Thank you NG and Brillance for the ALC of this book! This was my first book by this author, and blurb is what intrigued me. This is not my normal style of reading but with the audio I decided to give it a chance. I felt like it was long winded and parts and I was just wanting to fly through. Amy honestly annoyed me in the beginning Galway’s avoiding answers to Ramona.

Overall, I thought the narrators Amy Bentley and Caitlin Kelly did a great job!

I listened to the audio version of this book, and the narration was well done. This is the first time I have read a book from this author. It had a great concept for the story line and plot point, but I feel like it wasn't written as well as it could have been. The idea was about Ramona, an adopted girl, who is searching answers about her bio family, and she find out so much more. I think the main character could have used so much more depth to make the story more interest. Overall, it wasn't bad.

Thank you Net Galley, Brilliance, and Rebecca Kelley

Amy Linden has always wanted to be a prestigious Hotel Manager. Now that she and her husband run the lodge resort she worked at as a teenager, it seems like she's finally turned her dreams into reality..... until the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty years ago shows up and starts asking a lot of questions that Amy doesn't necessarily want to answer.

The description of this one was interesting and I was curious to see how someone reacts to being confronted by their own child when that child is a stranger. I was curious to see how the dynamic would be between Amy's current husband and child and her older daughter. There's also the element surrounding Amy now running a lodge she was once a dishwasher at it. Was the father someone who also works at the lodge? Is he aware that he has a daughter? There were so many ways this story could have gone but unfortuantely I feel like the execution just fell short.

Running a high-volume lodge requires a relatively serious person so I expected Amy to either be a serious, respectable person or minimally have mastered the skills of being such a person if it doesn't come naturally. Instead, Amy is an extremely immature, selfish person who likes to wastes everybody's time. The way this went a rational adult has three choices; (1) tell your daughter everything (2) tell her you are not going to tell her (3) lie and say you don't know who it was. What a rational person *doesn't* do it weave a hundreds different misleading stories, waste your daughter's time and almost never get to the point.

This was slow going for me to listen to. I found my mind wandering off. The story was simple enough about an adopted girl, Ramona who is searching for answers abut her biological family. She finds out more than she bargained for when she finds her biological mother, Amy, When Ramona shows up Amy must relive some painful memories from the past. Ramona also meets her biological father and things get complicated. If you enjoy complicated family dynamics and interaction you may enjoy this story. It was a bit long winded for me and I was looking forward to finishing this book. The ending was pretty good. Thank you to NetGalley for the audio book.

I love a twisty family story with lots of secrets and lies and this novel delivers. Told from the viewpoints of Amy and Ramona it takes a few chapters to really get into the story and then you can't put it down. Amy's version of past events keeps changing and like Ramona you want to believe that she's telling the truth this time all the way up to the end. Amy is a fantastic unreliable narrator and the audiobook is a great way to enjoy this suspenseful mystery. Amy Bentley and Caitlin Kelly do a fabulous job of bringing these characters to life.

From Rebecca Kelley, the author of No One Loves Us Here (2023-loved), comes another emotionally powerful, intriguing mystery with page-turning suspense: I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING—a fitting title and an ideal pick for book clubs.

A shocking act of violence unfolds into a tender story of family, long-held secrets, and what-ifs, creating a suspenseful narrative that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

It may often be better to leave the past in the past. If you want to know everything, be prepared for an answer you may not want to hear.

“The worst lies are the ones we tell ourselves."—Richard Bach

Audiobook...

I read the e-book and listened to the audiobook, which I found very well done with perfect pacing, twists, suspense, and emotions beautifully captured by talented Amy Bentle and Caitlin Kelly, giving distinct voices to the two main characters, mother/daughter, making the story come alive, keeping you glued to your earbuds to see how this twisty saga will end.

About...

The story comes full circle, ending where it began at the secret lake they called Shangri-La. This lake holds a significant place in the characters' lives, serving as a backdrop for pivotal moments and symbolizing the cyclical nature of their experiences.

