Home Feed
Home
Search
Search
Add Review, Blurb, Quote
Add
Activity
Activity
Profile
Profile
If Only I Could Tell You
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
36 posts | 30 read | 29 to read
A TWIST THAT WILL BREAK YOUR HEART . . . AN ENDING THAT WILL PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN. 'Utterly compelling and completely heart-breaking. I couldn't put it down' Ruth Hogan 'Compelling and moving . . . it made me cry' Marian Keyes ***** Audrey's family has fallen apart. Her two grown-up daughters, Jess and Lily, are estranged, and her two teenage granddaughters have never been allowed to meet. A secret that echoes back thirty years has splintered the family in two, but is also the one thing keeping them connected. As tensions reach breaking point, the irrevocable choice that one of them made all those years ago is about to surface. After years of secrets and silence, how can one broken family find their way back to each other? ***** Your favourite authors are all being swept away by If Only I Could Tell You: 'Heartbreaking and uplifting' Ruth Jones, author of Never Greener 'A tender portrait of family lives, losses and secrets' Clare Mackintosh, author of I Let You Go 'So compelling that I read it, cover to cover, in a single day' John Boyne, author of The Heart's Invisible Furies 'An emotionally engaging, clever & wonderfully satisfying novel - proper storytelling at its finest' Kate Mosse, author of The Burning Chambers 'Totally engrossing, achingly sad and so perceptive about the corrosive legacy of family secrets' Kate Eberlen, author of Miss You 'If Only I Could Tell You breaks your heart, but with an incredible skill and elegance... I loved it to bits' Joanna Cannon, author of The Trouble With Goats and Sheep 'An intricately tender novel about secrets and silence' Julie Cohen, author of Together
Amazon Indiebound Barnes and Noble WorldCat Goodreads LibraryThing
Pick icon
100%
review
Lisalucy
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Pickpick

This book had me pondering a million questions throughout. So much mystery , so many family secrets. Well worth the wait till the end . It‘s hearty breaking and uplifting at the same time. #23 a book of your choice

review
marleed
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Pickpick

I was not prepared to cry, and I cried. So many of us have moved through those painful agonizing days of losing a loved one to cancer, and this one bubbles those emotions up. Some of us also have sisters with whom we‘ve shared many life experiences but the story we tell ourselves of those memories vastly differ - sisters, I love ‘em!

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Awww 💙 beautiful photo! 3y
kspenmoll 💜💚❤️ sisters!! 3y
marleed @kspenmoll Absolutely! 3y
81 likes4 stack adds4 comments
review
FelinesAndFelonies
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Mehso-so

This one has been on my TBR list for awhile. I found it to be a frustrating read. Jess was so unlikeable. I kept thinking she was so selfish and immature. I mean, I get all parents screw up no matter how hard we try but ugg. This book was frustrating. Everyone in this book lacked communication skills, Audrey, Lily, and Jess. And for their family tradition of non-communication both Mia and Phoebe made up for it with some of the most unnatural

FelinesAndFelonies ⬇️ (continued) speeches and engaged in some of the most clunky and unrealistic dialogue. I am not sure I would recommend this book. The author hit every tragic event, death, compassionate killing, suicide, miscarriage, infidelity... Good lawd. It was a lot. @TheAromaofBooks this was my #bookspin book for this month. Glad I got it off my stack. 4y
TheAromaofBooks At least it's off the list!! 4y
26 likes2 comments
blurb
FelinesAndFelonies
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

Jess is the most unlikable character. Ugh.

I love my baby sister and I can't imagine not speaking to her for 30 years.

I keep finding myself thinking "Just spit it out. What is your f$&#ing problem?"

Halfway done.

blurb
em_books
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

First book of 2021! 📚💕

Traci1 Welcome to Litsy! 4y
BookwormAHN Welcome to Litsy 😺 4y
See All 7 Comments
em_books @BookwormAHN thank you! ☺️💕 4y
em_books @Traci1 thank you! ☺️💕 4y
Bookishlie Welcome!!! 4y
em_books @Bookishlie thank you!! ☺️ 4y
7 likes1 stack add7 comments
review
Sargar114
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Panpan

This quote pretty much encapsulates what this book is about. A family that doesn‘t communicate because of mysterious occurrences years ago that stem from them not communicating. You see what I‘m getting at here? I kept reading because I wanted to find out what happened but by the reveal I had figured it out. I wasn‘t a fan of any of the characters so this one isn‘t a win for me. But I knocked out my November #bookspin, so that‘s a win! ⬇️

