Member Reviews
In the “About the Author” note, Rebecca Kelley is described as a writer whose “novels center on complicated women who make impulsive, reckless decision.” After reading this novel, I feel that characterization is an understatement.
Ramona was adopted as an infant and feels something is missing in her sense of self. Now at age twenty, she seeks out Amy, her biological mother, to find out more about her origins, including her father’s identity. The first meeting goes well, but as Ramona gets to know Amy and her family, she begins to realize that Amy’s story is filled with truths, half-truths and outright lies. It might be tempting to view Amy as possessing sociopathic or narcissistic tendencies, but for the fact that she clearly has a conscience that manifests in disturbing dreams. While she eventually tells “everything" and accepts the consequences of her actions, her motivations are murky, and she places Ramona in an untenable position.
This novel, while it kept me engaged, was unsettling – even disturbing. This is a one-and-done for me with this author.
My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.
I've been stuck in a book slump for weeks and this took me right out of it! In her late teens, Amy fell pregnant while working at a holiday resort. She put the baby up for adoption and now almost twenty, the daughter she gave up has come to the resort that she now runs looking for answers. This is a twisty, unpredictable and gripping read and I would definitely recommend it.
This is the first book I've read by this author. This kept me guessing all the way to the last page - which I really like! But it definitely ended a little abruptly, and part way through the book I really wasn't sure where we were going and what the author's intention was.
I felt strongly that the author has some great skill to keep this moving, and keep the reader engaged - since the story was retold so many times. That really impressed me - it didn't feel like "not this again" I was swept up in the story and what was going to happen next.
4* Not what I was expecting, but despite this, it was an engrossing tale of someone who'd - I think, at the start - wanted the best for her unborn child, but whose plans were flawed. And actions moreso.
Hmm. Was Amy a user? A manipulator? A sociopath? A psychopath? Someone whose brain got it wrong and then couldn't figure a way out? Did she have post-natal depression? Even pre-natal depression? All of the former, maybe? It was hard to tell, as we get glimpses of one of the people she'd 'wronged' very late in the tale, and even after her 'reveal' that got her what she deserved, she then felt the need to make Ramona complicit by telling her more, making the tale end on a cliff hanger. And said person hadn't deserved what happened to them, but Amy was utterly cold and calculating in the whitewashed version of the 'truth' but right at the end, that veered into something far more unpleasant and shocking. But she didn't seem remorseful, and she didn't seem grateful that Ramona, Gabe and her husband were still in her life. I can't figure her out. I think it's far more than self-preservation and her childhood that have fashioned her into what she is/has done, but can't label her accurately.
The point of the tale? I'm not sure there was one. But, it drew me in, wanting Ramona's truth, which I suspect she didn't get.
ARC courtesy of NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing, for my reading pleasure.
This is a simple story with really only 4 characters. Ramona comes to visit her birth mother, Amy. Ramona wants to know the story of how she came to be conceived and later adopted. Amy is now a married mother working in the hospitality industry, her husband (who is kind of a non-character) doesn’t know that his wife placed a child for adoption 25 years earlier. Amy tells Ramona the story, but keeps adding different details and misdirections to the story as time goes on. Eventually Amy tells Ramona everything that happened during the summer of 1997, and the two boys she dated, Freddie and Cory.
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.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union publishers for the ARC. Book to be published January 13, 2025.
I am writing this review for Net Galley
In this story we follow Ramona as she is able to find her real mother and meet up with her in person. Amy works at a hotel. She is married and has an eight year old son. When Ramona meets Amy she senses something is off. Amy had Ramona at an early age. She decided to give Ramona up for adoption when she felt that she was not capable of taking care of her. She found a couple that lived in a mansion. Amy thought she did everything right until Ramona found her years later and wanted to meet.
Ramona and Amy got along right away. Talking for hours about Amy's past leading to Ramona being born. When Amy invited Ramona to where it all began, things got a bit to close to home for Amy. Ramona started digging up parts from Amy's past that could lead to Amy getting into trouble and her life changing forever.
I really enjoyed this story. I liked that there was a past and present connection. I also liked there was some mystery involved leading to Amy's decision of giving up Ramona for adoption. I did not like some of Amy's decisions but when you are that young I can understand why she made the decisions that she did. Overall, I highly recommend..
Wow! The truths, the lies, I don't know where to begin. The book kept my attention and I just needed to know what she did.
Amy's life is turned on it's head when Ramona, the daughter she gave up for adoption turns up. Ramona wants to know who her father is/was and Amy doesn't want to tell.
Secrets and lies are always bound to come back and bite you so Amy thinks more lies will cover every other lie she has told.
With plenty of twists this rather emotive read kept me hooked. I liked it a lot
I liked that it could be someones real life drama and this kept me involved with Amy and Ramona as though they were real people and not just characters in a novel.
Excellent storytelling and superb writing along with a solid plot is what you get with this book...
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for gifting me this book for free in exchange for my review! All opinions are my own.
This was a pretty good book. If I am being honest. I was expecting this book to be more of a thriller than women's fiction. That's what the synopsis led me to believe anyways. With that being said, I still enjoyed this novel and I finished this book in under 24 hours. I will be definitely looking for more books by Rebecca Kelley in the future.
Many Thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest review.
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An atmospheric, compelling read. Will have you. thinking about the characters long after you close the book. Highly recommend.
I'll Tell You Everything by R. Kelley, published by Lake Union Publishing is a book that goes deep, stays with the reader.
Ramona is a young woman who's already through a lot, including getting adopted.
She visits her birthmother because she has questions.
