In Bruce Nash’s All The Words We Know, readers get a deep dive into the mind of Rose who is in her eighties and suffer from dementia. The death of her Scrabble partner and friend sparks Rose to investigate the disappearance of her friend. For anyone who has or had a loved one imprisoned by dementia, this book will bring vivid images of the suffering of both the patient and their families.

I loved Rose. Of course, her narration of the story is questionable, circuitous, and repetitive. That is both endearing and frustrating. While I can empathize with her son and daughter’s exhaustion and frustration, I also found their lack of empathy and graciousness toward their mother unacceptable. Rose’s memory affects her ability to communicate efficiently, but she does have something to say. Her memory impacts her ability to efficiently “investigate” her friend’s alleged accidental fall from a window.

Rose is an unreliable narrator, and she knows it. Her vocabulary mix ups are humorous, and her thought process is repetitive. She is a smart person made unreliable by age and illness. While Rose is clearly onto something in her investigations, she can’t quite remember all the details along the way.

Whether you read it for the cozy mystery or insight into the frustration of living with dementia, All The Words We Know is a worthwhile read.

▪️With wicked humor, genuine poignancy, and clever insight, this is an unforgettable novel about murder, secrets, and memory that is perfect for fans of Richard Osman and Fredrik Backman▪️

I have the deepest soft spot for elderly characters and love a mystery so when I saw that tagline name-dropping 2 of my all time favorite authors, I instantly grabbed this book. After reading, this one's almost hard to rate for me. Dementia is one of the most heartbreaking diseases to watch a loved one go through, and I do think it was interesting to read it through the perspective of the one who has it. You truly do feel as though you're going through this with Rose as she grapples with vocabulary, trying to find the word she's looking for. There were moments of warmth and times that made me LOL but also the fragmented mind aspect began to feel a bit too repetitive. This was also a painfully poignant look at what it can be like living in a facility and having people, including family, that lack patience or make you feel as though you're a burden. I liked Rose, but for some reason, I didn't fully connect with her as I have with others, such as Backman's Ove. Ultimately, I felt I was in the middle with this book, hovering at 3 ⭐, but I think this will still have readers who love it!

✨ Thank you to Atria and Net Galley for the invitation to read this one!
🎉 Pub date: 7•1•2025

I was quite disappointed in this, honestly. I do love me a good cozy, and the synopsis sounded right up my alley. Im not sure if it's a culture shock because this was originally released in Australia, but this book was crude. I can handle a little cussing, but this was a little much. When the word "cu*t" was unleashed very early on, I was out.
Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books, for the opportunity to read and review this advanced copy.

A different kind of mystery occurs daily for Rose. Will she remember yesterday? Last week? At 80 years of age, Rose has dementia that pulls her memories from her at odd times. Bruce Nash does a credible job of describing what it's like for many elderly people today. Rose lives in an assisted living facility where her best friend just died. Now she will investigate the death in the only way she knows how....one step at a time.

At times entertaining and/or frustrating, Nash gets credit for remaining true to Rose's limitations.

Thank you for the advanced copy! I unfortunately didn’t love this story and couldn’t keep my interest in continuing. But that is not to say someone else wouldn’t enjoy

I was hooked from the beginning!
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

This has to be one of the most unique books I have ever read, and that is saying a lot. The story is told from the perspective of Rose, an octogenarian with dementia living in a care facility, who suspects something nefarious may be happening within the facility's walls. An unreliable narrator, her story is told with humor and sadness, word substitutions and salad (lettuce forget), observations and paranoias. As you read, you are not quite sure what to believe in her stream of consciousness or rather subconsciousness. Rose's perception of the world around her and the characters within her facility's wall is unmatched. Absolutely brilliant storytelling and a rather cunning mystery as well. One of the most memorable characters I've met in a long time.

Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

She makes a most unusual sleuth

Rose is in her eighties and lives in an assisted living facility, where she uses her trusty walker to wander through the hallways. She is living with dementia, and her thoughts as she sees and interacts with the other residents and the people on staff are a mishmash of forgotten words, repetitive observations and musings about phrases and how they fit together. Not exactly Jessica Fletcher, in other words, but when the friend with whom she regularly played Scrabble ends up dead in the parking lot outside her window (the friend's window that is; Rose's window has a much better view as she frequently mentions) Rose knows that something isn't right about the incident. She begins her own investigation into what happened, quite a challenge for someone who is prone to forgetting just about everything despite the large diary her son has bought for her so that she doesn't forget about things like appointments and visits and such (because really, how can that be helpful if you continually forget that you're supposed to check it?). Turns out that there are quite a few secrets lurking in the halls of the facility, secrets about the staff, the residents and even about Rose's (forgotten) past. Rose may be a decidedly unreliable narrator whose grasp on language is on the loose side, but her clever mind occasionally breaks through the static of dementia and she just might end up surprising everyone.
All the Words We Know is not only a book about an elderly woman with dementia, it is narrated by that elderly woman with dementia. The reader must at times decipher what word Rose wants to say and will hear her repeat herself over and over again, and (based on other reviews I've read) some find that frustrating and a barrier to the flow of the story. I found Rose to be an endearing character, with a wit that can't be completely extinguished by her disease. Author Bruce Nash portrays her with empathy without getting mired in cloying sentimentality. She's a pistol, is Rose, one who can (during moments of clarity) see people for who and what they are. As she deals with the Angry Nurse, the man who doesn't live there (yet clearly does), the condescending Care Manager i.e. Scare Manager who speaks in clichéd management jargon, and the boy who mops floor who both is and isn't a boy, she brings the reader along on her journey. This is not a fast-paced story, but rather a gently cozy mystery that mixes together dark humor, the loneliness of aging, and the determination of a woman who refuses to be limited by those around her. Most of the secondary characters are not as fully realized as is Rose, with many falling into clichéd roles (the mean nurse, the self-absorbed grandchildren) but it really is Rose's story and she owns the pages. She reminds me in some ways of the character of Bernice in the TV series Designing Women, whose "arterial flow problems above the neck" often resulted in humorous interactions but who could also drop pearls of wisdom seemingly out of the blue. Readers of Richard Osman, Emma Healey and Jonas Jonasson might want to add this to their TRB list, as should those who enjoy Nita Prose's The Maid series. I thoroughly enjoyed getting to see the world through Rose's eyes. My thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for allowing me access to this quirky little gem in exchange for my honest review.

Narrated from Rose's perspective, a woman living with dementia in a care facility, this novel reflects her fractured memory, resulting in a story that feels scattered, disorienting, and sometimes hard to follow. While this narrative style is deliberate and mirrors Rose’s condition, it often leaves the reader unsure about what is real, imagined, or forgotten, making the reading experience feel tedious and unclear.

Despite the disjointed storytelling, Rose remains an endearing and memorable character. Her efforts to understand her surroundings—naming people she later forgets, piecing together memories, and reacting with a mix of humor and vulnerability—add depth and humanity to her voice. There are moments of genuine warmth and quiet reflection, but overall, the lack of narrative clarity makes this a challenging read.

Thank you Netgalley & Atria Books for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️

"All the Words We Know" is a darkly comedic mystery that dances on the edge of reality, told through the delightfully unreliable perspective of a narrator whose grip on facts is as slippery as her wit is sharp.
This unconventional protagonist - equal parts amateur sleuth and linguistic trickster - leads readers on a merry chase through a plot that twists and dissolves like a fading memory, all while peppering the narrative with hilarious malapropisms and unexpectedly profound observations about aging.
What begins as a seemingly straightforward whodunit gradually reveals itself to be a poignant meditation on the fragility of memory and the complex bonds between generations. The narrator's verbal gymnastics - where "Alzheimer's" becomes "old-timer's" and metaphors get deliciously mangled - provide constant comic relief, even as the story quietly breaks your heart.💔
The genius of this novel lies in how it immerses you in the protagonist's disoriented world view while still delivering a satisfying mystery. You'll find yourself questioning every revelation, much like the narrator herself, yet completely invested in her quest for truth. Between the laugh-out-loud wordplay and surprisingly tender moments, the book raises thoughtful questions about dignity, independence, and how we care for our elders.♥️
Whether you're drawn to clever wordplay, unconventional mysteries, or stories with emotional depth, this novel delivers on all fronts while defying easy categorization. Just be prepared to both chuckle and reach for the tissues - sometimes on the same page.♥️

