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Things I Never Told You

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Member Reviews

Things I Never Told You is a beautifully written story about familial relations, brokenness, second chances, restoration, and love. Not a light read at all, but truly inpsiring.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a favorable review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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This was an amazing book. This was the first series I've read by Beth Vogt but definitely not the last. It was more women's fiction with romance mixed in, but definitely a deeper book than simply a romance. I loved getting introduced to all four sisters in this family. They all had their own quirks and personalities and in this first book of the series, they had a lot of unforgiveness toward each other, not a good relationship at all. No one in the family was a Christian so that was an interesting dynamic to read in a Christian fiction book, but written very well. It always makes me sad to read about people who openly reject God, but it was a great book to help people realize how to reach out to those who don't share our faith. Great book - cannot wait to read Book 2!

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Beth Vogt has a way of righting the most raw human emotions with such grace and authenticity. You can feel the things she writes. This story touched my heart and left me changed.

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Things I never told you by author Beth Vogt is a contemporary Christian fiction. This poignant tale is Book One in the Thatcher Sisters Series. It is hauntingly beautiful and yet hard to read at times.

I was immediately intrigued and became invested in the story within a few pages. The author has a style of writing that made the story seem real. It pulled at my heartstrings. For me this was an emotional roller coaster ride while reading it.

This is the story of the Thatcher Sisters, one death, one marriage, and relationships. The life lessons are timeless. We all face trials and tragedy, and this family certainly has its share.

I would recommend this book, but be warned. It is not a light read. It will stay with you for days after you have finished it. It gets a 4 out of 5 star, read with a box of tissues, rating from me. I received a copy from NetGalley buy these are my own words.

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The first book in a terrific series by Beth Vogt.
This is all about a family of sisters.
Payton is the main character. She lost her twin sister Pepper ten years ago. She thinks she has successfully hidden how much this is still affecting her, but her family and friends see much more than she realizes.
When she is forced to face some difficult things head on....and this is brought on because she is asked to speak at a high school reunion in which her beloved sister is honored...well, when this happens...everything changes, and she realizes that life is so much more...

I really appreciated the way this author dealt with family issues. I anticipate reading the others soon.

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Things I Never Told You, the beginning of the Thatcher Sisters series, is a fabulous piece of fiction. I loved it! It deserves five stars.

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There were four sisters, with two being identical twins. As the youngest, and in their own little world, relationships with their older sisters were strained and often difficult. Unfortunately an accident claimed the life of Pepper, leaving Payton to navigate on without her other half. Ten years later the grief hasn’t lessened and Payton is still floundering emotionally. Will sharing the details of that fateful day finally allow Payton to forgive herself?
An incredible narrative of how family dynamics work, especially dealing with the death of one of those members. Can forgiveness and understanding be found for all of them or are they destined to flounder in the grief forever?
I received this ARC through NetGalley and CelebrateLit. The impressions and opinions are my own.

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This is a deeply relationship focused novel. Most of the relationship issues deal with sisters. Payton still struggles with the death of her twin sister at sixteen, even though it has been ten years. Johanna is the oldest and thinks she is best at directing her sisters' lives. And then Jillian gets breast cancer. There are hidden feelings of hurt and memories of events better to be forgotten.

There is much readers can learn from the family relationships. The family doesn't do God, as Payton says, so the lessons to learn are general relationship ones, not Christian based. There is a good Christian witness that comes in near the end of the novel.

There were a few things about the book I did not like. The points of view change. Payton is the main character and we experience her life through her experiences and thoughts – first person. The other more major characters are presented in third person. The views frequently change within a single chapter. I just do not like that style of creating narrative fiction. I also felt the book was too long for the plot and was somewhat repetitive. I had to admit I skimmed over some of it. A novel of this style is generally about one hundred pages shorter and that would have been better.

Readers who enjoy a relationship driven novel about sisters might like this one. None of the characters really grabbed me although that might come from having a family of all sisters myself. Some of Vogt's novel was too close to home to be pleasant.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review.

