I’ve been immersing myself in women’s fiction lately, and I have to say, it’s a genre (even if there is contention about it slotting neatly into a category) that fits me like a favorite, well-worn sweater. I’ve always enjoyed novels that showcase good craft, mine deep, emotional landscape, and aren’t always tied up neatly with a bow at the end. Women’s fiction has all these qualities and more. Read on to find out more about this month’s Featured Read:
Synopsis: For the month of October, my Featured Read is Beth Vogt’s Things I Never Told You, a story that is as haunting as it is hopeful. Things I Never Told You is Vogt’s women’s fiction debut and focuses on the strained relationships between the three Thatcher sisters, Payton, Jillian, and Johanna, as they navigate life ten years after the untimely death of Payton’s twin, Pepper. Chapters alternate between the middle sister, Jillian’s, point-of-view as she struggles to come to terms with a breast cancer diagnosis and its aftermath, and youngest sister, Payton’s POV. Though Jillian’s storyline carries emotional heft and is given plenty of face time in this story, the first book in this series focuses undeniably on Payton, who has carried a painful secret about Pepper’s death for over a decade.
My Thoughts: I was interested in reading this book the first time I heard it mentioned, and it definitely didn’t disappoint. Honed by years of practice by Vogt, the writing is clean and transparent, and the story line is compulsively readable. I admit I stayed up late several nights trying to get a few more chapters under my belt. The sisters’ individual struggles with jobs, romance, and family relationships were easy to relate to. However, the reader isn’t given much insight into Johanna’s thoughts, only Payton and Jillian’s, and as a result, Johanna comes off as unlikable and difficult to empathize with. I’m so excited to see book 3 in the series release soon, as it will be told primarily from Johanna’s POV.
The faith issues in TINTY were also presented in a believable way, with plenty of room offered for discussion between believers and unbelievers. A bonus is that Vogt includes a discussion guide at the back of each book in the series, which will be sure to get the conversation about loss, redemption, and relationships flowing.
Readalikes: If you liked Things I Never Told You, you’ll also enjoy these sister stories: Lizzy and Jane by Katherine Reay, the Bradford Sisters series by Becky Wade, and Sweetwater Gap by Denise Hunter
Keep reading!
Shaen
