Amy and her husband have a beautiful lodge and she’s a social hotelier just like she always wanted. She started in the kitchen as a teenager at the very same lodge.

When her daughter that she gave up for adoption, Ramona, shows up asking questions about her father, Amy panics. Questions she doesn’t want to answer. Who is Ramona’s father? Amy spins one lie after another. But Ramona wants to know and won’t leave without the truth. What happened that summer Amy worked at the lodge?

Great mystery and psychological thriller. Definitely a twisty ride to the end!

I'll Tell You Everything by Rebecca Kelley is a so-so domestic drama.

Amy Linden is married to Jonathan and the two have a son, Gabe. Amy and Jonathan own and manage a grand mountain lodge. Twenty-five years ago Amy gave up her daughter for adoption, a secret she has kept for years. When her daughter Ramona Crawford pays Amy a visit at the Lodge, wanting to know her birth story and the identity of her biological father, it threatens Amy's current life.

The slow-paced plot unfolds from the point-of-view of Amy and Rebecca. Most of the chapters are set in the present, but some of Amy's chapters are set in the past, telling the story of what happened years ago. Quickly you will realize Amy is an unreliable narrator and she doesn't want to tell Ramona the truth. Ramona's adoptive mother has been diagnosed with cancer, which is what compels her to keep pushing Amy for the true story.

This plot moved too slowly for me and I struggled with caring about these characters. Honestly, I didn't care for either of them so I never became invested in the secrets, lies, or emotional state of the characters. It is a short novel. Thanks to Lake Union Publishing for providing me with an advance reader's copy via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.

The review will be published on Edelweiss, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

This may have worked better as a short story or novella, there wasn’t a lot of plot, dialogue, or characterization. The ending was probably supposed to be dramatic, but something that seemed a bit obvious from the beginning. Unfortunately I just didn’t feel the suspense and I had really ambivalent feelings towards the characters; neither strongly likable not unlikable.

Secrets and lies. Ramona who has only recently learned that she was adopted and that Amy is her bio-mom arrives at Amy's home and wants answers- answers Amy isn't inclined to provide about the identity of Ramona's bio-dad. They alternately tell this as Amy changes her story repeatedly until the onion is finally unpeeled. This is slow moving you might find frustrating at times but it's also intriguing. Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I really enjoyed reading 'I'll tell you everything ' the premise of the story is a girl given up for adoption meets her biological mother and over the course of the book gets several different versions of the truth about her conception, birth and giving up from her mother. The book kept my attention as each new version of the 'truth' is different and the reader is kept guessing as to what on earth can be coming next. The descriptions of the scenery and wildlife are beautiful and the characterisation especially of Amy and Ramona well done. I would be happy to recommend this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

I’m not able to give a full review of this book as unfortunately I didn’t finish it due to how much it was dragging, this book might have got better as it went on.

Good storyline about an adopted child who’s trying to find out why. Many stories and tales but what is the truth?

The setting of this book is it's own character, it is cozy and almost makes you feel like you are at the nice warm lodge as well. This story grabs you from the beginning and seems to be hard to put down, and a rather quick read. I love the premise of choosing the truth that will destroy your life or telling a lie that could hurt another. An overall great read.

This was a tough one to get through… but I did finish it. It felt like it was dragging on and on… while it was definitely not for me, I still recommend everyone read and determine on their own that the story isn’t for them.

A uniquely heart-breaking and aggravating story. There is a really strong conflict between truth and lie, and you never know which is which until the very end.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Rebecca Kelley's "I'll Tell You Everything" is a compelling exploration of friendship, family, and the secrets that bind and break us. This novel delves into the intricacies of human relationships with a keen eye for detail and emotional depth.

The story follows two childhood friends, Nora and Meredith, whose lives have taken them in different directions. When a long-buried secret threatens to unravel their seemingly perfect lives, they must confront their past and navigate the complexities of their present. Set against the backdrop of a small town, the novel captures the essence of intimate community life, where everyone knows each other's business, and secrets are hard to keep.

Nora and Meredith are fully realized characters, each grappling with their own dilemmas and past traumas. Kelley's portrayal of their friendship is nuanced yet realistic, highlighting the ways in which their bond has evolved over the years. The supporting characters, including family members and other townsfolk, add layers to the narrative, making the world of the novel rich and immersive.

The novel tackles themes of forgiveness, redemption, and the enduring power of friendship. Kelley's writing is both lyrical and precise, capturing the emotional highs and lows of her characters with empathy and insight. The dialogue is authentic and engaging, drawing readers into the heart of the story. The pacing is deliberate, allowing for deep character development and a gradual unfolding of the central mystery.

"I'll Tell You Everything" is a poignant and thought-provoking novel that stays with you long after you turn the last page. Rebecca Kelley's skillful storytelling and deep understanding of human nature make this a standout work of contemporary fiction. Readers who enjoy character-driven narratives and explorations of complex relationships will find this book deeply satisfying.

I would say that this book accurately described the genre of the book, women's fiction. However, I also think that you could classify this book as a mystery/thriller. It felt like an adventure and a new take on one family's experience. It was really interesting to read about and towards the end of the book everything became clearer. Exactly as the author suggests in her title, I'll Tell You Everything. The title corresponds well with the main plot line. I would say one critique though for the author, there are too many characters and so during the middle of the book it got harder to read about them. But I can see why the author did that, because they wanted the ending to be impactful.

