Hannah Williamson, a promising young journalist living in Chicago, is at an all-time low. She is at a crossroads in her young life; her boyfriend has deserted her after cheating on her and is already planning his wedding, then her beloved father has died way too young. All the losses and disappointments she has suffered have made her lose her self-confidence, ambitions and joie de vivre so she needs a new beginning where she will be loved and welcomed, but the local community does not know what she has been going through. She has completely lost her way and needs time to regroup. She plans to go to her father’s home town of Senatobia in Mississippi and look after her much loved paternal grandmother who is unwell and confined to her bedroom. She knows this will be the best way to recover.
Upon arrival in Senatobia Hannah acquires a job in the offices of the local newspaper. The work is boring and dusty as she is isolated in a basement room charged with organising and photocopying the archives of newspapers from way back, even before she was born and the current editor had taken on the job when his father had retired. However she soon becomes engrossed in her menial task when she comes across some letters that had been sent to the editor of the local rag in the 1930’s by a young lady called Evelyn who had detailed her life from just before the age of fourteen. Hannah immediately identifies with her because she sees the similarities with her own life. They had both been unlucky in love and had suffered loss.
Work soon becomes an obsession. She cannot wait until she finds another letter in the archives from Evelyn, because it soon appears that Evelyn is telling her story in as a serial. She wanted to record what had happened to her so the burden of knowledge was off her chest and she could get on with her life, knowing that the truth would be told at the discretion of the Editor. Hannah is astonished when at last the truth is revealed. The truth was that she had become paralyzed at the age of fourteen when she miraculously survived a horrific shooting in her home, which resulted in her disability and made her wheelchair bound. Hannah was hooked; she wanted to find out who had shot Evelyn, already knowing that Evelyn would keep writing to the editor until her story was completed. She was appalled that the shooting had not been reported and decides to make further investigations of her own, encouraged and helped by Guy Franklin, a friend of her grandmother’s.
‘What's Left Unsaid’ is the story of Hannah’s obsessive investigations underlining the fact that the letters were rejected and never went into print. What makes it so special is that the story is based on true life and factual information divulged by one of Emily Bleeker’s close relatives. It is a story she has felt compelled to write, a mystery story of long buried wrong-doings, secrecy, love and loss, racism, abuse and suppression of a crime, profiteering and much more. I liked the premise of the storyboard, but I found the storytelling lacked pace and I did not take to Hannah as a character at all. I thought she was self-serving and acted beyond the limits. She caused so much trouble for others as well as herself as she continued acting rashly.
I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Lake Union Publishing through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy. These are my own honest opinions, without any outside influences. This novel posed so many questions that were very uncomfortable. Clearly Evelyn did not receive the support that she so obviously needed. I was shocked that her family were complicit and felt very sad, especially when I read that the story was based upon true events. 3.5*

I received an advance digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and Netgalley.com. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Why This Book? I chose this book to read based on its description. I was curious to know how the author would weave articles about the life of a fourteen year old girl (Evelyn) who lived in the 1930's with the life of a modern day journalist (Hannah). By the time I finished reading the book, I had my answer. I was impressed by the method the author used to switch from Evelyn's articles to Hannah's life. It was done in a way that wasn't confusing or overly done.

Writing Style. I feel the author's writing style flowed nicely for me. I connect most with books that keep it simple. So, this was an easy read. The story was told in a way I could envision and get immersed into the plot without being lulled to sleep or skipping pages due to long winded explanations or overly done descriptions. And, I didn't need to interrupt my reading flow to Google any of the words!

The Plot. What I liked most about this book was: 1) Hannah's character, particularly her curiosity, tenacity, vulnerability and sense of humor (yes, even her occasional cursing) that she brought into every interaction with the other characters; 2) the author did a nice job of character development in that I knew enough about each character to understand their tie in to the story; and 3) the plot twists the author dropped into the story were pleasantly surprising.

What I liked least about the book was the stereotypical role that the only African American woman (Carla) was given, which was housekeeper/maid. She was a third generation housekeeper for Hannah's grandmother's family who owned a plantation once upon a time. Although the story takes place in a small town in the South, giving Carla that role just seemed a bit cliché.

Bottom Line. I liked this book. It is a memorable story. I particularly appreciate the honest and straightforward way the author shows the power of conversation when it comes to difficult topics like depression, family secrets, and racism; and she carries that theme through most of the character interactions in the story. My favorite line, which seems to sum up the lessons each of the key characters learned in their own way is: "It seemed that standing firm, telling the truth, and making amends were the key..."