Amy has the perfect life it seems, husband, son, drea, job, picket fence - when Ramona shows up and requests to know who her father is. And voila, here is the drama I was waiting for from the start. Great read, well written.
Blurb :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.
Expected publication January 14, 2025
When her estranged daughter asks to hear the one story she doesn’t want to tell, a woman spins lie after lie to protect her perfect life in this gripping novel.
The above line begins the synopsis for 'I'll Tell You Everything' by new-to-me author Rebecca Kelley. This line immediately draws readers in as we follow Amy Linden, who is confronted by her tumultuous past when the daughter she gave up for adoption, Ramona barges into her life. Finally settled, with her dream career and family, Amy comes up with tales in the hopes Ramona will simply let sleeping dogs lie. However, her newfound child is determined to learn about her heritage and digs deeper and deeper, sending Amy's neat life into a nosedive of epic proportions.
I really liked the unique plot of this novel - I have never read anything quite like it and as someone who has read more than 1000 books in her lifetime, that's saying something! While there is nothing new about having an unreliable narrator, it was quite interesting having an alternate narrator who acted as a direct foil, giving the storyline a distinct push-and-pull feel. Adding to this, all the twists and turns ensured that I was never bored; I was invested from beginning to end and actually finished the entire book in two days!
My only (and biggest) issue was that I unfortunately guessed the ending quite easily- I wished there was some more mystery to the plot. While this was disappointing, it didn't put me off reading.
In the end, "I'll Tell You Everything" gets a solid 3.5 star rating from me because while I enjoyed its distinctive premise, I do wish the mystery was a bit more...mysterious. This is definitely one to give a chance if you are looking for something new to spice up your TBR list!
*A great many thanks to Lake Union Publishing, Rebecca Kelley, and NetGalley for this ARC. It is important to note that I was not committed to providing a positive review; all opinions are undoubtedly my own.*
Ramona, an adoptee met her mother previously, but she felt she wanted more of the story, including her bio father. I was irritated with Ramona initially, and felt she was intrusive, but then....I realize that her birth mother could not be more manipulative and self serving. I felt like she never saw her young son through this whole book. As the book progressed, I was still very surprised as to the way it was going. The area is described beautifully, but whew...what a ride. Sometimes you have to be careful what you wish for.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.
This entire book was topsy turvy from the start. There were so many plot twists and story changes that had me on the edge of my seat reading. I particularly loved the setting, the Pacific Northwest is my home and it always makes me appreciate a book more. Ramona was an interesting character, albeit a little two dimensional in parts. Amy, however, was insane. I found myself initially rooting for her, but as the story went on and more secrets were revealed, I was shocked at her admissions and actions. She was an unreliable narrator that added another level of suspense to the story. While the ending was a little predictable, I still enjoyed the story and the mystery.
Starting this book, you’re already aware that something is being withheld from Ramona, but it doesn’t keep it from surprising you as she extracts it inch by inch. It isn’t until the very last word that everything clicks into place. The setting is so beautifully described, I want to visit there myself. The setting, the plot and the characters come together well to keep this book exciting and interesting. Definitely an enjoyable read.
[arc review]
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing an arc in exchange for an honest review.
I’ll Tell You Everything releases January 14, 2025
The daughter Amy put up for adoption comes looking for answers about her birth parents and origin story 20 years after the fact.
Ramona’s incessant search for answers threatens to unravel the tangled web of lies that Amy has tried to keep under wraps for so long.
Will unearthing her past lead to the destruction of the new family and life she has built?
I knew going into this that I should view Amy as an unreliable narrator and take everything she divulged with a grain of salt.
That being said, this was very drawn out and cyclical.
While I enjoyed the story telling, I kind of wish the flashbacks were isolated to their own chapters and structured as a then/now instead of blending them in with the present day narration in order to provide more separation and overall clarity.
There was a part that severely caught me off guard when a character took to comparing a young woman in her 20’s leading a double life and cheating/sleeping around to Nazi’s compartmentalizing by torturing individuals at concentration camps during the week and then being perfect doting fathers with their families on weekends.
Not only is that insensitive but it’s highly concerning to stumble upon text that is phrased in a way that sympathizes Nazi’s by saying they were just “normal guys” and not the “bullies.”
Wow, what a phenomenal read. I’m talking about I’ll Tell You Everything. This is a book that you have to read!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reading copy. This book blends elements of romance, mystery, and suspense. Amy Linden's carefully orchestrated life unravels when her daughter, Ramona, seeks the truth about her biological father. As Amy spins a tangled web of lies, the tension keeps building. Amy’s internal struggle sucks you in and the twists keep you reading.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.5
Ill Tell You Everything
I feel lucky enough to have read this Advance Readers Copy, or ‘ARC’ of this book.
Honestly, I have never read a book quite like this one, and have nothing to compare it to, in the best possible way.
There are elements of what I felt were romance, mystery and thriller. As per the plot, Ramona is adopted, and has located her biological mother. She is seeking some answers and insight into where she came from and what her birth parents are like…and the answers, journeys she is taken on, and all the things she learns is nothing like she saw coming.
I read this book in 4.5 hours. I could NOT put it down. As the story went on, i found myself thinking one thing, then another, then another. Characters start by coming across one way, then morph into something else entirely. Incredible.
Unputdownable, one of a kind and an ending you will not see coming. A must read, like nothing else you will read.
I adored this book! I read and write about adoption topics so this was naturally of interest. I enjoyed Kelley's writing and found this story to be mysterious but authentic. I found the well-developed characters intriguing and couldn't help but ponder what would happen next. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.