The past: A young couple fell in love. A young, ambitious girl became pregnant. A boy who loved art and the theatre. A boy's mother who was successful and controlling. A young girl who wanted to be her. Things did not go as planned. Lost dreams. A child was born and given up for adoption. Dark secrets were hidden. An unreliable narrator.

Amy, Freddy, and Cory form a complicated love triangle, their lives intertwined by love, ambition, chance, and tragedy. This dynamic adds a layer of complexity to the story, as their relationships and decisions shape the narrative.

The present: Amy Linden is married with a loving husband, Jonathan, and a young son, Gabe, with a glamorous and successful career as the hotelier of a grand mountain lodge.

Ramona Crawford, the daughter she gave up for adoption twenty years earlier, shows up for a surprise visit. She is not here to uproot her biological mother's life (but she will). She wants to know where she came from. Her goal: She wants to know the identity of her biological father.

In the past, Amy was a single parent trying to make her way up the hotel management ladder, and she thought it best to give up her daughter to make a life for herself. Ramona's adoptive mom is diagnosed with cancer. Now, she wants answers about her biological parents.

But you see, that may be a big problem for Amy. The truth could destroy everything she has worked for and her carefully curated life. The one she has sacrificed for. She has several versions of the truth. Will one of them be acceptable to Ramona?

There is a problem. Ramona will reach out to the man, intrigued and excited, but he has a different story. Amy has never told her husband about Ramona. She was good at keeping secrets and had several versions of the truth.

There is a mystery and a love triangle in the past. Amy, Freddy, and Cory. Neither of these two is her current husband. She has memories of what she wanted it to be, but the actuality was a different, darker story.

What is the big secret? When all is unraveled, it will be jaw-dropping. How far will someone go to keep their secrets hidden? What happened at the lodge that fateful summer? Once the truth is revealed, there will be no more versions and retellings.

Will the truth set you free?

My thoughts...

With its alternating POVs of Amy and Ramona and two timelines, I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING offers a unique and poignant exploration of love and forgiveness infused with thriller psychological vibes. The emotional depth of the characters will draw you in and make you feel connected to their journey.

The author writes of complex women making impulsive, reckless decisions, and I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING is a riveting thriller and a wise, profound novel of redemption.

The tranquil yet chilling front cover draws you in (which is a big focus of the novel) with the secluded rural setting of the hotel and the summer lodge. The author offers vivid descriptions that I can see on a wide screen.

As a reader, despite everything, you may sympathize with Amy as Ramona seems manipulative and pushes and demands Amy to the point when she does get the real truth; it is not what she wants to hear through her rose-colored glasses. I adored the ending, which gives a satisfying conclusion.

Engrossing and emotionally charged, I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING delves into themes of love, regret, guilt, split-second decisions, moral ambiguity, mistakes, forgiveness, and the toll of keeping secrets. It's a deeply moving novel about letting go of guilt and finding redemption.

Uniquely and cleverly told, it is a suspenseful, addictive page-turner filled with literary insight that compels readers to consider whether the worst thing they have done in their lives is all that defines them.

As in her previous book, the author showcases her storytelling skills and dives deep. Once again, she explores familial loyalty, women, relationships, motherhood, ambition, privilege, and risking it all. The novel's exploration of these issues will surely engage and provoke readers' thoughts.

The author does an outstanding job with the unreliable narrator and how she unravels the secrets of the past through Amy's retelling to Ramona. Infused with art and theatre, young love romance.

Unexpectedly, the novel turns dark and sinister turn, adding a psychological thriller vibe to the strong, insightful, thought-provoking family drama. The unexpected twists will keep the readers on the edge of their seats, adding a layer of suspense and intrigue to the narrative.

Amy is a complex woman but I will hand it to her, she gave Ramona what she asked for but was Ramona prepared for the answer she received?

I do not think this book or the author is getting enough love. I'LL TELL YOU EVERYTHING is a suspenseful domestic drama that builds slowly until all its explosive secrets are revealed. Be sure to check out No One Knows Us Here too (for fans of Robyn Harding and BA Paris).

Recs...