While I knew this book was about dementia I did not realize it was written in the style of dementia which is really a wild way to write a book. While the plot was great I struggled to stay inside the story

All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash is a refreshingly unique novel told from the perspective of Rose, a resident of an assisted living home. Rose is in her 80s with dementia and maintains a spark of curiosity for daily activities. She has serious trouble with her memory and struggles with word recall and comprehension so comes up with her own words, nicknames and "whatsits". She also goes over the same things in her mind again and again (such as the older fellow with the colourful neck). Regular visitors include her daughter who cares for her plants (Rose has incredibly lucid memory of plant names), grandchildren and her son who oversees her bookkeeping. Her mind is disturbingly confused and she has moments of paranoia which are understandably disconcerting to her family.

Amongst other things, Rose sees her friend lying in the parking lot and knows something strange has happened. However, the murder mystery in my view is eclipsed by her very real and frightening illness. I glimpsed slight snippets of humour yet they are mostly bittersweet as the situation isn't funny. Rose's mind is lively and colourful and in spite of everything, she managed to find bits of amusement in her life.

What I appreciate most about this novel is getting into the head of someone suffering from dementia. Most people know of someone with the illness and gaining insight and knowledge is always a good thing.

The ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This sensitive and insightful novel's main character is Rose, an elderly woman with Alzheimers living in a memory care facility. Although she frequently loses the words she wants, she is still emotionally connected to her family, and her companions in the facility. Her choices of words are often funny and surprisingly on target even when they aren't what she is searching for.

Rose is an unlikely amateur sleuth, and uncovers the shenanigans going on in the facility mostly through persistent curiosity. Readers looking for a lovable elderly sleuth will probably not find her here.

As a frequent visitor myself to a nursing home, this novel cut almost painfully close to the bone.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you Atria @atriabooks , Netgalley @netgalley , and Bruce Nash @brucenashauthor for this free ebook.
“All the Words We Know” by Bruce Nash⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️Genre: . Location: Australia.
“Stove. Stave. Steve. Words are so.”
Rose (80s) suffers from dementia, but she’s not done with life yet. Sometimes she’s sharp as a tack, sometimes very forgetful. She roams her assisted living facility’s corridors (“Sometimes I wonder. Sometimes I wander. Me and my walker.”) She observes the staff and residents (The Scare Manager Doctor, The Angry Nurse, The Nice Boy who Mops the Floors, The Fellow Who doesn’t Live Here). She endures visits from her emotionally distant children and granddaughters. When her friend is found dead after an apparent fall from a window, Rose starts an eccentric, determined investigation to discover the truth and uncover secrets-even some from her own past.

Author Nash has written a tale full of murder, secrets, and memory. His character Rose is wickedly witty, distractedly observant, and oh so poignantly forgetful. As a grammar nerd, I of course love how she rearranges her own sentences-dangling participles, Oxford commas, and all. Nash’s precise writing lets us experience the mind of an elderly person with dementia: (“Can’t see the whatsit for the something or other.” “I spend a lot of my time almost remembering.”) As an elderly person myself, this is pretty sobering. If you like Richard Osman and Fredrik Backman (and appreciate slightly eccentric older people), this book is right up your alley! I was overwhelmed with love for Rose, and it’s 5 stars from me👩🏼‍🦳. #allthewordsweknow #brucenash

Traditional format 📕 (digital format)

I’m sorry to say but I could not keep reading this book. While I realize the main character has dementia and is the narrator, the writing style of showing the misused words overshadowed what little slow moving plot there was.

The style of writing of this book and lack of momentum of any plot was not for me.

Thank you Atria books and Net Galley for an ARC copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

Bruce Nash’s All the Words We Know is not your average cozy mystery, nor is it a sentimental portrait of aging. It’s something grittier!

