A mystery about loss,grief,and the secrets a family buries. The story is told in alternating view points one of the dead and one of the love. Fans of the lovely bones will love this story

What You Never Knew is a story told from the perspective of two sisters, that switches the narrative between them as the action unfolds. Jessica Hamilton has an intriguing concept that works well and is enjoyable reading. The sisters discover their mother never sold their island as previously told, after inheriting it upon her death. Family history and mysteries are uncovered as the island’s secrets and lies are gradually revealed. A promising book from a first-time author, with interesting characters and increasing tension, a three-star rating. With thanks to NetGalley and the author for a preview copy for review purposes. All opinions expressed herein are freely given and totally my own.

A creepy, haunting story. Throw some family secrets in there and you have got yourself a great story. The mystery is good and well written.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This was an eerie mystery that had me guessing the whole way through. The writing was much stronger than what I usually find in the genre, leading to an even better reading experience.

An interesting read told from the point of view of a sister left alone to deal with the past she knows nothing about and the other sister who is caught somewhere between life and death. An easy flowing hard to put down read.

I enjoyed this one a lot. The book is told by two sisters, one of whom has just died. It slowly unfolds as the other goes back to her family's long-deserted island cabin. The end was a little implausible and unsatisfying, but I really enjoyed it as a whole. A fun read.

I read a digital ARC of this book via NetGalley.

This was very well written. I was intrigued by the story, which had me turning pages. The ending was satisfying, and I didn’t guess what was happening. I will say there could have been a little more character development, but overall I really enjoyed this book!

RATING: 3.5 STARS
2021; Crooked Lane Books/Dreamscape Media
Narrated by Sarah Mollo-Christensen and Laura Jennings

I love the gorgeous cover of this book, and I have to say it works perfectly for the story. What You Never Know is a difficult book to describe genre-wise. It has a bit of mystery and domestic suspense elements but also dips into supernatural and even a bit of dark humour. The novel starts with May's death, which sucked as I was already getting attached. Trying to come to terms with her sister's death, and their mother's passing before that, June goes back to Averil Island, a place of haunting memories. I didn't click with June right away, and often found her exasperating, but I was also invested in the story. By the end, I was not sure I bought some of the storylines, but I am so glad I read it. As I read this one, it reminded me of Charlie Donalea's Summit Lake. This is Jessica Hamilton's first novel, and I think she did a grand job in giving this book a more gothic tone as it is haunted with grief and secrets. I am looking forward to more.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook and audiobook from the publishers through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

*received for free from netgalley for honest review* Really liked this book, it was different but in a good way and it was really hard to put down! would buy.

The description of this book piqued my interest right away. It sounded like it had a bit of a ghostly aspect with the point of view of May who is dead. I will say it definitely did not disappoint!

I really loved the suspicion that was cast in so many ways throughout this book. I literally was convinced that so many people could have committed the crimes. I also loved June’s growth through this book. It felt like she was a whole different character by the end.

I didn’t see the end coming and was shocked when all the answers came out!

I would recommend this book if you like mystery/thrillers! The audiobook was especially awesome!

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Dreamscape Media for the audio ARC in exchange for my honest review!

I really enjoyed What You Never Knew by @jessicahamiltonwriter. It was atmospheric and creepy. A great family drama and mystery. Told from two perspectives one sister that’s just passed away and the younger sister grieving the loss of her sister. Reading from the deceased sister’s perspective was haunting.
After May’s death June learns that she now owns the family’s cottage on the isolated Avril Island, which was odd since her mother told the girls she sold it years ago. June spends her time on the island grieving May but she also discovers her childhood friend Ezra is still on the island.

This descriptions the author writes are excellent and the cover is beautiful, leaving me feeling as if I was on the island observing June as she attempts to unravel her family and the island’s dark secrets.

I really loved the flow and the descriptive and haunting prose Jessica Hamilton wrote in this book. It was everything I didn’t know I needed in a book!!!
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @jessicahamiltonwriter and @crookedlanebooks for my finished copy of the book to review.

In What You Never Knew by Jessica Hamilton family secrets are rife between the dead and living and one of the main characters dies at the beginning of the story then helps to tell the tale. As characters are introduced they interconnect and hidden secrets gradually unfold as the haunting and creepy story progresses. In a small community on Avril Island, Lake Champlain that has generations of residents, everyone knows each others history or at least a perceived version of it. A fascinating, well-written and highly absorbing family tale and a remarkably good début.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

I have never read any book where one of the character is dead and as far as this novel is concerned, it was amazing. The bond between the two sisters were sooo strong that even if one of them wasn't alive, the other one could feel her around.