Trigger Warning: Depression, Suicide, Child Abuse, Sexual Abuse
What's Left Unsaid is based on a real life person named Evelyn. The story of Evelyn told through letters is the most interesting aspect in this novel. Hannah is struggling through a very bad phase in her life wherein some of her decisions are selfish and jaded. Some issues discussed in this novel might be very hard for some people to deal with. I had some difficulty reading about depression and suicide but wanting to know about Evelyn and her story kept me going through it.

What's Left Unsaid is an interesting story about Hannah who returns to her hometown in the south after losing her job. She takes it on herself to aid her ailing Grandmother while she takes a job in the local newspaper office, she stumbles on some letters written in 1935 by Evelyn.

Evelyn is writing the newspaper to tell the story of how she ended up shot and paralyzed in a wheelchair. Hannah feels a connection to Evelyn and is determined to find the rest of the story and share it with the world.

This was a brilliantly written, utterly captivating book that truly lived up to my expectations.

I would like to thank Emily Bleeker and Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Summary:
The author's writing is brilliant and so captivating. A good read, for sure.

Overall this book was okay- it didn’t really wow me and seemed unnecessarily long. It was still a good story but not anything extraordinary. The historical parts of the story were way more interesting than the present day parts. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free copy in exchange for review.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. I loved the theme of generational bonds between women, haunted pasts, and being refines by fire...so to speak. I enjoyed learning about Evelyn's story, with the highlight on the past, but I did not care for the main character, Hannah. Everytime she expressed her "disappointments" in the older generations, as what she viewed was usually ignorance, I wanted to roll my eyes and put down the book. There is enough of that nonsense going around these days where young people can pretend they would have done the past different had they only been there. .... #whatsleftunsaid #emilybleeker #netgalley

I received this book "What's Left Unsaid" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. The book was interesting and I wanted to find out what happened to Evelyn. I didn't care for the main character, Hannah. So for me, it was a slow pace to the end of the book.

I had no idea until the end that parts of this were based on a true story and its beautiful.
The story of Evelyn, Hannah, Guy and Mammaw are so intertwined it's lovely to read and see the relationships develop.

This thoroughly enjoyable page-turner has a multigenerational background sprinkled with southern manners, modern day civil rights discussions and personal growth arcs. Hannah was at a personal low when she left Chicago for Senatobia, Mississippi. After losing her fiancé, her father and her job, a needed environmental change finds Hannah working for a small town newspaper and caring for her genteel grandmother. Several twists and turns keep this interesting, with a satisfying resolution - especially considering its base on a true story.

Loved this book. A great story and difficult to put down. Great twists at the end. Looking forward to other books by Emily

Emily Bleeker's new novel is quite an accomplishment. It combines a suspenseful journalism plot, characters working through flaws, and a surprisingly subtle handling of some very tough issues that have been at the heart of public discourse this past year: race, gender, child and sexual abuse, suicide/depression, regional differences, and generational differences. Bleeker's ability to weave all of these heavy issues into a fascinating story without weighing it down reflects skill. I enjoyed this book, and it left me with lots to think about.

I received an ARC of What's Left Unsaid from #netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Emily Bleeker's What's Left Unsaid has it all: a complex protagonist at her wit's end, a plot that won't let up, and an utterly satisfying ending that leaves you speechless, but what floored me most were the brilliant and subtle insights that grace nearly every page. Emily Bleeker is a seasoned pro with endless tricks up her sleeve.

A great coming of age novel. Strong characters and relatable and compelling story. Really good! A fast, enjoyable read.

After a series of losses, Hannah has gone home to her grandmother's to start over and get her life back on track. She starts a new job at the local newspaper and soon ends up cleaning out the basement archives. Not her dream job. but she soon comes across a story by Evelyn. Evelyn's story sucks her in and before she knows it she can't let the story go untold. Little does she know that the ending of the story will not be what she expects.

[This is rather weird... I had already reviewed AT LENGTH this enjoyable, entertaining novel!! obviously not saved properly... ]

The title is not memorable, but the story rewards reading: Hannah, a believable flawed character, has left Chicago for the small Southern town her father came from seeking refuge and space to try to find her feet both emotionally and professionally. Her work in a local newspaper (she used to work for a rather grander outfit but...) leads her to find an old story which will actually compel her to get out of her morass and inch her way to a recovered self.

I thoroughly enjoyed how the author tells both stories, the old and the new one, and meshes them in a double discovery helix which is really enjoyable. There are some longueurs in the writing and some unnecessary repetition but there is overall good pace, and even if you see the very end coming, it is not exactly as I thought! A number of very real issues around women, class, race and mental health are raised in a light, yet intelligent manner.

I recommend this book highly. It seems to me also that many "not very strong" young (teenager) readers may find it accessible, interesting and dealing with pertinent issues in a very entertaining way. You want to now what happens next.

