. But I wanted to find out what happened so I kept reading and it got better. I really enjoyed the ending and I'm glad I stuck with it.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I will not be giving feedback on this title as I had trouble downloading the title. After a few attempts on try to open the title, I gave up.

I'll start out by saying this was the first book I've read by Emily Bleeker, and it absolutely will not be my last. Her writing style is incredibly engaging.

What's Left Unsaid drew me in right from the start. The idea of a big city journalist, moving home to her roots, working at the local paper, and uncovering a town mystery was exactly the kind of book I needed to read next. I loved how we not only witnessed the unraveling of Evelyn's story, but also Hannah's own personal story and healing journey.

There are a lot of tough subjects addressed including sexual assault and race, but Emily tackled them in a very tasteful way. I will admit, the middle of the book got a little bit long for me, but it wasn't long before it picked back up and I was incredibly engaged with the story again.

Definitely will be recommending What's Left Unsaid to others.

Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing, Uplit Reads and Emily Bleeker for providing me with the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. Interesting mystery/drama novel. Recommend

This was my first time reading a novel by this author. There was just too many issues being thrown in the mix- racism, child abuse, mental illness etc. it was too much for me to enjoy.

I was not able to get in to the storyline of this one. If in the future I attempt to read this again I will update my feedback!

Emily Bleeker always manages to stir up deep emotions in her books. And the story of Evelyn reveals a myriad of issues from the 1920s. From bigotry to racism to abuse to blatant cruelty, you will be reeling from what she endures. You also have a second story with Hannah which occurs in the present time. She is struggling with her own issues … mental illness, loss, failed suicide attempt, etc. While Evelyn’s letters initially provide the connection with Hannah, you will need to hang in there for the twist at the end. I love books that do that! Relationship drama, mystery, a little romance, secrets, shocking ending. You need to put this on your to-be-read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

What's Left Unsaid is a powerful and moving read. Emily Bleeker with her words perfectly emotes the story and leaves the reader fully understanding every nuance of it.

Summary: After her relationship ends in a traumatic manner, Hannah finds herself spiraling into a season of depression and addiction made worse by the loss of her job and her father's cancer diagnosis.

In an attempt to escape, she heads to Mississippi to live with her grandmother. Here she finds herself working for a condescending boss at a small newspaper. When she is relegated to filing and scanning old files in the basement, she comes across articles written by a mysterious Evelyn.

Evelyn's story of trauma and a shooting that left her paralyzed at the age of 14, captures Hannah's emotions and attention. Hannah's life feels as if it has purpose again as she uses her journalist instincts to discover the truth about Evelyn's past.

My take: I flew through this one! It was a great mix of mystery and self discovery/recovery. I loved that the book had layers of storytelling; we learned not only about Evelyn's past, but also about Hannah's recovery in the modern world. There were references to contemporary topics which made the book feel relevant and interesting.

Hannah's own love life was tumultuous and frustrating at points, but nevertheless I couldn't stop looking forward to parts that would address her breakup. I enjoyed the hint of a new romance that was woven throughout the story too!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it wrapped up rather nicely, so if you like a clear cut ending then this one is for you!

TW: abuse, pregnancy loss, racial trauma, prejudice, suicide and depression

Great story from a favorite author! Takes in racial divides in South and the hurts still evident after all the years of discussion and trauma caused by racial discrimination. It follows families through years of pain and abuse. Moving and hopeful! Loved it.

What's Left Unsaid kept me guessing the entire way through. I loved the journey Hannah went on and her personal journey through the investigation. Engaging story!

After a series of devastating losses, Chicago journalist Hannah Williamson has landed in Senatobia, Mississippi, to care for her bedridden grandmother and endure grunt work at a small newspaper. But in cleaning out its archives, Hannah discovers a compelling distraction from her life: a series of rejected articles from the 1930s that illuminate a long-hidden mystery.

The articles, penned by a young woman named Evelyn, are haunting accounts of first love, trauma, and surviving a mysterious shooting that left Evelyn paralyzed at the age of fourteen. The articles stir up more questions than answers, and Hannah becomes consumed by what’s left unsaid. Encouraged by Guy Franklin, a local middle school teacher, Hannah’s investigation into Evelyn’s past becomes more personal with each new reveal. For Hannah, as both a journalist and a woman bearing her own emotional wounds, this is a chance to move forward and bring closure to the story of the girl whose secrets are buried in Senatobia.

What Hannah’s about to discover next is that, even after nearly a century, the truth she’s been looking for still has the power to change lives. Especially her own.

Hannah sets out to find out the meaning behind the letters she found . Kept me reading because I wanted to see what happens, but Hannah is an unreliable and unlikable character.

Hannah goes home to take care of her grandmother and came across a few news articles of the 30s and went about solving it. This was a poignant tale with well etched characters, though the main one needed to be less prickly. Overall the author managed to pique my interest in the entire book to finish it in two sittings.

Hannah Williamson is a small-town journalist seeking excitement in her career and a distraction from a breakup she is still reeling from. She relocated to Mississippi to care for her elderly grandma and lands a new job here. Hannah is given the mundane job of digitising the newspaper’s archives, but it proves much more interesting than she initially expected when she finds a series of letters written in the 1930s, from "Evelyn" to the newspaper's editor. Hannah becomes increasingly invested in Evelyn's story which eventually exposes many secrets.

This book was richly embedded in American culture. I felt that there were so many references that I didn’t understand as a British reader. Now, this isn’t to say that some people won’t enjoy it, but there was definitely a very specific target audience that I don’t feel like I fell in to. I struggled to understand Hannah’s character and motivations and overall did not engage hugely with the storyline.

I was first drawn to this book by its cover. This was the first book I have read by Emily Bleeker and I went into it blindly. Read the author's note at the end; book is based on a true story, which makes it even more amazing. Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of the ARC in return for my honest review.