Sargar114 Cont: too many points of views and too many time lines to follow. Made it hard to keep up. 4y
TheAromaofBooks Great progress!! I'm also not a big fan of stories where everyone is just mad at each other and won't sit down have a conversation like adults. It just makes me want to shake everyone and say, “Use your words!!“ 😂 4y
20 likes2 comments
quote
Sargar114
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

blurb
Sargar114
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
CaffeineAndCandy ❤❤❤ 4y
Josee.lit.a.lu.et.lira 🙋🏻‍♀️ It‘s all about the content 🤪 4y
19 likes2 comments
blurb
Sargar114
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

Got my #bookspinbingo board ready with fall colors. Guess I‘ll keep using stickers to Mark when I‘m done. I‘m hopefull this month!

TheAromaofBooks Woohoo!! Looks great!!! 4y
19 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Lauren890
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️ I really wanted to like this more than I did. It‘s an easy read, and I usually like books about complex relationships but to me, this was missing any complexity. There is a mystery central to the story, which hooked me at the beginning but then started to drag on. Parts with descriptions of inner thoughts went on too long for me and I found myself skimming. In the end, this was just ok.

review
Kelsyereadsbooks
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Mehso-so

⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 didn‘t love this one. Was a mystery but it felt like it was trying too hard. Not for me.

review
OriginalCyn620
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Bailedbailed

1988, 10 y/o Jess finds her big sister, Lily, coming out of the spare bedroom, a room they‘ve been told repeatedly not to enter. This action sets off a chain of events that splits the family apart. 30 years later, Jess & Lily are estranged & their mom is dying. Her last wish is to reconcile her daughters. 133 pages in, & there‘s no inkling of what happened in that spare bedroom. I‘ve lost interest and am done! 😕
#bookspinbonanza #bookspin

Megabooks This is a terrible book. You didn‘t miss anything. 4y
TheAromaofBooks I hate it when books do that! 4y
48 likes2 comments
review
Bono394
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Mehso-so

I had a difficult time following this story. There was a lot of interwoven pieces that didn't really translate well to audiobook. About 2/3s through the book is when I was finally able to start putting pieces in place.

review
Nikki_E
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
Mehso-so

What I liked: If I had to pinpoint what kind of story I most enjoy, I‘d probably have to say that I most enjoy stories about families. More to the point, I like reading stories about families in which the family dynamic has somehow gone astray. Leo Tolstoy said it the best, “Happy families are alike, unhappy families are unhappy in its own way.”.

https://amicryingorlaughing.home.blog/2020/04/16/if-only-i-could-tell-you-by-han...

review
Jnnlb
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Pickpick

Heartbreaking ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

blurb
OriginalCyn620
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
runswithscissors007 snow drops?!!!
💚
5y
Eggs 💚💚💚 5y
OriginalCyn620 I don‘t know @runswithscissors007 ... I‘m no flower expert by any means! I just appreciate them! 5y
50 likes3 comments
blurb
Nikki_E
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

Lazy day reading in bed.

review
Cityofamber
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Bailedbailed

I‘m DNFing this. One of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to book plots is when every problem could be solved by communicating, and that‘s what this book is. 🤷‍♀️

Megabooks Oh yes, one of the worst BOTM picks last year! 👎🏻👎🏻 5y
Cityofamber @Megabooks I looked up the ending and so glad I decided to stop instead of pushing through. 🤦‍♀️🙄 5y
Megabooks @Cityofamber oh yeah, it was really stupid. 🙄🙄🙄 5y
13 likes3 comments
review
ElishaLovesBooks
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Pickpick

This story of a secret that broke a family apart was good. Not great. It seemed slow to me in the beginning and was wordy in places I felt were unnecessary. But it did hold my attention and it was interesting. I just think it could have been even better with some editing.

Cinfhen Hi!!!!!!!! What‘s new??? 5y
ElishaLovesBooks @Cinfhen Hey! Not much is new around here-I am going to Miami 2 weeks for vacation without any kids so that‘s great! How‘s it going with you? (edited) 5y
Cinfhen Miami without kids/ 2 weeks!!?? Amazing!!! I just gave my friend a list of restaurants and she was so happy with the recommendations/ Her favorites were Kosh for dinner, Zak‘s for breakfast and Tasty Cafe for brunch 😘 5y
ElishaLovesBooks @Cinfhen I can‘t wait for the warm weather! Yitzy is competing in a BBQ competition in Boca and we‘ll be there and in Miami for 6 days! We have a whole list of restaurants to get to... I think Yitzy has already made reservations 😁 Happy Chanukah 🕎 ♥️ 5y
56 likes4 comments
review
MelissaSue81
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Mehso-so

Pros: The story is well paced, and doesn't drag. We learn little by little what happened in the past.
Probs: The premise itself. The way the “misunderstanding“ occurred between the sisters, one of whom was only 10 years old, and lasts 30 years, is completely unbelievable. Also, since the beef of the story happened in the past, the “present“ is contains thin “drama“ filler that doesn't seem to have any bearing on the plot.