It is quite a short book and you'll be able to get through it in a day. I'd give this book a 3.5 stars, mainly taking points off for the middle section because I couldn't understand it. Please continue to write more tho! These are interesting reads.

Amy Linden has a loving husband, an adorable son, and a glamorous career as the hotelier of a grand mountain lodge. Then Ramona Crawford, the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty years earlier, pays her a surprise visit. Ramona wants to know the identity of her biological father—and Amy completely understands. There’s just one the truth would destroy Amy’s carefully curated life.

Amy shares a sad tale about a teenage romance with a boy named Freddy and the painful decision to give Ramona a better future than they could provide. At first, the pieces fit together and give Ramona both closure and a chance to get to know her odd but charming mother. But then Ramona gets a different story from Freddy, and Amy’s memories seem to change…and change again.

Will Amy ever reveal the full story of that fateful summer at the lodge? And if so, can Ramona live with the truth?

Loved it. Will recommend to others.

I'll Tell You Everything slowly draws you into Ramona and Amy's story.

Ramona has been searching for her birth mother and has finally met Amy.

She is full of questions that only Amy can answer who certainly has quite the story to tell.

Be careful what you wish for because it could be way more than you bargained for .

Ramona is about to learn that the hard way.

Amy is quite the unreliable narrator which amps up the tension.

The setting is beautiful and you can just picture yourself at the lodge looking at the window with a hot drink.

I'll Tell You Everything is an enjoyable read and a nice way to spend the afternoon settling in and getting lost in the story.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read and review I'll Tell You Everything.

This book was such a treat! I loved the characters and the story itself was unexpectedly cozy! It was very atmospheric and was great for reading at night with a cup of tea. The story really pulled me in and unraveled at such a nice pace. As each layer of the mystery was revealed I found this harder and harder to put down. Highly recommend!

The cover and description made me request this book. However, the book fell so short and it was hard to finish. I do not DNF books because I feel guilty, however, this would have been one I did if I did DNF. I would have loved to have loved this book, but just did not.

Where do I start? This book is about a young woman- single woman-with gets pregnant. This is supposed to be a book review not a book report so I will not be telling a lot more about the story. The characters are just that- characters. A couple of them are more believable than others. I found the book to be depressing and that is not why I read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read an advance copy for my honest review.

Special thanks to the author and NetGalley for the free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Jan. 14, 2024
Amy Linden has worked hard to get where she is, a successful hotelier, managing the hotel she co-owns with her handsome husband, Jonathan. With their young son, Gabe, Amy is living the life she has dreamed of since she was a young girl, when she worked in the kitchen of a local resort. But then Ramona shows up and claims she’s the daughter Amy gave up for adoption twenty years ago. Amy has kept Ramona, and the story of her adoption, a secret for so long, she isn’t sure if she’s ready to spill it. But Ramona keeps pushing and Amy knows that Ramona has a right to know where she came from- but at what cost?
“I’ll Tell You Everything “is the second novel I’ve read by novelist Rebecca Kelley. Her first novel, “No One Knows Us Here” earned a five-star review from me, and I was more than excited to be given the chance to see if her new novel would live up to the hype.
The novel is co-narrated by both Amy and Ramona. Although it is in the modern time period, some of Amy’s portions are told through recollections by Amy on her past, allowing readers to get the full story as she slowly reveals her secret past to Ramona. Amy was a single parent, trying to make her way up in the hotel management world, who gave away her daughter in order to pursue her aspirations. Ramona is a young woman, trying to find out who she is after her adoptive mother is diagnosed with cancer. For some reason, I did not like Ramona as a character. She seemed vindictive and manipulative, desperate to find out Amy’s story and then, after begging and pleading for the truth, she shuns Amy as a result of consequences she coerced Amy into taking. That being said, she did not put me off the story, and I was captivated by the engaging plot.
The secluded, rural setting of Amy’s hotel is the perfect escape, and I loved the picture Kelley painted of the picturesque scenery. The plot flowed well, but the story was more women’s fiction or mystery than a domestic suspense or psychological thriller, which “No One Knows” definitely was. Once I accepted the change in genre, I was able to get into this novel and feel more connected to the plot and characters.
The best part of “Everything” is the ending. Kelley draws the novel to a succinct and satisfying conclusion and then throws a final (and, in my opinion, the best) twist into the last few pages. I had different expectations of what this novel was going to be, but I was able to enjoy it all the same. Thanks to Kelley for providing me with her newest novel to enjoy.

I'll Tell you Everything has two main characters - Amy and Ramona. Each chapter is told from the point of view of one or the other.

Amy puts Ramona up for adoption when she was a baby. On reaching adulthood, Ramona wants to find out about her blood parents, and meets with Amy, but this is where the lies start.

I liked the storyline of the circumstances which led to Amy putting Ramona up for adoption, but it felt that the story was just going round and round in circles and going nowhere. Having said this, it was an easy read and I would give another book by this author a go

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me read a copy in return for my honest review.

I really wanted to dive into this and love it however at past the 50% mark I was still struggling to fully embrace the story telling so unfortunately I won't be able to finish.
What I did read however was a solid 3 stars