I highly recommend this novel for fans of the author and those who enjoy domestic suspense, character-driven narratives, emotionally resonant psychological dramas, and literary fiction. This is for readers of Liane Moriarty, Ann Patchett, Celeste Ng, Tracey Lange, Suzanne Refearn, Eileen Goudge, and Jessica Strawser.

Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Brilliance Audio for an ARC and ALC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Blog review posted @
JudithDCollins.com
@JudithDCollins | #JDCMustReadBooks
My Rating: 4.5 Stars rounded to 5
Pub Date: Jan 14, 2025
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This is a story about a woman who gives up a baby for adoption, and what happens when that baby - now a young woman - tracks her down, determined to find out her own origin story.

The problem is, while her birth mother Amy turns out to be hugely successful and have an apparently perfect life, her daughter Ramona will discover that reality does not quite match the story that she is spinning...

This is clever use of an unreliable narrator, and a book that is well worth your time. I, for one, will certainly be hoping to encounter more stories by Rebecca Kelley!

(Audio version)

Hate to say it, but this one was hard to get through. Amy seemed very immature for her age and the storytelling was what I'd expect for a YA audience. If the character had limited maturity for some reason, it was never mentioned, so I have to assume that was just her personality. I had a hard time caring about these characters. The story seemed to go on and on with no real point. There's too much predictability and not enough depth to the characters for me. I stayed with it to see if it improved, but I lost interest and was unimpressed with the end.

Thanks to Brilliance Publishing for the opportunity to read this ARC.

Colleen Chi-Girl on Next Door

I received this audiobook ARC from the publisher, Brilliance Audio, and Net Galley, in return for my honest review. This story takes place in current time.

The story is about a 20 year old woman, Ramona Crawford, who has finally located and is in touch with her biological mother, Amy Linden, who gave Ramona up for adoption as a baby.

Amy is now a successful hotelier of an esteemed mountain lodge, with a husband and young son who know nothing of Ramona. But Amy invites Ramona to meet her at the Lodge, where Amy drinks freely and often.

Ramona wants to know her own story, Amy’s background, and the identity of her bio father. Amy is holding back a lot of info and most of what she says cannot be trusted. She pretends to give Ramona the name of her bio father, Freddy. Hence a long and disappointing wild goose chase story. Ramona is no dummy and she doesn’t suffer fools, and she’s hurt and annoyed with Amy’s lies.

Had this not been a “gifted ARC”, I would’ve stopped reading it within the first quarter of the book. Amy is so juvenile in antics and speech that it’s similar to a novel written for high school kids. Sappy in some parts, ludicrous in others, the language is slow and tedious. It’s obvious it’s going to lead to the why’s, but not only can Ramona not stand it anymore, neither could I.

The storyline didn’t work as a thriller or suspenseful novel because of how draining the bio-Mom is in her exhaustive stories, exaggerations, and immature behavior.

The one person to possibly admire is Ramona and yet we can’t fully appreciate her for seeing through all of Amy’s deceit and stories bc…..we find out that Ramona skipped her loving, adoptive dad’s funeral while she was on this bio journey, then we find out her loving adoptive Mom has cancer, and her only brother, younger than she, is and has been caring for them while Ramona is gone.

I try hard not to leave poor reviews knowing how much heart and soul authors pour into their work, but I hope someone leads this author in a new and fresh direction with classier and more dignified women.

Great book! At no point did I know where the story is going. It was full of emotion and great writing! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for my honest review!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc!

Well that was a whirlwind of what is happening 🤣 in a very good way! Lots of twists in this one! You think you know what’s happening, but you don’t.

This book comes out 1/14 so don’t forget to pick it up and buckle up for a wild ride! It is full of secrets, lies, deceptions, romance and heartbreak!

The narration is 5/5! Loved the narrator. They did a great job telling this story and showing the perfect emotion for everything.

This was one that truly intrigued me, it is labeled as mystery but it's truly not. It's more emotional family drama and it was very lengthy. It just didn't hold my attention, the plot didn't keep me invested enough and it was too slow moving for me.

I'm having a little trouble rating this one.