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Emotional. Powerful. A book I desperately needed. Things I Never Told You put me face to face with parts of myself that I've always tried to hide. Grief is personal, and everyone has their own way of processing. In some small way, I connected with all of the sisters. I'm quiet like Jillian, always the mediator. I plan like Johanna. But the character I connected most with was Payton. It was disconcerting to read her actions and reactions and feel as if I was looking in a mirror.
I loved the detailed descriptions and deep point of view. Beth K. Vogt puts you into the very heart and mind of each character she portrays, with Jillian and Payton being the main focus in Things I Never Told You. She shows the devastating impact of harboring secrets, of how they eat away at you, driving you away from everything you love.
It's not often a book makes me introspective, but Things I Never Told You forced me to face myself. I love this book for more reasons than one. Zach brought in the spiritual aspect, showing grace and forgiveness even when he was awarded none. I look forward to the next book in hopes of a few loose ends getting tied up.
I wouldn't exactly call it a romance, but there are romantic elements and some very sweet moments between a few couples. Things I Never Told You is a book about healing. Healing your heart. Healing your soul. And learning to forgive, especially yourself.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley. I was not required to leave a review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Things I Never Told You by Beth Vogt is the first book in the Thatcher Sisters series. Wow! What an emotional read! This book has the most well developed characters of any book I’ve read in a while. And it’s part of a series! How exciting that there will be more! I was blown away by the way this author tells a story and weaves in sub plots. This story will make you cry. It will make you laugh. It is an absolute joy to read and it will stay with you long after you set it down. I highly recommend it. An amazing read! (Note: I purchased the book as well, which is why Amazon lists my review as a verified purchase)

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The truth will set you free
My rating is 4.5 stars

Payton and her identical twin Pepper had excelled on the volleyball court in high school. Both adored the sport and had plans to continue playing and coaching as adults. Until the tragic accident which ended Pepper's life at the tender age of sixteen. . .

Things I Never Told You is a powerful story that chronicles Payton's life a decade after the death of her twin. It deals with weighty matters such as guilt, grief, fear, and forgiveness.

My favorite character was Jillian's fiancé, Geof. His intense love for Jillian was amazing. The fact that he also had a corny sense of humor and a way of easing heavy situations didn't hurt at all. The way he handled Jillian's news and fears was so admirable and incredibly sweet!

I always love stories that share spiritual truths clearly and in a relatable fashion. Things I Never Told You does exactly that, as Payton is slowly drawn to a place where she questions what she knows about life and God.


I was given a copy of this book. I was not required to give a favorable review nor was any money received for this review. All comments and opinions are my own.

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This book was an excellent story of family dynamics and the tragedy of losing a part of your family. I enjoyed the characters and getting to know each of the sisters!

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I didn't have a sister growing up only a younger brother, so the dynamics between the Thatcher sisters was very eye opening for me. There were four sisters but the youngest were identical twins and when they were sixteen one of them was killed in a tragic accident. Lots of the novel deals with how the family members deal with this over the years, especially Payton, the twin left behind. Then the middle sister, Jillian, who's planning her wedding gets a diagnosis of breast cancer. When it results in a radical mastectomy, the family begins fearing the worst. The parents especially wonder how they can possibly lose another daughter if the worst happens.
This was a very moving and heartfelt story. So many emotions were brought to light. And Payton had a painful secret about the night that her twin Pepper was killed. For ten years she kept this to herself and tried to move on with her life but not in the way she had dreamed before the accident. I just can't imagine all the pain and heartache she dealt with by herself at such a young age. Beth Vogt did a wonderful job of conveying these feeling and putting them to words on paper. I've read several Beth Vogt books and this has to be her best one yet in my opinion.
It's not a cliffhanger but I'd love to see these characters elaborated on and continued in another novel. My inquiring mind only hopes that someday Payton wears the necklace!
I received a complimentary copy of an ARC from the publisher but was not required to write a review.