Do you love stories with ghosts points of views? Alternating characters thoughts and memories are one of my favorite things because it keeps the story flowing magically.

I’m honestly shocked this is Jessica’s first novel, it read like something from a seasoned writer. The way the story threw out twists and revelations a little at a time was truly brilliant. I absolutely loved this book and read it easily and quite fast. Great plot and characters mixed with a wonderfully written story made this a definite 5 star read.

After the sudden death of her sister May, June ends up at her childhood summer house. Her sister and her thought it had been sold after a tragic summer where her father went missing. Determined to find out the actual truth she ends up at the house not knowing what will happen. Will she find out the real truths of Avril Island or will it keep hiding it’s ghosts?

Special thanks to the author, Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for the review copy. It is now available wherever you buy your books and I highly recommend this one. A perfect rainy afternoon read!

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Enjoyed this one! 👍🏻

<b>PROS</b>
-- Gorgeous cover. 👍🏻
-- Well written and very readable. 👍🏻
-- Intriguing plot that kept me turning the pages. 👍🏻
-- Atmospheric setting. 👍🏻
-- Interesting characters. 👍🏻
-- Satisfying ending. 👍🏻

<b>CONS</B>
-- Lacking a little in background information. 🤏🏻
-- June and Ezra needed more fleshing out. ✅
-- Although satisfying, the ending felt rushed with a lot of information thrown at us in a short amount of pages. 😵
-- Although I enjoyed the "ghost May" aspect of the book. I'm not sure the "ghost" aspect really added anything to the story. 🤔

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Overall, this was a unique idea but just an OK read for me. More character development and less predictable twists would have given it more stars from my POV. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

May and June are sisters and spend most of their childhood at their summer home on Avril Island with their mother and father. Their father goes missing/leaves them one day and they never return to the island.

Fast forward ,April, their mother passes away and that’s when everything starts to unravel leading June back to Avril Island to uncover what really happened.

This started out a bit slow for me. However, the pace does eventually pick up. I really enjoyed the authors writing as it was extremely atmospheric. I love books that take place on an island or some sort of getaway. It really adds to the claustrophobic feel. I also loved the way the author describes the characters, I could picture them all. None however were particularly likeable, but I promise it does not take away from the story.

Truthfully, the ending and mystery wasn’t all that shocking, it was almost expected. However, there were some points in the story that led me to believe something else was going on, so it was thrilling.

I would recommend this book and would read another book by this author.

Very well written and an ending that I didn't see coming! Narration is very good and engaging. Kept me wanting more and now I'm sad that it has ended. No violence or sex scenes. A very well told story. I really enjoyed this book and will look for more by this author.

I went into What You Never Knew expecting a dark, creepy thriller and it absolutely delivered! The cover is absolutely stunning and this made me picture what the cottage and Avril Island looked like.

Following the death of her mother and sister, June Bennett finds out she’s the new owner of her childhood cabin on Avril Island, Vermont. Her mother has told her that she sold this house and island when she was around 11 after the disappearance of her father so she was shocked to find out they still owned it. She decides to take the summer to figure out what happened to her dad. She runs into many people she used to know including her childhood BFF, Ezra. He’s grown into a handsome adult and they rekindle an old romance. Ezra’s father also disappeared so this is a strange coincidence.

The book is told by two voices, both June’s present day and her sister, May who has passed away. I didn’t know if was going to like the ghost voice, but it wasn’t too much of a distraction. It’s mostly told by June.

This book was wild from start to finish. It was a pretty short book (only 300 pages) but it was fast paced and had great descriptions and clues to solve the mystery. This is an extraordinary debut novel and I’m very much looking forward to more from @jessicahamiltonwriter!

Thanks to @crookedlanebooks, @suzyapprovedbooktours and the author for my gifted copy. This book is on sale now and is not one to be missed!

4.5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

The opening chapter of this story was so surprising that I knew the story that followed had to be unusual.

April Bennett was not good maternal material. She seemed capricious and self centred and was able to manipulate both her young daughters into believing whatever she said. When she died, and within a very very short period her elder daughter May passed away in an accident, June the 40year old youngest was left to piece the puzzle of whatever was left behind.

Told by June throughout, with the spirit of May always hovering over her protective and trying to direct her in whatever way was the best told a story of murder, mayhem, break up of families, cover up and now at last the final denouncement of all the lies that went before.

Set in a what should have been an idyllic island, it was at turns peaceful and overwhelming.