First, I'll just say I really enjoyed the audio. The book is one MC telling another the story, and the narrators captured that perfectly. And I absolutely could not put this one down. I thought it was a very interesting story and I wanted to hear what next lie was going to unravel and in what way. But, I feel like the language of the blurb made this seem more like a mystery and it really isn't. Sure, Ramona is trying to figure out who her birth parents really are and how they met, but one of the biggest "twists" is almost completely revealed in the blurb so it was more of a question of when we were going to find it out, rather than it being a surprise. And honestly, everything was foreshadowed with a fairly heavy hand so while it was incredibly engaging, I think the blurb/cover photo promise a suspense that is just lacking. Still very well written though so I look forward to reading more from this author

This book is dual-narrated by Ramona and Amy, Ramona is a young adult adoptee looking to find about her biological family and history. Amy, her bio mom, is a successful hotelier with a seemingly perfect life. She is happy to meet Ramona and get to know her, but her version of events keeps changing.

I enjoyed the premise of this book. The descriptions of the lodge and summer memories transport the reader to this idyllic locale. I enjoyed the trips down memory lane and the narration was done well. This would make for a good quick summer read, the story keeps you guessing without any gore or themes that are too dark.

I was expecting a more surprising twist/reveal at the end but thought it ended in a way that made sense. I’m still not sure how I feel about Amy?! 🤨

Thank you to Brilliance Publishing and NetGalley for early access to this audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Okay this was a wild ride.
It’s told as memories from the main character, Amy- are they the full memory? It’s easy to speculate what could happen but the book keeps you on your toes; when you think you’ve got it pegged, it keeps you wanting more with the twists and turns.
I feel like the book could have been a hard read with how many retellings Amy does of her memories but Rebecca Kelley has been able to write wonderfully and there’s nothing frustrating about the read. My worst fear for books is having it feel like it drags on with a ‘groundhog day’ style theme and I was nervous when I first started reading that’s what it would be because Amy has a hard time saying her truths to her daughter Ramona. However, even with retelling of the same story (sort of) the memories are always different enough you need to keep reading to figure out the truth.
This book is far from monotonous. I will be buying a physical copy when the book comes out!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Can you believe anything?!?! I love an unreliable narrator and I don’t think there could be a more unreliable one. I loved all of the back and forth.

This was a deep, emotional family drama. I really enjoyed and I think many will like it. I'll be reading more books by this author.

Many thanks for my gifted copy.

This book was long for no reason at all!
You have a girl who was adopted and trying to find where she came from! You have her birth mom! She finds her, both of them were annoying! The stories going back and forth, back and forth! Gosh! Like get to the POINT!! Then at the end she didn't WANNA HEAR IT! ugh!! Just 😑

The book was just annoying as all get out!! Felt bad for Cory he didn't deserve that! But these 2 ladies was just ugh! And this mad the story drag but you also wanted to know the Truth so you keep reading and keep reading thinking it will get better but it in fact didn't get better! AT ALLLLLLL!

Rebecca Kelley’s I’ll Tell You Everything is a haunting and deeply captivating story that pulls readers into a tangled web of secrets, lies, and the relentless search for the truth. With its compelling narrative and heavy emotional undertones, this book masterfully keeps readers on edge, questioning everything until the very last page.

The story’s strength lies in its ability to immerse the reader in a world filled with suspense and moral ambiguity. The pacing may feel stretched at times, but this slower unraveling of events only adds to the tension, mirroring the weight of the secrets and darkness at the heart of the narrative. As the truth edges closer, the emotional stakes grow higher, making the eventual revelations feel all the more impactful.

Kelley’s writing captures the story’s heaviness beautifully, conveying the complexity of its characters and the gravity of their choices. The psychological depth of the narrative ensures that the darkness is not gratuitous but rather a necessary part of understanding the characters and their motivations.

While some moments may feel prolonged, the overall impact of the story is undeniable. I’ll Tell You Everything is a thought-provoking and gripping read that delves into the murky complexities of truth and the burden of carrying it. For readers who enjoy dark, emotionally resonant psychological dramas, this book is a standout.