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Merissa (14190 KP) rated All That Was Left Unsaid in Books

Oct 5, 2026

ALL THAT WAS LEFT UNSAID is a standalone family saga that is told from Katrina's perspective.

The story begins with Katrina dealing with her husband Sam's death, and further details come out about how he had an affair. Now that he is gone, Katrina needs to figure out just who she is and how to cope now.

To be honest, I didn't find Katrina a sympathetic character for most of the book. She came across as quite acerbic and self-pitying. I expected her to bellow or bark "Get off my lawn" at any moment. It was only near the end that I could appreciate what she'd been through and how it had impacted her life and relationships with her friends and family.

This was an intriguing read that dealt with topics mostly avoided, like how you can lose your identity in being a wife and mother, how it feels to be aware of an affair, and how the hits keep on coming. I can't say the surprise was really surprising, as I thought it plain to see, but I could appreciate how it was dealt with.

All in all, this was an engaging read that kept me turning the pages. I found it to be well-written and smoothly paced. I definitely recommend it and give it 3.5 very good stars, rounded up to 4 where necessary.

** The same worded review will appear elsewhere. **

* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book; the comments here are my honest opinion. *

Merissa
Archaeolibrarian
Oct 5, 2026

Kudos

The Real Peter Pan: The Tragic Life of Michael Llewelyn Davies

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Michael Llewelyn Davies was the fourth of five brothers who provided the inspiration for J. M....

Daughters of the Winter Queen

Nancy Goldstone

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From the author of The Rival Queens, a lively group biography of Elizabeth Stuart, the Winter Queen,...

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Julianne MacLean

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After a crushing betrayal by the man she loves, Gillian Gibbons flees to her family home for a...

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Reclamations (BBS #3)

Deborah Dorchak and Wendi Kelly

10.0 (1 Ratings) Rate It

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The secrets of the past have been unearthed and with them, lives torn apart, exposed, and laid to...

Adult Paranormal Romance Action and Adventure Family Saga

Farthest Field: An Indian Story of the Second World War

Raghu Karnad

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Described as 'a masterpiece' by critics, this remarkable book tells the story of war through the...

Kristy H (1252 KP) rated Saints for All Occasions in Books

Jan 30, 2018

Well-written (1 more)

Striking characters

Gorgeous family saga

Nora and Theresa Flynn are only twenty-one and seventeen when they leave their native Ireland and immigrate to the U.S. For her entire life, Nora has been the quintessential older sister, raising Theresa and their younger brother after the death of their mother. Now she's headed to Boston to be married to their former Irish neighbor, Charlie, whom Nora doesn't really even love. Theresa, meanwhile, is outgoing, beautiful, and intelligent. She loves the dances and social atmosphere in Boston, but that all changes when she winds up pregnant. Both Nora and Theresa are forced to make some drastic life decisions that will affect them for the rest of their lives. Fifty years later, in 2009, Nora and Charlie have four children: John, Bridget, Brian, and Patrick. But Theresa and Nora are no longer speaking, and Theresa lives as a cloistered nun in an abbey in Vermont. What happened between the two sisters? And how will a sudden tragedy affect their current, separate lives?

This was an amazing book - just beautiful, heartbreaking, and lovely. Sullivan captured the essence of each of her characters so perfectly. I could picture every one, and each was so realistic, with their own background, mannerisms, and details.

The novel switches between the past, starting with Nora and Theresa's journey to Boston, and 2009, with a shocking event that rocks the entire family. We hear from each character--Nora, Theresa, John, Bridget, Brian, and Patrick. As I said, they are each an individual and embellished with Sullivan's wonderful writing and details. For instance, I loved the tidbit that Nora and her daughter-in-law communicated for years mainly through Nora's daughter's dog at family gatherings. It said so much with just one story. (And I've so been there.)

I became attached to each character in their own way thanks to the strong writing and characterization. I don't always enjoy books with shifts between time periods, but all flowed seamlessly here. There's an underlying thread that ties everything together, just adding to the brilliance of the novel. While it's really a story of a family, there's still a bit of suspense, as you try to fit some pieces together. Everything works so well.

Overall, I just loved this beautiful story of parenthood, immigration, siblings, religion, and so much more. It's achingly well-written, and while it ended just right, I was still sad to see the characters go. I'll certainly be recommending it to everyone I know.