KT1432 I'm so curious about this book, but skeptical. I think I'll skip it since I've seen this mentioned a few times now. Mind putting the "misunderstanding" in a spoiler tag? I'm nosy lol. 5y
MelissaSue81 @lele1432 - you want the WHOLE thing, or just the basics.. there‘s a few different levels that get revealed throughout the book. 5y
KT1432 Oh wow, now I'm really curious lol. Maybe just the basics? 5y
See All 7 Comments
MelissaSue81 @lele1432 - so the little sister blames the big sister for causing an event that lead to the death of their father. We see it from the little sisters POV at the start. What that event is gets revealed about halfway in. But both the mom and the sister never know why the little sister is mad.. she‘s 10. like wouldn‘t you bring her to counseling to get to the bottom of it? 5y
KT1432 Hmmm. Yeah I would think so! Thanks for the summary, I think I was right and it's probably not for me. I don't really like drama filler. 🙂 5y
EmilyM I wasn't crazy about this one either. Flat characters and lots of lameness (is that a word?) i.e. the one sister falling for the choir director, the one daughter coming out as gay... 5y
MelissaSue81 @EmilyM - agreed! Even the miscarriages and the husbands affair just seemed superfluous to the story. 5y
59 likes7 comments
review
EmilyM
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Mehso-so

This book was okay. It was a little too sappy for me--especially at the end. Everything was tied up with nice, neat bows. The characters were pretty flat, too. ⭐⭐⭐/5

review
Bookish_B
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Pickpick

This was between a so-so and a pick. I‘m going with “pick” because I got interrupted a lot while reading it and that made it hard to really get invested and that‘s not the book‘s fault, lol. But, basically, you will finish this book and want to call your loved ones and tell them how much you love them. If I had siblings that‘s probably what I would have done! Not a cheery book, that‘s for sure, but certainly not a bad read.

Chelsea.Poole Gorgeous photo! 5y
43 likes1 comment
review
Megabooks
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image
Mehso-so

If only this book were as amazing as this morning‘s sunrise. I feel the relationships were handled in a cheesy and melodramatic way. I thought the cheese level would abate some as there were more plot reveals, but things just became more hackneyed and overwrought as the book wound down.

Just wasn‘t feeling this one #BOTM. 2.5⭐️

blurb
Megabooks
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

I‘m having a good morning! I got over 5 hours sleep for the first time in weeks. (I actually got 6.5 hours!! 👏🏻👏🏻)

I‘ve listened to a lot of Evicted while doing chores this morning. I recommend it to everyone. And Dion Graham is an amazing narrator.

The tagged book is this month‘s #botm choice. So far it‘s a little drama-drama, but I‘m sure I‘ll end up crying by the end! 😢🤪 I am who I am.

Much love to Littens this Saturday! 💜💜

DivineDiana Good Morning and love to you! ☀️ 📚 💗 5y
Megabooks @DivineDiana 😁😁 Thank you! 💙📚 5y
Mollyanna Good morning! Glad to hear you got some sleep. Hope it continues. Enjoy your day. 5y
See All 10 Comments
kspenmoll Happy Saturday! So glad you got sleep! 5y
Megabooks @Mollyanna Thank you! 💙 You as well! 5y
Megabooks @kspenmoll Thanks!! 💜 Enjoy your Saturday! 5y
OnlyYoo I just got this book yesterday and am so looking forward to reading it! 5y
Megabooks @OnlyYoo For the first few chapters, I was afraid it was going to be overly melodramatic, but it‘s settled into being a really enjoyable book. I hope you like it! 5y
KT1432 I too love Dion Graham's narration! 5y
Megabooks @lele1432 He‘s fantastic. He‘s one of the narrators that will push me towards reading the audiobook! 5y
97 likes10 comments
blurb
Bookish_B
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

Getting ready to dig in. New book and California Spaghetti Salad. Yum!

blurb
Copwithabook
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

I‘m taking a break between morning errands to feed my body and spirit. I‘m nervous about this book. I have a strained relationship with my own sister and I wonder what demons it will unearth. #currentlyreading

20 likes1 stack add
blurb
Hollie
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

It was a crazy day, but I came home to my #BOTM box!