Rose, our octogenarian narrator, is forgetful, but only when it suits her. With her cloudy memory and hilarious inner monologue, she wanders the halls of her assisted living facility like a mirage, observing the indignities of institutional life. The novel unfolds as a whodunit after a friend’s suspicious death, but the murder is almost secondary to the atmosphere Nash creates through the cadence of Rose's narration.

This isn’t a story about dementia that asks for pity. It’s a story about a woman who refuses to be erased. Nash uses Rose’s memory lapses not as a literary structure. The tone is reminiscent of a part Only Murders in the Building, part Olive Kitteridge. There are notes of dark humor along with the grief.

You’ll come for the mystery, but you’ll stay for Rose! #atria #allthewordsweknow #brucenash

When I saw that All The Words We Know was compared to Richard Osman's Murder Club series and Fredrik Backman novels, I was immediately interested in reading this novel about a woman with dementia in a care home who finds herself investigating a friend's fall from a window.

I enjoyed the first person perspective, and author Bruce Nash effectively places the reader into the mind of a woman who struggles with word recall and often forgets things. Rose's personal story is the highlight of the novel, as we learn in bits and pieces about her life prior to the dementia. Her adult children, who visit often but seem to be emotionally distant, and her typical teenage granddaughters have a story to tell, as well. The 'man who doesn't live here' and 'the nice boy who mops floors' are side characters that I would have enjoyed learning a little more about, though we do find out some of their stories, too.

The mystery, itself, fell a little flat for me as I was much more interested in learning about Rose's family drama. It was pretty easy to figure out what was happening, maybe an intentional choice on the author's part, but it just wasn't that interesting overall. I also did not find much humor in the novel, mostly because I see dementia and its effects on people and relationships as more bittersweet than funny.

Thank you to Netgalley and Atria Books for the digital ARC of All the Words We Know by Bruce Nash. The opinions in this review are my own.

First thank you to atria and NetGalley for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

Synopsis: rose lives in a care facility and has dementia. She discovers her friend dead one day from a fall and is determined to figure out what happened.

What I liked: this is a first person pov with a person with dementia. I have never read that and thought the author captured the way she forgot or talked in circles. I liked how she found her way back to her room and the names she called people. I listened and first thought it was a mistake that it said scare manager instead of care manager but that was it. There was some humor when she talked about her family or life but overall felt sad and repetitive.

It must take a lot of effort to inhabit the mind of an elderly woman suffering from some level of dementia. I can’t imagine how Bruce Nash did this. It’s done well.

Rose is a grandmother and mother who lives in a residential facility for the elderly. When her friend ends up laying in the parking lot, Rose, in her addled mind, suspects that something is amiss in the home. Rose likes to wander the halls to find out what’s happening in the home. She has a piece of silk tied to her door handle to find her way back. Which she always seems to do.

It is comical what Rose labels things. The Angry Nurse. The Scare Manager. The nice boy who mops the floors. And the assistant comes from every country in the world and maybe some that don’t exist. There is humor in this novel. Also, sadness. Rose is quite a force for someone struggling with dementia. She’s still got enough of her wits around her to know that what’s happening in the home doesn’t add up.

I’m a huge fan of Fredrik Backman novels. This novel was compared to one of Backman’s novels, but it doesn’t quite measure up. It is funny at times, and similar in its darker humor, especially the words that Rose uses. Eventually, though, I just didn’t find it to be cute or funny, but sad. Overall, it felt like the book would have been better served as a short story or novella. It’s good, it’s just a little too slow.

Probably not one I’d highly recommend, depending on the audience.

The saddest DNF to write. This book sounded so good, and since my Grandma is starting to have a bit of dementia, I was super interested in reading it. However, this book just made me really, really sad. While I completely understood what the author was trying to do by sharing the same things over and over again, it got to the point where it was just too repetitive for me. I was having a hard time reading anything the day I picked this up, so maybe I need to give it another chance later, but I just wasn’t drawn into the book as much as I was hoping to be.