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It seems more books are tackling sibling relationships, a long overlooked topic. And I’m glad.
This is a story of four sisters, now three after a snowmobiling accident killed one of the twins. The story is told by two of the three sisters, one in first person and the other in third person, which I found interesting but a bit disconcerting at times.
I enjoyed the story of sisters – the pain and lack of forgiveness, the shattered dreams, the attempts at communication and dealing with the hard things.
I warmed to Payton, the sister whose twin died, but felt some of the other characters – Nash, the boyfriend, Joanna, the older sister – felt a bit stereotypical or not fleshed out.
Would I read book two in the series? Probably, but I’m not desperately waiting for it.

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To say this book is an emotional roller coaster would be an understatement. It’s that and then some. The story isn’t “easy” for readers nor would it have been each for its author to pen. Inside these pages reside a story of grief and pain – and the joy of rediscovering who you are and reconnecting with those who care about you.

Despite the informative synopsis, I didn’t realize the role “present” sorrow would play in this novel. I knew the grief from the past was going to be a layered story that would be emotional. Imagine my surprise when, early on in the novel, another blow is dealt to the Thatcher family. The POV switches from Jillian and Payton’s first-person narrative, which works well, but is also what makes the story so emotional in the “present.”

As her prior skill suggest, Beth weaves everything together with a deft and talented hand that leads straight to a conclusion that will deeply affect its reader. Though Things I Never Told You is a hard book for me to personally read (at this time), in no way does this hinder the realization this book is beautiful in a purposefully broken kind of way.

The first in her women’s fiction series, this story is nothing like Beth’s prior romantic-comedies. With its reflections of Little Women and poignant narrative, anyone wishing for novel with purpose and complicated ties to family will discover this inside these pages.

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Things I Never Told You is the first book in the Thatcher Sisters series and I absolutely loved it. The story was complex and had several different storylines, but it wasn't confusing and I loved following along. I liked all the sisters and could relate to certain aspects.

The read did get a bit emotional, which just made it even more gripping and hard to put down. There were also some sweet moments and I loved how a certain thing turned out. It was unexpected, but a lovely way for the story to go.

I cannot wait to read the next book when it comes out, as I still have some questions regarding the sisters. I definitely recommend Things I Never Told You. It was a phenomenal contemporary read!

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

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Families can be complicated. They are the ones who know you best - mistakes, weaknesses and all.
And as much as many things are shared, families are about individuals, each one with their own perks and personalities, sharing the same. No need to say how tough that can be.

Things I Never Told You is about these messy family dynamics. More so, it is about sisters.
That complicated, comforting and challenging relationship that can be a sibling.
The Thatcher family has its share of heartbreaks and tragedies, and they've been coping the best they can for the past ten years. But this unwanted anniversary will haunt Payton as no other.
The question is will she take the step? Will she face her fears? Will she find the courage to embrace her dreams and not live in guilt anymore? Most importantly, will she be willing to learn to share her life again? Facing the chance of heartache heads on...

Something I thought very interesting was that the Thatchers are relatively normal. They still get together for breakfast, to watch football games, for Christmas and the likes... but still, there's a distance between them, especially the sisters. This brought to mind that though our stories might be different, some labeled less tragic than others, there's still common ground because perfection can't be obtained this side of eternity. But redemption and reconciliation can. And what a joy!

To be truly known, truly seen is scary. There's no hiding, but that also means there aren't any shadows, there's hope for light. And truth, no matter how ugly, brought out in light can most certainly be met by grace, hope, and healing. I'm very much looking forward to the installment.

