"We Don’t Talk About Carol" was a read that I enjoyed a great deal. The characters are well done, and the plot was unique and interesting.

When their grandma passes, a mystery is discovered. You learn a lot though about so many different issues, including families, mental health and secrets.

There was a twist at the end, which surprised me. And isn't that what twists are supposed to do?

Thank you to Random House Publishing and NetGalley for a digital ARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.All opinions are my own.

"We Don’t Talk About Carol" is a masterfully crafted novel that deserves a solid four-star rating. While it revolves around a long-standing mystery waiting to be unraveled, this is merely one facet of a much broader narrative. The story delves into themes of family trauma, mental health, PTSD, and hidden family secrets. As I progressed through the pages, I felt increasingly immersed in the world of the book. An unexpected twist at the conclusion adds to its allure. I sincerely hope this work receives the recognition it merits—make sure to add it to your reading list!

This was such a surprise in the best way. The way the author beautifully wove this family's story from the 60s and the 2020s so flawlessly was such a treat. The common thread of mental illness, social issues, and familial drama was portrayed in such a way that it hits you at the core.

A great read! I was so invested from the start. I loved all of the characters, and I felt that the story played out perfectly.

If you like books that make you ugly cry, then this one is for you!
After her grandmother dies, Sydney, finds a photograph of a little girl that shares a striking resemblance to her. Sydney finds out the little girl in the picture is actually her aunt that she never knew she had. Her aunt was one of six black girls who had gone missing in the 60's. Determined to find out what happened to her Aunt and using her experience as a Journalist, Sydney strikes out on her own to uncover the truth. This journey we follow her on is a heartbreaking one filled with lies, and family secrets that have contributed to generational trauma. Kristen Berry does an amazing job at calling out communities that keep harmful secrets as well as the authorities that are meant to serve and protect our communities but neglect to do so.
While the plot was intriguing and held my interest my favorite part of this book were the characters. They felt real, I could hear my family saying the dialogue written and making facial expressions described on the page. I loved this book so much and look forward to more from this author.

We Don't Talk About Carol

I believe it will be an underrated gem. The story delves deep into mental health, family problems, secrets, and, most notably, the lack of police involvement and care when it was needed.
Bell drags up emotions and memories so well described. I thought I was there at times. Building a story that moves back and forth from the 1960s to the 2020s while also including great character development that wasn't easily ignored.
I really liked it, I enjoyed reading the clues and where they might connect, while also learning that what happens at home doesn't always have to stay there. It's ok to build yourself a community that you can thrive in.

Thank you to Kristen L. Bell, Random House Publishing, and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Now this is how you write a book! I was shouting and in disbelief when things started to come together. 5 ⭐️

The description does not do it justice. Yes, it’s about missing black girls and the main character potentially losing herself in the investigation but it is so much more. I got lost in this book like Sydney got lost in the case.

I can’t believe this is a debut novel. Kristen Berry, get back in the lab. We need you!

This was emotional, complex, and well written. It is a “family secret” type suspense novel with aspects that read like a thriller. Every detail was important and I loved how deliberate she was in chasing after justice for these missing Black girls. Berry handles childhood trauma and C-PTSD so well.

It’s also not just about a missing aunt. It’s the family ties, secrets, lies, shame, and the “keep this in the family” mentality that plagues so many families.

If you like true crime podcasts, family secrets, and a focus on underreported stories, this is for you. So good. Thank you NetGalley and Random House for providing this advanced reader copy! Will be buying a copy of my own 💙

Overall, I had a good time with this one. There was a great hook right from the start. The journey Sydney goes on is believable and I felt like I was right along side her trying to discover what happened. There were page-turning moments and the ending tied up all of the loose ends nicely leaving me satisfied with the conclusion.

The first third of the book was a bit slow and it was hard to get into initially. I realize this was to set the scene and develop the characters but it was a lot of family drama that I didn’t care much about. It wasn’t until about a third of the way through that the story took off and had me invested.

This was an easy read and definitely something to pick up if you’re at all into true crime. I also appreciated the emphasis on the fact that cases involving black people are much less publicized and more likely to go unsolved.

This was such a good book! It had a lot of twists and turns and it was truly a gripping book. It has secrets, missing info found out from the past, etc. And without giving too much away, it is a wild ride! It was not what I was expecting, and I really enjoyed reading this book!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!