I always love Emily Bleeker’s books, and What’s Left Unsaid was no exception! In this very timely novel, Bleeker examines deeply ingrained racism, politics, raw emotion and mental illness.
Hannah has lost seemingly everything: her job at the Chicago Tribune, the love of her life, her apartment and her father in very short order. When her grandmother has an accident, Hannah’s mother urges her to reset and take care of Mamaw in Mississppi. While working for the local small town paper, Hannah uncovers a rejected story from the 20’s that sets her on an unforgettable journey.
With a lovely cast of characters and many important messages, #WhatsLeftUnsaid is a wonderful read!

I received an ARC of #WhatsLeftUnsaid by #EmilyBleeker in exchange for an honest review courtesy of #NetGalley and the publisher

I have read other books by this author and enjoyed them much more. This one didn't really do it for me. The book seemed to drag on, and while I was expecting some kind of suspense, I feel like it fell flat in this area. Many topics were touched upon, like depression, suicide, and systemic racism, but none were fully discussed and seemed to be just thrown in at random.

TW: child abuse, sexual assault, miscarriage, suicide

#WhatsLeftUnsaid by @emilybleekerauthor. Review can also be found at instagram.com/lupislibrary

This was a brilliantly written, utterly captivating book that truly lived up to the expectations I had of it. What makes this book even more compelling, yet heart-breaking, is the fact it is based on true events lived by the authors' great-aunt.

It follows Hannah, a journalist who has moved from Chicago to stay with her elderly Grandmother and help look after her, after recently experiencing a mental breakdown and discovering the infidelity of her boyfriend. After starting her new life in Mississippi, Hannah struggles to adjust to her new job at a small newspaper, all while still being heartbroken over the boy who left her for another woman. That is, until she makes a startling discovery in the basement of her work: a series of rejected articles from the 1930s that Hannah is immediately compelled to solve. The articles are uncovered by Hannah one by one, and as she recounts the mystery of a young woman who was shot at 14 years old, Hannah investigates further to unfold the truth.

I think there are an abundance of reasons why I loved this so much. The author's writing is brilliant, so captivating I devoured this in less than 24 hours and was on the edge of my seat to find out what happened next. The depth to the characters really added to the story - I felt extremely connected to Hannah, and was so intrigued as to where her friendships with the other characters would lead to. Another extremely important topic the author addresses in this book is systemic racism, but I don't want to give too much of the plot away, so I'll just acknowledge the importance of this and how well the author articulated it. There are a lot of important lessons to take from this book, and I'm truly in awe at the author's writing. I look forward to discovering more of her works!

Thank you to @lakeunionauthors and @netgalley for sending me this Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review. This will be available for purchase on the 27th July 2021 and I highly recommend you add it to your wishlist!

“What’s Left Unsaid” a novel by Emily Bleeker is a story of love, loss and second chances.

Journalist Hannah, recovering from a multitude of disasters including a break up and job loss, flees to a small town in Mississippi so she can provide care to her grandmother. She is able to secure a job at the town’s newspaper where she comes across a set of unpublished letters. Those letters introduce us to Evelyn who wrote the letters to the newspaper after she was shot and as a result, paralyzed. Hannah’s interest is piqued and she begin to investigate the matter, which leads her to her own discoveries about who she is and who she can be.

This story is mostly told in Hannah’s point of view, interspersed with Evelyn’s letters. The mystery portion of the novel is a slow build, but the writing and the character of Hannah make you want to keep reading. You admire how determined Hannah is to right this wrong, but at the same time you root for her to write the wrongs in her own life. There is even the potential for romance with Guy, a single dad who was hired to work on her grandmother’s house.

The novel is not perfect—while set in the South, the novel only skims the topic of racism, a subplot that I would have liked to have seen further explored as I would have liked to have seen more with Hannah’s struggles with depression and suicide. Overall, I encourage you to give this author a try. I certainly want to go back and read the author’s previous novels.

This novel was an ARC through NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and the author for my honest review.

This is a book full of suspense, intrigue, heartache, and pain.
Hannah, a journalist from Chicago has moved to help care for her elderly Grandmother in a small town in Mississippi.
It is a much needed move for Hannah,following some major trauma in her life.
She finds a job for a tiny newspaper, cleaning out their archives. Not a perfect job, but it will do.
Hannah slowly begins to dig through old papers, and finds letters that she feels must be printed from the 1930's regarding a shooting of a young girl. She first needs to find the shooter!
However, nothing is easy in securing the facts.
Everyone has secrets and everyone knows everyone in this town.
The story is told from the 1930's as information is obtained, and alternates with the present as Hannah searches for answers.
Definitely a good read that will keep you wondering!
A definite surprise ending I never expected!