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As a mom of twins this book tugged big time on my heart strings. This is a story about a family still struggling through grief ten years after one sister dies in a freak accident, especially the twin sister left behind. It’s a beautiful story of overcoming grief, forgiveness, honesty, and facing the pain of your past. There are a couple of issues tackled in this novel, one being breast cancer, and the weight of carrying guilt around. Obviously there are strained relationships within the family unit that extends into personal relationships with boyfriends/fiancés.
Be prepared with a box of Kleenex!
There’s a lot of raw emotion that comes through in the writing as our characters wrestle through various issues but I think the character I most identified with was Payton – the twin that was left when her sister died. I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like to have a part of you taken away as the twin bond is beyond our (those of us who aren’t twins or triplets) capabilities to fully understand I think. Ms. Vogt does a commendable job in trying to relay the sheer trauma of being separated from a twin – add to that Payton blaming herself for Pepper’s death.
Friends from Payton’s past help her face those dark moments again and serve as a catalyst towards self forgiveness. I wasn’t sure what I thought of the sudden appearance of Pepper in Payton’s dreams, and talking to her to help her tell the truth. It still worked within the story context and spurred on memories Payton had forgotten about, which ultimately led to Payton overcoming her grief.
This is a heavy (in subject matter) read but a message of hope and restoration is given at the end.
I received an advance reader e-copy from Tyndale through NetGalley. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

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Things I Never Told You is both heartbreaking and uplifting, a story of sisters, grief, long-held secrets, the things that pull a family apart and the steps needed to bring healing to broken relationships.

Ten years ago, Payton Thatcher’s twin sister died. The Thatcher family coped in different ways, with Payton pulling away from her two older sisters. Now, Payton helps run an event planning business and is forced into working with her eldest sister, Johanna, to plan their middle sister, Jillian’s wedding. But a shocking diagnosis leaves Jillian reeling, while the ten-year anniversary of Pepper’s death has Payton caught in a web of grief and guilt. As the Thatcher sisters face life’s challenges, present and past, they have the opportunity to reassess - both their individual life choices and aspirations, and their relationship as sisters.

Things I Never Told You has been marketed as women’s fiction, not contemporary romance. And it does have, from the cover and synopsis to the story itself, a more introspective and reflective tone. However, there is still a hint of romance, both in Jillian’s relationship with her fiancé and with Payton’s story as she reconnects with an old classmate. However, sisterly relationships, grief, reconciliation and self-evaluation are the dominant threads of this novel.

The chapters switch between Payton’s first-person narration to third-person from the perspectives of both Payton’s sister, Jillian, and Payton’s old classmate, Zach. It was a little disorientating as they switch, but it works to clearly delineate between Payton’s story and the perspectives of those around her. I also got Payton and Pepper, and Jillian and Johanna a bit confused at first, with their similar name groupings. Yet as the story unfolds, these four very different sisters, connected by childhood and tragedy, became endearing and distinct characters, each struggling with their own battles.

By a few chapters in, it is clear that there is far more to the story of Things I Never Told You than first expected. Payton, as well as carrying grief over her twin’s death, also carries guilt and a secret she has kept for the past ten years. It is robbing her of a chance to embrace her life. Through frequent flashbacks to Payton’s childhood and dream conversations she holds with her sister, readers slowly piece together the truth of what transpired ten years ago and what ruptured the relationship between Payton and her two elder sisters. Exploring the past leads Payton to connect with Zach, an old classmate who was involved in the tragedy of Pepper’s death. Told alongside Payton’s story, is Jillian’s battle with cancer and the effect this has on her self-esteem, and her relationship with her fiancé. The chapter sections from Jillian’s perspective allow her story and pain to resonate - bringing a further element to this complex and interwoven novel.

The Christian faith elements of Things I Never Told You are delicately woven into the story, yet do not become a focus of the book. Neither Payton, nor any of her living family members are Christian. It is through both Zach and Pepper that Payton begins to encounter God, and Payton is only beginning to explore her sister’s faith at the close of the book. I really hope there is to be a second Thatcher Sisters novel. Payton’s story has so much more potential, from her just-beginning faith journey to her friendship with Zach, Jillian’s battle has only just started, and Johanna didn’t get a chance to tell her story in this book. There is so much more to explore in the Thatcher sisters’ lives.

Things I Never Told You is both uplifting and heartbreaking, and I highly recommend it to readers who enjoy stories about relationships and reconciliation.

The publishers provided an advanced readers copy of this book for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

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