47 likes1 stack add
blurb
Lovesbooks87
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

It's #botm day!!!

blurb
angel1
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

My BOTM box came today... I love my bag and BFF status😍
Also starting this book today!!

36 likes1 stack add
blurb
MicheleinPhilly
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

USPS land speed record! #BOTM

thebluestocking That‘s amazing!! My #botm packages usually don‘t arrive until after the 11th. 5y
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Woohoo!! 📚🎉📚🎉 5y
Megabooks Wow!! 5y
See All 10 Comments
mklong Is it just me or do they seem to be delivered faster if you order more than one book? 5y
Hollie Wow!! 5y
MicheleinPhilly @mklong I‘ve never considered that before but you could be on to something. 5y
Cinfhen Wowza!!! That was fast!!!! 5y
Mdargusch Nice! 5y
Reviewsbylola Mine shipped over a week ago and the tracking hasn‘t been updated in days. 🤦🏼‍♀️ 5y
MicheleinPhilly @Reviewsbylola Oh no! I‘ve heard that a lot of people‘s haven‘t even shipped yet! 🤷🏻‍♀️ 5y
89 likes10 comments
blurb
alisonrose
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman

So this month‘s #BOTM selections are pretty crap, IMO. Literally have not heard of a single one, and most of them are completely uninteresting to me. The tagged book is the only one that holds any appeal, but again, I‘ve not heard a single person say anything about it or seen it on any upcoming releases list or anything. Has anyone heard reviews or read an advanced copy? Is it worth it or should I just skip this month? ☹️

Redwritinghood I skipped. I felt the same about this month‘s choices. I skipped last month too. 5y
RoxyWilde I skipped this month. 👎 5y
alisonrose @Redwritinghood @RoxyWilde Last month they had a couple I wanted and I was glad to see that, but yeah, this month........kinda sucks. Not one big title that people have been anticipating. Just kind of weird. 5y
See All 8 Comments
8little_paws I got the memoir which, if you're a big memoir person (I am) it's gotten a decent amount of buzz. 5y
8little_paws But yeah the past few months of BOTM have been a letdown IMO. Too much thriller/romance/lighter, less literary books. Not that there's anything wrong with that but I miss the days when all 5 books were very different. The Editorial Director has specifically said they are moving in the direction of having all five books relatively similar to attract a specific reader and get them to buy more than 1 a month. 5y
RoxyWilde @alisonrose I still have my selection from last month I haven't read yet. I'm on my Outlander binge. 🤓 5y
alisonrose @8little_paws I am into memoirs but the synopsis of this one just didn‘t appeal to me. And yeah, I don‘t mind genre fiction like thrillers and such, but I really think there ought to be at least one lit fic title each month. 5y
8little_paws @alisonrose yes I primarily buy lit fic, memoirs, and nonfic. I like reading thrillers and other genres, but I prefer to just borrow those. This memoir didn't really speak to me off the bat either but I saw a lot of good reviews of it so I'm giving it a try. 5y
23 likes8 comments
blurb
Aswenson
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

Deep breaths. Restraint.
Luckily I can purchase the William Kent Krueger for my HS library and read it then. 🙃

blurb
angel1
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

September BOTM choice and BFF status!! So excited😍

Lovesbooks87 Yay! 5y
Megabooks 🎉🎉🎉 I got the same book! 5y
8little_paws Nice! I'm so hesitant to ever quit BOTM now because I have BFF status LOL. 5y
angel1 @8little_paws I will be the same way now..lol 5y
angel1 @Megabooks I almost skipped this month then I read about this one and it had me intrigued! 5y
33 likes5 comments
blurb
Megabooks
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
post image

The end of the month kind of crept up on me! But, it‘s the first #botm day. 🥳🥳 I wasn‘t overly excited about any of the choices, but this one sounds similar to other books I‘ve liked, so there you go! 🤷🏻‍♀️

review
BethR91
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
Pickpick

I found this book difficult to read in some places as sometimes it felt like it was about myself - I could see myself in all the characters, the good and the bad. I sometimes found myself thinking about my own relationship with my mum and this, although uncomfortable for me in places, is what made this book special

review
Forgetmenot
If Only I Could Tell You | Hannah Beckerman
Pickpick

This book is brilliant really made me think about conversations I had not had with my family. One family impacted by events in one year which upended the whole family. Each person dealing with things in their own way but nobody talking. So much guilt and blame. Three decades later these unsaid conversations are impacting new and old relationships and are keeping a family at odds. Have the tissues ready for this one but definitely read it

3 likes1 stack add